When you’re on a tenting journey, everyone knows there’s nothing higher than ending the day by circling up your tenting chairs across the campfire. And after a protracted day of mountain climbing or backpacking, you desire a snug tenting chair that can be sturdy sufficient to final journey after journey.
In this put up, I’ll share my suggestions for the most effective tenting chairs, based mostly on my private expertise and opinions from different Bearfoot Theory staff members. So whether or not you’re gearing up to your subsequent tenting journey or simply in search of a brand new camp chair to calm down in your yard, learn on for some nice suggestions!
Best Camping Chairs at a Glance
Camping Chairs Comparison Table
See the comparability desk under for a fast abstract of every of the highest camp chairs. You can click on on the columns to kind by what’s most essential to you.
Helinox Sunset Camp Chair
Best High Back Camping Chair
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: van tenting, automotive tenting, folks want to actually sit again & calm down
- What we like: light-weight, top quality and properly designed, packs down small
- What we don’t like: No cup holder, on the costly aspect for camp chairs
I at present journey with two of the Helinox Sunset Camp Chairs in our van. I really like how supportive they’re and the excessive again means that you can actually sit again and calm down, which is sweet in comparison with a number of the chairs on the market with decrease backs.
For added consolation, there’s a built-in headrest that converts right into a pillow for those who stuff one thing comfortable into it like your puffy jacket or a towel.
At lower than 3 ½ kilos, it’s very light-weight and packable. The different factor I really like is that even when it’s put collectively, it’s not too cumbersome and we are able to retailer two of them on our mattress in chair type. That means we by no means really want to pack them down once we are transferring campsites and our chair is at all times able to go.
If you’re heading to the seaside, you should definitely seize the groundsheet to forestall the chair legs from sinking into the sand.
ENO Lounger DL Chair
Best Camp Chair for Lounging
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: automotive tenting, individuals who need versatile chair heights
- What we like: Super snug, two totally different seat heights
- What we don’t like: some folks with larger physique varieties have discovered that it’s not snug for them, headrest is simply too excessive for shorter folks (~5’2)
ENO has introduced their hammock design experience to a chair and the result’s the ENO Lounger DL Chair, palms down essentially the most snug tenting chair we’ve ever owned.
This chair means that you can sit again in a manner that eliminates slouching, making it an incredible camp chair for these with again points. It’s additionally designed with a built-in pillow, which takes the consolation up one other notch.
This chair is a bit bulkier than the Helinox chair above and does require that we put it away in its case because it takes up an excessive amount of room within the van when it’s put collectively. The cloth additionally simply slips off the poles so whenever you’re transferring it round, you must carry it by the poles.
YETI Trailhead® Camp Chair
Camp Chair With Great Back Support
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: folks with again points, individuals who want further stability getting up and out of camp chairs
- What we like: extremely supportive and ergonomic, 500-pound weight capability, extra-wide toes for added stability, simple to get out and in of, 5-year guarantee from YETI
- What we don’t like: heaviest & bulkiest camp chair on our record, costly funding, just one cup holder
YETI has a fame for making a number of the best-performing and most sturdy gear on the planet, and the YETI Trailhead® Camp Chair is not any exception. This camp chair gives superior consolation and assist with its mesh-like weave that conforms to your physique, providing wonderful again assist.
It’s extremely sturdy with a 500 lb weight restrict and it has a lot of options that actually set it aside from the competitors. While it’s undoubtedly not the lightest or most packable camp chair in the marketplace, it’s excellent if you’d like a extremely secure camp chair that may final you for years.
Helinox Chair Zero
Best Lightweight Camping Chair for Backpacking
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Backpacking or bikepacking journeys, tenting journeys the place it’s essential save on house
- What we like: Very light-weight whereas nonetheless sturdy and powerful
- What we don’t like: blows over with the slightest little bit of wind, not as secure as different camp chairs as a result of light-weight design
The Helinox Chair Zero is essentially the most light-weight tenting chair on this record by far. Weighing in at just one pound 2 ounces, this chair is a superb choice for backpacking, bikepacking, paddling, and different journeys the place each ounce issues.
Despite it being light-weight, it nonetheless has a weight capability of 265 kilos and is fabricated from sturdy ripstop polyester and aluminum poles. This chair doesn’t really feel delicate, but it surely undoubtedly isn’t as secure as different camp chairs on this record.
This chair additionally packs all the way down to a fraction of the dimensions of different chairs we’ve tried (roughly the dimensions of two Nalgene water bottles), making it an incredible space-saving choice as properly.
BFT staff member Courtney has been utilizing the Chair Zero as her main chair for each van life in Baja and backpacking journeys. While she completely loves it for backpacking journeys (you gained’t discover a lighter, extra snug backpacking chair), she thinks there’s higher choices on the market for those who’re wanting primarily for a automotive tenting chair. It’s slightly *too* light-weight and blows over (whenever you’re not sitting in it) on the slightest trace of wind, which isn’t a giant deal whenever you’re within the backcountry, however will get annoying when it’s your day by day camp chair.
Helinox Swivel Chair
Best Swivel Camping Chair
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: tenting journeys, fishing, social gatherings
- What we like: Ability to swivel 360-degrees, packs down small
- What we don’t like: because it does have transferring elements, there’s extra of a threat of elements breaking or getting worn out
The Helinox Swivel Chair is one other light-weight and cozy choice from Helinox, however what makes it distinctive is its 360-degree swivel-ability (which makes it very easy to swing round and attain for a chilly beverage out of your cooler).
In addition to that, it gives correct again assist and breathes properly in heat climate because of the mesh cloth that runs alongside the edges of the chair. It packs all the way down to solely 16″ lengthy and has a weight capability of 265 lbs.
GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker Chair
Best Camp Rocking Chair
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: automotive tenting journeys, individuals who need the power to rock of their chair
- What we like: Affordably priced, distinctive rocking design
- What we don’t like: Heavier than most different camp chairs on this record, transferring elements can break or put on out over time
If you’ve ever thought that having a rocking chair at camp can be superb, you may have all of it with the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker Chair.
We first began seeing camp rocking chairs like this a couple of years in the past and this one has confirmed to be probably the greatest. It has a cup holder, mesh stash pocket, and the sleek rocking expertise delivers excellent leisure.
NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair
Best Hammock-Style Camp Chair
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: stargazing, individuals who need to rock simply of their camp chair
- What we like: actually snug for sinking right into a chair
- What we don’t like: curved again means little again assist, cumbersome when packed down
If whole leisure is what you’re after, you may’t go mistaken with the NEMO Stargaze. This hammock-style camp chair is ideal for days by the river or stargazing. This chair’s distinctive design means that you can recline and rock forwards and backwards, making it simple to calm down and take within the surroundings round you.
It’s additionally constructed with high-quality supplies so that you will be assured in its sturdiness and longevity. The chair’s mesh cloth is breathable and light-weight, making it excellent for heat climate tenting journeys.
REI Co-op Skyward Chair
Best Classic Folding Camp Chair
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: Car tenting journeys, out of doors social occasions
- What we like: Affordably priced, sturdy, roomy, simple to arrange and retailer away
- What we don’t like: Quite heavy with out having many bells & whistles
If you’re in search of a basic folding camp chair with numerous room, the REI Co-op Skyward Chair is all that after which some. It’s sturdy, snug, and has a flexible cup holder that may match a wide range of beverage sizes — plus a aspect stash pocket for books, maps, and the rest you need to hold available whilst you’re lounging.
I additionally love that it folds down simply and slips right into a carrying case with a strap you can sling throughout your shoulders. This is a tenting chair that may final you season after season, not like cheaper basic folding camp chairs.
Mountain Summit Gear Loveseat
Best Two-Person Camping Chair
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: automotive tenting with a bunch, a canine, or as a pair
- What we like: Large and cozy
- What we don’t like: Bulky when packed down
If you’re in search of a loveseat to share with a good friend, a liked one, and even your pet, the Mountain Summit Gear Loveseat is an efficient guess. It’s sturdy and has a excessive weight capability, plus you and your companion every get your personal cupholders.
Its sturdy design will final you for years of tenting journeys and the included case makes it simpler to move and retailer.
Crazy Creek Hex Chair
Best Chair for Water Activities
Key Features
Where to buy
- Great for: paddling journeys the place you want again assist, out of doors live shows
- What we like: light-weight, packable, minimalistic
- What we don’t like: not as versatile
The Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Chair is a legless chair that’s light-weight and tremendous simple to move. This kind of chair is nice for outings and multi-day journeys on the water as a result of there’s no hurt in getting it moist. For instance, you should use it in a canoe, on a kayak tenting journey, and even on a paddleboard for further seating assist.
This chair can be nice for live shows, picnics, and even for brief in a single day backpacking journeys.
Features to Consider When Shopping for the Best Camp Chair
Picking out a tenting chair shouldn’t be sophisticated – all you really want is one thing snug to sit down in that’s not over your finances. However, the chair you purchase ought to final you for years, so you could as properly get one you’re keen on! When procuring to your decide, listed here are a couple of options to contemplate.
Cupholders
This is a simple one – do cup holders matter to you or not? While most tenting chairs have cupholders, most of the ultra-lightweight ones don’t. For instance, the Helinox chairs talked about above are constructed to be very compact and as light-weight as doable in order that they don’t have cupholders. So in some instances, you might have to resolve what’s extra essential to you – an excellent light-weight chair or having a handy place to maintain your beverage.
Packability
All the chairs on this record are packable, though some pack down a lot smaller than others. The Helinox Chair Zero packs all the way down to the smallest bundle by far, coming in at lower than 13.5″ lengthy, adopted by the Helinox Swivel Chair at 16″.
Most of the opposite chairs on this record pack all the way down to double (or quadruple) the dimensions, in order that’s a consideration for those who’re seeking to save house.
Weight
The lightest camp chairs additionally are usually the most costly due to the supplies used and the well-thought-out design that enables them to be so light-weight but sturdy.
If you’re going automotive tenting and plan to set your chair up at camp and go away it there, then weight won’t be a lot of a priority. But for those who’re occurring a street journey with a number of stops the place you’re going to be loading and unloading a number of instances, or for those who’re going to be carrying your chair over longer distances, you could need to go along with one thing lighter in weight.
Value
If you’re on a finances, you may decide up an excellent fundamental, low-cost camp chair at a finances retailer like Walmart or order one off Amazon and it’ll in all probability be simply advantageous. It possible gained’t final as lengthy or be fairly as snug as a tenting chair made by a good firm that makes higher-quality merchandise, but when the worth is a serious concern, don’t let that cease you from getting on the market.
Check out our weblog put up on the place to purchase discounted out of doors gear for those who’re wanting to avoid wasting money.
Durability
An excellent camp chair ought to final you for years of use. All the chairs on this record are sturdy, with a weight score of a minimum of 250 kilos and most are made out of sturdy ripstop nylon or polyester.
Back Height
Many camp chairs have a decrease again peak (image your commonplace, folding camp chair) however these days there are extra choices with increased backs. A better again means that you can lean again within the chair and relaxation your head, whereas you may’t do this in a camp with a decrease again.
The Helinox Sunset Chair and the ENO Lounger DL Chair are each tremendous snug chairs with excessive backs that assist you to actually sit again and calm down.
Comfort
All the camp chairs that we’ve tried have been snug at a fundamental degree, however some are far more snug than others. What makes the distinction is commonly how the armrests are positioned, how excessive off of the bottom the chair is, and the way excessive the again is. As talked about above, a high-back chair means that you can actually sit again and calm down.
If consolation is essential to you, or maybe you have got again points that make discovering the correct chair paramount, try the ENO Lounger DL Chair. As somebody who’s had again points from sitting on a pc for a lot of hours a day, I discovered this to be essentially the most snug chair I’ve tried because it forces me to sit down again and calm down and doesn’t let me slouch.
Ease of Set up
The basic folding camp chairs, just like the REI Co-op Skyward Chair, are tremendous easy to fold out – you mainly simply pull the chair open. However, with this simplicity comes weight and fewer packability.
Newer chairs in the marketplace just like the Helinox chairs on this record and the ENO Lounger DL Chair take slightly extra work to arrange however in alternate, they’re lighter weight and pack down to just about half the dimensions. The setup of those chairs is definitely fairly easy, it simply takes doing it as soon as to get it down and to get used to the brand new system.
Looking for different automotive tenting sources? Check out these weblog posts:
What questions do you have got about selecting the most effective tenting chair? Have you tried any of those? Do you have got a favourite that’s not on this record? Let us know within the feedback under.
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