A low-to-the-ground chair can be ideal for outdoor movies, concerts, theater performances, and other events where you want to avoid blocking other people’s view. Our testers liked the comfort and back support of the GCI Outdoor Everywhere Chair, as well as the ability to adjust it to sit on uneven ground. They also appreciated its cupholder (rare in chairs of this sort) and its quick close-up-and-carry design. However, as a raft guide, I prefer what some might call “glamping” — the more comfortable, the better. (After all, I can haul anything in that raft!) So while my favorite is a camp rocking chair, I also love a good loveseat by the water or a Crazy Creek in the alpine. If you’re conscious about the environmental impact of your gear, you may want to consider chairs made from eco-friendly or sustainable materials.
The Nemo Stargaze is a rocker/recliner, but it stands out due to its sturdy base that allows you to set up in rocky and sandy environments, which is rare for any camp chair. The seats are made of a heavy-duty 600-denier ripstop, and it has a sturdy steel frame. Weighing only 5.3 pounds, the Coleman Lightweight Utopia Breeze coleman canopy Beach Chair combines easy portability with a low-to-the-ground design so you can stretch your legs out in the sand. Whether motorcycle camping across North America (with her dog in a sidecar!), paddling whitewater in a tiny packraft, or traveling in a van she’s always ready to pivot and turn a challenge into an opportunity.
Then, there are folding-style chairs like the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker Chair, which fold along a central axis and create a flat package for moving about. And finally, there are the DIY-style chairs, such as the ENO Lounger DL where some assembly is required, though at a great benefit to overall packability. The armrests are comfortable, and our testers like the adjustable head pillow.
A wider leg base provides extra stability but often comes at the cost of weight and pack size. Some simply fold open, whereas others take a couple of minutes to assemble. But we were able to do it without reading the directions, and the tradeoff for the fun, rocking chair feature is worth it.
Yup, be sure to check out the instructions that come with your chair and safety guidelines, especially around set-up. Every chair we looked says to avoid exceeding the weight capacity of the chair, be careful around uneven surfaces, and ensure proper stability. While we suspect their lawyers made them say it, all the chair brands warn to supervise kids when using camp chairs. In our experience, it’s worth spending a little more on a camping chair to get something that will last longer and require less maintenance (e.g. removal of rust). While not a necessity for function, if you like how your chair looks, you’ll be more likely to use it and treat it well.
At nearly 11 pounds, it’s certainly not ultralight, but it’s not unmanageable either. But for those who want a simple, hardworking, all-around camp chair, the Skyward is our go-to choice. If you’re after a novelty chair with an included cooler, you’ve found it. But if you want something comfortable enough to watch an all-day soccer tournament and durable enough to bring back every season, we don’t think this one is a winner. If you notice some mildew on your chair or happened to enjoy a particularly muddy weekend, cleaning off your camp chair is a relatively straightforward process. I’d also recommend the Cooler Quad to anyone who wants a roomier camp chair but doesn’t want to spring for the more expensive top-of-the-line models.
“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 coleman camping chair comfortably outdoors. This low-profile chair is easy to carry, and it adjusts for uneven ground. The Renetto’s big, heavy canopy provides ample sun protection at a campsite or cookout and doubles as a backpack-strap-equipped carrying case. Are you a car camper or do you plan on socializing in friends’ backyards?
Even for lighter-weight campers, the King Kong chair is praised for its comfort. The directions are sewn into the carrying case, but even our least spatially-inclined tester had no problem setting up the Stargazer without instructions. Still, it’s worth practicing once or twice before taking it out on a trip.
The height from the ground to the bottom of the seat is an often overlooked yet extremely important consideration. This dictates not only how bent your legs will be but also makes a chair easier or more difficult to get out of. While most chairs don’t offer multiple heights, we will note that the ENO Lounger DL Chair does — with the choice of deploying either coleman canopy 3- or 10-inch legs. Let’s get this out of the way first, if you’re looking for the cheapest chair, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for an incredibly comfortable, durable, and stable chair, you’re in the right spot. For a chair that’s very similar in design, consider the REI Co-op Wonderland, which slides in at a bit less weight and $50 less out the door.