Compared with cheaper chairs of its kind (like those from Walmart), the REI Co-op chair functions better and will last much longer. 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.
We chose the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair as the model with the right combination of comfort, durability, usability, and price for most campers. Fun colors, light weight, compact, easy to set up and even a carry case for easy storage. I want to buy more in different colors even though I don’t need them. They’re even comfy so I can sit by the fire or on the beach for hours without my butt going numb. The Chair One is rated to hold up to 320 pounds—more than any other lightweight chair we tested aside from the Moon Lence. In fall 2023, we asked a panel of paid testers with a wide range of body types, dexterities, and mobilities to examine our picks and other camping chairs and to share their perspectives.
However, they don’t have all of the same features. There are also chairs that are hybrids between categories, such as the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair, which comes highly rated and recommended. Each comes with a convenient carrying ozark trail chair bag that you can sling over your shoulder. Made from an easy-to-clean polyester fabric and metal frame. The 4-pound, steel-framed REI chair has an attached carry strap, rather than a carry bag (which the other chairs have).
That way, you’ll have all the information you need to decide for yourself if this is the high-weight capacity camping chair you’ve been looking for. If that sounds good, let’s jump right in and take a closer look. Many testers found other chairs more comfortable and easier to put together than the Nemo Moonlite Reclining Camp Chair. This is also the most expensive lightweight chair we tested, and we think the Chair One is a better value. 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.
Everyone is so skeptical before sitting in them and then when they do! They are very surprised at how comfortable they are. The CLIQ Chair’s precision-engineered frame, ergonomically-designed canopy, and tip-proof design keep you laid back and upright. Collapsing like an umbrella to the size of a water bottle (yes, really), ClassiQ chairs weigh less than 4 lbs and can be stored and carried absolutely anywhere adventure takes you. 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.
It’s large enough to accommodate a wide range of body types, and its steel frame supports up to 325 pounds. 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.
When she wrote the first version of this guide, Kalee lived in Southern California, where she tested chairs on three group camping trips. Comes with the same compact bag with a shoulder strap for carrying. The XXL Director chair by Ozark Trail is not adjustable. However, it is marginally above average in terms of comfort compared to other camp chairs. It would be overselling it to call this a handsome chair. That term rarely applies to camp chairs anyway, but it’s actually not bad-looking.
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. Head on over to Walmart where you can score this Set of 4 Ozark Trail Classic Folding Camp Chairs with Mesh Cup Holders for just $28 (Reg. $45) ~ that works out to $7 per chair! Sign into your Walmart + account to get free shipping on orders over $35, or choose the free pick-up in-store option. We explored the LivingXL Heavy-duty Portable Chair, a robust option for outdoor enthusiasts weighing up to 1000 pounds. Either way, adding a bit of storage is easy if you want or need it.
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. Keep in mind that lightweight chairs won’t be nearly as comfortable as traditional camping chairs, so take the word comfortable with a grain of salt. Not only does our selection include lawn chairs, but SCHEELS also carries a wide variety of camping chairs too. With a camping chair, you’ll enjoy better overall durability, comfort, and convenience.
For a wide selection of lawn chairs and camping chairs, start by shopping the selection at SCHEELS. Most of our testers found the REI Co-op Skyward Chair to be one of the least comfortable chairs in our testing pool. 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.