After testing and sitting on far too many benches in public gardens, my honest answer is this: the most comfortable urban bench for a reading nook is one with a slightly reclined backrest, real armrests, and a deep seat. If you can add a quick-dry cushion, even better.
Urban benches often look stylish but feel like sitting on a metal shelf. For reading, your body needs support without forcing you to hunch forward. Look for a backrest angle around 100 to 110 degrees. This keeps your neck relaxed while still letting you look down at a book. The seat should be about 18 to 22 inches deep, enough to sit back fully or pull one leg up. Armrests should be wide enough to rest an elbow while holding a paperback or an e-reader.
Material matters more in a garden than it does indoors. Teak, acacia, or high-density poly lumber are my top choices because they handle rain, sun, and soil splashes without turning into a sauna or cracking. Powder-coated aluminum can work if you add cushions, but bare metal is rarely comfortable for long reading sessions. Avoid glossy painted metal or plastic that fades and becomes brittle.
In terms of style, a Lutyens-style bench with a curved back and rolled arms is a classic garden choice and surprisingly supportive. If you prefer a more urban, modern look, choose a slatted wood or poly bench with a contoured seat and a backrest that is not completely upright. Wooden park benches with a slight curve and armrests become genuinely comfortable once you add an outdoor cushion. A straight-back metal bench, however, will send you back indoors after ten pages.
Cushions transform a good bench into a reading nook. Use a seat cushion and a lumbar pillow made from quick-dry foam with a solution-dyed acrylic cover like Sunbrella. These can stay outside through summer showers and will not feel damp when you sit down. Keep a small weatherproof storage box nearby if you prefer to store them.
Placement also contributes to comfort. Set the bench on a level surface, ideally pavers or compacted gravel, so it does not wobble. Position it with your back to tall shrubs or a fence, which creates a sense of enclosure. Dappled shade is ideal for reading because full sun creates glare on pages, while deep shade can feel chilly. A small side table or stool for coffee, water, and your book stack is worth the extra space.
If I had to pick one setup for myself, I would choose a deep-seat teak or poly lumber bench with a curved back, wide armrests, a quick-dry seat cushion, and a lumbar pillow. Place it on pavers under a tree, add a small side table, and it becomes the kind of garden reading nook you will actually use.