We discovered that even though most testers had not previously considered a shade-equipped camp chair, once they used one they appreciated the comfort and convenience of built-in sun blocking. Unless camp chair seats are pretty taut, they tend to round the user’s back, which can be uncomfortable for longer periods. We also wish the chair was easier to get into the bag, as all the extra canopy fabric makes packing it up an annoying task.
We’ve carried and sat in each model to help bring you the details you need to make a confident purchase decision. You can store your outdoor patio shades in the garage, shed, basement, or in your car. It’s about using the space wisely and finding creative ways to fit everything in storage. Dometic made a name for themselves in the vanlife and overlanding communities with their class-leading electric cooler collection, but their latest “GO” series takes aim at the upper end of the camping market. The chair is made with heavy-duty 600-denier fabrics, sturdy aluminum legs, and beechwood armrests that add to the high-end, streamlined look. As its name suggests, the GO Compact Camp Chair also folds down quickly and easily for transport with a relatively streamlined shape for storing in a full trunk.
We’ve found that overall build quality correlates with price, but it’s slightly more nuanced than that. A budget camping chair like the Coleman Oversize Quad, which has no business on a backpacking trip, is durable and reliable because Coleman didn’t have to worry about keeping weight down. It can withstand a whole lot more abuse when compared with a lightweight model like the Helinox Chair Zero. Backpacking chairs cost more because they require thin but strong frame materials, like aluminum, which is more expensive than thick steel. That said, the build quality of the Coleman is still lower than the similarly designed but more expensive Alps Mountaineering King Kong. Because people use outdoor chairs for an array of purposes and have different preferences when it comes to comfort, it was almost impossible to choose just one best chair.
This article was written by Morgan Goldberg, a contributing writer for Real Simple with seven years of editorial experience in the interior design, food, and travel spaces. To come up with this list, she spent hours researching the best lawn chairs and narrowed down the options based on usage, material, portability, and more. She also spoke to Jessica Foster, Home Depot’s online merchant for direct fulfillment for patio furniture.
But with a vintage-style look, it’s not too sporty to serve as full-time backyard seating. We also let two boys, ages 1 and 5, play with them and sit on them in the backyard for six months. After all that, we concluded that the REI Co-op Camp Chair – Kids’ is the best choice for anyone who wants to buy a practical, portable outdoor chair for a small child. The canopy quickly and easily transforms into a carrying case—just wrap it around the chair and snap it closed with two plastic buckles, and you can carry the whole thing on your back like an oblong backpack. We brought this chair to a dense Los Angeles neighborhood to watch Fourth of July fireworks.
The Flexlite Camp Boss here slots in right in the middle, combining a near-ideal mix of weight, comfort, and durability for many campers. It is pricier by $20 and heavier by a significant 1 pound 3 ounces, but we consider the Camp Boss the more approachable and well-rounded pick. Thoughts of camping chairs may conjure up images of $10 specials out front a big-box retailer, but let’s reorient ourselves to a slightly higher standard.
On the opposite end of the price spectrum is the Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair, which is a serious splurge. But its impressive durability, superior comfort, and sleek look are worth the higher price tag, if you can swing it. The mesh FlexGrid fabric is totally breathable and incredibly strong, with the ability to support up to 500 pounds of weight without stretching out. While we’re partial to this Classic version, which sits at an ideal 15.5 inches above the ground, this chair is also available in both a low-back and high-back beach chair option, which are much shorter.
This low-profile chair is easy to carry, and it adjusts for uneven ground. A nice garden table accompanied by a few sturdy chairs can be essential for decorating the outdoor room. In our selection, you will find a wide range of outdoor tables and chairs for your outside area. Though we have lots of praises to sing for this chair, there are still some downsides. For example, at 20 pounds, it’s just not very convenient to tote around often. The drink holder also left something to be desired — it’s essentially just a plastic tray.
Once it’s deployed, though, there are few complaints — unless you want cupholders on your chair. All in all, we like this chair, even if we like a few others a little bit more. Of course, we want to be sure to include any possible downsides, and we think some of this chair’s features could be improved upon. For folding lawn chairs example, although the padded foam encased in nylon fabric provides comfort for prolonged relaxation sessions, this chair isn’t very breathable under-bottom. Additionally, while the chair seems to be sturdy and reliable for the long haul, the carrying bag that comes with it doesn’t hold up to the same quality.