THESE EDITOR-APPROVED CAMP CHAIRS WILL HAVE YOU SITTING BY THE CAMPFIRE IN COMFORT
Whether you’re just grilling by your camper, fishing by the lake, or setting up for a few days off the grid for your next camping trip, there’s no need for uncomfortable seating. Sure, you could rough it on the ground or sit at a hard picnic table. But with so many affordable and reliable camp chairs on the market, why would you?
Camp chairs is a relatively broad category of products, encompassing everything from stool-style chairs to luxurious two-person loveseats. A good camping chair, regardless of design, should at the very least be comfortable enough to sit in for a meal or an evening by the campfire.
To help you narrow your search, we tested and researched a selection of outdoor seating options, from ultralight camp chairs and plush recliners to two-seaters and swings. Read on for the best camping chairs we recommend, along with what to consider before buying.
The Best Camp Chairs
- Best Overall: Yeti Trailhead Collapsible Camp Chair
- Best Value: REI Co-op Wonderland Chair
- Best for Lounging: Kelty Deluxe Lounge Chair
- Best Rocker: GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker
Best Budget Pick: Coleman Chair with Built-In Cooler
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What to Consider
Durability
When gauging a camp chair’s hardiness, you need to look at the frame, the material of the seat and back, and the overall weather-resistance of both. Most of the camp chairs we write about have steel tubing that’s power-coated to resist rust and corrosion.
Similarly, seat durability relies on sturdy materials. Woven polyester is common, often with a water-resistant coating so any spilled drinks or rainfall doesn’t damage the fabric. Great camping chairs are also treated to resist UV light. This can help prevent the fabric from fading over time. The fabric should also be strong enough to offer a 300-pound weight limit, at minimum.
While more durable options (like the best overall Yeti Trailhead) tend to be more expensive, think about upfront cost in relation to long-term use. If the chair lasts for several years, the initial cost is well worth it in comparison to a cheaper camp chair that might tear or break after just a couple of seasons.
Think of it this way: Would you rather pay $30 every year for five years, or $110 once?
Portability
Camp chairs are specifically designed to be portable. That said, the relative portability between them can range drastically.
Small, lightweight camp chairs pack down small for easy transport and work well for backpackers or anyone traveling by foot. Larger chairs can weigh more than 10 pounds, which makes them far more cumbersome to carry and better suited to car camping and backyard lounging. What you get with that added size and weight, though, is the added comfort afforded by a wider seat with more cushioning and a potentially higher weight limit.
Regardless of size, many camp chairs come with straps or carrying cases to make travel easier.
Intended Use and Additional Features
Camp chairs aren’t exclusively for camping, nor is all camping the same. If you simply want a chair for watching your kid’s soccer game or relaxing in the backyard, prioritize comfort above portability.
The more of an emphasis you put on comfort, the more added features are available to you. Many camping chairs come with foldout side tables, integrated cupholders, storage pouches, and even zip-up cooler bags.
For hikers and backpackers, smaller, lighter chairs are the obvious choices. If you’re using the chair for the beach, weather- and UV-resistance generally increase its longevity.
How We Tested
For our recent updates to this review, we tested the Yeti Trailhead Collapsible Camp Chair, the REI Co-op Wonderland Chair, and the Trippy Outdoors Dreamer Chair, evaluating each on its weight, stability, comfort, ease of setup, and durability against drops, abrasion, and water and sun exposure. (While we’ve recommended the Trippy Outdoors Dreamer in the past, we don’t anymore given that its plank-style seat is too wobbly. The options below are better.)
We spent time carrying the camp chairs through a park, taking note of how heavy they felt and whether they were cumbersome to transport. After setting them up on grass and dirt patches to see how they balanced on uneven terrain, we took a seat, judging each by its relative comfort. It’s worth noting that our testers spanned a range of heights and body weights so we could get a variety of impressions.
Other camp chairs chairs we’ve tested in the past—including the Kelty Deluxe Lounge Chair, GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker, and Sunnyfeel Camping Directors Chair—have stood the test of time and still rank among the best.
For the camp chairs we did not test ourselves, we relied heavily on our research into the specs, design, and materials within the context of our previous hands-on experience with the other chairs to know what to prioritize. We also took into account online reviews from past buyers and compared them directly to the chairs we tested out ourselves.
In finalizing our list, alongside our evaluations of quality, we also made sure to keep price in mind. So if you’re working on a budget, there’s an affordable, long-lasting and comfortable camp chair here for you.
Our Full Camp Chair Reviews
Yeti’s Trailhead camping chair immediately stood out for its comfort. It features a flexible, durable fabric that’s spread tight against the frame, with a weight limit of 500 pounds—the highest of any folding chair we tested. That said, it wasn’t overly stiff either. There was enough give in the material to cradle our legs and back, balancing out the support with comfort.
Beyond the seat comfort, we were most impressed by the sturdiness of the frame. It’s made of alloy steel, and held up against scratches, heavier body weights, and exposure to sun and water. We also appreciated its locking mechanism. While it takes some effort to put into place, it allows you to shift around and even set it up on uneven ground without risk of it tipping while you lounge.
At more than 13 pounds, the Yeti camp chair may be too heavy for some if there’s a long trek to camp, though its carrying case has backpack straps that are comfortable to wear, plus it keeps your arms free. It doesn’t come cheap—it’s the most expensive camp chair we tested—and we wish it came in more than a couple colors, like the brand’s awesome selection of coolers.
For a classic fold-up camp chair, the REI Co-op Wonderland offers a great mix of comfort and durability. It has a slightly wider seat and back—noticeable from the moment you sit down—made of woven recycled polyester with a water-repellant coating. After pouring water directly onto the cushion, we simply wiped it off with our hands and it was dry enough to sit back down immediately. Its steel-tube frame felt sturdy on grass and dirt, and it has an average 300-pound weight limit.
We also found that the wooden arm were markedly more comfortable against the skin than the textured plastic armrests on other chairs we tested. The REI camp chair also has an integrated cup holder that’s attached to the metal frame, set off to the side.
Like the Yeti camp chair, it’s more than 13 pounds, likely too heavy to take on a hike. But it does feature an adjustable carrying strap.
Another favorite among our testers, this camping chair has a broad seat that doesn’t pinch or press into your hamstrings, shoulders, or hips. The steel supports are thick and the feet are widely spaced, so it felt considerably sturdy to sit in. Our testers were able to recline back and lounge at just about any angle without fear of the chair tipping over. The adjustable cup holders can accommodate drinks from a regular can of soda to a beer growler (yes, you can have up to 64 ounces of beer in your cup holder).
It’s so comfortable that one tester remarked, “My wife, who is six months pregnant, was happy to spend half a day at a bike race as long as she got to use the chair.”
That La-Z-Boy level of comfort makes this an excellent option for car camping and RV use, though don’t expect this to be a go-to option if you’re carrying your gear on your back or in your hands.
GCI has staked its claim as the king of camp comfort with its Rocker line of chairs, and the Kickback is our current favorite. Pistons on the back legs help with the rocking motion, and we found the resistance stiff enough that we wouldn’t accidentally tip the chair over backward—but not so aggressive that it felt like the Kickback was pitching us forward.
Both our 6-foot-2 and 5-foot-5 testers liked the seat height and had no problems sitting down and standing up. We also liked that it has the usual cup holder and phone pocket on the armrests.
Despite that it’s a little unwieldy when carried over the shoulder, the strap didn’t dig in, though we’d still recommend using it for light activities such as car camping, backyard hangs, and picnics.
Some padding in the seat and backrest would be nice, but the fabric has some slack that makes it comfortable to sit in. Plus, the rocker design provides an angle that takes you off your knees and feet.—Will Egensteiner
The fewer things you have to lug to your campsite, the better. Thanks to this affordable camp chair’s built-in insulated, four-can cooler, you can leave the kombuchas in the heavy cooler in the shade while you stash a few cans and a handful of ice in your chair.
Cooler aside, we also like this Coleman chair’s side pocket and cushioned backrest. The side pocket is big enough for books or tablets and has two mesh sections on the front for smaller items like bottle caps, keys, or a phone.
It has an above-average 325-pound weight limit, and while it isn’t the lightest camp chair on our list, we found its 8.5 pounds reasonable to transport, especially considering the attachments.
Swinging chairs aren’t just for chilling on your front porch. They’re ideal for buyers who experience back or butt pain when sitting in one spot for too long. Because the chair swings, you can adjust your seating position or rest your feet on a nearby cooler or bench with ease.
The chair also automatically balances your weight if you tuck a leg under your body or lean a bit forward. This is particularly useful on uneven ground where many traditional chairs would tip over.
Usually, swinging chairs have more pieces and parts than a standard chair, but the Rio foldable hammock chair manages a minimal design in both weight and size. While it’s too heavy for backpacking, it’s reasonably comfortable to sling over your shoulder on your walk from the parking lot to the sidelines or to throw in a wagon for beach days.
The flatpack style of this camping chair doesn’t lend itself well to extreme portability, but makes it a must for stretching out after a long day in the great outdoors. If you’re mostly car camping out of your truck or driving to a friend’s BBQ, you’ll love the extra size and support these chairs offer.
The zero-gravity chair reclines nearly flat if you’d rather stare at the clouds than at your fellow campers. You can also lock it into position, preventing unexpected tips or weight shifts. The extended reclining position is long enough for tall users, and sturdy enough to hold up to 300 pounds.
Our testers didn’t have any ongoing gripes with this chair, though one complained of feeling a crossbar under the seat. The chair distributes weight quite well, and we never felt off-balance while reclining. However, we did find it quite awkward to get out of the chair while reclined, so be sure to put it back into the upright position before getting up.
If you’re on the fence about buying a generic folding chair, don’t be. This high-back camping chair is lightweight, comfortable, and comes with a very low price tag.
The tall back provides enough support for our 6-foot-plus tester, and the carrying case can double as a head or low-back pillow with some clothing stuffed in (though it doesn’t attach to the chair).
The chair is very similar to the far pricier but also well-loved Helinox Sunset (which has appeared in our reviews of the best ultralight camp chairs), though this one comes with the bonus of rounded arm flaps. While they don’t provide support, they do add a bit of padding, so your arms aren’t digging into the sides of the fabric.
At less than 4 pounds, the chair is great for carrying along with you on hikes or day trips. While it lacks bells and whistles, it’s an affordable and capable option that gets the job done.
With a wider base and straightforward design, this camping chair from Sunnyfeel offers everything you’d want out of a director-style camp chair. While they’re notoriously awkward to carry, this option packs into a flat storage sack that you can sling over your shoulder.
Despite the slightly more compact design, the camp chair offers extra features that make it great for campsites and backyards alike. This includes a foldable side table with integrated cupholder, so you can eat full meals without ever leaving your seat.
The camping chair also comes with multiple side pockets and a large mesh pouch to store everything from books and tablets to wallets and phones.
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