Because people use outdoor chairs for an array of purposes and have different preferences when it comes to comfort, it was almost impossible to choose just one best chair. We did select our favorite upright chair for car camping and tailgating, and then additional low-to-the-ground, ultra-lightweight, and canopy picks, as well as a great chair for kids. The Renetto Original Canopy Chair, a cleverly designed specialty seat, is ideal for anyone who wants sun protection and doesn’t mind a heavier, bulkier chair. Despite the Renetto’s weight, our testers found it easy to carry and simple to set up and adjust. We discovered that even though most testers had not previously considered a shade-equipped camp chair, once they used one they appreciated the comfort and convenience of built-in sun blocking.
The Kijaro Dual Lock Camping Chair has everything you need for a convenient and comfortable stay in the wilderness. Equipped with a locking feature that ensures it stays taut, this chair immediately impressed us with its standout comfort and sturdiness. The firm-yet-cozy seat is supportive enough to sit in for hours, and we were particularly pleased by how supportive the armrests were compared to other chairs with a similar design. You don’t always find comfortable over-sized chairs, and this chair works for everyone in my family.
Comfort varies from person to person and depends a lot on your size, build, and mobility. The new REI Co-op Wonderland Chair ($100) elevates the average camping chair to the next level. And rounding out this chair is an impressive amount of storage space, which comes in the form of two stretch elastic cargo pockets big enough to fit a tablet and a single hanging cup holder.
The monolith design and PVC material of the Aero Chair shrugs all of this treatment off, and it quickly became our go-to for camping excursions to the Pacific coast. The steel frame is plenty strong (even for two people) and can easily handle 400 pounds. And the quilted fabric is pliable, which is nice for multiple folks coleman camping chair sharing the same seat. Also, being primarily made of mesh and polyester, there could be concerns about durability. But we were satisfied in our testing period by the durability of the chair, finding that it could take a beating as we threw it in the back of our truck and tossed it around from backyard to campsite.
There aren’t many other options out there with such a high carrying capacity, this many features, and low weight at any price range. For all of the features and the size of the Cooler Quad, setting it up is just as easy as any coleman instant tent other basic camp chair. The only thing between you and an afternoon of grilling is getting it out of the sleeve. By making a simple folding camp chair well- Coleman’s Cooler Quad has made the rankings as one of our favorites.
Make s’more time even more fun for your kids with this pint-sized REI Co-op Camp Chair ($40). Our little testers love that they can carry their own chair and easily climb in and out of it without help. If you’re worried about your camp chair blowing away, this robust ALPS Mountaineering chair is your go-to choice. And with super sturdy, tough feet, this chair is unlikely to topple over. For ultimate all-around comfort, simplicity, and stability, we reach for the Skyward almost every time.
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 coleman cooler 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.