The best camping chairs
Somewhere comfy to sit at the campsite, the match or the beach: the folding chairs worth packing.
A good camping chair is used far beyond camping: football touchlines, beaches, festivals, the garden. The main choice is comfort against weight.
High-backed, padded chairs are the comfiest but weigh 3–5kg, fine from the car boot. Lightweight backpacking chairs weigh under a kilo but sit lower. Check the maximum load, especially for bigger people.
What matters
- Weight: under 1kg to carry, 3–5kg from the car.
- A high back for long evenings.
- Maximum load that suits the sitter.
- Extras: cup holder, cooler pocket, side pocket.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Trail Kestrel High Back Camping Chair
£39.99 RRP
A high, padded back that supports your shoulders and neck, wide armrests and a mesh cup holder: the chair for long evenings by the tent or a whole afternoon watching cricket. Takes up to 120kg.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable and well made for the price, roomy enough for bigger people, and easy to fold and carry.
A closer look: At 3.5kg it's a car-camping chair rather than one to carry far. Let the fabric dry before packing it away after a damp night, or it'll smell musty by the next trip.
- High padded back, mesh panels
- Wide armrests with cup holder
- Steel frame, up to 120kg
- Seat 45cm high
- Folds into a carry bag with strap
Best for: Long evenings at camp
- Weight
- 3.5kg
- Max load
- 120kg
- Packed size
- 92 × 15 × 15cm
- Extras
- High padded back, cup holder
#2 of 5
Lightest
TREKOLOGY YIZI GO Compact Camping Chair (0.9kg)
£30–£50 Price range
Under a kilo and packs down to 35cm, so it goes in a rucksack, a pannier or a festival bag. The aluminium poles clip together in a minute and it still holds up to 136kg.
What owners say: Owners call it a brilliant, super-light chair for backpacking and motorbike camping, though some had plastic joints break.
Heads up: It sits low to the ground, which isn't for everyone's knees, and some owners report the plastic joints cracking with heavy use.
A closer look: Put it on firm ground: the narrow feet sink into soft sand or mud. It's the one for festivals, fishing and anywhere you walk in.
- 930g
- Packs to 35 × 12 × 10cm
- Aluminium frame, up to 136kg
- Deep mesh seat
- Side pocket
Best for: Carrying in a rucksack
- Weight
- 930g
- Max load
- 136kg
- Packed size
- 35 × 12 × 10cm
- Extras
- Side pocket
#3 of 5
Most comfortable
ALPHA CAMP XL Padded Camping Chair (up to 200kg)
£30–£50 Price range
The biggest, sturdiest chair here: a padded, extra-wide seat on a heavy-duty steel frame rated to 200kg, with a cooler bag in the armrest and a side pocket for a phone or book.
What owners say: Owners find it excellent quality and roomy for larger people, with handy pockets, though some find it heavy to lift.
Heads up: At 5.2kg it's heavy: a chair for the campsite pitch or the garden, not for carrying far.
A closer look: The cooler pocket keeps a couple of cans cold for a few hours, better in the shade. A good choice for bigger, taller dads who find standard chairs a squeeze.
- Rated to 200kg
- Extra-wide padded seat and back
- Cooler bag, cup holder, side pocket
- Powder-coated steel frame
- Carry bag
Best for: Bigger and taller people
- Weight
- 5.2kg
- Max load
- 200kg
- Packed size
- –
- Extras
- Padded, cooler bag, cup holder, side pocket
#4 of 5
Best pair
Voyager Padded Folding Camping Chairs, Set of 2
£30–£50 Price range
Two fully padded chairs with cooler bags for about the price of one premium chair: good for a couple who go camping, caravanning or to outdoor concerts together.
What owners say: Owners find them good value and easy to fold and carry, though the upright back and the padding get mixed comments.
A closer look: The backs are fairly upright, which suits eating and chatting more than lounging. A good present for parents who've just bought a caravan or campervan.
- 2 chairs
- Full padding, mesh panels
- Cooler bag, cup holder, pocket
- 3.3kg each
- Folds to 99 × 15 × 14cm
Best for: Couples
- Weight
- 3.3kg each
- Max load
- –
- Packed size
- 99 × 15 × 14cm
- Extras
- Pair; padded, cooler bag, cup holder
#5 of 5
Best budget
Amazon Basics Camping Chair with 4-Can Cooler
£20–£30 Price range
Simple, cheap and comfortable, with a cooler pouch on the armrest that holds four cans, a cup holder and a pocket for a paperback. Folds to fit most car boots.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable, spacious and easy to set up and carry, and good value, though some had one break with light use.
A closer look: Buy two: one for the car boot, ready for the next football match or beach day. Keep it out of the rain between uses and the steel frame lasts longer.
- 4-can cooler pouch
- Cup holder and storage pocket
- Mesh panels for ventilation
- Steel frame, 3.18kg
- Carry bag
Best for: Days out on a budget
- Weight
- 3.18kg
- Max load
- –
- Packed size
- –
- Extras
- 4-can cooler, cup holder, pocket
How they compare
| Feature | #1Trail Kestrel | #2TREKOLOGY YIZI GO | #3ALPHA CAMP XL | #4Voyager pair | #5Amazon Basics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Lightest | Most comfortable | Best pair | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | £39.99 RRP | £30–£50 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £20–£30 Price range |
| Weight | 3.5kg | 930g | 5.2kg | 3.3kg each | 3.18kg |
| Max load | 120kg | 136kg | 200kg | – | – |
| Packed size | 92 × 15 × 15cm | 35 × 12 × 10cm | – | 99 × 15 × 14cm | – |
| Extras | High padded back, cup holder | Side pocket | Padded, cooler bag, cup holder, side pocket | Pair; padded, cooler bag, cup holder | 4-can cooler, cup holder, pocket |
| Best for | Long evenings at camp | Carrying in a rucksack | Bigger and taller people | Couples | Days out on a budget |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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