The materials used in the construction of the patio chair covers are probably the most important criteria because this will indicate the longevity of the product as well as its overall reliability. The material needs to be both durable and water resistant. Some products available today are also made of a mold-resistant material which will help with the life of the product as well. Mold will eventually break down the fabric and can start to deteriorate it from the inside which is not favorable as it would also affect the furniture itself.

Having a product that is made of quality materials will not only help with the life of the product but with the overall satisfaction with it. Polyester is a common material type used because it is a strong fabric. Its fibers are quite long making it very durable. It is also resistant to most chemicals making it wrinkle and mold resistant. It is also hydrophobic which means that it is quick drying if it gets wet. Some polyesters are coated in PVC which is a type of plastic. This will help further protect the fabric making it both stronger and water resistant. It is also easier to clean which is handy. We looked mostly at products that were made of polyester, as well as some that were coated in PVC. The fabric used will inevitably define the longevity of the product and thereby defining its quality.

The construction of the product will also help determine the longevity of it. The construction is based on the stitching and design of the product. Typically you see single and double stitching. Double stitching will help reinforce the construction of the product and help keep the product together. We want to ensure that the stitching will hold together. If it doesn’t, even the highest quality materials won’t matter because water will seep through the cracks. You will sometimes also see sealed stitching which just adds an extra level of protection from leaks. The design of the product as well will indicate whether the product will live up to the task. The design should be done in a way that is ideal for the furniture being covered. You don’t want something that will ultimately start collecting water in weird areas, this will break down the product over time. Some products fit snug while others provide an additional ‘pillow’ to help inflate the open area under the product.

Finally, the reinforcements of the product are an important item to consider. Does the product tie down with a drawstring? Does it attach with Velcro? Is it an elastic base? This will particularly matter in climates with excessive, heavy winds. You want to ensure that the construction of the product is made well, stitched with good quality thread and that the design is ideal for your chair and won’t accumulate moisture, water or debris so that your furniture is adequately protected.

The environment in which the product is being used should be considered as this may dictate whether one product will be better than another for you. For instance, in particularly hot and humid climates you want something with both UV protection as well as moisture/mildew/mold protection. This would be a very different requirement for those who are living in cold, dry climates. Cold and dry climates need a product that won’t break down due to colder temperatures or even possibly snow. Environments that are windier will need different fasteners than those that are less windy. Spending money on something that has 8 different features but only 4 usable to you will be a waste of money. You want to find something that is going to be suitable for the environment you live in, otherwise, the product may end up useless.

Quality usually means money. If you want something that is of quality you are going to have to put the money in to get something that will last. That said, these products are fairly inexpensive in general and all within a similar price range. If you find something over, let’s say $100 you are probably paying too much. These products are usually under $50, even the highly rated ones. As mentioned above, you buy what you need in a product and try not to spend extra on things you don’t need. All the bells and whistles are nice but if the product you are buying is ideal for the snow and you live in Arizona you are probably paying more for something that will not serve you.

On the other side, if you are buying based on price alone you may end up with a cheap product. If the product fails, it will cost you in the long run because this may mean that all new patio furniture is required and you will have to essentially spend more money on another type of cover. It is wise with this particular type of product, to say within the price range set in this article. They are not overly expensive and you are getting highly rated products without having to stress about whether it will keep your quite expensive patio furniture safe.

The reputation and experience of a company are important because this will ultimately dictate the quality of the product as well as the ease or difficulty in exchanging or returning the product. There are many manufacturers of this type of product on the market today. The issue is finding a company that is receiving the best feedback. Reviews are handy for things like this because you will (mostly) get reviews that will give you both the positive and the negative of the company. If the company has a little experience they probably aren’t quite making a superior product. A company needs to go through trials and tribulations of production before they make a product that is improved to the point where it won’t fail on the buyer. A superior product means the company will more than likely stay around for a while. It is pretty hard to exchange or return a product or even take advantage of the warranty if it no longer exists.

Buying with a company that has a solid reputation will go a long way when buying really anything and should always be taken into consideration before purchasing a product like this. This is why we, in constructing this list, have perused and analyzed reviews posted by actual consumers on sites such as Amazon. We specifically, and purposefully, chose those products that have not just the highest reviews but also the highest number of reviews. We also dug deep and read through individual reviews to gain a better understanding of the different experiences different people have had with the product.