Chairs are an essential part of camping. Standing or sitting on the ground gets old real quick. There are tons of them out there. Some crazy expensive, some cheap. We researched dozens and tested 8 of the best we could find. Here are the results.
| Big Six Armchair | Elite | Chair Zero Highback | GO Compact Camp Chair | Wonderland Chair | Luxury Low Beach Chair | Rocking Chair | Basecamp Chair | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Big Agnes | Strongback | Helinox | Dometic | REI | Snowpeak | Alps Mountaineering | MEC |
| Weight | 3.8 pounds 1.7 kg | 11.9 pounds 5.4. kg | 1.5 pounds 0.7 kg | 9.4 pounds 4.2 kg | 13.4 pounds 6 kg | 7.5 pounds 3.4 kg | 17.5 pounds 7.9 kg | 11.5 pounds 5.2 kg |
| Size | 24 x 26 x 40 inches 60.9 x 66 x 101.6 cm | 28 x 27 x 36.5 inches 71 x 68.5 x 92.7 cm | 19.5 x 32.5 x 21.5 inches 49 x 82 x 54.5 cm | 28.7 x 32 x 24.5 inches 72.9 x 81.3 x 62.2 cm | 35.8 x 24 x 21 inches 90.9 x 60.9 x 53.3 cm | 23 x 26 x 27 inches 58.4 x 66 x 68.5 cm | 42 x 37 x 24 inches 106.6 x 93.9 x 60.9 cm | 20 x 21 x 38 inch 52 x 55 x 96 cm |
| Packed Size | 5 x 6 x 22 inches 12.7 x 15.2 x 55.8 cm | 44 x 11 x 11 inches 111.7 x 27.9 x 27.9 cm | 5 x 5 x 16 inches 12 x 12 x 40 cm | 40 x 6 x 6 inches 101.6 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm | 42 x 11 x 11 inches 106.7 x 27.9 x 27.9 | 6.4 x 7 x 33 inches 16.3 x 17.8 x 83.8 cm | 27 x 24 x 6 inches 68.6 x 61 x 15.2 cm | 8.4 x 8.4 x 38 inches 21.5 x 21.5 x 96 cm |
| Cupholder | Yes, 2 | Yes, 1 | No | No | Yes, 1 | No | No | Yes, 1 |
| Weight Limit | 300 pounds 136 kg | 300 pounds 136 kg | 265 pounds 120.2 kg | 280 pounds 127 kg | 300 pounds 136 kg | 240 pounds 108.8 kg | 300 pounds 136 kg | 300 pounds 136 kg |
| Price | $249.95 USD $319.95 CAD | $149.95 USD $205 CAD | $179.95 USD $229.95 CAD | $149.99 USD $205 CAD | $99.99 USD $135 CAD | $249.95 USD $341 CAD | $149.99 USD $205 CAD | $47.97 CAD |
| Rating | Highly Recommended | Highly recommended | Highly Recommended | Recommended | Editor’s Choice | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Review | Full review | Full review | Full review | Full review | Full review | Full review | Full review | Full review |
| Website | Website | Website | Website | Website | Website | Website | Website | Website |
REI Wonderland Chair
The REI Wonderland Chair looks like an unassuming camp chair at a good price. Give it a sturdy frame and recycled materials and it bumps it up a notch. REI took it one step further with a simple subtration. They chucked the bag. In it’s place is a sleep carry strap that clips together, holding it folded. This simple feature makes it a joy to carry and use without having to fuss around with a bag and earns it our Editor’s Choice.
Verdict: Editor’s Choice – Highly Recommended see our rating system
$99.99 USD ($135.95 CAD) on REI.com
Big Agnes Big Six Armchair
The Big Six Armchair from Big Agnes is a cross between utralight and full size chair. It snaps together like a tent and then then the seat is hung on top. The poles are very sturdy but still lightweight. It has a capacity of 300 pounds.
Like the ultralight chairs, it takes a bit of setup but only about a minute. The fabric is taut an holds a drink nicely in either of the 2 cupholders. After you’re done it folds all down into a bag about the size of 2 water bottles.
Verdict: Highly Recommended see our rating system
$249.95 USD ($319.95) on BigAgnes.com
Strongback Elite Chair
The Strongback Elite is a beefy chair with exceptional lumbar support. The back and side are wide and comfortable and the arms well-padded. Larger feet keep the legs out of the sand. Being so big and comfortable, it’s a bit bigger to carry but well worth the weight.
It comes with a god bag that’s easy to fit the chair into. The bag has 2 carry straps that can be used like a backpack. 1 small cupholder flips down from the side. It could be bigger for tumblers and phones but holds cans no problem.
Verdict: Highly Recommended see our rating system
$149.95 USD on StrongbackChair.com
MEC Basecamp Chair
The MEC Basecamp chair is a sturdy addition to the campsite. I was impressed with the stability and sturdy feel to it. The back could be reclined a little more and the armrests a little wider but overall it was nice and comfortable. The cupholder holds a can easily as well tumblers with narrower bottoms. For carrying, the bag has a wide opening and shoulder strap for easy packing.
This exact model may have been discontinued so it might be harder to find in the future.
Verdict: Recommended (if your on a budget) see our rating system
$35.48 USD ($47.97 CAD) on MEC.ca
Helinox Chair Zero Highback
The Chair Zero Highback is a ridiculously lightweight camp chair. It’s perfect when you don’t have a lot of room for a bigger chair like in a small car, a bike pannier or a pack pocket. The DAC poles fold out like a tent and the non-stretch seat hangs in them. The higher back is more supportive and just enough to rest your head on if you’re shorter than 5’10”. The whole thing packs up in 1 minute to less than 2 water bottles.
Verdict: Highly Recommended (if you need lightweight) see our rating system
$179.95 USD ($229.95 CAD) on Helinox.com
Snow Peak Luxury Low Beach Chair
The Luxury Low Beach Chair from Snow Peak is a small, low chair with solid metal-work and high quality parts. It’s got a unique frame work it sits on the sides of the back legs. It packs up quickly into a close-fitting bag. The back is quite short but the recline, thick canvas, and seat edge are comfy for long sits around the campfire.
Verdict: Recommended (if you need a smaller chair) see our rating system
$249.95 USD ($340.95 CAD) on Snowpeak.com
Dometic Go Compact Chair
Dometic makes camping and outdoor living gear like battery powered fridges, tables and, in this case, chairs. The Go series is all about living outside and taking life to the outdoors whenever.
The Compact chair weighs is made with a aluminum frame and weighs about 9.4 pounds and holds 280 pounds. A zippered bag has plenty of space for the chair when it’s folded. The recline on the back and arms is more than all the other chairs we tested but still plenty comfortable for chilling around the campfire or the dock.
Verdict: Recommended see our rating system
$149.99 USD on Dometic.com
Alps Mountaineering Rocking Chair
The Rocking Chair from Alps Mountaineering is exactly that, a rocking chair. It’s big, wide, stable and rocks well. You do feel the ground under it while rocking so it’s nicer on smoother ground but patio, grass, deck and smoother dirt are great. It folds in half and latches closed when you’re not using it. It also locks open so you don’t fold yourself into the chair, or a campfire, while having a nap.
Verdict: Recommended (if you want a rocking chair) see our rating system
$149.99 USD ($200 CAD) on AlpsMountaineering.com