The 11 Best Camp Chairs of 2023 Portable Camping Chairs Reviewed

In terms of comfort, the Co-op Flexlite Air Chair has the perfect amount of give. It’s so small and lightweight to bring around, you can even throw it into a backpack or tote bag. Overwhelmingly, the Coleman came out on top, with campers praising its comfort and stability. The Renetto’s big, heavy canopy provides ample sun protection at a campsite or cookout and doubles as a backpack-strap-equipped carrying case. These lightweight, convenient chairs fold easily into a storage bag so you can toss them in the back of the car for any summertime adventure. Still, it’s a reasonable trade-off if you’re working toward shedding weight from your backpacking setup but aren’t keen to sit on the ground all night.

If you’re looking for a chair to take on the move, opt for something weighing under 2 pounds that can be stored as compactly as possible. These no-frills seats are more tolerable for resting your terrain-tested feet than for enjoying multiple meals, drinks, and the company of other campers around a fire. For this special purpose, you’ll need a rocker made from a water-resistant, flexible material with a foldable frame. ozark trail camping chair Some require little or no assembly and can be spread open and set on the ground. Collapsible rocking camping chairs have removable rocking rails; these take a little more effort to put together, but they provide smoother rocking motions. These Ozark Trail camp chairs are perfect for taking with you to kids’ sports games, camping trips, firework displays, or simply having them around so you can lounge in your backyard.

Do a quick online search for director chair-style camp chairs and you’ll see that most options look relatively similar. They also have the same downside, which is a general lack of portability. They fold just like a movie director’s chair—hence the name—but usually don’t pack down vertically. Both our 6-foot-2 and 5-foot-5 testers liked the seat height and had no problems sitting down and standing up from the chair. We also like that it has the usual cup holder and phone pocket on the armrests.

We also tested any adjustable features like recliners and armrests to see if those functions worked smoothly. We were downright giddy over this spacious, cleverly designed outdoor loveseat. The two-seater slips in and out of a slot in the wrap-up, tote-style carrier, which can be expanded to fit other gear for storage and double as a dog mat when the chair is in use. When it comes to comfort, the Kelty Low Loveseat was one of the most outstanding during our test. Even after regularly using this chair for six months, it’s just as plush and comfortable as ever. It has more than enough room for two people — and perhaps a pet — to lounge.

We did select our favorite upright chair for car camping and tailgating, and then additional low-to-the-ground, ultra-lightweight, and canopy picks, as well as a great chair for kids. While paying premium prices for a camping chair when you only make it to the wilderness a couple times of year may not seem practical, good portable seating can be an invaluable addition to your home life too. If your chair has pole legs, just make sure that you bring along a ground sheet if you may be encountering soft surfaces like sand. The Trailhead is also on the heavier side for a camp chair, and it’s far from compact.

Beyond the comfort of the seat, the most impressive part of the Trailhead is the sturdiness of the frame. While its strength is certainly a winning feature, the locking mechanisms that keep the chair open and in perfect shape take the cake. This lock—which takes a bit of elbow grease to put into place—allows you to shift around and even set it up on uneven ground without risk of it folding back in while you’re lounging. The Kijaro Dual Lock Camping Chair has everything you need for a convenient and comfortable stay in the wilderness. Equipped with a locking feature that ensures it stays taut, this chair immediately impressed us with its standout comfort and sturdiness.

Still, you may find these options to be well-suited for your specific camping needs. The Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair is a rock-solid piece of outdoor furniture that’ll stay sturdy and supportive even under the toughest conditions. Yeti’s Flexgrid fabric is taut and durable with just the right amount of stretch to conform to your ozark trail camping chair body and provide pressure relief where it’s most needed. We found it to be extremely supportive on the back and legs and marveled at how difficult it was to knock over during the durability test. The material is also resistant to damage from UV rays and breathable enough to prevent spills or rain from pooling in the seatbed.