Two folding chairs can look identical and perform completely differently, because the aluminium inside them isn’t the same. If you’re specifying outdoor furniture, a little alloy literacy goes a long way. Here’s the practical version of 6063 versus 7075 — the two workhorse alloys of camping gear — without the metallurgy lecture.
6063: the value workhorse
6063 is a 6000-series alloy prized for how easily it extrudes into clean tube and how well it takes an anodised finish. It’s corrosion-resistant, cost-effective and plenty strong for most tables and general frames. When you want good looks, good value and a shape that isn’t under extreme load, 6063 is usually the right call.
7075: the strength specialist
7075 is a 7000-series alloy — aircraft-grade, alloyed with zinc — with a far higher strength-to-weight ratio. That’s what lets a chair frame stay light in the hand while holding a heavy static load without flexing. It costs more and is harder to work, so it’s used where it earns its keep: load-bearing chair frames, ultralight structures, anywhere weight and strength both matter.
How to think about it as a brand
- Weight target vs. cost. If “packs light, feels solid” is central to your product, the 7075 premium is often worth it in the parts that carry load.
- Mixed construction is normal. Good products use each alloy where it fits — a 7075 frame with 6063 elsewhere — rather than one grade everywhere.
- Finish and hardware matter too. Anodising, wall thickness, joints and rivets all affect the final feel as much as the alloy name.
The point isn’t to memorise numbers — it’s to ask your manufacturer why they chose a material for each part. A factory that can answer that has designed the product deliberately.
ONWAY SPORTS builds from 6- and 7-series aluminium (including 7075 and 6063), 900D waterproof Oxford and 20-count blended canvas, chosen part by part. If you want furniture that’s both light and genuinely durable, tell us what you’re building.