13 August 2021

Best Camping Chairs of 2021

Camping comes in a variety of styles. In Australia, some people live off the grid. Others will park their van and set up camp wherever they can find a parking spot with a view.

But, after a long day of backpacking, fishing, hunting, or simply swimming in the neighbouring lake, every camper wants to take a load off, and the cold, hard ground won’t do.

There is, thankfully, a camp chair for everyone; collapsible seating spans from heavy, somewhat luxury seats that require a car to transport to ultralight chairs that fit snuggly into a backpack. With that in mind, payday deals compiled a list few of our faves, ranging from minimalist to ultra-luxe.

Helinox Chair One

Goldilocks’ choice would have been a no-brainer if Helinox’s Chair One had been in the Three Bears’ cabin. It weighs just over two pounds and is 11 cm high and offers plenty of space between your back and the cold, hard ground. The Chair One not only collapses to a size small enough to take in a bag, but it is also exceedingly simple to set up: its frame is built of a single tent-style, shock-cord pole system, and the seat itself is constructed of ripstop polyester.

Our testers return to this chair time and again, attesting to its comfort and size for day trips to swimming holes, canoe camping trips, backpacking trips, and even camping-car vacations where anything bigger could get you out.

Nemo Equipment Moonlite Reclining Chair

Just like our cheaper Just, Get This selection, Moonlite Nemo Equipment combines a textile seat with a collapsible aluminium structure in the tent design that can be packaged with off-the-ground seats. There are, nevertheless, significant distinctions. The Moonlite is one of the lightest camping chairs on our list, weighing one pound 14 ounces. It’s also a little more packable.

The strap system, which allows you to modify the chairback’s recline just like backpack straps, is the highlight feature. Our testing discovered that there is no disadvantage – it does not slip at all while you are seated, even for extended periods of time. It’s also worth mentioning the seamless mesh seat, which is far more comfortable than we anticipated. And, in the end, comfort is what the Moonlite is all about; the fact that the chair is lighter and smaller at the same time is an added advantage that we believe is worth the extra money.

REI Co-op Camp X Chair

Even at its most basic, the classic camp chair does not have to be uncomfortable or lacking in features. Though it’s not easy enough to make a rucksack trip, the REI budget-friendly Camp X Chair offers a lot to love, like a built-in pocket and a supportive webbing and mesh fabric. This chair also includes a stuff sack for easy packing and storage.

Crazy Creek Hex 2.0

For almost 30 years, Crazy Creek’s foam and cloth chairs have provided back support for campers in all environments. The Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 is extremely basic, which is a good thing. It’s made of a single piece of fabric folded at a 90-degree angle and fastened together by two nylon straps. It’s lightweight and inexpensive, yet because there are no aluminium poles to bend, it’s highly sturdy. It can be folded, rolled, and crammed into whatever you’re using to pack your gear.

Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair

Most self-proclaimed ultralight trekkers would never think of taking anything as luxury and unneeded as a chair, but Therm-a-Trekker Rest’s Chair isn’t really a chair at all. It’s more of a sling that converts the sleeping pad in your bag into a chair. The Trekker Chair is constructed of 100% polyester ripstop fabric, which protects your pad from abrasions while keeping it folded upon itself in an L shape that’s ideal for sitting after a hard day. It folds up compact and weighs only 10 ounces, so even the most ardent minimalist could find a place in an outer pocket to carry this chair on the trail.

GCI Outdoor Big Comfort Stadium Chair

Picnic tables are fantastic for resting your legs, but if you spend too much time sitting on a wooden bench, your back will revolt. The Stadium Chair, designed by GCI, is a solution that is specifically designed to perch on picnic table benches and stadium bleachers to offer your back a break when you’re hanging out at basecamp or watching the game. The chair attaches to the seat with a rotating L clamp and folds up for transportation in the same way as a standard beach chair does.

Nemo Equipment Stargaze Luxury Recliner

The Stargaze Recliner Luxury is the Cadillac of camping chairs. NEMO designed the complete Stargaze range with comfort in mind, with each chair featuring a free-swinging seat suspended between a pair of lightweight aluminium poles. The Luxury, on the other hand, takes comfort to the next level, with a supporting headrest that allows you to look into the depths of the Milky Way for hours without getting a crick in your neck. The Stargaze Luxury is probably too heavy for lengthy journeys and takes a lot of space in your sac, but it’s excellent for car and boat camping if weight is not a problem. Helinox Beach Chair

You may carry any of the camp chairs on our list to the beach, but if that’s where you’ll be spending the majority of your time, it’s preferable to acquire a specific piece of packable furniture for that purpose. Beaches vary from campsites in one important way: sand. Helinox’s Beach Chair has broader feet to prevent sinking into it. It also features a higher back for lounging, because coming to the beach, unlike camping, isn’t about roughing it.

Kelty Low Loveseat

Camping isn’t usually a solitary activity. In fact, having more than one friend frequently doubles the fun. If you go out with your significant other, your patience may be taxed, leaving you wondering if this will last the weekend. This chair is here to assist you. Pull out this sofa after a long day of hiking. While this isn’t the lightest chair, it can accommodate two people, and you can both lean back to enjoy the views, making it even better to gaze at the stars and rest your aching legs and back.

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair

Sometimes you don’t need to go much further than your own backyard to enjoy the great outdoors. Or your next-door neighbour’s backyard. Or perhaps the sidelines of your child’s soccer game. Or perhaps the park around the corner. You can see where we’re going with this – the King Kong Chair is weighty, but its padded seat is also comfortable and simple to set up. One more thing: this chair comes with a lifetime warranty.