The strap is wide, which is comfortable for that stroll down to the riverside or across a field to a picnic. The base has a low center of gravity, providing more stability than traditional camping chairs. In its most recent model, Nemo has removed all plastic parts (the section that failed in an earlier version was plastic). We kept it up during windy nights in camp and were shocked to find it unmoved.
For all of the features and the size of the Cooler Quad, setting it up is just as easy as any other basic camp chair. There are no moving parts, coleman canopy footrests to avoid, or sunshades to deploy. The only thing between you and an afternoon of grilling is getting it out of the sleeve.
Weighing in at a negligible 8lbs 2oz, the Cooler Quad won’t punish you for parking a little ways away from your intended destination. When you consider this in tandem with the carrying sleeve, the Cooler Quad lies somewhere on the more portable coleman cooler end of the full-sized camp chair spectrum. The Helinox Chair One weighs about 2 pounds, compresses smaller than a 2-liter bottle of soda, and is the most comfortable and easy to stow of the three top backpacking chairs we tested.
When we set up a dozen chairs around the campfire without comment, people consistently claimed them from largest to smallest. They’re all designed to stand being coleman camping chair outside and can handle some rain and sun exposure. The best chairs (and the wons we chose as winners) all have water-resistant and quick-drying materials.
But the price difference is significant—and after six months of near-constant outdoor use, the Walmart chair was still in decent shape. If you are looking for an ultracheap choice, the Walmart chair is one. We spent 1 year testing 10 outdoor blankets for warmth and waterproofing to find down, fleece, puffy, and picnic blankets that resist stains and are easy to wash.
It also scored well with taller folks (but was a little difficult for shorter people). Finally, take into account the features you’re looking to use while camping. Some chairs offer a good bit of storage, while others are particularly spartan. Some come decked out in multiple cup holders, while others leave it up to you to cradle your beverage.
All told, we’ve tested close to 25 different camping chairs over the last half-decade, and collected the top 15 in this guide. Packed with features, this handy device will become the envy of all at campsites, on sports’ fields, tailgate parties or backyard gatherings. The hardened steel frame and four-point legs provide stability, durability, and rust-resistance, while the padding of the poly-oxford seat provides comfort.