Best Camping Chairs of 2023

Laying out on a blanket doesn’t work in a group setting unless you’re napping in the beach sun. Sitting cross-legged is fine if you’re in middle school or doing a yoga-in-the-park class, but otherwise unsustainable. Just sitting straight down on rocks, grass, or dirt is a recipe for bad posture and a ruined fit. In all cases you spend your time focused less on the company and the scenery, more on moving various limbs to try staying comfortable.

While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, you’ll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. Finally, we sent the chairs out to put them to the test on real campgrounds, hikes, and other outdoor events. Testers provide periodic updates to report on the chairs’ performances over the course of six months. “This is the Platonic ideal of your camp chair,” one of our campers gushed. These colorful, comfortable chairs get your event going in the right direction. Members at the Access category and above get free standard shipping in the contiguous 48 states on purchases over $35.

folding lawn chairs

Sitting up higher than most camping furniture, the chair delivers a classic, cozy living-room feel and features outdoor-ready shocks that endured our durability drop test beautifully. The sturdy steel frame supports padded armrests, a back with a breathable mesh panel, and a cup holder for added comfort. Delivering on its get-up-and-go promise, the Yizi-go is exceptionally easy to carry, set up, and pack away. After regularly using the chair for six months, we found that it’s one of the easiest options to set up and break down.

Lawn chairs are available in a wide number of materials, from nylon, canvas or vinyl stretched over frames of aluminum or steel to solid injection-molded hunks of plastic. Regardless of which material suits your style, you’ll want it to be able to stand up against the elements — ideally, some level of water resistance and protection against UV damage from the sun. Unless you want to store them away after every use, picking a chair with a durable material outdoor patio furniture equipped with some form of weatherproofing will ensure your chair lasts many summers. Some fold flat—and the GCI chairs do so by pulling up as you naturally would on the carry strap. The advantage is the folded dimension is pretty thin (around 4 to 6 inches), but it takes up a very significant 30 x 30 inch square in your car. Carrying it on your back can also be cumbersome, which is why these chairs sometimes come with backpack style straps.

(If you want even more room, Kelty also makes a party-sized couch with plenty of space for three people.) Sturdy, padded fabric forms a supportive high back and adjustable armrests. The low height instantly turns the ground into a footrest, and the seat is wide enough to provide leg support that makes you feel like you’re reclining. 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. We did select our favorite upright chair for car camping and tailgating, and then additional low-to-the-ground, ultra-lightweight, and canopy picks, as well as a great chair for kids. Your brand will always be out and about when it’s on custom camping chairs and accessories. When people head to outdoor concerts, go camping or spend a day at the beach, your imprinted logo will be on prominent display.

Outdoor furniture is not one size fits all, so think carefully about your unique needs before committing to a style. Shorties (like yours truly) may be uncomfortable in seats that are too high to rest their feet on the ground while their backs are flush against the chair. A few of the lightweights we tested were cozy enough to sleep in for some campers, while others found them to be too narrow to comfortably fit their shoulders. If lumbar support is a must, it could be worth transporting a bit of extra weight to have a super sturdy chair on your site.

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. Once again, we really appreciate the features of the Timber Ridge and the Best Choice chairs. They both came with detachable cupholder trays that could also hold a book or sunglasses. The best feature of all was the recliners, especially if the lockouts were easy to use and the weight was well balanced, like on the Caravan Sports chair. The Quik Shade MAX Shade Chair stands out with its unique canopy to provide shade.

All things considered, it’s a heck of a bargain, especially when taking into account the more premium materials used. You’ve got to like dark blue or gray, though, because this chair is only available in those two less-than-thrilling colors. Sign up to receive the latest info outdoor patio shades on new products, special offers, and exclusive sales. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Item prices do not include fees for pickup, shipping or delivery (if applicable) unless noted in the item description.

They have taller backs, are farther off the ground, and offer the best support and stability. In addition, they have the most features, from cup holders to storage pockets, and some even have a recline option. Because weight isn’t a major factor, you can get a well-made and comfortable camping chair at a reasonable price—starting at around $50 and reaching as much as $300 for the Yeti Trailhead. Top choices from this category include the REI Co-op Skyward Chair, Alps Mountaineering King Kong, and GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker. In stark contrast to Helinox’s minimalist Chair Zero above, their Sunset Chair puts a premium on comfort and support with a high back and wide, cradle-like seat.

Make your next outdoor activity truly enjoyable with outdoor folding chairs from Ace. From the beach to the baseball field, we’ve got the right chair to coordinate with wherever the outdoors takes you. The Coleman camping chair is big and durable, and of all the upright chairs that our panel of campers tested, it was the most comfortable. The pistons force the user forward into an upright position, almost tipping forward, and the rocking motion doesn’t feel nearly as natural as a regular rocker.