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.
Setting up these backpacking chairs is by no means difficult, but some models have the setup dialed in. In this review, we compare 17 of the best backpacking chairs available today. We evaluate each seat on its ozark trail hammock chair comfort, identifying crucial elements of each product’s performance. We look at the stability of each chair on a variety of surfaces, and we set up and packed away each one over and over to assess ease of use.
For car campers looking to simplify their dining routine, it’s a nice addition to your gear collection. While paying premium prices for a camping chair when you only make it to the wilderness a couple times of year may not seem practical, good portable seating can be an invaluable addition to your home life too. 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. Unlike our camping chair review, this review is designed specifically for portable chairs that can be carried into the backcountry or during hikes. We analyzed packability and weight for this metric, knowing that a chair would have to be pretty compact to make it into an already heavy pack on your next trip into the backcountry.
However, if you’re setting up camp for an extended stay, having home-furniture level comfort — and a whooping 500-pound weight capacity — could be worth the extra effort in transport. Plus, though the chair is large even when folded up, its spacious backpack carrying case with cushioned, adjustable shoulder straps makes dealing with the size and weight much easier. Thoughtful features like a zippered pocket for securing valuables, a mesh cell phone pouch, and two cup holders make the Kijaro exceptionally convenient for everything from tailgates to beach days. It’s available in 11 colors, many of which are unique in the outdoor product space. The chair comes with a carrying bag but also has a shoulder strap attached directly to its frame in case you want to ditch the sack. All this at a good price, making it an incredible value for a comfy camp chair that’s built to last through countless seasons.
The seat is made of a webbed mesh that comfortably conforms to your body and promotes airflow. The chair seemed surprisingly wear-resistant given how light it is and complimented the ball-and-socket joint system that helps the chair accommodate different body types. The Moonlite weighs under two pounds, folds into a compact position, and comes with a zip-up carrying bag. While sturdy canvas chairs are great for keeping your back supported, no one wants to be engulfed in a thick fabric when the temperature rises.
That said, we all know that person willing to haul an extra pound or two to improve their camp amenities. If you don’t mind a bit of extra weight, this model offers unmatched comfort wrapped up in a reasonably small travel size. Overwhelmingly, the Coleman came out on top, with campers praising its comfort and stability. Some of the 29 chairs we tested had unique features that set them apart from the crowd but fell short in categories that kept their score too low to make our list of recommendations. Still, you may find these options to be well-suited for your specific camping needs. We have no doubt the aluminum frame and UV-resistant polyester seat are designed to last through years upon years of outdoor seasons.
If you do need a fits-in-a-knapsack chair, we recommend the Helinox Chair One. We found this model to be slightly more comfortable and easier to pack than other, similar chairs. We were downright giddy over this spacious, cleverly designed outdoor loveseat. The two-seater slips in and out of a slot in the wrap-up, tote-style carrier, which can be expanded to fit other gear for storage and double as a dog mat when the chair is in use. When it comes to comfort, the Kelty Low Loveseat was one of the most outstanding during our test.
If you’re off on a backpacking adventure, you’ll need a good quality backpacking tent from Decathlon. A good night’s sleep is essential to keep your energy levels up on your backpacking trip. Our backpacking tents are lightweight and compact, making them ideal for attaching to your backpack as you head off into the wilderness. But despite being super lightweight, these tents are also low-profile and strong enough to cope with the abrasive winds of the hills.
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.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The cupholders on the L.L.Bean Kids’ Base Camp Chair aren’t as roomy as those on our picks, and they are not as adept at holding stubby water bottles or mugs of hot chocolate. Are you a car camper or do you plan on socializing in friends’ backyards? Unbeatable deal if you’re looking to buy several chairs at once….