5 Best Camping Chairs for Ultimate Outdoor Comfort

Megan Mower/RD.com

Best overall camping chair

Coleman Quad Camp Chair

For an all-around convenient foldable seat with some useful extras at a nice price, look no further than the Coleman Quad chair. Senior shopping editor Megan Mowery picked up a double set three years ago, and now she never sets up camp without them.

“The Coleman Quad offers just about everything you could want in a camping chair,” she says. “Beyond the convenient—and unique—four-can cooler, it also offers a side pocket and cupholder. This means I can stow my beverages, book, speaker, pack of cards, phone and chapstick all in one place, and eliminate digging all around the campsite for misplaced strewn-about items.”

Pros

• Nicely priced
• Four-can insulated cooler attached
• Multiple pockets
• Adjustable arm heights
• Weight capacity of 325 pounds
• Lightweight to carry at about 8 pounds

Cons

• The cooler makes the chair bulkier than some

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Best splurge camping chair

Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair

With its high-quality mesh fabric, the Yeti camp chair molds to your shape for the ultimate in comfort. It features a very simple, very smooth fold and unfold process: Just push the armrests and the back handle to set it up (it will lock taut), and reverse the process to pack it up. With a weight capacity of up to 500 pounds, it’s one of the sturdiest camp chairs out there.

“Great chairs. They are comfortable, easy to transport and keep you from sweating in the heat,” writes Dawn Roberts in her 5-star review. “Definitely worth the money and wish we would have purchased them sooner!”

Pros

• Best-in-class quality
• Extremely sturdy
• Easy to fold and unfold
• Mesh fabric is especially comfortable
• Weight capacity of 500 pounds

Cons

• Pricey
• Heavier to carry than some at over 13 pounds

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Best camping rocking chair

GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker

What could possibly be better around the campfire than a folding chair that’s a rocker, too? This portable rocking chair includes padded armrests for optimal comfort. The hydraulics located on the chair’s back legs make the rocking motion very smooth, and you just lean forward on the front legs when you need the rocker to become a static chair again. It features a powder-coated steel frame to resist rust, too.

“I’m so happy with these fold out chairs,” writes 5-star reviewer Haven Richter. “They’re comfortable, easy to transport, and I love that they rock smoothly. There was no assembly when they arrived, which was a bonus.”

Pros

• Smooth rocking motion that can also be locked into place
• Padded armrests
• Cupholder
• Rust-resistant coating
• Available in other design options with a pod or sunshade

Cons

• Maximum weight capacity is only 250 pounds
• Heavier to carry than some at over 13 pounds

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Best camp chair for sports fans

Alpha Camp Heavy-Duty Canopy Chair

When you are a sports parent or a sports enthusiast of any ilk, you’ll inevitably spend a lot of time on the sidelines. During any kind of weather—from blaring sun to sudden sprinkles—you’ll be grateful for the canopy of the Alpha camping chair. In addition to the requisite cup holder on one side, it features a horizontal mesh pocket for your phone on the left armrest, so you can see the screen without holding it in your hand.

“Bought this for my mom and she loved it!” enthuses Renee R., who gives it 5 stars. “Not low on the ground, provides good portable shade, and is comfortable for her. Was skeptical about buying a chair with built-in shade. but very happy with this purchase.”

Pros

• Canopy offers sun and rain protection
• Breathable mesh fabric
• Cupholder and cell phone pocket
• Heavy-duty steel frame
• Weight capacity of 350 pounds

Cons

• Carry bag is small (many owners just ditch it)
• Heavy to carry at 14 pounds

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Best heavy-duty camping chair

Kijaro XXL Dual-Lock Chair

For an extra-roomy, portable perch, look to the Kijaro XXL camping chair, which offers a 25.5-inch-wide seat and a maximum capacity of 400 pounds. It locks easily in place once it’s unfolded and locks in its collapsed position once you’re done. The two cupholders fit a drink or your phone and keys, and the little hanging organizer keeps sunglasses or bug repellent at the ready. The chair also comes in every color under the sun, so you can match your favorite sports team.

“These sit high and are so easy to get out of. They are comfortable and not slouchy like normal camping chairs,” writes happy purchaser Kathleen B. “I love everything about them, and they make fantastic beach and patio chairs. Just phenomenal durability for our house. I hope they never stop making these.”

Pros

• Spacious seat
• Weight capacity of 400 pounds
• Easy to open and collapse and locks into place
• Two cupholders
• Hanging organizer pouch
• Lots of colors

Cons

• May sit too high for shorter people

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What to consider when buying the best camping chair

The best camping chair is really the one that’s right for you. Think about your needs and how you’ll use it. Is it for the lacrosse sidelines? Do you need to tote it to a remote campsite? Will you use it mostly in your backyard? Think about how you’ll use and then read through our assessments and reader testimonials to find the right chair for you.

How we found the best camping chair

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.

FAQ

What is the best material for camping chairs?

Look for powder-coated steel for your frame, as it is strong and rust-resistant. For comfort in hot temperatures, the body of the chair should be a breathable mesh that allows for a breeze so you don’t get sweaty.

How to choose a camp chair

Figure out how you’ll use it first before making a camping mistake. Are you heading out in the RV and need something for the campfire? Will you need to brave the elements at the beach or on the soccer field? The best camping chair is the one that best fits your requirements.

What is the point of a camping chair?

The point of a great camping chair is to offer a light, portable place to sit when you need it. Keep one handy in the back of your car at all times.