The 7 Best Camping Chairs of 2023 Tested by GearLab

ozark trail camping chairDespite these small melted holes, the fabric showed no other signs of strain or wear. Though some gear seems to display a fairly linear correlation between price and performance, we don’t find this to be the case for all camping chairs. Some of the best-performing models have moderate price tags, while some of the most expensive options didn’t score as well as anticipated. Contenders that exemplify the highest value for the buck in this review are the REI Co-op Camp X and GCI Comfort Pro. Both of these chairs provide above-average comfort for a below-average price.

The light can be set to either high for up to 78 hours or low mode for 275. No matter which mode you choose, there’s no glare, and the lantern is lightweight yet sturdy enough to withstand frequent use and inclement weather. With the handle, you can carry it in your hand or hang it from a tent hook or tree branch. There’s no way to bring an entire kitchen with you on a camping trip, so the more versatile the Walmart camping gear you choose for cooking, the better. This loveseat has room built for two and is perfect for a variety of outdoor activities, including tailgating, sporting events, and camping!

The great thing about camping is that it’s entertaining, rejuvenating, and adventurous all at once. What’s tough about it is that good equipment can be expensive. Are you a car camper or do you plan on socializing in friends’ backyards?

Made from an easy-to-clean polyester fabric and metal frame. Unsurprisingly, the chairs rated to hold 500 pounds or more scored well here. After several months of testing, the steel frames and 600-denier nylon fabric construction of the King Kong (rated to 800 pounds!) and the Kelty Loveseat didn’t show any wear or tear. 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 being around so many campfires.

ozark trail camping chairThanks to their light weights and compact designs, the Helinox chairs are the clear winners in this category. The Sunset Chair breaks down and folds into a surprisingly compact carry bag. Despite having a high back and being impressively durable, this model weighs just 3.24 pounds and is the lightest chair we tested.

To properly test these chairs’ ability to stand up to real-life abuse, we stood on them and plopped very heavily into them. We sat in them and bounced up and down and in every direction. And some chairs had some creaky results that made us question how long they would last if consistently treated this way. We also scrutinized every seam, pole joint, and material to see any wear and tear or potential flaws. The shoulder straps are padded and ventilated so that the backpack is comfortable to carry while you’re hiking. For the sake of your health and hygiene, you need clean clothes, toiletries, and a first aid kit when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

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. Because people use outdoor chairs for an array of purposes and have different preferences when it comes to comfort, it was almost impossible to choose just one best chair.

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. This chair has grown on our lead tester the longer she has owned it, a credit to its impressive longevity and comfort.