If that’s all the Cascade could do, we probably wouldn’t recommend it. The heavy-gauge, all-aluminum Camp Chef Mountaineer is built like the tough, classic camping equipment you hear salty old-timers or vintage-equipment nerds talk about. It’s more expensive than either of our Coleman picks, but if you’re comfortable with the jump in cost, the Mountaineer may be worth the investment.
The Coleman Cooler Quad has been our pick since 2016, through numerous camping trips and several testing sessions. That’s because it’s among the most durable and comfortable chairs we’ve tested. It’s large enough to accommodate a wide range of body types, and its steel frame supports up to 325 pounds. If you have a space where you can safely store a propane tank, you could consider refillable alternatives. If you’re car camping and don’t mind the extra weight, 5-pound propane tanks and adapter hoses are available; they can hook up directly to these stoves. Not only are the 5-pound tanks refillable, but over time it’s cheaper to refill a reservoir with gas than to buy new disposable bottles.
And you don’t want to get ready to leave, only to realize that there are key items that need to be replaced or have been on your wish list. Similar to the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair in size, the Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Camp Chair with Cooler was far ozark trail chair less comfortable, with rough-feeling polyester that was obviously of lower quality. After six months of frequent use, the stitching along one arm had come unraveled, and the small straps holding up the back of the armrests had both ripped in half.
Price drops from $119 to just $79.98 w/ free shipping. Where the Cascade shines is in the finer control it allows throughout the range of temperatures. Most camping stoves, including our top pick, have a tendency to jump temperatures, from very low to very high, with barely a touch of the hand.
No other chair in our testing pool—except perhaps the extremely pricey Yeti Trailhead—came close to matching the King Kong’s build quality. Its steel frame doesn’t wobble when you get in or out. Our testers consistently said the King Kong chair was the most heavy-duty-feeling model of all the chairs we tested. Weighing about 8 pounds, the Coleman chair is lighter than most traditional models, so it’s easier to grab from deep in a car trunk or to carry for long distances. Like others in its category, this chair comes with an over-the-shoulder carry bag, but some testers found it was light and compact enough to carry without the case.
If you’re looking for highly specialized or ultra-lightweight chairs for backpacking, our recommendations are probably not for you. We also don’t have suggestions for couch-style or loveseat chairs (we’d like to look at those someday, though). Kalee Thompson is the senior editor heading up Wirecutter’s kid coverage.
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’re not as adept at holding stubby water bottles or mugs of hot chocolate. After years of intermittently ozark trail table using the Renetto chair, one staffer said it has held up great. Another said it’s been an essential chair in their life and that it is still going strong after countless soccer games, birthday parties, beach trips, and school events. All items must be picked up on Saturday from 9-2 pm or Monday from 9-5.
If you often cook for a crowd, the FireDisc’s paella-pan-like design is ideal for making big meals. This stove is great for those who don’t want to tote extra cookware. The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair and the Flexlite Air (its featherweight sibling) are lighter than any other chairs in their category, but they felt less steady. We blame the crossbar design, which runs front to back rather than side to side; this creates a lot of wobble from right to left, especially if the chair is not on perfectly even ground. Its base design is the same as for other variations, the Flexlite Camp Dreamer and Flexlite Camp Boss.
And it avoids the slouchy shape of most traditional camping chairs, which can sag to create a hunch-and-slouch posture. Testers consistently ranked this chair as one of the most comfortable models (typically second to the Yeti Trailhead, which costs almost four times as much). The few testers who didn’t like it often preferred the Kijaro Dual Lock XXL Chair, which costs a little bit more but provides a roomier seat. If you’re planning a car-camping trip, you’ll probably want to bring camping chairs. They’re also ideal for sporting events, field trips, outdoor concerts and movies, and picnics in the park. What separates it from the Classic (and adds to the price tag) is more control throughout the range of cooking temperatures.
It boils water a bit faster than the Classic while still providing a gentle flame that lets you cook foods more delicately than on the Classic (for instance, if you prefer your eggs soft scrambled). It also includes a piezo ignition, which is fine as long as you don’t expect that component to last forever (none of them do). The Cascade case is easier to carry thanks to its included handle. No campsite is complete without a place to sit.