After a couple of camping trips, we concluded that a strap is more convenient than a bag—quicker and easier for a kid to grab the chair and go, without parental help. 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. After six months of regularly using the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair, we think it’s the best choice for most people who are seeking an upright chair for car camping, tailgating, and outdoor gatherings. We noticed during the first of our three camping trips—a weekend in California’s Joshua Tree National Park, with a total of seven families—that, given the choice, campers prefer to take the biggest seat.
Like the brand’s hammocks, the Lounger practically cradles you on all sides, with an aluminum frame that suspends the nylon seat. And unlike the similarly shaped Helinox Sunset above, the ENO includes a cup holder, two cargo pockets, and even a pillow for cushioning your head as you recline. The powder-coated aluminum frame makes the chairs very sturdy and durable. The garden chairs have a soft-to-the-touch, weather-resistant textilene top and can be adjusted into 7 positions, so you can always find the most comfortable seating position. Thanks to their lightweight construction, the chairs can be easily moved around. Our favorite low-profile lawn chair, which doubles as a beach chair, is the ITA Leisure Chair.
Although it doesn’t collapse in two directions like a camp chair, it folds nearly flat and weighs a scant four pounds, much less than the other lawn chairs in our test fleet. This extra-wide web chair is designed for your ultimate comfort and is perfect for barbeques, picnics, and days spent at the beach. The classic woven webbed chair is constructed with a lightweight yet sturdy aluminum frame and features a steel support bar and steel rivets—so you can be confident that it will hold up for years of enjoyment. Best of all, the chair folds up for easy storage and transport, so you’ll always have the best seat in the house. Many camp chair manufacturers provide a “weight capacity,” which can helpful in a number of ways. At the high end of the spectrum, the burly Alps Mountaineering King Kong has a very healthy 800-pound maximum, while the lightweight Helinox Chair Zero is listed at just 265 pounds.
For a wide selection of lawn chairs and camping chairs, start by shopping the selection at SCHEELS. Upgrade comfort and convenience with a lawn chair or camping chair from SCHEELS. We carry traditional lawn chairs that are lightweight, fold up, and store in a carrying bag for maximum convenience. These bag chairs are also a great choice for busy sports parents who are always looking for a comfortable alternative to bleachers. The Kijaro Dual Lock Folding Chair is a classic folding sports chair without any of the slouchy slack you’ve come to expect from camping chairs.
These styles don’t take all that long to set up, but it’s a small sacrifice in time that you make with most portable chairs. For us, we try and keep our packable chairs under or around 2 pounds to minimize their impact on our pack weight. Bringing along a chair is already outside of the typical realm of “essentials,” but 2 pounds can be something worth swinging for a short weekend trek. Activities beyond your backyard, like camping, tailgating, and hanging in the park, require a lightweight folding lawn chair that you can pack up, throw in your car, and easily carry to your desired destination.
These patriotic outdoor seats are perfect companions for all your summer fun, from Labor Day picnics and 4th of July barbecues to lazy days by the beach or lake. If you agree with that statement, you’ll likely love the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocking Chair, which allows you to rock anywhere you go. Whether you’re on the patio, front lawn, a concrete parking lot, or a dirt campsite, the patented spring-action rocking technology delivers smooth rocking motion on any surface.
On the opposite end of the price spectrum is the Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair, which is a serious splurge. But its impressive durability, superior comfort, and sleek look are worth the higher price tag, if you can swing it. The mesh FlexGrid fabric is totally breathable and incredibly strong, with the ability to support up to 500 pounds of weight without stretching out. While we’re partial to this Classic version, which sits at an ideal 15.5 inches above the ground, this chair is also available in both a low-back and high-back beach chair option, which are much shorter.
While it seems gimmicky at first, the canopy is actually pretty nice, especially as the day heats up and shade becomes increasingly necessary. The shade is also adjustable, making both blocking outdoor patio shades the sun and getting in and out of the chair without ducking easy. It doesn’t get any more All-American than a classic web-strapped folding chair—unless that webbing is red, white, and blue.
The bungee attachment of the zero gravity chairs gives a pleasant amount of support, which we really enjoy. On the other hand, if portability is your main concern, the Kijaro is just shy of 4 feet long when folded, making it a challenge to fit into some car trunks. It doesn’t impress us with its durability, as we’ve had issues with broken lock mechanisms, loosening pole joints, and easily stained fabric. On top of some other details like sloppy seams and wiggle room in parts of the frame that we don’t want wiggle in, we’re not convinced this chair will last as long as your desire to go outside will. However, the convenience of the lock and shoulder strap combined with the height and support still make the Kijaro a chair we often reach for when heading to barbecues and backyard hangouts. We spent hours researching the market for the best lawn chairs for every type of purpose, considering factors like usage, material, and portability as we compiled this list.
However, a two seater table set with foldable chairs should fit even limited spaces. And with foldable furniture, you can easily put them aside if you need space for other activities. Enjoy breakfast with the first sunshine of the day, and lunch under an umbrella if it gets too hot. Luckily, there’s a range of chairs to suit the style and dimensions of your sunny spot – from lounging in clean-line design to meals seated on slatted wood, and more.