The best inflatable hot tub is not the one with the biggest jet count or the longest spec sheet. It is the one that still holds water pressure, holds heat and holds a saleable temperature three winters from now. I spent weeks comparing 12 of the most-reviewed portable spas on the market, reading owner complaints […]

If you are hunting for the best above ground pools for families, the short answer is simple: size and wall depth matter far more than the badge on the box. We spent weeks going through owner reviews, spec sheets and setup notes on ten of the most-widely-bought pools on the market, and the winners here […]

Thatch is the matted layer of dead grass, roots and stolons that builds up between your grass blades and the soil. Once it passes about half an inch it forms a barrier that blocks water, air and fertilizer, and your lawn feels spongy underfoot. When you are shopping for the best lawn dethatchers for thick […]

Yes, Adirondack chairs work well around a fire pit, and the reason is ergonomic: the tall slatted back, wide armrests and low seat let you lean back into the radiant heat without turning your face toward the flames. After six weeks of comparing 12 models around a wood-burning pit, picking the best Adirondack chairs for […]

A patio chaise lounge is a long outdoor chair built to lie flat or near-flat, and the best patio chaise lounges for pools are built for a job that destroys most furniture: standing chlorinated water, hours of direct UV, and wet towels left on the frame overnight. This category splits three ways, and the split […]

Buying an outdoor dining table for a large family is not hard because the options are scarce. It is hard because almost every listing on the market describes a table as "large" while quietly selling you a 79-inch rectangle that seats six when the plates are down. Our team spent weeks sizing, comparing and living […]

A patio bar set is an outdoor furniture set built around a bar-height table, usually 36 to 42 inches tall, paired with matching high stools so guests can stand, perch, eat, and drink outside instead of sitting at a low dining table. Our picks below cover HDPE poly, PE rattan, cast aluminum, powder-coated steel, glass […]

A patio swivel rocker chair is a deck chair that turns a full 360 degrees and rocks forward and back on the same base, so you can swing toward the grill, the TV or whoever is talking without standing up. My team spent weeks sitting, swiveling and letting these chairs get rained on before ranking […]

The best outdoor cushions for teak furniture are removable pads with a solution-dyed or coated polyester shell over high-density foam, sized to your specific frame, and finished with washable covers and tie-down straps. Teak itself shrugs off weather, but the cushion on top of it takes every drop of rain and every hour of direct […]

Most patio furniture covers are sold as a summer accessory, but the job you are buying one for in autumn is much harsher. Through winter a cover has to hold off driving rain, wet snow, ice, UV fading and wind that will grab any loose fabric and tear it. We spent the season working through […]