We recommend buying this type only if you intend to carry your chair long distances, whether you’re backpacking or trekking across Central Park. If you do need a fits-in-a-knapsack chair, we recommend the Helinox Chair One. We found this model to be slightly more comfortable and easier to pack than other, similar chairs. This chair had us impressed on all ends, and with its wide availability, the Cooler Quad is a stalwart defender of Coleman’s reputation as a king of camping. If you’re after a novelty chair with an included cooler, you’ve found it.
For $60, REI’s Co-op Skyward Camp Chair is a super reliable option that will last you for years. However, since many campers prefer chairs at a traditional height, the Kelty Lowdown narrowly missed winning our Best Overall pick. This affordable, durable, comfortable chair is tailored to those who like their refreshments. The cooler pocket fits four standard cans and zips up to insulate your beverages of choice.
Artful employment of padding along the seat makes the Cooler Quad a little more than just an oversized camp chair. “We use these every week for our kids’ games and practices,” wrote one five-star reviewer. They went on to share that “the carrying pouch is sturdy, the chairs are wide and comfy, and the cup holder [and] side cooler [are] so convenient.” It comes with a bag that has a shoulder strap to cart it around and weighs 8 pounds.
Just a thin layer of foam that adds something to the polyester does the job without making it feel like you’re sitting in a pile of mashed potatoes. We aren’t particularly impressed by the durability of this chair either. Nothing broke during our testing, but we have some serious doubts about this chair’s ability to last for years.
Plus, when you’re ready to pack it up, all you’ve got to do is fold it and slide it into the included carry bag. The portable chairs are the perfect size and weight to bring along to the pool, sports games, or to use as extra seating for outdoor hangouts. 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.
At a fireworks show and at the beach, we appreciated a chair that was ready to go without even 30 seconds of hassle. The Everywhere Chair closes like a book—simply lift the padded strap and go. The Renetto coleman canopy chair usually comes in between 8 and 10 colors and is rated to hold up to 350 pounds. Walk around any campground or tailgate party, and you’ll notice the popularity of this variety of accordion-style seat.
If you’re wondering what all goes into the perfect camp chair, our buyer’s guide can answer similar questions and more. Those in the market for a new chair can head our top picks of the season for side-by-side comparisons of the latest and greatest models available. 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 end of the full-sized camp chair spectrum. These hanging pockets have quickly become the industry standard for folding chairs across a wide range of types. A camping chair with such a high-grade integrated cooler wouldn’t be much without a cup holder to match.