A good camping chair certainly makes your time in the outdoors a lot more comfortable. You’ll have somewhere dry and comfy to sit while taking in the fresh air, staring at the stars and having great conversations around the campfire. It beats sitting on soggy ground or having to sit on a waterproof matt while you’re preparing food or chilling out after a long hike.
There’s quite a big range of camping chairs on the market, some of which are a bit bulky and designed for car camping and SUVs. Others are light and pack down to a size that can easily slip into your backpack for hiking camping trips (we call these backpacking chairs!).
Choosing the right camping chair for your needs can be a little tricky. You’ll need it to be durable, comfortable, and practical for the kind of camping you love most. In this review, we have pulled together a range of the best camping chairs and compared them against each other so you can find the one for you, quickly and easily.
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The Kelty Deluxe camping chair is one of the most comfortable around. It is a little heavy for backpacking but it’s perfect for car camping or SUV-ing.
The camp chair weighs just 10lbs and rolls up in the handy included roll tote. You could easily stack 3 or 4 neatly in your car if you wanted to buy a set for the whole family.
The chair is super easy to set up. Once you’re sitting in it, you’ll appreciate the wide sitting area and the comfy seat and backrest. The steel legs are wide and make sure the chair is stable, so stable that you can begin to recline.
That’s right, this camp chair reclines and has three different levels to choose from, so you can relax to the max while enjoying the outdoors. As much as reclining is lovely, some do enjoy sitting up straight, which can a bit tricky in this chair.
The armrests are also adjustable to suit your mood and get you comfy. Each armrest comes with an insulated cup holder that fits anything from a soda to a beer.
Not only it is comfortable but also very well made. It’s constructed from 600D polyester and a steel frame, so you can expect this chair to last season after season. That is why we gave it the allround best camping chair title!
The LEKI Sub1 Folding Chair is the lightest in the review at just 1lb. It breaks down the same way a tent might, making it light with a small pack size and very portable. if you’re looking for a backpacking chair, this could be it.
You might think that the design would make it tricky to set up and not so stable, but that is not the case. This backpacking chair can be set up in under a minute and once on the ground is nice and stable to sit in.
It comes with high-strength aluminum shafts and toothed rubber feet that ensure its stability on uneven ground, while the glass-fiber-reinforced plastic keeps it light.Â
The seating area is wide for comfort and one of the best features is that the carrying case attaches to the camp chair as a storage pocket. This means you can keep your magazine or flashlight close by.
Overall, an awesomely portable stable camp chair that’s great for any kind of camping. It is a bit expensive but light and durable products usually are.
The Crazy Creek Leisure Chair certainly has a funky look and is made for SUV or car camping more than anything else. This is because the chair packs down quite large and would fit nicely in the trunk of your car but not on the side of your backpack.
The camp chair is very easy to set up, you just open it up and sit down. It’s also sturdy and very supportive, particularly for those who aren’t steady on their feet. The seat is quite high and easy to get in and out of, even for older campers and is nice and comfy to sit in.
Once you’re sitting down, you’ll notice the organizer stash pocket on the side where you can keep your book, flashlight, or magazine. There’s also a folding side table that is easy to unfold and super handy for putting your plate or cup of coffee on. It also features handles and shoulder carrying strap for easy transportation.
A great car camping or SUV camping chair, but not for backpacking.
The Kelty Loveseat is pretty similar to the Kelty Deluxe except its a two person camping chair. If you love camping with a cuddle, then this Loveseat might be the right one for you.
It’s a super comfortable camp chair thanks to the 600D quilted polyester seat and backrest. The high D count also makes it very durable. The seat and backrest certainly won’t wear out easily. The frame is made from quality steel which keeps the chair stable and heavy duty enough to hold two people with ease.
There are some cool features that come with the Loveseat. You can recline, adjust the arms, and use the two insulated cup holders for your drinks in the evening. The chair pack’s down quickly and easily, plus it rolls up nicely into the padded roll-tote storage bag.Â
Being a two person chair made, it is pretty heavy and weighs 16lbs. This makes it a car and SUV camping chair, and certainly too heavy for backpacking.
The Coleman Portable Camping Chair is one of the most affordable in the review. If you’re on a budget and looking for a convenient, comfortable camping chair, this is a good choice.
It’s good for every kind of camping, from backpacking to SUV-ing. Weighing 8lbs, it’s a little heavy for backpacking, but it does fold down into a handy carry case that you can strap onto the side of your backpack or easily store in the trunk of your car.
It’s super simple to set up, simply open up the chair and get to sitting comfortably. One the one side you have you have a handy mesh pocket and cup holder and on the other a zipped cooler.
The cooler will hold ice and fit a few beers inside it, it’s not the best in terms of insulation but it’s still a cool feature.
Overall a great camping chair for the price. It’s not as durable as some and it’s a little tough to get back into the bag, but you do get what you pay for.
The Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Camping Chair is a simple, affordable chair that does all the basics well. It costs just $23 and is our favorite if you’re on a budget.
Weighing just 3.88lbs and neatly folding into the provided carry case, you can easily strap it on to your backpack without feeling too much extra weight. It’s also a great size for putting in your trunk without taking up too much room.
It’s made from a heavy-duty steel frame that unfolds easily to give you a wide seat and a mesh backrest. The mesh provides great airflow and is ideal for camping in warm weather, you’ll never get sweaty sitting in this camp chair.
The armrests are comfy, a good height, and come with a built-in cup holder so your beverage is always safe and accessible.
Overall one of the greatest, simplest, most portable camp chairs that has a great price. It’s not as durable as some but comes with a 1-year warranty to cover you if anything goes wrong.
If you love your rocking chair at home but haven’t found a way to take it camping yet, then the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker is the chair you’ve been waiting for.
It’s a little heavy and bulky for backpacking but will easily sit in the trunk of your car or SUV. It folds flat for easy storage and transportation and unfolds easily when you want to sit down and rock away in the breeze.
The GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker is made from a heavy-duty powder-coated steel frame with patented Spring-Action Rocking Technology that lets you rock on any surface, no matter where you are. There are padded armrests for extra comfort, a drinks holder and it comes with a convenient carry handle.Â
Overall, a quality budget camping chair at a good price that’s super comfortable, especially if you love a rocking chair. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so with this rocker, you’re getting a chair for life.
The Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Compact Camping Chair is for those that really love ultralight camping chairs. After all, it weighs just over a pound and packs down super compact for transport.
It comes with its own stuff sack that is made from durable ripstop nylon, which is handy considering the number of times you take it in and out of the bag over its lifetime.
Of course, there are a few downsides to the Helinox chair too – especially when you have to compromise on weight and size. First, it is a little fiddly to set up, with multiple poles to arrange, kind of like a tent. But once that is done, you just have to hook on the material and the seat is ready to rock.
Another minor drawback I find is that t is only 8.5 inches off the ground. This is not an issue if you are backpacking or maybe using it as a beach chair. So, although it is a great portable chair, for longterm campers it might not be as comfortable as you are looking for.
The Kijaro Dual Lock Camping Chair is a quality camping chair that comes at a great price. It’s a little more expensive than some of the cheaper options but its a lot more durable.
It has a dual locking system that makes the seat very firm to ensure there is no sagging while you sit down. It locks open and locks closed to make it a bit easier for traveling with. It’s a little heavy and bulky for backpacking but it’s ideal for car and SUV camping.
It’s made from a solid frame with 600 and 300D ripstop polyester. This makes it very durable and stable to sit in, especially for those who might have a bad back and need extra support. The base can get a little sweaty but the mesh back and headrest keep you cool while sitting. The seat and headrest are also padded for extra comfort.
The chair comes with two cup holders, an organizer with pockets for your cell phone, and more. There’s a carry strap attached to the chair and it comes with its own carry bag. It’s available in a large range of colors too
Overall a great camping chair for car and SUV trips. The bolts come a little loose on arrival so be sure to tighten them.
The Trekology YIZI GO Portable Camping Chair is an ideal choice for backpacking. It’s light and packs down very small to fit neatly in your backpack so you can carry it anywhere you fancy setting up camp.
It weighs just 2.1lbs and packs down into a carry bag that’s just 11 x 4.3 x 6 inches. The frame is made from high strength aluminum alloy and the seat is made from 600D polyester seat fabric with double reinforced V stitching. This combination makes this backpacking chair very durable.Â
The seat and back are fitted with mesh panels for breathability to keep you cool and stop you from sweating. The carry case also clips on to the base as a handy storage compartment. The only drawback is the lack of cup holders, but you can’t have everything.
The chair is quick and easy to set up with its tent-style design and comes in a few colors to choose from.
Overall a quality backpacking chair that’s perfect for backpacking.
The MOON LENCE Ultralight Camping Chair is the only waterproof camping chair in the review, making it ideal if you spend time in rainy areas.
The seat is made from 600D Oxford cloth, a highly durable fabric that’s excellent at repelling water. It’s breathable too to ultimate comfort.
The frame is made from high-strength aluminum alloy and neatly folds up with ease. The chair weighs just 2lbs and packs down quite small. This makes it very portable and easy to carry. It’s perfect for throwing into your backpack while hiking.
This handy backpacking chair has a low profile, which makes it ideal for those wanting to read in a smaller tent. However, it is a little low for some and the legs are a bit narrow and can end up sinking into soft ground.
Overall, it’s a great lightweight chair that’s great for anything from backpacking to tailgating.
The Alps Mountaineering King Kong camping chair is the one you bring to camp when you want the ultimate in camping luxury and sturdiness. It is not designed to win any lightest camping chair awards and it comes with all the features you need. You could even use it as a beach chair.
Its super strong, powder-coated steel frame is going to hold just about any weight and the durable 600D polyester fabric will hold up to lots of abuse out in the wild. The Alps Mountaineering King Kong also comes with adjustable armrests, along with a handy cup holder for your cold beverage, and a side pocket to throw in your iPad, Kindle, or just a bag of snacks!
Along with all these great features, it also comes complete with a handy should carry bag making it easy to carry to camp. It’s no wonder this chair has so many 5 star reviews on Amazon and is often out of stock.
Here are the key factors to consider when buying a camping chair.
All the camping chairs in this review use a combination of either steel and aluminum with high D polyester or oxford fabric. These are excellent materials that will last and ensure you can use your camping chair season after season. That being said, the quality of these materials does vary, and the best way of knowing it based on the price.
Be wary of very inexpensive camping chairs as the materials will most likely be of poor quality and the chair may not last a year. If you’re on a budget, try to get an affordable chair with a warranty to cover you.
Each camping chair comes with maximum weight capacity and you’ll notice we have labeled this under each review in the Info section. It’s important to ensure that the chair has ample support for whoever may be using it, so be sure to check it will hold you before you buy it.
Size is another factor to be aware of. Some camp chairs are wide and others skinny, picking the wrong one could make sitting in your camping chair very uncomfortable. Be sure to look at the dimensions of each one in the Info section. All the camping chairs in the review will fit most people but it’s still worth checking.
If you plan on going backpacking then you’ll need a lightweight chair that packs down small so you won’t be burdened with extra weight and can fit it in your pack. There are some very light options in the review that weigh just 1-2lbs that are ideal for backpacking.
If you camp using a car or SUV, then you have access to a larger range of much more comfortable chairs with some added extra features. It’s still important to consider how it packs down so you can store it easily.
Most of the camping chairs in the review have some added extras like a mesh pocket and cupholders. Some even have a cooler or recline. These additional features are great but they’re definitely just additional, and you should focus on quality, comfort, and portability first.
Here are our top choices from the review.
The best allrounder is the Kelty Deluxe. This chair is super comfortable, durable, and has three reclining positions for any camping mood. It’s a little heavy for backpacking but it’s light for car camping at just 10lbs.
The best of them all is the LEKI Sub1 Folding Chair. This chair is not only comfortable and very well made but it packs down to a tiny size and weighs just 1lb. Ideal for any kind of camping trip and it’s made to last.
The best camping chair, if you’re on a budget, is the Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Camping Chair. This chair is simple, light, comfortable, portable, and comes with a 1-year warranty. Plus it’s just $23.