11 Best Camping Chairs in 2024

The CLIQ Chair looks very similar to many of our favorite backpacking options. But its weight, a very substantial 3.7 lbs, puts it out of the acceptable limits for most backpackers.

Instead, it’s a convenient and compact alternative to every other scenario that you could want in a camp chair– the beach, the ballgame, and yes- even camping.

The CLIQ chair is somewhere between a stadium seat and a traditional folding chair that offers convenience and carry-ability not seen from either category. Its intuitive setup and bombproof construction make it a top contender for anyone looking for something that holds up and a full-sized folding chair at half the weight and size.

The Freestyle Rocker is a spring-powered outdoor rocking chair. Of all the chairs we’ve tried, the GCI rocker chair has gathered the most outside attention. There’s little more empowering than rolling up to the campsite with a foldable chair that rocks like this one.

But we’ve found the Freestyle Rocker more than just a novelty piece. It’s one of our favorite camp chairs. Full-stop. It deserves a permanent summer residence on your front porch and should be the first chair you pack on any camping trip.

It’s actually one of the pieces of kit that gets most use when not being tested.

The Helinox Chair Zero is the universally recognized top dog among lightweight backpacking chairs. Its higher price reflects a design premium in both quality and portability.

With a verified packed weight of 1 lb 2 oz, this is a folding chair for people who would otherwise balk at the idea of carrying luxury items in the backcountry.

While we love Chair Zero’s compact build and unparalleled portability, these factors limit how comfortable it feels compared to plusher models.

Coleman’s Aluminum Deck Chair chair sits comfortably in the sweet spot between durability and affordability with the added bonus of a side table.

What the Deck Chair lacks in luxury and portability is compensated for with its stout build and supportive backrest.

Our only real gripe with this chair might be the price. It’s not that the asking price is unfair- but rather that the value isn’t immediately recognizable in plush padding and fancy features.

If you’re looking for a chair to throw in the backyard come spring and forget about until fall, you should look to models like the Aluminum Deck Chair.

With a robust frame, spartan padding, and a weather-resistant seat and back, we’re confident in its ability to weather any weather that summer months may unleash. 

What Coleman brings that other chairs we love do not is a collapsible side table, fit for even the most lavish of picnics and BBQs. Below we’ll dive into why we think the Aluminum Deck Chair deserves a spot on your back porch.

Alps Mountaineering chairs have a bit of a cult following amongst folding chair connoisseurs.

Their Escape Chair is a luxury lounger with a removable footrest to max out your relaxation potential. With a high back and wide seat, the Escape is perfect for getting some time off of your feet and enjoying the sun.

This is a generally affordable option for campers and hikers looking for a middle ground between portability and comfort.

Yeti’s Trailhead camp chair has a lot in common with the coolers that made them famous, from campgrounds to construction sites. Their Trailhead camp chair is built to the same ritzy, tough-as-nails criteria, with the same overbuilt construction and wince-worthy price tag. 

Luckily, this Yeti chair has a bag with shoulder straps to better carry its hefty bulk.

With these concerns aside, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more durable or more comfortable than the Trailhead. As a whole, it’s the best that the business has to offer and its quality is reflected in the price tag. If you want to live in the lap of luxury outside the confines of organized society- the Trailhead is your best option.

Backpacking chairs are a contentious concept in a culture concerned with keeping your packed weight as low as possible. We’ve tested plenty of lightweight backpacking chairs in our quest to find the best of the best and have consistently walked away disappointed in the comfort level of top-end models- except for the Flexlite.

Though largely outshined in terms of weight, REI’s Flexlite chair is still a strong contender in the running for top lightweight backpacking options because of its staunch practicality and comparative comfort level.

The Flexlite is a worthy option for people who like the idea of a backpacking chair but can’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on something that has such limited application. Though it’s a little heavier than the Chair Zero or ultralight sit pads, people unconcerned with a couple of extra pounds should look to the Flexlite as an affordable alternative that holds its own in comparison to the competition.

The Kelty Loveseat is a camping chair for two. It’s an interesting option for couples sharing a romantic outing by the fire or on the beach.

It’s a bit of a glamping option because of its weight, but the practical advantage of sharing a blanket and body warmth makes it more appealing.

The quality of the materials and the overall build show promising durability for an item that will get folded up and out several times in and out of the elements.

Probably the best camping loveseat available.

For those unfamiliar with the AmazonBasics brand, it is pretty much exactly what it sounds like – basic, functional designs at an affordable price, produced and delivered to you with the speed and convenience of Amazon. The AmazonBasics Portable Folding Camp Chair is a pretty standard camp and beach chair, though they didn’t skimp on all the bells and whistles.

This chair comes equipped with a 4-can cooler, mesh cup holder, and partially meshed back. When purchasing, you have the option of a regular padded or an XL-padded variation. It also comes with a built-in side storage pocket for sunscreen, binoculars, or personal items you might use for a day spent outside.

The $24 price point makes it hard to complain about much, but we had some things come up worth considering before making a purchase. The seat on this chair is a bit small, especially for larger builds, and has a tendency to dig into the back of your knees. Additionally, this popular item can be hard to come by as they sell out during peak seasons. These notes aside, we think it’s a great chair that provides excellent value. Dive into the full review for more information!

Coleman camping chairs are a mainstay on camp grounds, festivals and sporting events. The Coleman name has withstood the test of time, much in the same way that their products weather yearly camping trips season after season. After so many decades of outdoor excellence, they’ve brought their A-game to this affordable and feature-rich piece of folding furniture.

Their Cooler Quad Chair handles the two essentials of a frontside folding chair: comfort and a dependable cup holder, but adds a four can cooler to save you the trek to the icebox. Features aside, the biggest draw by far to this chair is the price, only a fraction of most of the other camping chairs we reviewed.

This chair had us impressed on all ends, and with its wide availability, the Cooler Quad is a stalwart defender of Coleman’s reputation as a king of camping.

As is the case with many mass-manufactured chairs, there tends to be some variance in quality over the years. I haven’t experienced any issues with mine despite pushing the weight limit and the cooler capacity up to the limit, but there is enough evidence floating around to question the integrity of the joints.

Beyond this, it’s a cheap and cheerful camp chair that will give you everything you need and a little more, inarguably a bargain deal anyone shopping around should consider.

Marchway is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to the competition among backpacking chairs. It’s a perfectly viable option for backpackers who don’t mind an extra pound or two and find themselves wincing at the price of other options like the Chair Zero.

Though it can’t keep up with the featherweight backpacking exclusive competition, Marchway caught our attention with its high value and no-frills design. We even found Marchway’s design to be more comfortable

Weighing a mere 7 lbs, the lightweight construction of the Coleman Utopia Breeze Beach Chair offers easy transport, while the high back and spacious seat provide excellent support and comfort for relaxation. This comfort is accompanied by a sturdy build with an above average weight capacity of 250 lbs, catering to a wide range of users.

The collapsible design, coupled with the included carry bag, enhances portability, making it an easy pick for on-the-go excursions. The chair offers a couple of other nice features, like the seatback pocket and cup holder, to add a degree of functional convenience.

While generally speaking, it was a solid, comfortable beach chair, there were a few drawbacks that require some consideration. The armrests are slanted and in our experience, did not offer the most comfortable support. Additionally, we noticed recurring complaints from customers that the cup holder is prone to falling off.

It’s also worth noting that the chair doesn’t recline, so if this is a deal breaker, you may want to keep shopping. Dive into the full review for more information on the Coleman Utopia Breeze Beach Chair!

We’ve seen camping chairs with all kinds of features, but the Quik Chair Max Shade is a design seldom seen. Obviously, we’re talking about the built-in, fully adjustable shade awning that will keep you safe and shaded even on the most sweltering of summer days.

Far from a one-trick pony, the Max Shade also includes two mesh cup holders and a reinforced side pocket for your phone, books, frisbee, etc. If you feel like getting some rays, you can fully retract the awning, so it hangs freely out of the way, off of the chair’s back.

The Max Shade is a really cool idea, but in practice, it can come off as more of a novelty piece than anything you’d get too much use out of. I was concerned mainly by the weight limit; there are plenty of chairs that can hold much more weight than the Max Shade.

Criticisms aside, I think that those seeking a folding chair for the beach (because of its built-in awning, it works quite well as a beach chair) or festivals will start to see significant returns on their investment. If you’re primarily concerned with sun exposure, the Max Shade is a solid solution.

As hinted in the title, the Cascade Mountain Tech Low Profile Camp Chair is a very low sitting chair, with the seat sitting just 5 inches above the ground. This modest height makes it a great option for concerts and beach use but not ideal for any hip, knee, or general mobility issues.

The Cascade Mountain Tech Chair is durable enough to handle rough terrain and rigorous wear and tear while still maintaining a degree of lightweight portability and easy assembly. Weighing just 7 lbs and folding up into a functional shoulder bag.  

Although its smaller seat and overall compact size are mainly designed for people with a more petite frame, customer reviews still almost unanimously agree that it’s one of the sturdiest foldable chairs on the market. Dive into the full review to learn more about the Cascade Mountain Tech Low Profile Camp Chair!