Comfort is decidedly lower in foam chairs — we noted that the PowerLounger curled our shoulders in and dug into our underarms the least. With so many backpacking chairs on the market, how do you pick the right one? In this article, we’ve identified the four most important qualities to look for in a chair. We rate each seat on its comfort throughout 30 minutes of lounging, its size and how much it weighs, its overall stability when getting in and out, and its ease of use.
Expensive but highly rated swinging chairs like the Stargazer are equipped with adjustable headrests and padded armrests, cup holders, and legs that let you swing on any surface (unlike a rocking chair). Aside from the fantastic reclining range that truly earns its “stargazer” name, it also weighs in at an ultralight 7 pounds. While it’s still too heavy to backpack with, you won’t be hurting too much if you carry it a mile or so to your local hidden beach or sunset hangout spot. This rings true with the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat, which is a basic piece of egg-carton style foam. Despite its simplicity, it offers exceptional value for its low price, extreme durability, minuscule weight, and versatility.
All this at a good price, making it an incredible value for a comfy camp chair that’s built to last through countless seasons. Rockers are usually a bit more affordable but don’t work as well if you’re trying to lay back and stargaze. If most of your camping is under pavilions or you feel confident in being able to find sturdy trees near your campsite, look for a hammock-style fabric chair, which will weigh less and likely be more comfortable. Paying a little more, if you can, will get you more useful options, like cupholders and padded arm rests, and sturdier construction that can withstand heavy outdoor use. The Kelty’s polyester seat cover manages to meld a cloud-like cushion with a supportive feel that’s kind to your back after a long day of roughing it.
The angle of repose is adjustable with a sliding buckle, and we found the models that allow you to cinch by pulling down rather than up to be the easiest to use. The seat fabric is stiff, leading to several pressure points over time. Attaching the seat fabric to the aluminum frame also takes a little finessing. ozark trail hammock chair It has a lot of short tube segments, and the legs are especially challenging to fold up and pack away. Gripes aside, for those on a budget, this chair is a solid pick for more casual adventures. Make sure you also kit yourself out with an air bed pump so you can quickly inflate your air bed with little fuss.
Despite being light, we generally find the taco-style chairs like the Crazy Creek Hex Original 2.0 and Crazy Creek Original harder to pack than the tent-style chairs because they are so stiff. Despite its heavy weight, the Crazy Creek PowerLounger does have a compression strap just for this purpose and ozark trail camping chair is very convenient to roll up. It can be stowed beneath the lid or on the side of many backpacking packs. Of the products that offer the best value, the Moon Lence Backpacking Chair stands out. This lesser-known brand still performs above average in most areas while keeping the price astonishingly low.
Weighing only 11 lbs., it’s easy to take along on outdoor excursions. When you’re finished for the day, just place it in your closet or car trunk and be ready for next time. Enjoy some time relaxing in the woods, at the beach or park, or in your backyard with the Ozark Trail Steel Folding Hammock Chair with Padded Seat.
Each month during an equal payments plan you are required to pay in full by the due date that month’s equal payments plan instalment. The Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Chair from Walmart, although similar to our pick in size, was far less comfortable, with rough-feeling material that was obviously of lower quality. We later found, after six months of frequent use, that the stitching along one arm had come unravelled and that the small straps holding up the back of the armrests had both ripped in half. The Renetto’s big, heavy canopy provides ample sun protection at a campsite or cookout and doubles as a backpack-strap-equipped carrying case. After a full day in nature, few things are more comfortable than coming back to your campsite, changing into warm clothing, and relaxing in your camp chair. If you’re buying a new camp chair and want swinging or rocking functionality, you should expect to spend a bit more.
Bring out your grill and prepare for an outdoor barbeque or picnic at the park. Big 5 Sporting Goods has budget friendly canopies, umbrellas, chairs and tables to make your next outdoor gathering a roaring success. And when the weather gets chilly, keep warm with men’s and women’s outdoor apparel and rainwear. Celebrate the light, airy feeling of spring with new picks for your patio & garden space. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions.