The Greatest Tenting Chairs of 2025

How We Examined the Greatest Tenting Chairs

For half a decade now, we’ve been parking our behinds in camp chairs of each stripe, in search of the perfect seat in the home for kicking again within the nice outside. Since 2019, we’ve personally researched, toted, and examined near 25 completely different tenting chairs within the wilds, evaluating every and weighing their specs towards our thought of the proper seat.

Our travels have taken us from the darkish understories of the temperate rainforests of Olympic Nationwide Park to the granite crags of Southern California, and after a tough day of taking part in within the filth, an excellent seat makes all of the distinction.

However it’s not simply our opinions, both. We polled our crew to find out their absolute favourite camp chairs and why. We collect yearly for a bunch campout to check a brand new assortment of tenting chairs facet by facet, and we use these camp chairs all year long, from season to season and sport to sport.

Our Testing Course of

Nearly all of our camp chair testing takes place precisely the way you suppose it’d: with butts in seats across the campfire. We’ve additionally used these chairs whereas crewing ultramarathons and having fun with slam poetry and concert events on the park, in addition to at dwelling for outside birthday events and sitting round transportable hearth pits. Anyplace you might think about toting an excellent chair for the event, we’ve made it occur and in contrast notes on relative efficiency.

Of the vital metrics we have a look at, ease of set-up is major amongst them, as a difficult-to-assemble camp chair is rapidly sidelined for one thing simpler to get into. Past set-up, we additionally evaluate notes on normal consolation, beverage and necessities storage, and ease of transport. Each chair is rotated round to our choice of consultants as nicely to make sure that quite a lot of physique styles and sizes have had their fair proportion of time in every seat.

We additionally take a hard-data strategy right here as a lot as we do with another kind of package, and have pulled collectively just a few in-house assessments to make sure that producer claims are confirmed. Main amongst them is an trustworthy weigh-in, in addition to measuring vital metrics corresponding to seat top and packed sizes.

Earlier than we’re by way of with them, these chairs even have their said weight capacities challenged, a not-so-easy process in relation to a number of the extra stout chairs on the market (and a take a look at that has resulted in at the least one catastrophic failure). Piling in plate weights after which ourselves, we’re comfortable to announce that dang-near each chair up to now has met the problem as much as their claimed capability.

Our Professional Testers

Main testers for this information are Miya Tsudome and Nick Belcaster, each consummate outside people from reverse ends of the West. Tsudome has over 10 years of expertise with testing outside tools and covers the California facet of the equation, tenting and adventuring across the Sierra Vary for a lot of the yr. Her seek for the perfect tenting chair on the market has her testing new additions on a rolling foundation.

Senior Editor Nick Belcaster, then again, hails from Washington State and, after an extended stroll on the Pacific Crest Path in 2018, is fairly able to relax in a snug seat. He typically deploys a camp chair throughout basecamp for climbing journeys and the elusive (if not controversial) “seated top-rope belay.” Each testers have a eager eye for the steadiness an excellent camp chair must strike between consolation, packability, and ease of use.

A few of our editors have used their selection camp chair throughout each season for a few years with no signal of degradation or a want to change. Past our workforce’s expertise, we additionally thought of the preferred, most sturdy, and bestselling camp chairs in the marketplace in addition to a broad vary of value factors and options for a spread of customers. And as new chairs roll out to the market, make certain that we’ve obtained them on our radar and are contemplating them as nicely.

Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select a Tenting Chair

Listed here are the first elements we use when testing camp chairs. Scroll by way of to assist make sure that you decide the perfect tenting chair in your particular person wants. We are going to be aware that these decisions are particularly for kicking again throughout automobile tenting and the like. When you’re in search of a extra packable and light-weight choice, check out our in-depth overview of backpacking chairs.

Kind of Use

How will you utilize the chair? Whether or not you get pleasure from automobile tenting, backpacking, soccer recreation viewing, yard barbecuing, or a mixture of every little thing, it helps to have a transparent thought of the way you’ll use your tenting chair. It should make it easier to slim down which of the opposite elements are most vital.

Automobile Campers: For these weekend warriors who pack the automobile and head for the outside as quickly as 5 p.m. on Friday hits, an excellent chair is important for hanging on the nearest campground. Whereas nearly any chair could be thrown at the back of the automobile and used campside, automobile campers will wish to search for chairs that may face up to some abuse, aren’t too giant or heavy, and fold up properly for straightforward packing. 

The REI Co-op Campwell Chair, Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Chair, and ALPS Mountaineering King Kong are nice decisions to seize and go. The ENO Lounger DL slings low for alleviating again, and has a cupholder to maintain your beverage shut. 

Yard Chillers: For kicking it at yard barbecues and hanging out round hearth pits, there are these chairs which you could pack up and convey alongside, or these chairs that keep at your own home for if you’re internet hosting the social gathering. In order for you an simply transportable choice, search for a foldable chair with a pleasant design so your folks will probably be asking the place you bought it. In order for you a mainstay in your personal yard, search for a much bigger lounge chair that your friends will probably be preventing over. 

The Dometic Go Compact Chair is a superb, trendy selection for packing as much as take to your buddy’s outside party, bonfire, or live performance with their attractiveness and easy-carrying design. The YETI Trailhead Tenting Chair and GCI Outside Freeform Zero Gravity Lounger are good decisions for protecting out on the deck in your mates to loosen up whilst you are inclined to the grill. And the NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxurious Chair is a novelty decide for rocking subsequent to a fireplace and looking out up on the stars. 

Seaside-Goers: When packing for the seaside, you normally wish to preserve the load gentle to keep away from lugging an excessive amount of from the automobile to your spot. You’ll wish to discover a chair that isn’t too heavy, comes with an excellent carrying system, and is low sufficient so you’ll be able to lean again and loosen up below the solar. 

The BOTE Aero Chair XL was made particularly for beach-goers with its inflatable construct, low-to-the-ground seat, and built-in cup holder. The large floor space of this chair makes it sit simply and comfortably on the sand.

Consolation

No person needs an uncomfortable tenting chair. When contemplating consolation, we checked out seatback top, width, top off the bottom, supplies, quantity of cushion, rigidity versus flexibility, general form, and ergonomics. Consolation varies from individual to individual and relies upon so much in your measurement, construct, and mobility.

When you’re in search of a conventional chair, the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong sports activities a pleated seat that was excessive on our checklist of essentially the most comfy. And for a slung-back fashion of chair, look no additional than the hammock-inspired builds of the NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxurious Chair and ENO Lounger DL Chair.

Weight and Packed Dimensions

That is paramount should you’re backpacking, semi-important when packing the rig for automobile tenting, and never essential when establishing within the yard. Tenting-style chairs received’t pack up as small as backpacking chairs, however will usually collapse to a extra travel-friendly type for shifting round.

Conventional collapsible chairs just like the REI Co-Op Campwell or Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Chair have a basic stow approach that the majority everybody has seen earlier than and solely require a easy pulling collectively of the legs to break down down right into a extra compact bundle.

Then, there are folding-style chairs just like the GCI Outside Kickback Rocker Chair, which fold alongside a central axis and create a flat bundle for shifting about. And eventually, there are the DIY-style chairs, such because the ENO Lounger DL the place some meeting is required, although at a fantastic profit to general packability.

Carrying Model

When contemplating the packed dimensions, additionally take into account how precisely you’re going to be toting your favourite camp chair round. Many are acquainted with the material sleeves that encase collapsible chairs for journey, however there are few different choices obtainable.

Folding-style chairs usually don’t include a carrying bag, so that you’ll should wrestle them round your self. Collapsible chairs, just like the ENO Lounger DL Chair, will include a bag that packs away every little thing wanted to set them up when you hit camp. Lastly, just a few chairs, such because the REI Co-op Wonderland, will sport built-in straps immediately on the chair for shouldering them.

Ease of Setup

Nobody needs to spend 20 minutes preventing to arrange their camp chair — or worse, attempting to wrangle it again into its carrying bag. We would like to have the ability to arrange and take down the chair with out directions or extreme time devoted to the duty.

The entire chairs included listed below are simple to arrange. Some merely fold open, whereas others take a few minutes to assemble. The NEMO Stargaze is one which takes a bit extra time to arrange. However we have been capable of do it with out studying the instructions, and the tradeoff for the enjoyable, rocking chair characteristic is value it.

We want the REI Co-op Wonderland was a bit extra intuitive to fold out, however as soon as you determine its strap system, it received’t take a lot time in any respect. And it’s laborious to disclaim the benefit of inflating the BOTE Inflatable Aero Chair XL, which pumps up in minutes.

Peak

The peak from the bottom to the underside of the seat is an typically neglected but extraordinarily vital consideration. This dictates not solely how bent your legs will probably be but additionally makes a chair simpler or harder to get out of. Whereas most chairs don’t supply a number of heights, we are going to be aware that the ENO Lounger DL Chair does — with the selection of deploying both 3- or 10-inch legs.

Basically, these with knee points or mobility issues can have a better time getting out of taller chairs. When you fall into that class, take into account one thing just like the Coleman Broadband Mesh Quad Chair or the YETI Trailhead.

Stability

Sitting across the campfire must be a calming time. And which means not having to fret about falling out of your chair (particularly should you’re having fun with just a few campfire cocktails) or the chair toppling over if you transfer to get out of it. A wider leg base gives additional stability however typically comes at the price of weight and pack measurement.

Moreover a large base, additionally search for broader ft on the finish of these legs. These will higher distribute the load throughout the floor you’re sitting on and can keep away from sinking into tender soils.

Options

Drink holders, pockets, carrying luggage, armrest coolers, user-adjusted warmth settings, and extra — these additional options could appear inconsequential, however they may help take a camp chair from OK to superior.

Once we’re in search of an excellent tenting chair, we prefer to steadiness the options it has with the general complexity. It’s simple to pile on additional options, however annoying to should extract your self from a cocoon of cupholders, pockets, and straps. Basically, one cupholder will do you, in addition to a single accent pocket to securely stash your keys.

Whether or not you select the tiniest camp chair, the most important camp chair, the most affordable tenting chair, or one thing in between, don’t neglect what it’s actually all about: getting outdoors. Throw a recent go online the fireplace, pull up a chair, and revel in a night below the celebrities.

Value & Worth

Are you in search of a chair that works for each backpacking and tenting? Do you propose to make use of it as soon as a month, as soon as every week, or each day? These elements will all play an vital half to find the appropriate camp chair for you.

These elements will even have an effect on the value and may help you identify if it’s value spending extra for a chair that pairs consolation with packability (just like the ENO Lounger DL Chair). Or maybe a price range decide like Coleman will fit your wants higher with out emptying the pockets. For the perfect of each worlds, we’re keen on our high decide, the REI Co-op Campwell chair, which pairs an inexpensive value with consolation and high quality.

Funds

Whereas there are many cookie-cutter low-cost camp chairs on the market, we discover little motive to accept these choices when some good purchasing can web you a chair that’ll be extra comfy, last more, and all at practically the identical value. Funds camp chairs will largely be of the usual collapsible tube body design, and make use of straightforward cloth seats with usually one built-in cupholder.

For lower than $100, you may get into an actual price range chair just like the Coleman Broadband ($30) and nonetheless have lots left over to snag just a few extra to pad out your tenting furnishings set. Even our greatest general decide finds itself on this value vary, and for $60, its robust not the advocate the REI Co-op Campwell. This value class holds the biggest quantity of chairs, making it the cheap vary you might count on to spend on an excellent camp chair that covers the fundamentals. 

Mid-Tier

Between $100 and $200, you’re usually paying for both larger high quality supplies and design or a specialist chair that goals to supply up one thing that the majority chairs don’t. For the cash, you’ll be able to slide into double seats, quilted or insulated seats, and reclining methods or adjustable heights.

The Dometic Go Compact Chair ($150) is a superb selection on this value vary, as you get a chair with a strong aluminum construction and beechwood armrests that feels extra deluxe than price range fashions. The KUMA Lazy Bear ($140), too, presents up a a lot deeper seat than most different chairs, and added insulation for colder nights.

Premium

For $200+, you may get the BOTE Inflatable Aero Chair XL, YETI Trailhead Tenting Chair, or NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxurious Chair. This costly class enters much more into the specialty class, with inflatable chairs and rocking recliners, or will get you high-quality supplies and equipment corresponding to UV-rated breathable cloth or included tender coolers and cupholders.

Think about these kinds of chairs should you’re trying to make a long-term funding, the place you’ll get an prolonged quantity of use out of the seat. The YETI Trailhead is a superb straight-ahead camp chair for absolutely anything, whereas the BOTE Aero or NEMO Stargaze are each consultants of their fields, and award-winners in their very own proper.

Often Requested Questions

Probably the most comfy tenting chair varies from individual to individual and relies upon largely in your physique kind and top.

The REI Co-op Campwell is among the many most comfy — it’s malleable but supportive however not too inflexible. We additionally gave the YETI Trailhead extraordinarily excessive marks for consolation and stability, though that does include a value tradeoff. And if you wish to lay again and take a nap, the GCI Zero Gravity chair is a winner.

First, take into consideration the way you’re going to make use of the chair. When you plan on backpacking or mountaineering into camp, then a small, light-weight chair will serve you greatest. When you’re automobile tenting or hanging within the yard, go for optimum consolation and options.

You might also wish to take into account your mobility and top. Decrease chairs could be tougher to get out and in of when you’ve got knee points or another mobility issues. Taller individuals additionally are inclined to choose a chair with a bit extra top to it.

Final, take into consideration the options you’ll get pleasure from. Is a cupholder vital? Or possibly you actually desire a rocking camp chair? No matter it’s, chances are high you’ll find a camp chair that completely fits your outdoor-loving wants.

Sure. All of the tenting chairs on this checklist can get moist. Some will dry extra rapidly than others, however none of them will probably be broken by somewhat rain.

The load and packed measurement relate to how transportable a chair is. For automobile tenting, this primarily issues for becoming every little thing in your car and carrying it quick distances. The packed-down measurement will also be vital for these with restricted space for storing.

When you’re spending a variety of time on the ball area, you might have considered trying a camp chair you’ll be able to carry hands-free. Lots of our high decisions for camp chairs include an included carry case for comfort. Most of these luggage have a single strap to sling over your shoulder, however the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong carry-case has two backpack straps for much more assist.

When you plan to backpack or hike an extended distance along with your chair, the load and packed measurement are essential.

First, take into account the kind of journeys you’re trying to take your camp chair on. When you’re extra of the sunshine and quick kind, chances are you’ll be higher suited to a backpacking chair. But when settling down in entrance of a campfire feels like your kind of night, a tenting chair is probably going proper up your alley. We are going to be aware that there are just a few chairs in the marketplace that may do each, and these could be thought of if you’d like one chair to do all of it.

Then, take into consideration the kind of enjoyable you’re trying to do. Some chairs are extra suited to reclining, which whereas the best angle for star gazing, seemingly isn’t going to work nice for roasting marshmallows. A chair just like the ENO Lounger DL Chair is definitely amongst this camp, whereas the ALPS King Kong presents a extra upright place.

Lastly, keep in mind the options you’re wanting to make use of whereas tenting. Some chairs supply an excellent little bit of storage, whereas others are notably spartan. Some come decked out in a number of cup holders, whereas others depart it as much as you to cradle your beverage.