Top 5 compared
The best camping chairs
A comfortable seat by the campfire, at the lake or on the sidelines, that folds away small enough for the trunk.
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The top 5 at a glance
A camping chair is a portable seat that folds or packs down to travel, and most get as much use in the backyard or at the ballpark as at the campsite. Quad chairs open on a folding steel frame with a padded or mesh seat; director’s chairs sit more upright; backpacking chairs go together from aluminum poles and a fabric seat.
Quad and director’s chairs are made for the car: fine for the walk from the parking lot, heavy to carry far. Chairs built on aluminum poles pack far smaller but need to be put together each time, and the lightest sit on small feet that can sink into soft sand. Folding any chair away damp invites mildew, so let the fabric dry first.
What matters
- A weight limit with room to spare for whoever sits in it.
- A cup holder or a cooler, so a drink stays within reach.
- Armrests, which make getting up out of the chair easier.
#1TIMBER RIDGE Laurel Director’s Chair with Side Table and Cooler Bag
$75–$100
A flip-down side table with cup holders, a cooler bag and a mesh phone pocket keep a snack, a cold drink and the phone within reach. Padded armrests and a full back hold you upright, which suits a meal or a hand of cards outdoors.
What owners say: Owners rate its comfort and support highly, call it sturdy and stable, and say the cooler keeps beer cold; it folds away easily, though its weight gets a mixed response.
Heads up: It comes without a carry bag; folded, it carries by a handle built into the frame.
A closer look: It folds flat, thin enough to slide in beside a cooler in the trunk or lean against a garage wall between trips. Its seat is about the height of a dining chair, handy for eating at the side table.
- Mesh pocket for a phone
- Full back holds you upright
- Folds flat for the trunk
Best for: Drive-up campsites and cottage lawns
- Kind
- Director’s chair
- Weight
- 4.3 kg (9.5 lb)
- Max load
- 136 kg (300 lb)
- Seat height
- 46 cm (18 in)
- Armrests
- Yes
- Extras
- Side table, cooler bag, cup holders
#2Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Camping Chair
$200–$300
Made for the hike in: aluminum poles joined by an internal bungee cord snap together in moments, and the whole chair packs into a sack small enough to carry inside a backpack.
What owners say: Owners say it weighs next to nothing, packs and carries easily, and is comfortable enough to spare them the ground after a hike; not everyone is sure of its value, durability and sturdiness.
A closer look: The seat sits low, fine by a campfire or at a tent door but a long way down for stiff knees. The fabric lifts off the frame for a machine wash, and Helinox backs the chair with a five-year warranty.
- Bungee-linked poles snap together
- Packs inside a backpack
- Seat washes in the machine
Best for: Backpacking trips where every gram counts
- Kind
- Backpacking chair
- Weight
- 0.51 kg (1.1 lb)
- Max load
- 120 kg (265 lb)
- Seat height
- 22 cm (8.5 in)
- Armrests
- No
- Extras
- None
#3Amazon Basics Camping Chair, X-Large, Padded
$50–$75
A wide steel quad chair with a lightly cushioned seat and back. A cooler pouch holds four cans, a cup holder takes an open drink, and a side pocket keeps sunscreen and snacks close at hand.
What owners say: Owners find it roomy and comfortably cushioned, and like keeping a few cold drinks in the side pouch; its durability, value and weight draw mixed views.
A closer look: Its weight limit is lower than the seat’s size suggests; the Coleman below holds more. To fold it, lift the middle of the seat until the sides meet, then slide it into the carry bag, whose shoulder strap leaves a hand free for a cooler bag.
- Lightly cushioned seat and back
- Bag with a shoulder strap
Best for: Spreading out by the fire
- Kind
- Padded quad chair
- Weight
- 3.9 kg (8.6 lb)
- Max load
- 102 kg (225 lb)
- Seat height
- 46 cm (18 in)
- Armrests
- Yes
- Extras
- 4-can cooler pouch, cup holder, pocket
#4Coleman Portable Quad Camping Chair with 4-Can Cooler
$50–$75
A cooler built into the armrest keeps four cans cold, with a mesh cup holder beside it, a side pocket for a phone or keys and arms that adjust in height. The seat and back are cushioned all over, on a steel frame.
What owners say: Owners call it sturdy and roomy enough for bigger adults, easy to bring along, and the cooler in the arm is a favourite; opinions differ on how well it lasts, its value and its weight.
A closer look: Slip a small ice pack into the armrest cooler on a hot day and the cans stay cold far longer. The padded fabric wipes clean with a damp cloth, which helps after a spilled drink or a muddy day out.
- Arms adjust in height
- Fully cushioned seat and back
Best for: Tailgates and lakeside afternoons
- Kind
- Padded quad chair
- Weight
- 4.1 kg (9 lb)
- Max load
- 147 kg (325 lb)
- Seat height
- 46 cm (18 in)
- Armrests
- Yes
- Extras
- 4-can cooler, cup holder, pocket
#5OneTigris Dragonhide Camping Chair with Pillow
$75–$100
A high back and a detachable pillow give the head somewhere to rest after a long day outside, on a square aluminum frame with thicker poles for a steady seat. The heavy-duty polyester fabric resists dirt, water and scratches.
What owners say: Comfortable, roomy and easy to put together, owners say, and it packs away small for its size; they’re split on its weight and its height.
A closer look: Take the pillow off before folding so everything fits back in the bag. With no armrests to push up on, its wide seat suits a long sit in one place more than getting up and down all afternoon.
- Wide seat and high back
- Steady square aluminum frame
Best for: Fishing trips and quiet evenings
- Kind
- High-back packable chair
- Weight
- 2.1 kg (4.7 lb)
- Max load
- 125 kg (275 lb)
- Seat height
- –
- Armrests
- No
- Extras
- Detachable pillow
How they compare
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| Feature | #1TIMBER RIDGE Laurel | #2Helinox Chair Zero | #3Amazon Basics X-Large | #4Coleman Quad with Cooler | #5OneTigris Dragonhide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Lightest | Best with a headrest | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Price | $75–$100 | $200–$300 | $50–$75 | $50–$75 | $75–$100 |
| Kind | Director’s chair | Backpacking chair | Padded quad chair | Padded quad chair | High-back packable chair |
| Weight | 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) | 0.51 kg (1.1 lb) | 3.9 kg (8.6 lb) | 4.1 kg (9 lb) | 2.1 kg (4.7 lb) |
| Max load | 136 kg (300 lb) | 120 kg (265 lb) | 102 kg (225 lb) | 147 kg (325 lb) | 125 kg (275 lb) |
| Seat height | 46 cm (18 in) | 22 cm (8.5 in) | 46 cm (18 in) | 46 cm (18 in) | – |
| Armrests | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Extras | Side table, cooler bag, cup holders | None | 4-can cooler pouch, cup holder, pocket | 4-can cooler, cup holder, pocket | Detachable pillow |
| Best for | Drive-up campsites and cottage lawns | Backpacking trips where every gram counts | Spreading out by the fire | Tailgates and lakeside afternoons | Fishing trips and quiet evenings |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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