The Everywhere Chair closes like a book—simply lift the padded strap and go. “This is the Platonic ideal of your camp chair,” one of our campers gushed. Portable outdoor chairs are also helpful for anyone who doesn’t have the room or budget for permanent backyard furniture. And they can save your back, make it easier to juggle a picnic plate and a cold beverage, and generally help you to relax comfortably outdoors. This low-profile chair is easy to carry, and it adjusts for uneven ground.
And if you go too quick, you can pinch your fingers — like if you’re trying to quickly hop out of your chair if flighty embers kick up out of the campfire, which happened to us. But in a calm setting where being nimble isn’t a priority, our crew all loved being able to lean back, look up at the sky, and simply rock. When we sit in this chair, it’s one of the most supportive, stiff options out there, which is great if your back is achy or for folks who prefer an upright brace. The King Kong chair back is also relatively high, and we really appreciate that extra backing when we’re feeling tired — plus the seat is deep, reinforcing our hamstrings.
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. Generally speaking, the lightest chairs out there won’t deliver as plush of a sitting experience as bulkier products that weren’t meant to accompany you on backpacking adventures.
We wish the REI Co-op Wonderland was a bit more intuitive to fold out, but once you figure out its strap system it won’t take much time at all. And it’s hard to deny the ease of inflating the BOTE Inflatable Aero Chair XL, which pumps up in minutes. This is paramount if you’re backpacking, semi-important when packing the rig for car camping, and not very important when setting up in the backyard.
If you aren’t sure what exactly it is you’re looking for in your next chair beyond carrying capacity, take a look at our buyer’s guide for more information on the state of the industry. Also, be sure to check out our top picks of the season for an in-depth comparison between the best of the best. This coleman instant tent 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. Beyond this, it’s a cheap and cheerful camp chair that will give you everything you need and a little more, inarguably a bargain deal anyone shopping around should consider. As is the case with many mass-manufactured chairs, there tends to be some variance in quality over the years.
Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store
where some exclusions may apply. Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store where some exclusions may apply. You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. Select a chair with a built-in canopy, which will give you a little patch of cool at any campsite or cookout. Are you a car camper or do you plan on socializing in friends’ backyards?
And while this design is tailored to rocking, it’s not a good choice if you prefer to sit up straight. But if you’re looking for a unique chair and don’t mind making the investment, the Stargaze will serve you well. If a hammock and a camp chair had a baby, it would be the NEMO Stargaze Recliner ($300). This suspended chair allows for rocking on any type of terrain, and the tall back provides full neck support. In addition to camping, we’ve used this chair for many months as a daily office spot.
Camping trips, beach days, picnics in the park, outdoor movies and theater performances, a fresh-air get-together with friends—there are countless occasions when you might use a camp chair. For an ultra lightweight chair that’s ready to make your hiking breaks a breeze, opt for the Helinox Chair Zero. It has two open panels in the seat back for breathability, and when packed up in its ripstop polyester stuff sack, it’s totally tiny. This is a perfect option for throwing in a tote or backpack to take to the park and on hikes. We love that setup is quick and easy, because no one needs to struggle with poles after sweating it out on the trails. Its light weight also impressed — when we threw it around to assess its durability, the chair basically sailed like a feather.
The REI chair is rated to hold up to 150 pounds, the same as the L.L.Bean and Walmart chairs. We think the REI chair is most appropriate for toddlers and kids up to about 7 or 8 years old, though reviews reveal that some small adults have found this to be their favorite seat. It comes in gray or blue, and as of this update it gets 4.7 out of five stars from reviewers on the REI site. The Helinox Chair One weighs about 2 pounds, compresses smaller than a 2-liter bottle of soda, and is the most comfortable and easy to stow of the three top backpacking chairs we tested. Like competing chairs, the Chair One has a nylon and mesh seat and aluminum legs, which are linked with shock cord (the chair legs are made out of the same material as high-end tent poles). A close-to-the-ground chair is often the ideal choice for outdoor concerts, movies, theater performances, and other events where you will be concerned about blocking other people’s view.
An aluminum side table flips up when you’re ready to feast and includes a cup holder. The chair’s backrest is slightly angled, and those who prefer firm support enjoyed the strong, taut fabric. Thanks to the extra space for cup handles, mugs easily fit in the beverage slot. Although coleman camping chair it doesn’t come with a carrying bag, the chair has two built-in handles. The Coleman chair does have a unique folding design that we did not find very intuitive, but it worked smoothly once they got the hang of lifting up the sides of the seatbed to collapse the chair.