My hand-me-down camping stove has been in use for 20+ years and I truly believe a high-quality camping stove is a necessity at the campsite that should last (nearly) forever. I like the Zempire camping stove because it’s a powerful piece of equipment that cooks quickly and thoroughly. The 10,000 BTU burners, which can be independently controlled, ozark trail canopy provide ample room on the stovetop for cooking. Plus, the 3,500 BTU grill underneath acts as a broiler for toasting or getting extra sear. There’s even a wind-screen that makes it easy to light, regardless of the conditions. Unlike the XT, the UC stool legs are bisected in the middle and connected with elastic cords, like tent poles.
Senior editor Kalee Thompson, who wrote a previous version of this guide, has been regularly using the Coleman chair she originally tested in 2016. Aside from the color fading and the cooler pouch deteriorating, her chair has held up to years of backyard hangs and camping trips. In summer 2023, she bought a newer Coleman Cooler Quad Chair to compare to her 2016 model, and she found them to be more or less the same. If you’re looking for highly specialized or ultra-lightweight chairs for backpacking, our recommendations are probably not for you.
This chair’s big canopy provides ample sun protection at a campsite or sporting event, and it doubles as a backpack-strap-equipped carrying case. Several Wirecutter staffers have owned the Coleman chair for years, using it on camping trips, in backyards, and at sporting events. For the most part, it’s held up well, but one common quibble is that the seat bottom begins to sag after several years of use. The main room has a divider down the middle, and then there’s the pop-out room on the backside. This pop-out room is great to use as a kid’s play area, a gear storage “garage,” or just an adults-only sleeping room.
In spring 2021, I tested four additional beach-friendly wagons during several trips from my home in Santa Monica to the beach (10 blocks away) and back. I hauled both of my sons along with beach gear like boogie boards, coolers, chairs, and endless amounts of sand toys. The combination of their light weight and a fold-down frame makes folding wagons especially handy for everyday use, including getting in and out of a car or on and off public transportation.
It delivers a solid baseline of build quality, comfort, and reliability that we didn’t find in other, similarly priced chairs. The Dual Lock seat’s name comes from a locking mechanism that secures the chair when it’s folded or expanded—releasing the lock is a matter of pushing a button on one of the legs. As a result, the chair feels grounded and less wobbly than its competitors. This was especially reassuring for testers with knee or hip issues, who noted that they felt confident using the Dual Lock seat’s armrests to stand up and get out of it.
If I’m hiking or biking during a camping trip, I always try to stay hydrated. The super durable Hydro Flask vacuum water bottle is currently 46% off and holds up to 40 fluid ounces and can keep your drinks hot or cold for hours. The wide mouth model means you can also pour from it and cleaning is a breeze. Needless to say, I’m grabbing one right now, since it’s only $27. They’ll be perfect for flyfishing days by the water when I need to sit down and untangle lines, or tie new flies on.
I know some will immediately dismiss my review simply because I bought this pack at WalMart. Wagons can be helpful for all kinds of jaunts, including trips to the beach and the farmers market. In a space chock full of similarity, these looked and felt different. At first blush at least, they seemed like a clever and useful new take on camp seating. Similar to the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair in size, the Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Camp Chair with Cooler was far less comfortable, with rough-feeling polyester that was obviously of lower quality.
After new testing, we still love the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair for most outdoors situations. But we also have picks offering better support, higher weight capacity, and greater portability. This wagon has wider wheels that can traverse sandy terrain with ease. And it comes with the same durable build of the standard Mac Sports wagon, but with twice the internal volume.