Is gel stain a good option for outdoor furniture?

https://osmocolorusa.com/products/exterior-coatings/garden-furniture/


I do a lot of wood projects and really like the OSMO brand wood oil products. Colors are great with a "natural" appearance and they're easy to apply. Since they're oil you don't have to sand off to eventually refresh the coat.

Not sure about you area but they're stocked at most better paint stores near me.

The advantage of a gel stain is that it is less likely to blotch. I think birch tends to blotch, so gel stain might be a good choice.

I wouldn’t worry about surface vs penetrating. If you wear through the top, protective coat of finish then it will look like crap anyway and require some attention.