GUIDE  /  SUN LOUNGERS

5 Sun Loungers Worth Buying for an Australian Pool or Patio

Here's how each option holds up — and which one is right for your space.

Outdoor Furniture Ideas  ·  7 min read

Five sun loungers, five different buyers. The right one depends on how you use it, where it lives, and how long you need it to last.

Most sun lounger decisions come down to three things: what it's made from, how much it costs, and whether it will still look reasonable after two or three Australian summers. The problem is that most product pages don't actually help you compare those things. They describe features without telling you what those features mean in practice. This guide covers five outdoor sun loungers in the OFI range and explains who each one is actually for.

The honest answer is there is no single best sun lounger. There is a best one for a pool area that needs to store eight units. There is a best one for a small coastal patio that gets full sun year-round. There is a best one for someone who wants a hotel-style setup and doesn't mind paying for it. The guide below is structured to help you land in the right category quickly.

No. 01

Solaro Slim — The Colour-Forward, Pool-Safe Stacker

The Solaro Slim sits at the entry point of this range in price, but it does things the more expensive options don't. It's the only sun lounger here rated for placement inside the pool itself — fully waterproof polypropylene construction means water immersion isn't a problem, not just water exposure. It also comes in six colours: light green, beige, light blue, mustard yellow, black, and white. If you're after something that reads as chosen rather than generic, the Solaro gives you that at a price point that makes buying two or four feasible.

The perforated surface keeps air moving beneath you, which matters more than most buyers expect on a 35-degree day. At 173.5cm long it is slightly shorter than the Nardi resin options, which suits users under 185cm well. The stackable design and lightweight build make it easy to move and store when not in use.

• Best for: Pool areas, holiday homes, buyers who want colour variety, or anyone needing multiple units without a large per-unit investment.
• Trade-off: No adjustable backrest position. Designed in Italy, manufactured in Vietnam. Minimum purchase of two units.
• Dimensions: 173.5cm × 65cm. Available in six colours.

The Solaro's perforated polypropylene body is fully waterproof — it can sit inside the pool without issue, which no cushioned option can match.

No. 02

Nardi Omega — The Two-Tone Italian Classic

The Nardi Omega has been in Nardi's range long enough that you've almost certainly seen it at a resort or hotel pool. The two-tone design — polypropylene frame with a woven synthetic fabric insert — is what gives it a more considered appearance than a plain resin lounger. The frame is produced using an air-moulding technique that creates closed, sealed shapes, which makes it both stronger and easier to clean than open-profile competitors. There are no hollow sections where water, grit, or mould can collect.

At 15kg it is manageable to move solo. The four-position adjustable backrest covers everything from flat sunbathing to a reading angle. When you're done, it folds and stacks. It is made in Italy from UV-resistant polypropylene and carries a 2-year warranty. For buyers who want a proven, low-maintenance Nardi option without paying for the Plano's design premium, the Omega is the straightforward answer.

• Best for: Buyers who want an established Nardi design at the most accessible price point in the Italian-made range.
• Trade-off: Two-tone colourway limits flexibility. Fabric insert will eventually wear before the frame does.
• Dimensions: 194.5cm × 69cm. Available in White/Tortora and Anthracite/Trama.

No. 03

Nardi Atlantico — The Workhorse of the Range

The Nardi Atlantico is built from fibre-glass reinforced polypropylene rather than standard polypropylene, which gives the frame more structural rigidity over time and a rated static load of 200kg. The breathable fabric is interchangeable, so if the sling degrades before the frame, you're not replacing the whole unit. That matters more than most buyers realise when buying for the long term: the frame will likely outlast the first set of fabric by several years.

At 204cm long and 70cm wide, it is one of the more generously sized options here. Four backrest positions, built-in castors for easy relocation, stackable when not in use. It comes in a range of colour combinations, making it one of the more versatile options if your outdoor setting has a specific palette.

• Best for: Buyers who use their sun lounger heavily and want a frame that lasts, with the option to replace fabric over time rather than replacing the whole unit.
• Trade-off: Fabric replacement is an additional cost. Slightly heavier at 16kg.
• Dimensions: 204cm × 70cm. Multiple colour combinations available. 200kg static load rating.

The Atlantico's fibre-glass reinforced frame and interchangeable sling are what separate it from standard polypropylene resin options at a similar price point.

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No. 04

Nardi Plano — The Design Award Winner With a Wide Seat

The Nardi Plano was unveiled at Milan Design Week 2025 and won an Archiproducts Design Award — context worth knowing because it explains why it looks different from every other resin lounger in this list. Designed by Raffaello Galiotto, the frame is sleek and minimalist, and the seat is noticeably wider than the Atlantico or Omega, which is the first thing you notice when you sit in it. At 71cm wide and 211cm long, there is more room to move without feeling constrained.

The breathable synthetic canvas sling keeps the surface cool, and at only 14.2kg it is the lightest full-size resin lounger in this group despite its dimensions. It folds flat, stacks, and has built-in castors. For buyers who care about what their outdoor space looks like as much as how it performs, the Plano is the option that does both without needing a cushion.

• Best for: Design-conscious buyers who want a resin lounger that looks considered, not just functional. Also the right pick if you find standard lounger widths uncomfortable.
• Trade-off: Premium price for a resin option. No cushion included (available separately).
• Dimensions: 211cm × 71cm. 14.2kg. Made in Italy. Archiproducts Design Award 2025.

“A sun lounger is one of the few pieces of outdoor furniture that spends its entire life in full sun. The material it's built from is not a secondary consideration.”

No. 05

Tropea — The Cushioned Resort Option

The Tropea is the only option here with a proper thick cushion, and that distinction is significant. A 30cm quick-dry foam cushion covered in fade-resistant acrylic fabric sits on a powder-coated aluminium frame. The foam dries fast enough that getting splashed poolside isn't an issue. The acrylic fabric holds its colour under UV well — this is the material used in quality marine and outdoor upholstery for exactly that reason.

At 210cm × 75cm it is the widest option in this list, and the overall experience is closer to a day bed than a traditional sun lounger. The aluminium frame is corrosion-resistant, which matters for coastal homes and poolside positions where salt air or pool chemicals are a constant. Available in Charcoal, Pebble, and Light Grey. It is the premium pick here, and it earns that position through the cushion quality and frame construction rather than just the price tag.

• Best for: Buyers who prioritise comfort above all else, or who want a hotel-style aesthetic for a pool or alfresco area. Good for coastal homes where aluminium's corrosion resistance is an advantage.
• Trade-off: Not stackable. Cushion requires some maintenance and storage consideration in extended wet weather. Heavier at 32kg.
• Dimensions: 210cm × 75cm. Available in Charcoal, Pebble, Light Grey. 2-year warranty.

The Tropea's 30cm quick-dry foam cushion and aluminium frame deliver a noticeably different comfort level to the resin options — closer to hotel poolside furniture than typical residential sun loungers.

Side by Side

Comparison at a Glance

The table below covers the key decision points.

The Short Version

Which One Is Right for You

If you need multiple units and want flexibility on colour, the Solaro Slim is the pick. If you want a proven Italian-made resin lounger at a reasonable entry price, the Omega covers that. If you use the lounger hard and want something that can be repaired rather than replaced, the Atlantico's interchangeable sling makes that possible. If you care about how it looks as much as how it performs and want the widest seat available in a resin option, the Plano is the answer. If comfort comes first and you have a pool area that warrants the investment, the Tropea delivers a different experience to everything else on this list.

• Pool area, multiple units needed: Solaro Slim
• Proven Italian design, accessible price: Nardi Omega
• Heavy use, want a repairable frame: Nardi Atlantico
• Design-forward, widest resin seat: Nardi Plano
• Comfort first, resort-style feel: Tropea

If you're also setting up the wider poolside area, the outdoor pool furniture category covers companion pieces including side tables and poolside settings that work alongside these loungers.