Double cup holders are also extra large to hold bigger drinks. Each comes with a convenient carrying bag that you can sling over your shoulder. Made from an easy-to-clean polyester fabric and metal frame. We tested 47 camping chairs over the course of two years, with the first batch in our New York City lab and the second batch out in the real world.
The Chair One is rated to hold up to 320 pounds—more than any other lightweight chair we tested aside from the Moon Lence. Testers preferred the Coleman ozark trail screen house chair’s thoughtfully placed mesh storage pouch over those of its competitors. This pouch is big enough to stow gear like a phone, book, or tablet.
People who did like it tended to have smaller body types, so if you find that other camping chairs are too big for you, the Skyward might be a good fit. At a little over 7 pounds, it’s also the lightest traditional chair we tested—but it had the lowest weight capacity (250 pounds). It’s currently low in stock, but REI tells us this chair will be widely available again over the summer. Newly designed leg tips work with a wider, square-shaped base frame to provide stability in a variety of conditions. And though the frame architecture looks a bit complicated, we found the set-up to be intuitive and fast. We also loved how many straps line the carrying case, including nylon webbing with multiple loops so you can attach it to a carabiner or weave it through a backpack’s straps.
For those especially hot summer days, this two-in-one cooler and table from Keter is a clever way to entertain. It can store up to 60 cans or 40 bottles of water with ice, keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours and has a built-in drainage plug to make cleanup a breeze. This deep cleaning solution and durable brush are all you need to keep shoes squeaky clean. According to the brand, the items are safe on most materials and great for leather and rubber that needs a good scrub.
But it doesn’t stop at check-in; we’re here for you anytime to replenish supplies or pick out the perfect souvenir to inspire your next adventure. This popsicle mold is not only easy to fill with various flavors and ingredients, but the lay-flat design also saves space in the freezer. The set includes a lid to help prevent freezer burn and 50 wooden sticks to last you through the season. With four wine glasses, plates and silverware, as well as a striped navy lining, insulated cooler compartment and matching blanket, this picnic basket is sure to elevate your park visits all summer long.
Since 2016, our testers (with different body types and physical needs) have subjected camping chairs to multiple camping trips. We chose the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair as the model with the right combination of comfort, durability, usability, and price for most campers. This wicker basket contains everything you need for a summer concert or picnic in the park. The lid doubles as a detachable table with four slots to hold the included plastic wine glasses and stable metal legs to prop up the snacks. Inside you’ll find a cutlery pouch, tableware for four, a waterproof picnic blanket and even a bottle opener.
There are also chairs that are hybrids between categories, such as the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair, which comes highly rated and recommended. This durable yet lightweight chair features a flat-folding extra-wide steel frame easily stowable in a closet or car trunk. It also has a padded seat, armrests, and a maximum weight capacity of 600 lbs. No other chair in our testing pool—except perhaps the extremely pricey Yeti Trailhead—came close to matching the King Kong’s build quality. Our testers consistently said the King Kong chair was the most heavy-duty-feeling model of all the chairs we tested.
It has the most comfortable and supportive seat shape of any chair we tested. The Dual Lock chair has a firmer backrest 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). 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.