ozark trail camping chairThese were the chairs we would leave set up and drag around to avoid dealing with disassembly and reassembly. Ease of use encompasses how hard it is to set up and take down each chair and how well the features work to enhance (or not) the overall experience. After all, the odds of you wanting to take a chair with you anywhere are probably lower if it’s challenging to set up or the features are aggravating.
We evaluated each model across myriad tests in four mutually exclusive, thorough metrics. How each one performs in every test then determines its score for that metric. Here we break down their performances by metric to get down to the specifics of each model.
Shorties (like yours truly) may be uncomfortable in seats that are too high to rest their feet on the ground while their backs are flush against the chair. A few of the lightweights we tested were cozy enough to sleep in for some campers, while others found them to be too narrow to comfortably fit their shoulders. If lumbar support is a must, it could be worth transporting a bit of extra weight to have a super sturdy chair on your site. 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. They’re also far more expensive and significantly less comfortable than typical full-size camp chairs.
ozark trail hammock chairSince the chair weighs just under 5 pounds, transport is almost as stress-free as snoozing in this crowd-pleaser. 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. Rest your weary legs after a long hard day exploring by sitting in a comfortable folding camping chair. Whether you’re heading off for a family camping holiday, planning some wild camping, a trip to the beach or going to a festival, you’ll need somewhere comfortable where you can sit and relax.
If you want something ultra-lightweight and compact to take with you on a hike or for wild camping, our foldable camping stools are a must. We also stock a great range of camping chairs for kids that come in a variety of styles, colours and designs, including nautical, tractors, unicorns and sharks. If your chair has pole legs, just make sure that you bring along a ground sheet if you may be encountering soft surfaces like sand. 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. We did select our favorite upright chair for car camping and tailgating, and then additional low-to-the-ground, ultra-lightweight, and canopy picks, as well as a great chair for kids. The Kelty’s polyester seat cover manages to meld a cloud-like cushion with a supportive feel that’s kind to your back after a long day of roughing it.
This model was very stable, with a lower seating height than most traditional camping chairs. 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.
We brought this chair to a dense Los Angeles neighborhood to watch Fourth of July fireworks. We got some admiring nods en route to the celebration—and we had one of the more comfy seats at the show. A low-to-the-ground chair can be ideal for outdoor movies, concerts, theater performances, and other events where you want to avoid blocking other people’s view. Our testers liked the comfort and back support of the GCI Outdoor Everywhere Chair, as well as the ability to adjust it to sit on uneven ground.
It’s so small and lightweight to bring around, you can even throw it into a backpack or tote bag. The top-notch comfort, high-quality build, and exceptional portability make it well worth the price and we expect it to remain one of our go-to chairs for a very long time. HEIGHT – Low chairs are great for music events, movies in the park, and trips to the beach because they’re more portable and they don’t block the view of those behind you. Chairs with higher seats are easier to get in and out of (especially for those with bad knees) and are usually more comfortable for extended use. But after half a dozen excursions, we found—as we had with the Renetto Original Canopy Chair—that having a chair you can easily carry without a bag is preferable.
The seating platform also sits somewhat low to the ground, which could be an issue for taller folks. This isn’t the most supportive chair, with a typical seat slouch and an upright back. Still, we think this is an impressively versatile, comfortable, portable chair that also happens to be one of the most affordable options we tested.