Best Camping Chairs

The outdoors always call us camping, fishing, trek, or a simple day out on the beach.

But to enjoy this nature to its fullest, you need a chair that engulfs your body and keeps it comfortable.

While sitting on the rough ground seems like a fine idea on paper, it indeed isn’t the most comfortable and safe idea when nature is in question. Reptiles, ants, mushy grounds are just a few of the starting points, and let’s not forget numb legs and bottoms.

It always helps to have a reliable chair that supports you during late-night campfire sessions and keeps you balanced while watching sunsets from a mountain top.

Buying a chair isn’t the easiest thing to do, as you need to consider various things before making your purchase. Luckily, we have mapped out an easy guide with the best portable camping chairs for your next trip.

Winner: Coleman Camping Chair

Our winner claiming the first price is Coleman Camping Chair. This item is an excellent and fully functional sitting option for all your outdoor needs.

The quality of this piece would baffle you as it will stay with you for many more camping trips to come. Let us look at some of its benefits, features, and drawbacks to understand the product better.

Featured Specs

• Manufacturer: Coleman
• Material: Metal
• Size: 8.1 x 37.6 x 9.1 inches
• Weight: 4 Kilograms
• Maximum Weight Recommendation: 325 Pounds

Benefits

• This chair has a sleek design and sturdy metal legs that stabilize your sitting position even on bumpy and uneven surfaces.
• Its armrest fashions a decent-sized insulated pouch for cold drinks and beverages. The portable and well-insulated cooler can hold up to four cans of drinks at a single time, so you need not worry about rushing to your cooler now and then.
• Its other side has a perfectly useful cupholder and a side media pocket. The cupholder is situated at the correct length for grabbing your hot or cold beverages. The side pocket serves as a great cubby to store your little knick-knacks, which can be accessible at the tip of your fingers. The side cubby is deep enough to hold books, keys, caps, snacks, phones, or tablets.
• You can choose from four fantastic color options like black, blue, grey, and red.
• The fabric of this chain comprises high-quality polyester that wouldn’t tear or rip apart after few uses. It is exceptionally comfortable and aids in a relaxed stance.
• You can easily roll this collapsible chair into a sleek, elongated form that takes minimal space during transit, making this one of the best-rated camping chairs on the market.
• The company provides a carry bag to keep the chair intact and safe from external environmental elements.
• This chair has a decent weight recommendation of 325 pounds, so many people of varying sizes can fit into this chair. The chair won’t bend or deconstruct on you if your weight falls under the required limit.
• Coleman Camping Chair is medium height and stands 24 inches from the ground, making it perfect for tall people to sit comfortably.

Drawbacks

• The Achilles heel of this product is the arm metal frame which is comparatively weak. The armrest tends to snap after several uses rendering the entire chair useless.
• It is a little heavy to carry simply by hand for long hours.
• The bag provided by the company is exceptionally unreliable, and the stitches usually come undone very quickly.

Extra Features

• This robust camping chair comes with a cushioned back and seat for a better sitting experience. 
• This extra padding would provide ample support and comfort to keep your back pain away.

Buying Advice

This item is undoubtedly your product if you want to have a decent-sized cooler with an extra comfortable seating option. However, we do not recommend purchasing the red chair as it will fade a lot faster than all the other colors when exposed to the sun for extended intervals.

Runner-up: ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair

Alps Mountaineering is one of the oldest outdoor gear companies in the industry. Since the company’s commencement in 1993, the company has seen many upgrades.

They have always been the pinnacle of ingenious designs and believers of excellent customer service. Keeping the same energy and values, the company keeps innovating beautiful designs, and one of them is the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair.

The sheer quality makes this one of the best folding chairs for camping. Let us read further to know more about the products’ benefits and drawbacks.

Featured Specs

• Manufacturer: ALPS Mountaineering
• Material: Polyester, metal
• Size: 38 x 38 x 20 inches
• Weight: 12.5 Pounds
• Maximum Weight Recommendation: 800 Pounds

Benefits

•  Alps Mountaineering chair has a high-quality powder-coated steel frame that balances people on rough terrains even with a considerable amount of weight.
• The company uses a perfect blend of 600D polyester fabric that stretches enough to provide comfort and extreme durability.
• You can select from 5 beautiful color options like citrus yellow, deep blue, khaki, grey, and salsa red.
• The chair supports a maximum weight of 800 pounds, which is a highly huge weight range compared to other products available.
• The arms of this chair are adjustable and come with a cup holder on both sides for extreme convenience. This camping chair also comes with a side pocket for maximum storage.
• The chair comes with a decent quality cover bag to help you carry this foldable seating arrangement anywhere.
• This chair has an outstanding roomy seat width measuring 24.5 inches wide. You wouldn’t have to compromise on the comfort by sitting crammed. This vast size is an excellent feature for people on a heavier side.

Drawbacks

• The fabric isn’t the softest and most breathable. This fabric is not for people with sensitive skin.
• This model has a significant dip, making it challenging to get up from the chair after sitting in it for few hours.
• Few people wished the chair’s height was on a higher side than usual.

Extra Features

It is a fact that doesn’t need any research backing, but we never run out of the need to have enough pockets. This chair understands your demands and has an extra-large back pocket for storing all the camping and outdoor essentials.

Buying Advice

If you search for a quality gear addition to your camping adventure, then congrats, you have found your dream chair. If you are on the bigger side, we highly recommend buying this chair without thinking twice.

Alternative: Coleman Camp Chair with Side Table

Our first alternative on the best outdoor folding chairs is Coleman Camp’s Chair with Side Table. This chair has the thickest fabric attached to it for back support.

Let us go through all the benefits, drawbacks, and buying advice to help you better picture this product.

Featured Specs

• Manufacturer: StealStreet (Home)
• Material: Aluminum
• Size: 31.2 x 216 x 8.46 inches
• Weight: 4 Kilograms
• Maximum Weight Recommendation: 225 Pounds

Benefits

• People who love extra structured chairs would surely love this product. The sturdiest chair on our list features aluminum as its base metal. The aluminum frame adds excellent strength while keeping the overall weight significantly lighter.
• This folding camping chair can hold up to 225 lbs weight making it easier to use even for people on a heavier side. This chair is truly built to last for strength and durability.
• The fabric is thick, high quality, and weather resistant. This fabric can withstand any seasonal elements, thus serving you well year after year.
• The Coleman Camp chair has a relaxed angled stance for an optimum pleasurable sitting experience. The chair completes itself with an added element of a padded back, truly making it the best camping chair for back support.
• The metal handles would not poke your skin as both are padded for consumers’ comfort.
• This chair comes with a one-year limited warranty for unusual damage or unsatisfactory results.

Drawbacks

• The seat stitching seams rip off from the frame after few uses. You can stitch it once before as an extra precautionary measure.
• The Amazon listing mentions steel as its base material, but the original base is aluminum. Buyers pay attention to this detail before purchasing.
• Few loyal customers wished the back was a little higher than the given size, or it should have a customizable feature to adjust the height.

Extra Features

The dominant highlight of this product is its sturdy side table feature. If you have kids or are clumsy yourself, then this product would surely come to your rescue during those awkward spilling moments.

The stand is decent-sized, sturdy, and not made of cloth; you can keep your books, pens, beverages, keys, and much more, all in one place.

Buying Advice

If you are an individual who loves a sturdy side table while sitting, then you should consider buying this chair. The chair doesn’t bend like regular chairs but folds flat and occupies less space.

Alternative: Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Camping Chair

Our second alternative is yet another Coleman product named The Broadband Mesh Quad Camping Chair. This super light and breezy model is one of the best folding camp chairs for summers.

We request you to read the review to know more about this product.

Featured Specs

• Manufacturer: COLEMAN
• Material: Steel
• Size: 35.5 x 8 x 8 inches
• Weight: 3.88 Pounds
• Maximum Weight Recommendation: 250 Pounds

Benefits

• This red-colored comfortable camping chair can hold up to 250 pounds maximum weight.
• The seat has plenty of space for sitting comfortably. It is extra wide with a 21.3-inch vast width for an excellent fit.
• The sitting system has an integrated cup holder to keep the beverages close to your hands.
• The nylon mesh fabric will offer excellent ventilation, especially for summers. Since most consumers feel wrapped inside a polyester jail during hot seasons, this would cool down your body temperature by keeping the back well ventilated.
• This product comes with a carry bag for easy protection and storage solution.

Drawbacks

• This chair is a little short for tall people. People with tall height face difficulty while comfortably sitting in this chair, especially for long periods.
• The chair has a tiny cup holder; you could not store big cups, hydro flask, or hold a soda can. You have to either transfer it into a smaller-sized bottle or keep it in your hands.

Extra Features

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any extra features that spoke to us while reviewing this product.

Buying Advice

If you do not get out during winters and wish to own a chair supporting your summer activities, this is the right product for you. You can slouch down and enjoy the warm weather without heating up. This chair is one of the simple yet practical designs you can purchase for a guaranteed comfortable time.

Alternative: Moon Lence Portable Camping Chair

Our last alternative is this modern-looking Moon Lence Portable Camping Chair. This chair is truly the epitome of sleek design and is travel-friendly, making it one of the best RV camping chairs available on the market.

As RVs usually have very little space, every inch inside the vehicle matters, so this product is an ideal purchase during such time. Let us look at the benefits and drawbacks to see whether this product is worth the hype.

Featured Specs

• Manufacturer: Moon Lence
• Material: Aluminum
• Size: 13.8 x 13.8 x 25.6 inches
• Weight: 2 Pounds
• Maximum Weight Recommendation: 242 Pounds

Benefits

• This fantastic chair is made with a 600D Oxford cloth and has a high-strength aluminum alloy frame.
• This chair is extremely lightweight, and the company states that the product can hold a maximum weight of 242-pound.
• The fabric has a mesh backing for a perfectly well-ventilated sitting experience. This product is a perfect chair that you can whip out during warm seasons precisely because of its mesh fabric.
• The seat has an ergonomic design that lets its users sit comfortably without the pesky backache that follows right after you sit on a regular folding chair. This product is one of the best outdoor camping chairs you can buy.
•  The fabric is waterproof and gives a super unrestricted experience while sitting in terms of comfort.
• This chair is available in three colors: dark blue, light blue, and red.
• The chair has two pockets on both sides for phones and little trinkets.

Drawbacks

• This news isn’t very encouraging, but the chair seems to work better when used by kids. The chair cannot hold an adult’s weight.
• This chair doesn’t have any drink holders to keep your drinks secure.
• You are bound to have the most challenging time pulling the fabric to stretch it enough so that it hooks onto the frame.

Extra Features

It is one of the most compact and travel-friendly chairs you can buy. The holder and mesh can fold and fit into a 14x 4-inch pouch, typically not more than your average sunglass case.

Buying Advice

We are highly impressed by the compact nature of this product but do not recommend buying this for healthy adults. If you have kids traveling and exploring nature with you, then, by all means, consider buying this one for them.

Camping Chairs FAQs

How do I choose a camp chair?

While choosing a camping chair, one needs to pay attention to various factors. We have summed up a few of the essential elements that you should always check before buying your next pair of camp chair:

Chair model and styles

• Scoop chair – Scoop chairs do not have any specific distinction between the seat and back; they are a single piece that gets taut when you sit.
• Low chairs – Low chairs are an excellent choice for uneven and bumpy grounds. These types of chairs are considerably less tippy than high chairs. On the downside, not many people like the feeling of sitting so close to the ground. Tall people should sit this one out (we apologize).
• Classic camping chairs – These are the industry standard and have four stands and a 90-degree straight-back angle. They are sturdy and do not tip that often.

Maximum weight capacity

You need to make sure to check the maximum weight capacity before buying any pair. Make sure you are way under the written limit on the product manual.

Height

Most people ignore this factor and end up hating the product. If you love sitting close to the ground, then, by all means, consider purchasing one as it tips less and stays a lot strong.

If you plan a trip that requires long hours of sitting, like a fishing trip, consider investing in a high chair with an excellent ground-to-seat ratio.

Portability

Like all the gear of your camping, this one should also be portable. This portability helps to carry it on rugged trails without any issue. The chair should be lightweight and easily carriable.

Few chairs do not fold thoroughly and fall flat; if you are camping somewhere that requires you to walk, we suggest staying away from such chairs. Make sure to put your chair in a carry bag for a convenient way to carry it around the trek. Most companies provide a carrying case with each purchase.

Extra top-ups

If you wish to attain maximum comfort, consider these extra features a chair can offer. Few of the additional features include:

• Wheels
• Extended pads
• Bottle opener
• Storage pockets
• Heat pads
• Cooler
• Shade canopies

Do weight limits on chairs matter?

Yes, they indeed matter. As each chair is made from different materials, its strength varies from one product to another. Even one company producing various models would have different weight limits from model to model.

These weight limits give you a proper understanding of the chair’s durability. Always consider buying if you fit the weight limit; ignoring it would result in a broken chair on the very first attempt.

Generally, chairs are made to hold from 220 pounds to 500 pounds, but if you are nursing or always wish to keep your baby on your lap, then we recommend going for a more robust chair. In the same way, if you are on the healthy side, do consider buying an XL chair for comfort and added support.

Is a backpacking chair worth it?

Few people feel that backpacking chairs are an extra additional weight on their trek. Still, many outdoor enthusiasts feel these chairs are significant and worth it.

No one has a habit of sitting on the ground, especially on bumpy earth full of stones, dirt, and insects. You won’t feel comfortable for an extended period, and let’s not forget the numbing of legs and bottom. Having an upright chair would let you enjoy nature without worrying about numbing.

If you wish to carry out a camping trip during the rainy season, it would be next to impossible to sit on the ground, even with a tarp. Let us not forget the issues you would have while eating your food. Thus it is always a fine idea to carry a chair as it is worth it.

If you detest the idea of bringing a colossal structure, you can opt for a much compact and smaller version. These newer models are as tiny as your cell phone cover and can be stored in the pockets.

Can camping chairs get wet?

Camping chairs can get wet if the company uses a standard fabric that isn’t water-resistant or water repellent. Many companies use water repellent fabrics to wick off excess water during the rainy season.

However, a chair doesn’t need to have a waterproof fabric as these are made for rugged use and do not have any heavy fabrication. They are good to go even during the rain. The thin nylon or mesh fabric quickly dries up compared to other materials.

You might have to pay attention to the rusting as the legs and frame are made out of metal. Few companies offer a rust-free frame, but if they don’t, you can waterproof it very quickly with the help of various waterproofing agents and varnishes available in the market.

Conclusion

We hope our camping chair review would help find the next excellent camp chair for your future expedition.

These chairs will surely provide you an additional level of comfort while lounging in nature. If you plan to visit the rainy season, do waterproof the chair before venturing out.

Now you can start packing the bags while your trusty chair arrives in the mail.

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Jonah Wright

Jonah Wright is the founder of WorldAndI.com and wishes to be your online sherpa for all your travel, hiking, and outdoor adventures. After connecting to nature in his young years, he had an aim to hike all the most challenging treks in the world, which he is achieving one day at a time. When he isn't writing about outdoor content, he schedules his time to meet and be a part of various outdoor communities as much as he can. Jonah lives for the runner's high and feels that nothing can be as pure and lively as that experience.