The canopy is big enough to block most, if not all, sunlight any time of day, and the chair’s seat has a strip of breathable mesh down the middle for airflow. Senior staff writer Lauren Dragan said the Renetto is her most comfortable camping chair. Several Wirecutter staffers have owned the Coleman chair for years, using it on camping trips, in backyards, and at sporting events.
This MalloMe camping cookware ticks off all the boxes. All the pieces stack neatly inside each other and collapse to fit in its included nylon drawstring pouch. It has garnered over 6,100 perfect ratings from shoppers who agree it’s ideal ozark trail chair for camping and backpacking. It has the highest weight capacity and largest seat of any chair we tested. Out of all the chairs we tested, this chair’s capacity—800 pounds—is the highest (the next-highest weight limit is 500 pounds).
It’s a no-brainer to drop this handy $35 camping essential in your shopping cart. The Yeti Rambler 14-ounce mug is the ideal traveling companion to keep your drinks warm or cold at campsites. It has Yeti’s signature double wall vacuum insulated interior that keeps your drinks at the perfect temperature, whether you’re enjoying a cup of hot coffee or a mug of cold beer. Its magslider lid keeps the drink securely contained yet easily sippable.
It’s made of rip-resistant parachute nylon and easily attaches to trees with two 9-foot straps and carabiners. It has raked in over 42,200 five-star ratings with shoppers who love it for its comfort, its durability, its easy setup, and its convenience. The 4-pound, steel-framed REI chair has an attached carry strap, rather than a carry bag (which the other chairs have). After a couple of camping trips, we concluded that a strap is more convenient than a bag—it’s quicker and easier for a kid to grab the chair and go, without parental help. It has the most comfortable and supportive seat shape of any chair we tested. The Dual Lock chair has a firmer backrest and seat bottom than the competition.
We’ve incorporated their feedback into this review. When it comes to keeping your food ice cold on that camping trip, grab these slim ice packs that take up less room. These ice packs are extra-large too, measuring 4.75 by 0.5 by 7 inches. They’re made of BPA-free plastic with a non-toxic gel inside. Unlike ice, these don’t melt leaving messy water all over your food inside the cooler either. Plus, they can be refrozen and used over and over again.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The Dual Lock seat’s name comes from a locking mechanism that secures the chair when it’s folded or expanded—releasing the lock is a matter of pushing a button on one of the legs. As a result, the chair feels grounded and less wobbly than its competitors.
For a compact option that performs double duty, you need this spork. It is a combination utensil with a spoon on one end, a fork on the other. It has an added perk of a serrated edge on the outer side of the fork to triple as a knife, too. It is made out of durable nylon and measures a mere 7 inches long. It has two holes on the handle so you can attach the included tether in one of them, and then hook it to your backpack to keep it at reach. A portable cooler is an essential item to take on any outing, and this bestseller can keep ice for up to two days, according to the brand.