The Best Camping Chairs
Table of Contents
Why sit down on the hard ground or a stump or a rock when you can plop yourself into a comfortable chair? Camping chairs have become an essential piece of equipment that can transform your outdoor activities.
Heading to an outdoor concert and don’t feel like sitting on wet or muddy grass? Low-seated camping chairs can keep you comfortable without blocking the view of the people behind you. If you love backpacking and want a reliable seat to take a rest or enjoy your lunch, some small and lightweight camping chairs can fit in your backpack so you don’t have to lug around a big chair all day. No matter what plans you have in store, camping chairs come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, weights, and designs so you can find the best camping chair for you and your needs. To narrow down your search, think about where you plan to use your chair. Are you sitting around a fire in your backyard or at a campground? Are you hiking through the backcountry? Knowing where you’re going to use your chair will help give you a better idea of the design, size, and features you need from your camping chair. For a breakdown of some key factors to consider when looking for a camping chair, head down to the bottom of the article:
1. Editor's Pick: Coleman Camping Chair
- Wide seat
- Insulated cooler
- Extra mesh pocket
- Comes in 3 colours
- Includes carrying bag
- Thin steel
- Seams may rip
- May need off-gassing
- Armrests don't support a lot of weight
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Steel |
Seat Height: | 18.1" |
Weight: | 7.75 lbs |
Max Weight: | 325 lbs |
Perfect for casual or avid campers, this basic camping chair is made from high-quality steel and cushioned seats to give you a comfortable chair made to last.
This Coleman Camping Chair is the perfect balance between functionality and comfort. Its fully cushioned seat and backrest gives your body a soft place to relax while its sturdy steel frame keeps you supported season after season. You can keep all of your belongings safe and within arms reach thanks to its handy side mesh pocket which perfect for storing your phone, wallet, keys, or a snack. With a cup holder built into the armrest and an additional insulated pouch, it's the perfect chair for campgrounds and parks.
2. Runner Up: AmazonBasics Portable Camping Chair
- Portable
- Insulated cooler
- Comes in 2 colours
- Includes carrying bag
- Includes mesh side pocket
- Not durable
- Low quality hinges
- Shallow cup holder
- Colour will fade with sun exposure
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Alloy steel |
Seat Height: | 19" |
Weight: | 6.7 lbs |
Max Weight: | 200 lbs |
This portable camping chair provides you with the same extra features at half the price.
This AmazonBasics Portable Camping Chair is a great option if you just plan on using it a couple times a year. Despite its weight, it has a cup holder in the arm rest, a side mesh pocket, and a beverage cooler pouch, making it great for casual campers, backyard events, or tailgating. Buy this padded camping chair if you're looking for one with a built-in cooler. It's a solid option that will give you the most bang for your buck.
3. Best Portable: Trekology YIZI GO Portable Camping Chair
- Portable
- Easy to set up
- Side mesh pocket
- Lower back support
- Three adjustable seat heights
- Sand pad sold separately
- May have a short lifespan
- May be difficult to get in/out of
- May not live up to max weight capacity
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Aluminium |
Seat Height: | 15" |
Weight: | 2.4 lbs |
Max Weight: | 300 lbs |
Relax anywhere and everywhere with this lightweight and portable camping chair while enjoying three different seat heights and extra low back support.
If you like to travel off the beaten path and need a camping chair to accompany you on your hiking trips, this Trekology YIZI GO Portable Camping Chair will do the trick. This super lightweight chair can be set up in seconds and collapse down into a small carrying pouch that you can stash away into your backpack. Sit close to the ground and enjoy a relaxing rest with a new deeper seat fabric that provides you with extra lower back support! Equipped with side mesh panels to help keep you cool and a side pouch to store your drinks, this lightweight and portable chair is a great versatile option.
4. Best for the Beach: ENAVANT Portable Camping Folding Chair
- Padded seat
- Built-in cup holder
- Can get a set of two or a set with a table
- Detachable isothermal pouch and pocket pouch
- Not comfortable enough for some
- Cup holder is a little tall and short drink cans can be difficult to remove
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Alloy steel |
Seat Height: | 38.1" |
Weight: | 10.89 lbs |
Max Weight: | 220 lbs |
Perfect for casual or avid campers, this portable camping chair has a high-quality steel frame, steel hinges, and an extra padded seat to give you a comfortable chair that is made to last.
This oversized ENAVANT Portable Camping Folding Chair is the perfect balance between functionality and comfort. Its fully cushioned seat and backrest gives your body a soft place to relax while its sturdy steel frame keeps you supported season after season. You can even keep all of your belongings safe and within arms’ reach thanks to the handy little pocket pouch which is perfect for storing your phone, wallet, keys, or a snack. The chair folds up easily and comes with a carry bag that has a shoulder strap to make it easy to transport from the car to your destination. With a cup holder built into the armrest and an additional detachable isothermal pouch that attaches to the side of the chair, it's the perfect choice to take to the beach, camping, to the park or even in your backyard.
5. Best with Footrest: ALPS Mountaineering Escape Camp Chair
- Durable
- Comfortable
- Comes in 4 colours
- Includes carrying case
- Adjustable and removable footrest
- Pricey
- Heavy
- Chair can tip when getting out
- May be difficult to get in/out of
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Alloy Steel |
Seat Height: | N/A |
Weight: | 10 lbs |
Max Weight: | 225 lbs |
Bring the comforts of home to your next camping trip with this chair that includes its very own removable footrest!
Just because you’re enjoying the outdoors, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your comfort. With this ALPS Mountaineering Escape Camp Chair, you can sit back and relax in style and make all of your site neighbours jealous. This foldable camping chair uses a strong 600D polyester fabric and a powder coated steel frame to give you a chair that's both durable and comfortable. The best part? Aside from a convenient cup holder, this ALPS chair comes with a removable and adjustable footrest so you can feel like you’re sitting in your favourite recliner while staring at the stars.
6. Best Luxurious: KHORE Oversized Folding Camping Chair
- Built-in cup holder
- Oxford cloth cover
- Comes in 2 colours
- Padded seat, back and armrests
- Noisy
- Pricey
- No storage pockets
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Steel |
Seat Height: | 25.5" |
Weight: | 13.2 lbs |
Max Weight: | 380 lbs |
This camping chair may cost more than other camping chairs, but when it comes to your comfort sometimes it pays to spend a little more to get a little more.
With this luxurious KHORE Oversized Folding Camping Chair, you get enough extra features that will make this your go-to choice whether you are sitting in the backyard or deep into the back woods. The heavy-duty chair only weighs 13lbs but is made with a sturdy steel frame that can carry up to 380lbs of weight and is covered in strong oxford cloth. The round saucer-shaped chair envelops your body in comfort with its padded seat, back, and armrests. Easy to fold up and totally portable, this camping chair also comes with a carrying bag with a shoulder strap making it ideal for camping, hiking, backyard lounging, and a day at the beach.
7. Best Versatile: Portal Folding Director's Chair
- Rigid armrests
- Foldable side table
- Comes in 2 colours
- Director’s chair seat design
- Not durable
- No carry bag
- No storage pockets
- Uncomfortable for some
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Steel |
Seat Height: | 17.75" |
Weight: | 10.2 lbs |
Max Weight: | 225 lbs |
This versatile camping chair has an attached, foldable little table to hold everything from you coffee and sunglasses to your book or Kindle.
The design of this Portal Folding Director's Chair is different from the others on our list as it is similar to a director’s chair, with a single, strong canvas polyester material strip along the top to rest your shoulders, an open back, a straight seat, and rigid armrests all stretched over a lightweight tubular steel frame. With an off-ground seat height of 17.75", it is easy to get into and out if the chair, which makes it a great choice for seniors or anyone with knee or spine issues. Easy to fold and carry, you can take it camping, to the beach, or anywhere you want a comfortable seat.
8. Honourable Mention: Cascade Mountain Tech Portable Camp Chair
- Lightweight
- Comes in 2 colours
- Removable headrest
- Carrying bag with backpack straps
- Frame and seat fold up separately into a small bundle
- Not durable
- No cup holder
- Narrow design
- May be hard to assemble
- No storage pocket or pouch
Key Specs
Frame Material: | Aluminum |
Seat Height: | 16" |
Weight: | 3.27 lbs |
Max Weight: | 250 lbs |
This camping chair is worth a mention for a few reasons, especially for anyone looking for a really lightweight option.
The Cascade Mountain Tech Portable Camp Chair weighs less than 4lbs so carrying it on a long hike won’t be arduous or strain your shoulders or back. The fabric seat cover and aluminum frame both fold down into a small package that fits nicely into the included carry in case that has straps to hold the tidy bundle on your back. The chair sports a strong aluminum frame, with a 600D polyester covering that has a breathable polyester mesh back for extra comfort and ventilation so you won’t feel hot and sweaty the way you might sitting against a solid canvas or polyester fabric. This camping chair also has a cool removable headrest, ideal for settling back, closing your eyes, and relaxing on a hot summer afternoon at the beach.
What to Look For In a Camping Chair
Portability
Portability is a huge factor to consider when shopping for a camping chair. For example, if you’re going backpacking the type of chair that works best for you would look a lot different than someone looking to go car camping. Regardless of where you go, your camping chair should be able to fold up and be easily stored away in some sort of sleeve that has handles or a carrying strap so you can move your chair from place to place with little to no struggle.
Another element to keep in mind when shopping for camping chairs is convenience vs. comfort. If you need to stash your chair away in a backpack, lightweight and foldable chairs are the way to go. If your chair will only be sitting at camp, you can get the biggest and most decked out chairs on the market since all you need to worry about is making sure it can fit in your car.
Comfort
Comfort can mean something different to everyone. For some people it may be reclining in a chair with a nice headrest and a cup holder, while others just need a sturdy frame that supports their back and keeps their butt off the ground. No matter what activities you have in store, most camping chairs, even the low budget ones, prioritize the comfort of their chairs. The key is determining where you plan to use your chair to help you find the right level of comfort for you.
Weight
If you plan on backpacking with your chair, choosing a lightweight model is vital. If you’re only bringing it to the car and then out to the campsite, the weight of your chair doesn’t have to be a big selling point. Keep in mind, the lighter the chair is the smaller the size and thickness the legs will be.
Weight Capacity
Always check the weight capacity of your chair before you enter your credit card info. Generally, the size of the chair coincides with a chair's stability as well as its weight capacity, so taking a look at this spec can be a good indication of how durable it’s going to be.
Materials: Quality and Durability
It’s not unusual for the price of a chair to give you an idea of the quality of the materials used in the frame and fabrics. Some models use aluminum frames which can hold a decent amount of weight and are corrosion resistant, whereas steel frames aren’t as durable and are a bit cheaper. The fabric of your chair needs to be strong enough to withstand the demands of the sun, rain, sparks, dirt and you. Nylon is seen in many chairs thanks to its water resistant abilities, and foam fabrics are also beneficial if you’re on the hunt for a durable yet comfortable chair. What you pay for is usually what you get regarding quality, so if you pick up a $15 chair don’t be too surprised when the fabric or legs only make it through a few trips.
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About the Author: Carlen Oliveira
Carlen Oliveira is a graduate from Ryerson University’s RTA Sport Media program and is currently working as a writer based out of Toronto. She has an avid interest in all things sports and finding engaging new ways to workout. With limited access to gyms and friends during the pandemic, she discovered her love of individual activities like yoga and skipping, which push her both mentally and physically. When she’s not writing or working out, you can find her exploring the outdoors and travelling, come rain or shine… and especially snow!