Question:
I am looking at Flexsteel’s Arlo reclining couch and loveseat. Thinking of going with a Smith Brothers 422 with cloth covering. It is more expensive, but is it worth the extra money? Pete August 4, 2020
Answer:
Flexsteel makes furniture in the U.S., China (although this may be moving to Vietnam) and Mexico.
The quality varies.
In general the U.S. made reclining furniture is superior to the Asian (Latitude) products.
The Latitude furniture is better than their Mexican made (SouthHaven) products. I am not sure where the Arlo series is made.
[Update – Since this article was originally written two years ago, Flexsteel closed some of its U.S. manufacturing facilities. I don’t believe Flexsteel currently makes any reclining furniture in the U.S.]
The single biggest problem with Flexsteel (and the vast majority of their competitors) is the use of non-removable cushions made with 1.8 density foam or composite foams that combine high and low-density foams.
1.8 density cushions (which Flexsteel used through 2021) begin losing resilience (and comfort) after about 3 years.
Over time, the furniture can get increasingly less comfortable.
There is no way to replace non-removable cushions other than completely reupholstering the entire piece.
[Note – Flexsteel’s cushion options have changed since this answer was originally written in 2020. Here is updated information for Flexsteel cushions as of 2021.]
Flexsteel recently switched from 1.8 and 2.0 density foam cushions to a new composite construction.
Their new standard non-removable seat cushions have a 2.0 density foam core, topped by a layer of cheaper 1.2 density foam.
Removable seat cushions have 1.2 density “recovery” foam layers above and below the central high-density core.
1.2 density foam is extremely flimsy (and cheap.)
Flexsteel also offers an optional upgrade to a 2.5-density central foam core with a1.2 density “recovery” foam above the higher density central core.
No sofa manufacturer would ever consider using a cushion made entirely with 1.2 density foam.
It would lose its shape, resilience, and comfort within 6 months (or less.)
Flexsteel also has a softer “Featherblend” cushion option. It has a 2.3 density core with jackets filled with 50% feathers/50% polyester.
This is the cushion I would recommend if you choose to go with Flexsteel.
Flexsteel does have a far more extensive line of reclining designs and options than Smith Brothers.
Smith Brothers is better quality overall than Flexsteel in almost every way.
Smith Brothers’ solid maple double dowelled frames are far superior to Flexsteel’s glued and stapled plywood frames.
Smith Brothers coil spring foundation is equivalent in durability and superior in comfort to Flexsteel’s dual flex foundation.
Both foundations should last 20+ years.
Smith Brothers cushions are made with 2.5 density Qualux foam.
This is considered the highest quality foam brand for cushions.
These seat cushions should hold up over 10 years for most people, and are removable.
When they do wear out, the cushion cores can be replaced for a few hundred dollars.
Most Smith Brothers reclining furniture has removable seat cushions.
Removable seat cushions can double or triple the lifespan of the furniture compared with non-removable seat cushions.
Know someone who might be interested in this post? Please like and share this post with them. If you have questions or comments please leave them below.
Looking at flexsteel and smith brothers. Very concerned about the plastic used in flexsteel upholstery (especially if they aren’t manufactured in USA) Do smith brothers sofas use toxic chemicals in their sofa upholstery?
I’m not sure what “plastic” you are referring to in Flexsteel. Most of their products don’t have any plastic. I’m trying to think of one that might, but can’t think of anything at the moment.
Smith Brothers has very little if any toxic chemicals in their furniture. They use solid wood for the frames. Solid wood has fewer emissions than plywood or engineered woods. The foam and fabrics are strictly regulated so that there are far fewer emissions currently than there used to be 10 years ago.
All furniture manufacturers that sell their products in California are required to have hang tags that include this warning:
How serious is this warning? It’s impossible to tell because the list of potentially hazardous materials is so long that it includes many items that most people wouldn’t consider hazardous at all.
Proposition 65 requires warning labels on products that may contain any of 800-plus chemicals or ingredients that the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) lists as a carcinogen or a reproductive toxicant. These include wood dust, brass, caffeine, and a multitude of other everyday elements.
do you know where Flexsteel sectionals – the stationary, not reclining, ones – are made? any thoughts on their quality/issues?
Mexico and Vietnam.
do you have information about other well known brands. thankyiu
As a 45 year furniture industry veteran, I am aware of hundreds of different U.S. furniture brands.
If you look through my blog articles, you will see many in which I compare two or more different brands (or specific products.)
If you have any questions about specific U.S. brands, just let me know and I should be able to help you.
Please include what type of furniture you are looking for and your approximate price range.
My knowledge of Asian brands is far more generic since they tend to be huge companies that sell similar products under multiple brand names.
Large retailers tend to attach their own house brands to most of the furniture they import from Asian sources.
There are many excellent European brands. I am not as familiar with those, but can refer you to someone with more expertise if that is what you are looking for.
Flexsteel cushions are 2.5lb Density and have a Lifetime Warranty. The information given by Jeff Frank is incorrect.
Thank you for your comment.
The article was originally written in 2020 when Flexsteel was still using 1.8 density foam cushions for their seating.
More recently, Flexsteel has introduced a new composite seat cushion construction. There are two different options:
1) Option one has a 2.0 density central foam core surrounded by 1.2 density foam layers.
2) Option two has a 2.5 density central foam core, surrounded by 1.2 density foam layers.
These new composite cushions have not been around long enough to have established a long term track record for durability.
I am doubtful that they will last any longer than the old 1.8 density foam cushions.
The problem is that the 1.2 density foam is not durable.
If a cushion was made using only 1.2 density foam, it would lose its shape, resiliency and comfort within less than 6 months.
The lifetime warranty does not protect you against cushion failure.
If you read further down the warranty document, there is a paragraph that reads,
The sign that a cushion is breaking down and will soon lose its resiliency and comfort is when the cushion begins to soften and flatten out.
If your Flexsteel cushions lose more than 1″ of height after the first year, that is considered “normal wear and tear” and will not be covered by your lifetime warranty.
A true 2.5 density foam cushion will show almost no flattening or softening for at least 10 years.
If you read through Flexsteel’s recent reviews, you will see complaints about seat cushions that have softened and flattened within the first year.
Flexsteel reviews – PissedConsumer.com
Unfortunately, none of these reviews list whether the customer purchased the 2.0 density central core option or the 2.5.
Flexsteel’s new composite seat cushions are a triumph of marketing. By using a combination of high density and low density foams, they can actually lower their manufacturing costs compared with solid 1.8 density foam cores.
At the same time, Flexsteel salespeople can tell their customers they are buying 2.5 density cushions, a statement that is not completely untrue, but is completely misleading.
I will update the information in my article to reflect Flexsteel’s new cushion construction.
In reading your reply above, you are either ignorantly contradicting yourself or are doing so on purpose. I quote, “cushions may lose up to one inch of the original height standard of the cushion foam core within the first year of use.” Then you state, “If your Flexsteel cushions lose more than 1″ of height after the first year, that is considered “normal wear and tear” and will not be covered by your lifetime warranty.” Flexsteel says UP TO 1 INCH and you say MORE THAN 1 INCH. That is totally different!
Sorry for the confusion. Flexsteel’s warranty states that they consider up to 1″ loss of cushion height in the first year to be “normal wear” and not covered by the warranty.
The cushions are also covered under a “limited lifetime warranty.”
I am simply pointing out that if the cushions lose more than 1 inch after the first year, that is also not covered under the warranty.
In other words, if the cushions lose 2 or 3 or 4 inches of height (which are definite signs that the cushions are wearing out) after the first year, that will be considered “normal wear” and will not covered by the limited lifetime warranty.
This interpretation of cushion wear and warranties is not exclusive to Flexsteel.
The vast majority of retailers and manufacturers have the same warranty language.
It is almost impossible to replace your cushions under warranty, no matter how badly worn they are, and no matter how long the warranty is supposed to cover them, except from a very small percentage of high end brands.
I should also point out that if you weigh 250 lbs. and your cushions flatten out (more than one inch) within the first year, many retailers and manufacturers will refuse to replace the cushions on the grounds that the cushions were not used “normally.”
In other words, you will fall under the “customer abuse” exclusion clause that is present in every warranty.
The bottom line is that very few cushion replacements are covered under any warranty.
The guarantees made in bold print at the top of the warranty document, regarding cushions, are completely nullified by exclusionary clauses in small print further down where nobody bothers to read.
If you make enough of a nuisance, and get to someone at the management level, it is possible to get the company you purchased from to replace your cushions, but it won’t be because of your rights under the warranty.
It will because they decide the time and money you could cost them by writing a negative review or complaining to a consumer protection agency is greater than the cost of replacing your cushions.
I was not informed my sectional sofa had attached cushions when I ordered . What a disappointment!
Most mass produced reclining sofas and sectionals of all brands are currently designed with attached cushions.
Better quality (more expensive) reclining furniture is usually made with removable cushions but costs several hundred (or thousand) dollars more.
what does flex steel arlo compare to another brand?
what other brand do you suggest?
Check out my article Who are the Best American Reclining Sofa & Sectional Manufacturers
The article reviews 18 different reclining American reclining furniture companies. Although Flexsteel now makes all of its reclining furniture in China and Mexico, they are included on this list since everybody thinks their furniture is made in the USA.
In the article, I currently have Flexsteel listed as 13 of 18. It is actually comparable in quality and price to any of the brands listed from 10 – 18.
The first 9 brands listed are superior quality (and higher priced.) Many of these brands are leather specialists, but all will offer a selection of high-performance fabrics in addition to the leather.
Wow very interesting….you never know if you are getting made in USA or not in this instance…my son just ordered flexsteel,Jarvis..mod you know if it is made in USA?
I believe that all Flexsteel reclining furniture is currently made in China & Mexico.
Many Chinese furniture factories have moved to Vietnam recently. I am not certain whether Flexsteel has made this move.)
More and more of their reclining furniture production has moved to Mexico over the past two years.
According to madefind.com (May 2022), only the “Latitude” (China) and “South Heaven” (Mexico) are made outside of the United States.
Your comment is correct. But I believe that all Flexsteel reclining furniture is currently made under the Latitude and South Haven brand names.
Flexsteel no longer makes any reclining furniture in the U.S.
Is Flexsteel reclining sofas and chairs made In the USA we are considering ordering an Arlo reliving sofa and loveseat
Flexsteel reclining furniture is no longer made in the U.S. It is currently produced in China and Mexico. (Due to tariff, trade restrictions, many Chinese furniture manufacturers have been moving their factories to Vietnam and other Asian nations.
Check out my blog article, Who are the best American reclining furniture manufacturers? for a review of 18 brands Made in the USA.