When considering camp chairs, we looked at materials and frame constructions. Our winners were all constructed with quality materials and designed to handle uneven terrain, bear weight evenly and securely, and withstand wear and tear from a variety of climates and ecosystems. Therefore, materials and frame constructions were high on our list of priorities. While some of our choices were certainly not weight-conscious (Our Heavy-Duty pick weighs 13 pounds!), we did consider weight (our lightweight choice is only 1.1 pounds!). Our choices had to be within a reasonable amount of weight to transport—easy to stow in the car, in the RV, in a backpack, or just to carry down to the beach. On the other hand, we were also conscious of the weight ratings of each chair.
Note that some higher-end chairs, like the Nemo Stargaze, are made with aeronautical grade aluminum vs. some of the lower-end chairs. The most common complaint—only one cup holder (and we kind of agree)! But, of course, comfort and luxury come with a price, and we have a hard time recommending someone spend this much on a camp chair. On road trips across the country to visit multiple friends, we were pleasantly surprised to see this camp chair in multiple outdoors people’s backyards for use as everyday patio furniture in the summer. Whether friends are having a backyard campfire or watching the sunset from the porch, the Kelty Low Loveseat seems to double as many people’s favorite home patio furniture, too.
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 canopy 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.
We spent 200+ nights testing the best headlamps for brightness, battery life, comfort, and ease of use for backpacking, hiking, running, climbing, and camping. I’ve guided hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and (mostly) rafting trips in Alaska and Colorado for seven years. I’m now a program manager for a guiding company out of Southeast Alaska and managed their hiking and rafting program on the Chilkoot Trail and Taiya River.
If you’ve got a little more to spend on a camp chair to last a long time, we love the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair and it wins our Most Comfortable Camp Chair award. Unlike other reclining or rocking style, it has a sturdy base, fast, intuitive set-up, and compact breakdown. Designed as a hammock-style chair, it allows you to rock, recline, and coleman canopy swing— all with a base that feels more secure than other camp chairs we considered. We like this chair so much it made our Best Gifts for Campers gift guide. Even folks who never thought they’d want a reclining camp chair fell in love with the Nemo Stargaze. Even testers who hate assembling gear would run to have this be the first thing up in camp.
This was especially important for camping in wet climates in the Pacific Northwest and humid environments in the Northeast. But no matter where you camp, you can ensure the longest life of your chairs by storing them indoors and in a dry place when you’re not actively using them. If you’re car camping, RVing, or heading to the lake for the day, then a folding collapsible chair (like our Overall Pick) might be perfect for you. Weight most likely won’t be an issue in these circumstances, and the plush additions (built-in cooler, cup holders, footrests, etc.) can be just the ticket for a relaxing evening at the campground.