Testers refrained from checking the prices of the chairs until they’d judged all their other attributes. Whether you want to sit upright for a snack break or lean back to lounge with a good book, Nemo’s Moonlight Reclining Chair is great to have on hand. Sturdy, adjustable buckles allow you to choose just the right level of recline for whatever you’re using the chair for at any given time.
The REI Co-op Trail Stool is a lightweight in-between option at 17 ounces — it doesn’t have a backrest, but it does have legs that keep you off of the ground. Backpacking chairs are great for keeping the weight low, but a cushier camping chair can fit the bill if you’re not straying far from the car. Whatever you need for your camping or backpacking excursions, from a lightweight, top-ranked backpacking tent to the best hiking boots, our reviews can help you get ready for the upcoming adventure. Our not-too-discriminating underage testers liked all the kids’ chairs, though over time we found several reasons to declare the REI Camp Chair the best of the bunch.
The right armrest has a mug-compatible cup holder, while the left armrest’s unique drop-down pocket can be secured with a drawstring to make sure your valuables stay put. The pocket is especially handy for keeping track of your phone or other small items you want to access easily. After six months of use, we love storing this chair in our car trunk for easy access. The included stuff sack has both a handle and a shoulder strap for hands-free carrying. They’re lightweight, sleek, and designed to help you in your most adventurous pursuits. Chairs are for luxury, and they’d serve no purpose without comfort.
The firm-yet-cozy seat is supportive enough to sit in for hours, and we were particularly pleased by how supportive the armrests were compared to other chairs with a similar design. You don’t always find comfortable over-sized chairs, and this chair works for everyone in my family. And after regularly using the chair for six months (and ozark trail camping chair leaving it out in the rain on occasion), it’s still in great condition. The huge base and larger diameter poles of the Big Agnes Big Six, while heavy, significantly increase its stability. The Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair and Big Agnes Skyline Stool are excellent; they both have a broad base that creates a secure sitting experience.
Since the chair weighs just under 5 pounds, transport is almost as stress-free as snoozing in this crowd-pleaser. Assuming that you are already carrying an inflatable sleeping pad, the Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit is a scant 10.8 ounces. It is tall and skinny and also fits easily into an exterior side pocket of a backpack.
“This is the Platonic ideal of your camp chair,” one of our campers gushed. You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. This low-profile chair is easy to carry, and it adjusts for uneven ground. What’s better than sharing a delicious meal with family and friends in the great outdoors?
Though 2 ounces could be a deal-breaker to some hikers, the vast majority of even the most ultralight backpackers are willing to add the minuscule weight of the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat to their kits. It’s hard to pass up this kind of versatility — this foam pad can act as your seat, sleeping pad extension, pack cushion, and more. Add in the facts that there is zero setup involved and that these seats are known to last for decades, and you’ve got a winner. The Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Chair from Walmart, although similar to our pick in size, was far less comfortable, with rough-feeling material that was obviously of lower quality. We later found, after six months of frequent use, that the stitching along one arm had come unravelled and that the small straps holding up the back of the armrests had both ripped in half. White vinegar is an all-around cleaner that you should always have on hand.
Testers considered whether the chairs would be too heavy, bulky, or awkward to carry for either a long distance or simply from a house to a car trunk. REI’s Co-op Flexlite Air Chair is perfect for the minimalist traveler. The 1-pound seat comes with a miniscule stuff sack that can easily be slipped into a backpack or suitcase. We also loved that setting up and breaking down the aluminum frame and seat cover is conveniently intuitive.