Our range of camping chairs is the biggest it has ever been, with folding chairs, reclining chairs, inflatable chairs and more in a variety of styles to choose from, there really is something for everybody. After our product team extensively researched the market, a group of editors with a wide range of camping experiences gathered in our New York City lab to test 29 of the best portable outdoor chairs. We evaluated the ease of use, comfort, portability, and durability of each.
The REI Co-op Trail Stool is a lightweight in-between option at 17 ounces — it doesn’t have a backrest, but it does have legs that keep you off of the ground. Backpacking chairs are great for keeping the weight low, but a cushier camping chair can fit the bill if you’re not straying far from the car. Whatever you need for your camping or backpacking excursions, from a lightweight, top-ranked backpacking tent to the best hiking boots, our reviews can help you get ready for the upcoming adventure. Our not-too-discriminating underage testers liked all the kids’ chairs, though over time we found several reasons to declare the REI Camp Chair the best of the bunch.
Testers refrained from checking the prices of the chairs until they’d judged all their other attributes. Whether you want to sit upright for a snack break or lean back to lounge with a good book, Nemo’s Moonlight Reclining Chair is great to have on hand. Sturdy, adjustable buckles allow you to choose just the right level of recline for whatever you’re using the chair for at any given time.
The industry is flooded with options for portable chairs, from compact seats that are light enough for extended treks to heavy-duty rocking chairs that let you recreate your living room on the campground. We also let two boys, ages 1 and 5, play with them and sit on them in the backyard for six months. After all that, we concluded that the REI Co-op Camp Chair – Kids’ is the best choice for anyone who wants to buy a practical, portable outdoor chair for a small child. Today’s specialty backpacking chairs are impressively small and light. 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.
Though 2 ounces could be a deal-breaker to some hikers, the vast majority of even the most ultralight backpackers are willing to add the minuscule weight of the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat to their kits. It’s hard to pass up this kind of versatility — this foam pad can act as your seat, sleeping pad extension, pack cushion, and more. Add in the facts that there is zero setup involved and that these seats are known to last for decades, and you’ve got a winner. ozark trail lounge chair The Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Chair from Walmart, although similar to our pick in size, was far less comfortable, with rough-feeling material that was obviously of lower quality. We later found, after six months of frequent use, that the stitching along one arm had come unravelled and that the small straps holding up the back of the armrests had both ripped in half. White vinegar is an all-around cleaner that you should always have on hand.
When spending just a few minutes in a chair, most are comfortable enough. But, some chairs stood out for supporting the back for longer sessions. We compared the depth of each tent-style chair, as some tipped us forward more than others. We prefer a deeper seat that lets us recline and relax, like the one found on our favorite model, the Big Agnes Skyline UL, and the luxurious Big Agnes Big Six.
It will fit a Capri Sun pouch or a narrow, rectangular juice box, but that’s about it. The Everywhere Chair keeps your bottom about 4 inches off the ground. 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. Our panel of testers at the Wheeler Gorge Campground deemed the Everywhere Chair to be the most comfortable of the three low-to-the-ground chairs we tested. We tested one chair at a time, starting by setting them up for use and paying close attention to whether there was any guesswork or fumbling involved in assembly.
From there, we purchased the most promising models and tested them for several weeks, updating the review frequently to reflect new products. Over the years, we have taken out close to 30 chairs and sat on everything from rocky cliff bases to desert sand to city parks. We pay attention to each model’s comfort during an extended sit, how much work it is to set up and break them down, their sizes and weights, ozark trail lounge chair and how stable they feel on different surfaces. You’ll find this review helpful in narrowing down your options in a market full of excellent chairs. The Big Agnes Skyline UL is our favorite backpacking chair thanks to its comfort and stability in a small package. The deep-pocket seat means that it’s comfortable to sit with your legs in a variety of positions, and your backside won’t slide forward.