The 20 Best Camping Chairs

Weight: 8.4 lbs | Frame: Quad frame | Comfort: Padded seat and back, drink holder, storage sleeve, cooler

A staple of weekend trips, quad chairs are reliably cheap, surprisingly durable, and conveniently beer-can friendly. You know the drill: They’re slouchy to sit in and simple to set up though a little annoying to get in and out of the bag. While many quad chairs are created equal, I think that Coleman’s chair stands out for being larger in size and padded for comfort while still plenty affordable. There’s an insulated cooler attached to the left armrest plus a handy side pocket that means you won’t have to leave your phone and wallet in the dirt. I’ve happily used a few of these chairs over the years, and they were referenced as classics by several camping-chair experts I spoke with — including van lifers Megan Hogate and Ciara Ladroma, and Emily and Berty Mandagie of outdoors-focused website the Mandagies.

Weight: 1.9 lbs | Frame: Slingback | Comfort: Optional accessories

I decided to test out the Helinox Chair One after Rottman and Jimenez praised the Korean brand, which has been at the forefront of ultralight camping-chair tech since the early 2010s. It is comfortable and easy to carry, if a little lower to the ground than a quad chair. It weighs less than two pounds, and its tiny packed-down size (equivalent to about one and a half Nalgenes) makes transport a breeze. You assemble the Helinox Chair One like a tent: There’s a collapsible aluminum-pole frame that’s held together with shock cords and a sling seat made from nylon and mesh that slips over it. As Rottman explains, it’s just about “the most efficient design for a camping chair that exists.” The chair’s carrier bag attaches to its frame and can be used as a storage compartment. Should you need some accessories, the brand sells a clip-on cup holder, optional rocking feet, and a ground cover sheet.

Weight: 1.14 lbs | Frame: Slingback | Comfort: Reclining

The Nemo Moonlight has a similarly lightweight and collapsible-pole structure to the Helinox One, but with straps that adjust so you can recline backwards if desired. The chair comes recommended by Bialowas — he uses his to watch the stars when camping in the Cuyama Valley. As well as its adjustability, Bialowas likes the chair’s weight, packability, and ease of setup. “No one enjoys lugging a bunch of gear out to the beach or to their campsite or having to make multiple trips,” he explains. “A chair that is small and light enough to fit in your tote is the way to go. Especially if you don’t have to sacrifice comfort.”

Weight: 3.65 lbs | Frame: Slingback | Comfort: Quick to assemble

I also tested out Cliq’s CLIQ chair, which offers a clever variation on the sling-chair designs above. Whereas the Helinox One comes in two separate pieces (a fabric seat and metal pole frame), the seat and frame on Cliq’s chairs are pre-attached. This means that you assemble the chair in one quick and fluid movement rather than having to slip the seat over the frame before sitting down. I much prefer Cliq’s method of setup, but it does come with a trade-off: an additional pound of weight. Other than that, the comfort level is about the same. So if you’re not too worried about your camping chair being “ultralight,” this is an excellent option. Especially as it still packs down super-small.

Weight: 11.13 lbs | Frame: Quad frame | Comfort: Rocker feet, drink holder

On the comfier side of things is this outdoor rocking chair that’ll be the envy of every camper who walks past your site. The Dyrt co-founder Sarah Smith finds herself recommending the GCI Rocker to “anyone who will listen,” adding that it’s both “super comfortable and slightly decadent.” Strategist contributor and experienced camper Steven John is a fan of this surprisingly lightweight chair, which he says is as essential to his camping kit as a stove.

Weight: 10.5 lbs | Frame: Quad frame | Comfort: Lumbar support, drink holders

If you’re after a quad chair that’s more supportive than the Coleman picks above, Marc and Julie Bennett of RVLove are fans of this one. “It’s great for people with back issues — or those who want to avoid them,” they say. “You have to sit in one to appreciate the difference.” The durable Guru has a 300-pound capacity and comes with a two-year warranty, which is unusual for a camping chair.

Weight: 9 lbs | Frame: Collapsible quad frame | Comfort: Cup holder and media pocket

Ever tried to pack four friends and a weekend’s worth of camping gear into a tiny rental car? It can be tricky, which is why a flat-pack-style quad chair like this one is worth considering. After trying this one out, I’m impressed with the chair’s sturdiness and storage potential: It really does pack down into a pretty neat square (one-sixteenth of its assembled size, according to the brand), which is great for apartment storage as well as the aforementioned car Tetris game. It’s taller and more rigid than a slingback-style chair albeit much heavier. I like the storage sleeves on each arm, too, although I’ll note that they’re better for stashing water bottles and phones than beer cans or coffee mugs.

Weight: 11.5 lbs | Frame: Quad frame | Comfort: Bottle openers, drink holders

This sleek True Places camping chair has everything and then some: solid plastic arms, a cup holder, an optional clip-on phone holder, two bottle openers, and a clever carrier bag that can be worn as a backpack. After using one, here’s the feature I like most: its unusually sturdy frame. Most camping chairs wobble and topple if you don’t have your feet planted to balance them out, but this one stays grounded. As a trade-off, the chair is on the larger and heavier side, making it a little inconvenient for apartment storage and definitely out of the question for hiking and walk-in campsites. I’d say that it’s best for backyard and park hangs, especially if you value both comfort and aesthetics.

Weight: 10.1 lbs | Frame: Recliner | Comfort: Cushioning, seven positions

Balancing a plastic plate of food on your knees when sitting around the campfire isn’t much fun. Campendium co-founder Leigh Wetzel recommends this chair as another assuredly sturdy pick that’s great for eating dinner on — and has a seven-position reclining feature for chilling out afterwards. “It provides lots of support, and is table height so you can use it for dining as well as socializing,” she explains. The chair’s seat and back are constructed from super-comfy padded mesh, and the brand offers an optional footrest for really blissing out. One note: This chair doesn’t have drink holders, so you probably will want to pair it with a camping table.

Weight: 3.4 lbs | Frame: Slingback | Comfort: Optional accessories

Slingback chairs are low to the ground and can be a little uncomfortable for taller people. Here’s a compromise without much additional weight or bulk: the same portable design but with a higher back and legs. True to the chair’s name, I’ve been using mine to watch the sunset on my rooftop with a seltzer in hand — it’s plenty comfortable and easy to lug up six flights of stairs.

Weight: 1.8 lbs | Frame: Slingback | Comfort: Optional accessories

And here’s the ultralight backpacking version of the Helinox’s Sunset slingback chair — with the same shock-cord pole structure. It sits lower to the ground and doesn’t provide quite as relaxing a sitting experience as the Sunset, but the weight and size difference is impressive without being a total compromise on comfort.

Weight: 12 oz, 14 oz | Frame: Stool | Comfort: Mesh seat

Another shockingly lightweight seating option for those on the trail is this three-legged stool from BTS. The brand sent me one to try out last year, and I have to admit that it’s temptingly backpack-friendly and far superior to sitting on a craggy rock. Weighing less than your average collapsible hiking pole, the stool has telescoping aluminum legs and a thin but durable seat made from nylon mesh. It’s available in two different leg lengths. When collapsed, the smaller stool measures about 12 inches high while the larger is about 14 inches. I opted for the taller option, which seems preferable in terms of comfort — unless weight is a very serious consideration.

Weight: 2 oz | Frame: Seat pad | Comfort: Warmth-boosting reflective foam

Affordable, lightweight, and stashable, foam seat pads are the preferred seating choice for a multiday hike. “They only weigh a couple ounces, so you’re not adding a lot of your pack,” explains REI’s virtual-outfitting team lead Forrest Jarvi. Therm-a-Rest’s Z-Seat is a classic of the genre that’s both affordable and hard-wearing. Jimmy the Hiking Nerd has been using his for years — and not just for keeping his hiking pants clean: “Out in the backcountry, this Z-Seat has been my makeshift pillow, a windscreen for my stove, a fan to get the campfire going, and a barrier against the snow.”

Weight: 13 lbs | Frame: Lawn chair | Comfort: Low-profile, cord seat

Chelsea Rizzo and Allison Levy, co-founders of women’s outdoor-gear brand and New York City–based hiking club Hikerkind, like taking foam seat pads out on the trail. But for car camping, the design-conscious duo pointed us to these delightfully retro picnic chairs from Ita, the first-ever Black-owned outdoor-furniture brand. “I never thought I’d love a camping chair, but I’m definitely infatuated with this one,” says Rizzo of Ita’s leisure chair, which collapses into a stackable square and can be popped into position in less than one minute. She says the chairs are thoughtfully crafted and designed to last: “I’ve made the bad decision before by buying the cheaper, heavier thing — what we love to promote is buying intentionally with a purpose, then using it forever.”