As is the case with many mass-manufactured chairs, there tends to be some variance in quality over the years. I haven’t experienced any issues with mine despite pushing the weight limit and the cooler capacity up to the limit, but there is enough evidence floating around to question the integrity of the joints. REI’s Flexlite Chair has been replaced by an entire flock of Flexlite chairs; the one that is the closest to replacing the original Flexlite in the lineup is the Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair. The design, size, and weight is nearly identical, but the nylon fabric has been replaced with polyester. Camping trips, beach days, picnics in the park, outdoor movies and theater performances, a fresh-air get-together with friends—there are countless occasions when you might use a camp chair.
Again, nothing broke on this chair during our few months of testing, but we are skeptical of its longevity. Always have a cold drink within easy reach at the campsite, tailgate or kids’ ball game thanks to the cooler built into the armrest of the Camping Chair with Built-In 4-Can Cooler. Any appropriate exchanges, credits and refunds will be issued for the purchase price of the returned item(s); taxes are refunded in accordance with applicable state law.
If you’re after a novelty chair with an included cooler, you’ve found it. But if you want something comfortable enough to watch an all-day soccer tournament and durable enough to bring back every season, we don’t think this one is a winner. Though it’s one of the least expensive chairs we tested, we’re still not sure it’s worth it. Lackluster performance and a cooler that’s only moderately useful but surprisingly in the coleman canopy way make us feel like there are much better options out there, even if the chair and cooler have to be separate. It had some thickness, with at least a couple layers of fabric making up the body, but this doesn’t help the integrity. The armrests are technically adjustable, though they are only attached through round discs, making it easy to accidentally push them down with your elbow during a routine readjustment.
After a couple of camping trips, we concluded that a strap is more convenient than a bag—quicker and easier for a kid to grab the chair and go, without parental help. The REI chair is rated to hold up to 150 pounds, the same as the L.L.Bean and Walmart chairs. We think the REI chair is most appropriate for toddlers and kids up to about 7 or 8 years old, though reviews reveal that some small adults have found this to be their favorite seat.
If you notice some mildew on your chair or happened to enjoy a particularly muddy weekend, cleaning off your camp chair is a relatively straightforward process. I’d also recommend the Cooler Quad to anyone who wants a roomier camp chair but doesn’t want to spring for the more coleman canopy expensive top-of-the-line models. Compared to the competition, even our other top contenders, you’re getting a lot of value out of this chair. There aren’t many other options out there with such a high carrying capacity, this many features, and low weight at any price range.