When choosing a spot to rest in the city, the temperature of the bench beneath you makes all the difference. Metal and wood, two common materials for urban benches, interact with weather in dramatically different ways due to their core physical properties.
Metal benches, typically made from aluminum or steel, have high thermal conductivity. This means they rapidly transfer heat. On a sunny summer day, a metal bench can absorb solar energy and become uncomfortably hot to the touch, sometimes even dangerously so. Conversely, in winter, metal quickly sheds its heat to the cold air, becoming intensely cold and often unusable without insulation like clothing. The surface temperature can closely mirror the ambient air temperature, leading to extremes.
Wooden benches, however, are natural thermal insulators. Wood has low thermal conductivity and a porous structure. In direct summer sun, it warms up much more slowly than metal and rarely reaches scalding temperatures. While it can get warm, it generally remains within a tolerable range. During cold weather, wood feels noticeably less frigid than metal because it does not draw heat away from the body as quickly. Its surface temperature stays more moderate compared to the surrounding air.
The key difference lies in heat transfer. Metal's efficiency creates a more extreme user experience, while wood's resistance provides a more buffered, temperate seating surface year-round. For consistent comfort in varying seasons, wood often has the advantage. However, metal offers superior durability and requires less maintenance. Next time you approach a bench, consider the material—it will directly shape your moment of rest, making wood the generally more thermally comfortable choice for public spaces.