And after regularly using the chair for six months (and leaving it out in the rain on occasion), it’s still in great condition. The right chairs can make or break a camping trip — no one wants to go into a s’mores-induced sugar coma while squirming in a flimsy foldable. And if you’re lugging all your gear on a backpacking journey, a portable seat you can properly rest on is even more crucial. Knowing which brands and models to trust is the first step to creating your own outdoor oasis.
Thankfully the Cooler Quad does a great job balancing robust construction with add-ons such as the titular 4-can cooler on the left armrest. You know you’re getting a quality chair with an integrated cooler rather than a carry cooler with a seat. This Coleman camping chair also did a great job staying dry when the sun came out, and I started to sweat. It never managed to soak through, though I doubt that would be the case in any kind of rain.
The pocket is especially handy for keeping track of your phone or other small items you want to access easily. After six months of use, we love storing this chair in our car trunk for easy access. The included stuff sack has both a handle and a shoulder strap for hands-free carrying. GCI’s Freestyle Rocker is sturdy and supportive but provides a soothing swaying motion.
While paying premium prices for a camping chair when you only make it to the wilderness a couple times of year may not seem practical, good portable seating can be an invaluable addition to your home life too. If your chair has pole legs, just make sure that you bring along a ground sheet if you may be encountering soft surfaces like sand. We tested one chair at a time, starting by setting them up for use and paying close attention to whether there was any guesswork or fumbling involved in assembly.
Made with durable and sturdy materials, this camping chair is designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor use. The steel frame provides stability and support, while the cushioned seat and backrest offer optimal comfort even during extended periods of sitting. Between the cooler, the reinforced cup holder, and the side pocket, the Cooler Quad is designed to keep you right where you are. In total, it’s a pretty great coleman pop up canopy deal for anyone looking to invest in a mid-tier camp chair that offers competitive comfort and all the features you could want. The makings of great camping chairs aren’t all that complicated, and Coleman’s Cooler Quad hits the nail on the head. The tall back, wide seat, and subtle-yet-serviceable padding let me feel like I could really relax and forget momentarily that I was supposed to find things to criticize.
For this article, lifelong camper Lydia Price joined a group of other editors to put 29 outdoor chairs to the test in our New York City lab. They carefully evaluated the comfort, durability, portability, coleman pop up canopy and value of each chair to put together this list of the best options for camping. Outdoor furniture is not one size fits all, so think carefully about your unique needs before committing to a style.