For many owners we’ve talked to, it’s been an essential chair for watching sporting events or any other time you’ll be in the direct sun for hours, like cookouts, picnics, birthday parties, and field trips. It has the most comfortable and supportive seat shape of any chair we tested. The Dual Lock chair has a firmer backrest ozark trail chair and seat bottom than the competition. 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).
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). The REI Co-op chair’s polyester seat material feels both more forgiving and more durable than the thinner material on many other kids’ chairs.
It’s a no-brainer to drop this handy $35 camping essential in your shopping cart. It can hold a lot of supplies, and it’s easy to carry and set up. The King Kong chair has two cupholders and intuitively placed storage pouches under each armrest; unlike the Coleman chair, though, this one doesn’t have a cooler pouch. There’s also a mesh pocket behind the backrest, to hold things you don’t need to access quickly.
This leakproof cooler is soft-sided with a hard shell interior to ensure that nothing gets squashed during transport. The interior is fitted with a removable ozark trail chair shelf that easily sets in for anything that doesn’t need to be iced. Over 37,400 shoppers swear by this cooler, calling out its quality and performance.
Cooking over an open campfire is nice, but sometimes it’s not reliable. That’s why it’s prudent to have a gas stove packed as part of your camping gear. This single-burner butane stove by Coleman is a great option. It measures only 10 by 15 by 6.5 inches and weighs less than 9 ounces, so it’s lightweight and doesn’t take up too much room.
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. These portable chairs are great for camping, sporting events, and backyard BBQs. Plus, they fold up nicely and include convenient carrying cases for easy transport and storage. When it comes to keeping your food ice cold on that camping trip, grab these slim ice packs that take up less room.
Compared with cheaper chairs of its kind (like those from Walmart), the REI Co-op chair functions better and will last much longer. A functional cupholder, a convenient carry strap, and durable fabric distinguish this kids’ chair from similar seats. But keep in mind that your kid will eventually outgrow this one.