GCI Outdoor makes several rocking chairs, and we plan to try more of them to see if they’re any better than the Freestyle Rocker, which we weren’t enthusiastic about. Unbeatable deal if you’re looking to buy several chairs at once. We like this durable, well-constructed chair that has a frame that makes you confident to sit. We may get paid by partners or earn a commission at no cost to readers.
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. Higher back and a head rest that make it more comfortable. Good design with a small pocket to place your cell phone or snacks near the cup holder. Sturdy arm rests and sits a little higher from the ground, making it a great choice for taller people.
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. 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.
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 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. It’s extra-supportive for people with joint issues. Testers with knee and hip issues reported that when they were getting in and out of this chair, its armrests felt more stable than those of any other model.
We’ve incorporated their feedback into this review. When it comes to keeping your food ice cold on that camping trip, grab these slim ice packs that take up less room. These ice packs are extra-large too, measuring 4.75 by 0.5 by 7 inches. They’re made of BPA-free plastic with a non-toxic gel inside. Unlike ice, these don’t melt leaving messy water all over your food inside the cooler either. Plus, they can be refrozen and used over and over again.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad. After eight years of consistent use by senior editor Kalee Thompson’s two young boys, the REI Co-op Camp Chair is, she reports, faded and worn but still holding up. It is best if you only have to carry it short distances.
For a compact option that performs double duty, you need this spork. It is a combination utensil with a spoon on one end, a fork on the other. It has an added perk of a serrated edge on the outer side of the fork to triple as a knife, too. It is made out of durable nylon and measures a mere 7 inches long. It has two holes on the handle so you can attach the included tether in one of them, and then hook it to your backpack to keep it at reach. A portable cooler is an essential item to take on any outing, and this bestseller can keep ice for up to two days, according to the brand.
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 ozark trail backpack 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.
The back of the chair has an area made of mesh to allow cool, refreshing airflow. It has two armrests and has a cup holder on one front leg. This nifty chair has shock absorbers, so you can rock whether it’s on grass or dirt. This shopper favorite has raked in over 69,600 perfect ratings so far. One shopper says they will “never go back to ordinary camp chairs again.” Snag it in black for only $70 right now and start rocking.
It’s the lightest, most portable chair that is still comfortable. The Helinox Chair One weighs about 2 pounds, compresses smaller than a 2-liter bottle of soda, and is our most lightweight pick. Other chairs we tested sacrificed too much comfort in order to shave mere ounces off of their weights, and we don’t think the trade-off was worth it.