The design, size, and weight is nearly identical, but the nylon fabric has been replaced with polyester. The Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Chair from Walmart, although similar to our pick in size, was far less comfortable, with rough-feeling material that was obviously of lower quality. We later found, after six months of frequent use, that the stitching along one arm had come unravelled and that the small straps holding up the back of the armrests had both ripped in half. The GCI Outdoor chair also has a pocket built into the back that can hold a phone or a book. This chair comes in green or blue and is rated to hold up to 250 pounds.
Our not-too-discriminating underage testers liked all the kids’ chairs, though over time we found several reasons to declare the REI Camp Chair the best of the bunch. The REI chair’s polyester seat material feels both more forgiving and more durable than the thinner material on the Ozark Trail Kids’ Folding Camp Chair from Walmart. The box-shaped cupholder is a little roomier than the round cupholders on the Coleman and the L.L.Bean Base Camp chairs—better for stubby water bottles or mugs of hot chocolate around the campfire. We found that the cheaply constructed Walmart chair had a cupholder that was too small for a soda can, or any of the hard-plastic or metal water bottles that the kids we know brought on a camping trip.
So you can easily misplace a carry sack on a dark night in a crowded field, especially if you’re in a large group or have a lot of stuff. At a fireworks show and at the beach, we appreciated a chair that was ready to go without even 30 seconds of hassle. The Everywhere Chair closes like a book—simply lift the padded strap and go. Once you’ve found folding lawn chairs a set of garden chairs and a table you like, you want to make sure it lasts. The first thing to keep in mind is that, while most outdoor furniture is made for outdoor use, harsh weather will eventually take its toll. Our assessments are chiefly based on four critical performance areas, including Comfort, Portability, Features, and Durability.
While woodworking is an artistic skill in and of itself, not to mention an investment in heavy-duty machinery, we outlined the furniture designer’s step-by-step instructions, lest you get inspired by their genius. A set of wooden dining furniture, however, requires a bit more of maintenance. At IKEA you can find oils and stains to help maintain the quality of your wooden furniture. For example, tables and chairs in metal, steel and plastic require very little maintenance. Simply clean them occasionally, with a damp cloth and mild soap, to avoid mold and mildew from catching on. Marisa Spyker is the Senior Writer at Southern Living, where she enjoys dabbling in stories throughout the magazine, from gorgeous home features to profiles of the South’s creatives.
Lawn chairs are primarily a product used to relax, so we thought we should be as comfortable as possible, for as long as possible, in each chair. Chairs scored lower if they became less comfortable quicker, if they made us sweat due to less-than-breathable fabrics, or if we found ourselves fidgeting around to get comfier. The Coleman Cooler Quad is a pretty standard camping-style chair at first glance, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve. Notably, the left armrest unzips to reveal a cooler pouch that can fit up to four cans, while the right armrest sports a cup holder.