Robust "bloke proof" dining chairs needed - recommendations please

usignuolo

My OH is quite a large man - 6ft 1" and over 15 stone. He could not be called graceful either. When he sits on our dining chairs, he has a tendency to press his feet on the floor and put his hands over his head, flexing the back of the chair, which eventually pulls away the back from the seat, or even snaps the back. I have tried stopping him from sitting on our chairs as though he is in a bar in a western over the years, but to no avail.

This morning he broke another chair. So I want to buy some robust bloke proof chairs where the backs are well tied into the seat and any rear stretchers bars on the back are strongly fitted. Any suggestions? Ideally they should be all wooden - fabric covered seats are quickly worn out too.

aliasojo

Can't really help with actual chair suggestions as such but wondered if you'd considered benches?

Owain_Moneysaver

traditional 'windsor' chairs are fairly robust, and easily repairable.

Or 'club' chairs - get them in leather if fabric doesn't last.

usignuolo

Should have said I need them without arms as we do not have large enough table to have chairs with arms...

I_have_spoken

Get metal frame dining chairs - some like these lasted 20 years with me

googler

Strikes me that 'behaviour modification through positive reinforcement' applied to the existing bloke is what's required ....

Like the episode of Big Bang Theory where Sheldon 'trains' Penny, but with genders reversed.

usignuolo

Yeah well, he broke the chair this morning while we were chatting to his best mate (similar build). When I explained to OH for the nth time why he should not sit on it like that, his mate chimed in saying chairs should be able to be sat on like that and survive. If not they were badly designed. Men.....

Regarding the metal frame chair suggested, would it be safe to lean back on with all your weight, which is what he does, it wouldn't topple over?

stsarina

usignuolo wrote: »

Regarding the metal frame chair suggested, would it be safe to lean back on with all your weight, which is what he does, it wouldn't topple over?

A super way of 'training' him not to do it, I would suggest?

anotherginger

Buy him a stool.

pimento

How old is he? 12?

usignuolo

To be fair, he isn't the only one. Several of the guys who come to our house tend to sit on the chairs with their feet firmly on the floor and then lean right back on the chair back and sort of brace themselves against the back of the chair, either with their arms folded or above their head...as I said earlier, OH's friend defended his actions, said the chair was clearly not robust enough.

In OH's defence not only is he a big guy, but he has always been a bit clumsy and liable to drop things or bump into things. His mum said he had dyspraxia as a boy, so telling him to take care doesn't really work. Avoidance is a better strategy.