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The best camping chairs for comfort in the great outdoors
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Lightweight
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Has All You Need: Hi-Gear Kentucky Classic Chair |
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Check Price |
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Best Folding
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Convenient: Outwell Cardiel Portable Folding Chair |
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Check Price |
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Best Padded
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Ultra Comfort Given: Quest Autograph Cleveland Chair |
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Check Price |
The best camping chairs need to tick a couple of boxes.
They have to be easy to carry and fold away, yet comfortable and supportive when in use. Camping chairs should be lightweight enough to transport but strong enough to last a few years, and for use on a campsite, beach or just in the back garden. But you also want value for money – the perfect balance of spending just enough for quality, but not over the odds.
Whether you’re fishing, camping or hiking, you’re going to wish you brought a comfortable camping chair. Read on to see which passed our test and made it to the list of the best camping chairs of the year.
Able to open and close in seconds, the Hi-Gear Kentucky is one of the most popular camping chairs on the market.
The quick action open and close means it is always available when you need it, and there is a carry bag for when you’re on the move again. The back and seat are comfortable, with a handy insulated drinks holder in the armrest that will keep that coffee flask warm and safe.
The back is a good height, and support is great as well. It is one of the best picks for something which is compact, comfortable and a brilliant price too.
Cushioned shoulder area
Drinks holder
Really easy to take up and down
Technically this is one of the most lightweight camping chairs you can probably buy, but as you are sat on the ground some may not see it as a chair.
But we do – it still has a back, and keeps you dry even if the ground is less so. It opens in seconds, with no building needed, and can be carried using the handles when it is folded up.
You can undo the buckles holding up the back of the chair so you can have a lie-down, or feel free to extend the straps for a more reclined feel. There’s a pocket on it too.
They’re mostly seen at the beach or festivals, but can be used pretty much anywhere you’d need for flexibility.
Very lightweight
Simple to assemble
No maintenance needed
With a padded seat and backrest for optimum comfort, this isn’t just a chair which will allow you to relax in comfort, but you will also get to choose from 7 seating positions, from straight-backed to very relaxed.
It is also pretty striking in terms of looks, leaving behind the traditional camping chair aesthetic for something a lot more sophisticated. The hard armrests may not look comfortable, but they help improve posture and will also make it easier when you need to get up.
The aluminium frame is lightweight yet sturdy, and the DuoWeave fabric can be cleaned with a wipe, being resilient yet comfortable.
Hard sturdy armrests
Set sitting positions for ease
Wide and spacious
This chair is described as being ‘extreme padded’, which should keep your body relaxed after a long day of hiking. The seat is extra wide, but it all still folds away easily to carry.
The Q-tex weave fabric is extremely strong, durable and comfortable, which is just what you want from a camping chair which will be used outdoors. Thanks to the steel frame, it is lightweight yet still gives plenty of support.
We love how easy it is to fold away too; thanks to the pack away strap, you just put the strap in place, pull and allow it to squeeze together so you can fit it into the bag. Bear in mind it is a bit larger in case you’re restricted for space, but it is worth it.
Extra wide seat
Bright colour to stand out
Good price
Do you need a chair which holds that bit more weight? This one is one of the highest heavy duty ones you can get on the market, able to hold 200kg (around 30 stone).
There are also larger dimensions because it isn’t always just the weight you need to think about. The wider design should accommodate you well, and yet still feels solid and strong.
On one side of the chair is a cup holder, and the other has a storage bag which is a great size for magazines or other bits and bobs, so it is a brilliant pick for anyone who will be spending extended amounts of time in their chair (such as fishing, sports events or at the beach).
Drinks holder
Side storage bag
Easy to pack up
Having a footrest which attaches to the chair as opposed to a separate footstool means less to carry and a more compact setup.
The height and tilt of the footrest can be altered by tightening the straps or taken away completely by unbuckling it. There is a handy drinks holder in the right arm, and the armrests are a nice length for comfort.
We like how there is a gap between the footrest and the chair, so even if it is attached you can still sit up or get up at a moments notice – great if you’re fishing.
Our biggest downside is that it is slightly tilted so you’re reclining a little as opposed to sitting up, but this is fine if you’re there for the day.
With cup holder
Height of footrest is adjustable
Long arm rests
Whether you think that taking a few double camping seats is easier than separate chairs, or you’d simply appreciate the space, this Kelty foldable sofa camping chair is plenty wide enough for 2.
There is no bar separating the two seats, just a tension lump, and it is comfortable enough to even lie across if you’re the right height. A roll tote storage comes with the chair, which buckles tightly, making it comfortable to transport. It also makes it much easier to pack up, as opposed to trying to stuff it into a flimsy bag.
There is a low base, and it sits in a slightly reclined position so both parties will be comfortable. It is only ever so slightly heavier than some other single chairs, and as it is double the seating with half the setup so this is no real surprise but makes it totally worth it.
Two cup holders - no fighting
Each seat is on its own
Still folds really small
An inflatable chair gives you minimum size to carry and transport, but maximum comfort.
The soft-touch flocked finish offers a luxurious feel you’d be happy to have at home, and the material is strong and durable without giving up any comfort.
You still get a carry bag which is the most practical addition for any camping chair, and the dipped seating area will encourage you to lounge, which will boost your comfort and reclining position. It also holds a lot more weight than you’d expect.
The downside is that you need a pump to blow it up, which is just one extra thing to remember when you’re off on your week away, but if you prepare that is fine. You will also need to prepare the surface of the ground so it doesn’t sit on anything sharp.
Coil beam construction for strength
Repair patches included
Not a chair as such, but if you want something which sits low so you can be closer to a fire or water, this stool is ideal.
It is really easy to assemble in seconds, and the cross-frame design offers additional stability. Because it is small, it is one of the most compact chairs when packed away which is great if you will be spending a lot of your holiday on foot, and just want a seat which can provide somewhere more comfortable than the ground to sit.
Because it is so small, it can only really hold 12 stone in weight, but at 400g when folded, it is super lightweight.
Really stable
Great for quick setups
Good carry bag
This chair *looks* comfortable as well as actually being a joy to sit in. With a generous depth allowing you to sink down, yet a high back giving you full support, it is encapsulating without needing any of the extra bulk.
It will fold down, and packs away into its bag really tightly. Strength comes in the form of the 600 denier polyester and steel frame, and the dark blue colour will hide any stains until you’re home and can clean it with a damp cloth.
We are big fans of the bag it comes in, which is solid and zips up, making it a lovely change from the usual thin drawstring models.
Good for a straight back
Nice sturdy head pillow
Packs up really small
If you have the car or motorhome, camping chair weight probably isn’t that much of an issue as you won’t have to carry the chairs very far. But if you will be on foot or will have to walk to a beach or up a mountain, think about how heavy you can go practically.
The lightest of camping chairs will probably be a stool or an inflatable model. But what they give you in lack of weight, they can miss in support, so if you will be spending an extended length of time in your chair, it could be worth carrying that bit more weight for the benefits when you’re sat down.
Maximum load is another thing to look out for, as some camping chairs can hold more weight than others. Weigh yourself so you know your limit – you don’t want the chair collapsing under you which could cause injuries.
The build of most camping chair frames is either aluminium or steel. The former is usually a bit lighter than steel, which is good for transporting, but if you can you may want to go for steel which will provide a bit more stability.
As for the seating material, most camping chairs will be some form of nylon which will protect against water and mud and is easy to both clean and dry. It is still perfectly comfortable and supportive, too.
The majority of camping chairs will fold quite thin and pole-like, so they can go into a bag and be carried. This should be a relatively easy process and a case of just grabbing both ends and pulling together.
Look at how the storage bag is carried. Most camping chair bags should have a shoulder strap for if you are travelling light and this is all you have, but you may also want to look at the dimensions of the camping chair when folded in case it will be attached to your rucksack.
Most will have these, but it is what makes a camping chair a camping chair. This is often in the form of mesh for cheaper chairs, the fabric of the chair for mid-priced, and a separate thermal drinks pocket for high-end camping chairs which will keep drinks warm or cold
Not necessary in a camping chair, but if you will be spending long amounts of time in the seat, you may want something which can recline back for ultimate relaxation. You may also want to look for padding and a footrest
Pretty common in camping chairs really, but again there are bucket chair designs without any arms, which may not be ideal for extended periods of time
They should be if they are made from a material such as nylon or polyester. This is sturdy, so any marks will be easy to wipe away with soapy water. Follow manufacturer instructions.
As for the camping chair frames, which can get caked in mud, a simple wipe with a damp cloth will again make it look like new. Just ensure it dries before it is stored away, or else it could rust or begin to mould.
Outdoor stores will always have a selection of camping chairs for any need.
The beauty of online shopping is that you can see a wider selection from the store, which they may not have in-store, so it is always worth ordering online, even if you want to get it delivered to a store for collection.
Other online retailers such as Amazon also have a good selection which can be delivered to your door, and sports retailers will likely also have some in stock.
