Comparison Cougar Defensor F vs Cougar Defensor

The material used for the actual seat of the chair. Note that some models may be available in several versions that differ in seat material.

— Fabric. Fabric comes in many varieties, and its specific characteristics depend on the chair’s price category. This material is found in all categories, from budget models to fairly expensive products. The common properties of all types of fabric are low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance.

— Leather. The main distinguishing features of genuine leather are its luxurious appearance and corresponding price. In view of this, this material is considered an “image” material and is used not only for comfort but also to emphasize the owner’s status. Accordingly, most chairs with leather seats are intended for executives (see “Purpose”) and belong to the premium class. In practical terms, leather is durable and quite pleasant to the touch, but it has poor breathability, which can cause discomfort in hot weather.

— Faux leather. A type of artificial material that imitates the genuine leather described above. The quality and properties of a particular faux leather generally depend directly on its price (and the chair’s price category overall), but even the most expensive options are usually cheaper than leather, while externally and even to the touch they may be virtually indistinguishable from it. In addition, this material is less deman...ding to maintain. As a result, faux leather seats are quite common. Their main disadvantages are a tendency to develop scuffs and a generally shorter service life than leather seats (although, again, much depends on the price).

— Plastic. Plastic seats are characteristic of the cheapest chairs designed for visitors—or for staff who do not have to sit in one place for long. This material combines low cost with strength, reliability, and a wide range of colors. At the same time, it has one key drawback that effectively negates all the advantages described above—hardness; simply put, sitting on plastic is uncomfortable. For this reason, even among the models mentioned, all-plastic seats are very rare.

— Wood. In the case of office chair seats, the word “wood” usually means plywood. This material is in many ways similar to the plastic described above, but it also has some differences: on the one hand, it has an aesthetically pleasing appearance with original patterns and is considered more pleasant to the touch; on the other, it costs more and offers relatively few design options. Nevertheless, this material also has the disadvantage of hardness, which is why it is used only in isolated cases.

— Mesh. Seats consisting of a rigid frame with fabric or synthetic mesh stretched across it. The main advantages of such designs are low weight and good breathability. The design of mesh seats allows them to be used even in executive chairs. The notable disadvantages of mesh seats include only somewhat lower reliability and greater repair complexity compared with largely similar fabric seats (see above).

The main material used for the chair backrest. Note that some models are available in several design options, differing in materials; all available options are listed for such models.

— Fabric. Relatively inexpensive and at the same time quite practical material. It has decent strength, is easy to maintain, and can be made in numerous colors and designs; in addition, it provides good ventilation, which can be useful in hot weather.

— Leather. Natural leather is expensive and strongly highlights the owner's status (especially since leather products themselves look solid and luxurious). Accordingly, the main use of this option is for executive chairs (see "Purpose"). From a practical perspective, leather is durable and quite pleasant to the touch, however, it has poor breathability (which can cause discomfort in hot weather) and requires specific care, otherwise, it may lose its "marketable appearance."

— Leatherette. There are many types of leatherette, significantly differing in price and properties, and the most advanced ones are even used in premium-class "executive" chairs. Leatherette backrests are not as demanding in care as natural leather, but they are less durable and more prone to wear and tear.

— Mesh. Backrests in the form of a rigid frame with a fabric or synthetic mesh stretched...over it. The main advantages of such designs are their lightweight and good breathability. The design of the meshes allows their use even in executive chairs. The noticeable drawbacks include slightly less reliability and greater repair complexity compared to similar fabric (see above).

— Plastic. Purely plastic backrests are most often used in chairs with seats made of the same material (see above). They are strong and inexpensive, but due to their hardness, they are quite uncomfortable, which is why they are not widespread even among visitor models.

— Wood. Wooden backrests are in many ways similar to the plastic ones described above, except that they are somewhat more expensive and can have an original appearance due to the wood's textured patterns. They are also rarely used due to their hardness and the associated discomfort.