It's a good thing that there are so many choices of seating styles in the marketplace today. I say that because if you have been a member of the furnishings committee before, or are part of one now, you know that it is impossible to choose the perfect chair that wins approval from everyone. Tastes vary as widely as body shapes, so there is no perfect answer. Nevertheless, manufacturers have developed a huge assortment of seating products that balance form, function and price to match most church needs and budgets. If you are in the market and would like to test drive a model, it is wise to contact your dealer to ask for a sample.

Less than $40
KI Model C50101
Tell your congregation that you will need to use folding chairs for the next event, and you will probably hear groans. You may also find that some people simply won't attend at all. The KI 354DF was designed to change people's minds about folding chairs. Its thick seat is a feature not often found on folding chairs. When testing for comfort, KI experimented with foam thickness and density and found the best combination satisfying the largest number of people. For safety, materials used in the seat and backrest passed fire code testing for CAL 117. KI's engineers also discovered that sitting on a higher seat pad required a change to the back support, so they raised the height of the backrest to reach that comfort zone. The company's Thunder Strike patterned fabric is made of 100 percent Olefin and tested to exceed 80,000 double rubs. Once they designed the seat and back for extended sitting, they needed to beef up the frame as well. Using 18-gauge tubular steel as the main structure, they added double riveted U-braces on the front and back legs, as well as double pivot hinges on both the right and left sides.

Less than $60
National Public Seating Model C60135
The design of the NPS 8500 chair shows what can be done if multi-purpose seating is your target. You start with the basic chair, and then add an optional flip-up tablet arm, underseat bookrack, and ganging clamps, as required. All optional equipment can be added in the field, so you can retrofit your chair as your needs change. The injection-molded polypropylene seat and back flex slightly to fit every user, and contouring eliminates pressure points that cause discomfort. The dimensions of the seat are a generous 18 inches by 17 inches, giving most people some wiggle room. The frame is extraordinarily rigid, since it is constructed of 11mm solid steel rods that are then chrome plated. With the optional chair dolly DY85, expect to be able to stack and transport up to 40 chairs at one time so that set up and break down can occur faster. Protective floor glides prevent skidding, or you can remove them for sled-base chair use on carpeting.

Less than $85
Carstone Chair Model C60123
One of the most popular chairs on the market today, Carstone's 921 excels in every important category. Start with the frame that is made of ASTM A-513 C-1010 grade high-carbon steel. This material is tougher for the factory to work with, but it means that you will have a chair that holds its shape for a lifetime. In fact, the factory guarantees it. Then, the frame components are wire welded at 14 points, resulting in amazing tensile strength and yield strength of more than 58,000 pounds per square inch. The seat foam is made of 1.9-pound pure urethane that passes the strict CAL TB-133 tests for fire retardency. With the lack of fillers in the foam, you will find the upholstery holding up well and feeling better longer. Many fabric colors and patterns are available, made of 100 percent long-wearing Olefin fiber that is protected by Teflon-brand stain repellant. Accessories available include welded or removable underseat bookracks, elastic backrest book pocket, slotted and keyhole gangers, underseat webbing, and a universal chair truck that can carry eight chairs at a time.

Gary Heller is the general manager of Alfax Wholesale Furniture, www.alfaxfurniture.com.