Anyone who plays an ample amount of sports knows nothing feels better than sitting down after hours spent running around. From little league, a company softball game, or a tailgate with some friends, comfortable and versatile sports benches are available to give you a nice place to sit before, during, or after your activities.

Many different materials are used to make sports benches, and it is important to shop around and find the best ones to fit your lifestyle. Benches made of wood are usually extremely durable and reliable. There is a risk of splinters or snagged clothing when sitting on a wooden sports bench, but most are sanded to prevent this. Wooden sports benches can also become very hot after sitting in direct sunlight unless you purchase one made of a type of wood which will stay cool outside. Cedar does not heat up quickly and it will stay cool and comfortable even when the sun is beating down on it, so this is a good material to look into.

Just like any wooden outdoor furniture, some will need to be maintained with sealants, varnishes, or paint. Sports benches made of wood are prone to rot, crack, or change shape in the weather elements like sunlight and rainfall but cedar wood ages well even with extreme weather elements, even water and humidity.

Aluminum benches can also be purchased for personal or public use. Aluminum benches usually have a base made of aluminum tubing and aluminum seating on top, making them durable and stable even with a lot of weight sitting on top. They are easy to clean and keep up with, so aluminum benches are often the choice for public facilities. Soap and water is all that you really need for cleaning. They usually stay intact during extreme weather conditions and they resist rust. Aluminum sports benches do heat up quickly when exposed to the sun for a long period of time, so it may be necessary to move them to a shaded area or let them cool down before sitting to prevent burns.

There are also collapsible and transportable sports benches available for families who like to travel and play sports. Some are made with steel frames and mesh seating and the amount of seating and weight capacity varies. Some portable sports benches have the capacity to support six people, each seat holding up to 200 pounds.

There are also different styles of sports benches. Whether they are made of wood or aluminum, they can come with or without a backrest and this choice depends on where and how they will be used. Sports benches can also come with a shelf structure built off of the backrest for placing gloves, balls, or water and some even have canopies for shade.

The seats on aluminum or wooden sports benches are usually planks or slats. Planks are one solid piece of aluminum or wood cut wide as the seat. Slats are a few pieces of wood or aluminum lined up side-by-side as the seating. Durability is not compromised with either planks or slats but one choice may be more comfortable for some.

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