The Helinox Chair One is the lightest, most compact option on this list, but the Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair, the ITA Leisure Chair, and the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocking Chair can all be transported easily, too. Recent growth in the camping chair market has led to a dizzying number of unique designs that swivel, rock, and/or recline. We included a number of fun options on our list above, including NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair (which reclines, rocks, and swings), NEMO Moonlight (which just reclines), and GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker. In terms of downsides, more moving parts almost always come with added durability concerns and a more involved setup, and you’re paying more for a specialized design. In our opinion, tried-and-true models like the REI Co-op Skyward, Alps King Kong, and Kijaro Dual Lock have much wider appeal, cost less, and are all most campers need.
Below, we discuss how each affects the overall performance of a quality lawn chair, and which models stood out as top performers in each area. On the downside, we wish that the drink tray was part of the chair, as when carting it around, it was easy for us to forget the tray in the car. We also would prefer that the powder-coated metal was a lighter color, because the black color gets super hot in the sun.
Double chairs are predictably much heavier than their single-person counterparts (the Kelty Low Loveseat comes in at 15 lbs. 6 oz.), which makes them bulky for hauling. We’ve only included one double camping chair on our list due to the overall lack of utility—we’d rather purchase two separate single-seaters and save a few bucks in the process. The Helinox Chair One weighs about 2 pounds, compresses smaller than a 2-liter bottle of soda, and is the most comfortable and easy to stow of the three top backpacking chairs we tested. Like competing chairs, the Chair One has a nylon and mesh seat and aluminum legs, which are linked with shock cord (the chair legs are made out of the same material as high-end tent poles). It wouldn’t look out of place next to a 1960’s Sunrader, nor a modern Land Cruiser, on a car camping trip. For how simple the design is, it’s reasonably comfortable and keeps the user fairly supported.
We discovered that even though most testers had not previously considered a shade-equipped camp chair, once they used one they appreciated the comfort and convenience of built-in sun blocking. Unless camp chair seats are pretty taut, they tend to round the user’s back, which can be uncomfortable for longer periods. We also wish the chair was easier to get into the bag, as all the extra canopy fabric makes packing it up an annoying task.
On the opposite end of the price spectrum is the Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair, which is a serious splurge. But its impressive durability, superior comfort, and sleek look are worth the higher price tag, if you can swing it. The mesh FlexGrid fabric is totally breathable and incredibly strong, with the ability to support up to 500 pounds of weight without stretching out. While we’re partial to this Classic version, which sits at an ideal 15.5 inches above the ground, this chair is also available in both a low-back and high-back beach chair option, which are much shorter.
Walk around any campground or tailgate party, and you’ll notice the popularity of this variety of accordion-style seat. You can pick one up at just about any big-box store (sometimes for as little as $10), order one with your favorite sports team’s logo, or pay a premium for a similar model from Cabela’s or REI. Camping trips, beach days, picnics in the park, outdoor movies and theater performances, a fresh-air get-together with friends—there are countless occasions when you might use a camp chair.
Once it’s deployed, though, there are few complaints — unless you want cupholders on your chair. All in all, we like this chair, even if we like a few others a little bit more. Of course, we want to be sure to include any possible downsides, and we think some of this chair’s features could be improved upon. For example, although the padded foam encased in nylon fabric provides comfort for prolonged relaxation sessions, this chair isn’t very breathable under-bottom. Additionally, while the chair seems to be sturdy and reliable for the long haul, the carrying bag that comes with it doesn’t hold up to the same quality.
Instead, they’re meant to be storable and packable to take in seasonally or to travel with. We generally take our lawn chairs car camping or to the beach, and so we like them to be fairly portable. Products scored higher here if they weighed less and packed up smaller. Portable, affordable, and compact, lawn chairs are practical for toting to your friend’s backyard while also offering a larger dose of personality than your average camping chair. We don’t have plans of stashing these nostalgic gems away anytime soon. REI’s Flexlite collection ranges from the light and minimalist Flexlite Air to the durable, headrest-equipped Camp Dreamer.
Before we tried the Renetto Original Canopy Chair, we had never considered buying a shade-equipped camp chair. The shaded Renetto chairs were consistently the first seats snagged at a beautiful but harshly exposed Indian Grove group campsite. Like most chairs of this type, the Coleman Oversized Quad comes with an over-the-shoulder carry bag. Overwhelmingly, the Coleman came out on top, with campers praising its comfort and stability. If you have a smaller garden or a balcony, it can sometimes feel like a challenge to make effective use of what you have.
Those looking for additional room in the seat can opt for the Magnum version, while picnickers might prefer the equally tall, yet more compact, Picnic style chair. Those concerned with aesthetics will also be pleased to know that the Lawn Chair USA Webbing Chair is available in a ton of colors and can be re-webbed with a replacement lawn chair webbing kit if you want an update. The kit is also useful to restore well-worn folding lawn chairs chairs, but buyers needn’t worry about excessive wear any time soon—though the webbing will slightly stretch, the seat won’t sag and the fabric is fade-resistant. 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. In real-world conditions, you’re often packing up fast to try to get ahead of crowds or traffic.