It's a common summer dilemma: you head to the park for a relaxing sit, only to find the benches baking in the sun. The big question is, are metal benches truly hotter to sit on than wooden ones? The short answer is a definitive yes, and the reason boils down to basic science.
Metal is an excellent conductor of heat. When sunlight hits a metal bench, the energy is quickly absorbed and transferred throughout the entire material. This means the bench's surface temperature can rise rapidly, often becoming too hot to touch comfortably on a bright, sunny day. You might even feel the heat through clothing.
Wood, on the other hand, is a natural insulator. It absorbs heat much more slowly. While a wooden bench in direct sun will certainly get warm, its surface temperature typically won't spike as dramatically as metal. The heat tends to remain on the surface rather than penetrating deeply, making it often more tolerable for sitting.
However, comfort isn't just about temperature. A dark-painted wooden bench will absorb more heat than a light-colored one. Similarly, a metal bench with a textured or coated surface might feel slightly less intense than a smooth, bare one. But in a direct, side-by-side comparison under the same blazing sun, the metal bench will almost always win the "too hot to sit" contest.
So, for maximum comfort on a sunny day, seek out a wooden bench, preferably one in a light shade or, even better, located under a nice, big tree. Your comfort will thank you!