| Classic Outdoor Rocker | | | | of the fact that the base is always on the ground, |
| History | | | | unlike the classic rocking chair, in which the rockers |
| The classic rocker is of Swedish origin and dates back | | | | move up and down and can pinch children and pets |
| some 350 years. There were many styles to come | | | | underneath. |
| out of the original designs, including the Adirondack, | | | | Swivel Outdoor Rocking Chair |
| rustic, shaker, Salem, Boston, and Windsor rocking | | | | History and Characteristics |
| chair, but in general they all had similar characteristics. | | | | By far the most modern looking and recent innovation |
| Characteristics | | | | is the swivel rocking chair. This model is of American |
| A rocking chair starts out like any ordinary wooden | | | | origin, like the glider, and finds its roots in the 1960s. A |
| chair, with a seat and backrest and maybe the addition | | | | swivel chair is unique in that not only can it rock back |
| of armrests. What makes them different from a | | | | and forth, but it can also move sideways, which gives |
| normal chair is the addition of two curved rockers, one | | | | users a greater range of motion and ease when |
| at the base of each of the two chair legs. What these | | | | reaching for nearby objects. How it looks is that the |
| rockers do is provide a fulcrum upon which the person | | | | seat rests upon a central leg. From here, it can swivel |
| sitting on the chair can rock back and forth using their | | | | 360 degrees. The leg is then attached to a circular, |
| legs to push off the ground. | | | | weighted base so that the chair does not tip over. |
| Glider Outdoor Rocking Chair | | | | Buying Concerns |
| History and Characteristics | | | | One of the things to consider when purchasing a |
| Gliders are considerably newer than classic rocking | | | | swivel chair is where to put it. You will need more |
| chairs by about 200 years, dating back to the 1930s. | | | | room than for a typical outdoor rocking chair with the |
| This chair is actually a platform rocker in which the | | | | added range of motion so choose a space that's open |
| seat moves along a four bar linkage track across the | | | | on all sides. |
| base. The non-parallel suspension of the linkage gives | | | | Like the glider, the swivel chair has the advantage of a |
| the chair its back and forth gliding motion. | | | | stabilized base, so there's no risk of being pinched. At |
| Advantages | | | | the same time, the swivel chair is the farthest away |
| Some people prefer the movement of gliders to | | | | from the classic design of the rocking chair, so if you |
| rockers, and they are especially popular in nurseries, | | | | prefer a more traditional look, then this model may not |
| where mothers use them to nurse and soothe fussy | | | | be for you. |
| babies. They are also preferred by mothers because | | | | |