During our testing period, we paid close attention to details that matter in a camp chair, like how well the cup holders and pockets work. We weighed and measured them, carried them all over, and jumped into them to see what they could handle. What follows is a comprehensive discussion of our in-depth findings from months of lounging. This extra-wide web chair is designed for your ultimate comfort and is perfect for barbeques, picnics, and days spent at the beach. Best of all, the chair folds up for easy storage and transport, so you’ll always have the best seat in the house. Finding a balance between comfort, durability, and affordability can be difficult when shopping for a camping-style chair.
And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. The sling is just plain canvas though, it isn’t waxed, which means it will absorb and hold onto water to some degree. So patio furniture sets if the forecast calls for rain, you’ll want to fold these puppies up for storage. Item prices do not include fees for pickup, shipping or delivery (if applicable) unless noted in the item description.
While the feet of our shorter testers rested comfortably on the ground, Kelty also makes a version that’s several inches taller. Made of durable materials, this chair can stand up to the trials of seating multiple people and even dogs for extended periods. After three straight years of regular use and some severe sun exposure, it’s fading a bit but is still as comfortable as the first day we got it.
If you’re willing to try something a bit unique, a heavy-duty steel frame and sturdy fabric means your investment in this chair should pay off for a lifetime of outdoor relaxation. However, since many campers prefer chairs at a traditional height, the Kelty Lowdown narrowly missed winning our Best Overall pick. The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong is our favorite camping chair and one of two we deem the most comfortable. The King Kong has consistently been the first chair snagged whenever our test team gathers around a campfire. The slightly padded fabric makes it ideal for long lounging sessions, and the seat itself is exceptionally roomy — if a bit slouchy — with an incredibly stable frame.
And while their high denier fabric is not as breathable as the mesh that some of the other chairs have, it is more durable than most. Since both of these chairs were very popular with our testers, they sustained several ember burns from folding lawn chairs being around so many campfires. Despite these small melted holes, the fabric showed no other signs of strain or wear. Thanks to their light weights and compact designs, the Helinox chairs are the clear winners in this category.
If lumbar support is a must, it could be worth transporting a bit of extra weight to have a super sturdy chair on your site. These made-in-the-USA chairs are lightweight, foldable, stackable and durable, with rustproof aluminum and webbing that’s fade-, UV- and weather-resistant. They’re available in a wide variety of colors and sizes — from low-slung beach chairs up to the supersized “Magnum” lawn chairs. The strap that supports the back (and doubles as a carry strap) allows adjustments to control your angle of recline, from upright to a stargazing-appropriate angle. Unlike other portable chairs, the Everywhere Chair is designed to sit on uneven slopes; this can be handy when space is limited at a fireworks show or an outdoor theater performance.
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. They’re also far more expensive and significantly less comfortable than typical full-size camp chairs. We recommend buying this type only if you intend to carry your chair long distances, whether you’re backpacking or trekking across Central Park. If you do need a fits-in-a-knapsack chair, we recommend the Helinox Chair One.