Since 2016, our testers (with different body types and physical needs) have subjected camping chairs to multiple camping trips. We chose the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair as the model with the right combination of comfort, durability, usability, and price for most campers. Moon Lence released a new generation of its Portable Camping Chair; this new version has a redesigned base and more mesh ventilation than its predecessor. It comes with a five-year warranty for its frame and a two-year warranty for its fabric; this rivals the warranty for our top lightweight pick. Renetto licenses its patent to a company called Kelsyus, which makes cheaper versions of the chair.
If you’re looking for highly specialized or ultra-lightweight chairs for backpacking, our recommendations are probably not for you. We also don’t have suggestions for couch-style or loveseat chairs (we’d like to look at those someday, though). After new testing, we still love the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair for most outdoors situations.
Relax in comfort wherever you go with this chair. This convenient foldable camping chair collapses for easy storage and transportation and has one cup holder. This folding chair is made from durable polyester fabric wrapped around a steel frame for long-lasting comfort and convenience.
We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that’s designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections. Unbeatable deal if you’re looking to buy several chairs at once.
Stumps, stools, boulders, and picnic tables are fine for sitting briefly outdoors. But if you want to kick back and stay comfy, the right camping chair can make all the difference. “I was so surprised how well it’s built and the packaging is awesome as I got two and it came with a bag. Very comfy chairs and sleek design.” The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair and the Flexlite Air (its featherweight sibling) are lighter than any other chairs in their category, but they felt less steady.
The canopy is big enough to block most, if not all, sunlight any time of day, and the chair’s seat has a strip of breathable mesh down the middle for airflow. Senior staff writer Lauren Dragan said the Renetto is her most comfortable camping chair. Many testers found other chairs more comfortable and easier to put together than the Nemo Moonlite Reclining Camp Chair. This is also the most expensive lightweight chair we tested, and we think the Chair One is a better value. Several Wirecutter staffers have owned the Coleman chair for years, using it on camping trips, in backyards, and at sporting events. For the most part, it’s held up well, but one common quibble is that the seat bottom begins to sag after several years of use.
You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. After years of intermittently using the Renetto chair, one staffer said it has held up great. Another said it’s been an essential chair in their ozark trail canopy life and that it is still going strong after countless soccer games, birthday parties, beach trips, and school events. This chair costs slightly more than the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair, but it’s still a budget-friendly option.
Whether you’re heading to the campsite or packing up your vehicle for a relaxing day down by the water, you’ll be able to provide comfortable seating options with foldable chairs. If you host a lot of outdoor parties, look for folding chairs with durable designs to give your guests a comfortable place to take a seat. Foldable armchairs with mesh cup holders and travel bags are great for bringing with you during outdoor sporting events and camping trips.