There’s nothing better than enjoying the peace and quiet out in the woods, unless you have to sit on the ground! Having a great camping chair is essential for any adventure. But with so many to choose from, how do you know which will benefit your butt in the great outdoors and which are a waste of money (and space).
In our years on the road, we’ve gone through quite a few camping chairs. So you don’t have to go through the painful trial-and-error that we did, here’s a list of our favorite camping chairs to help you relax on your next trip.
Outdoor Living Suntime camping folding mesh chair (top choice)
When I’m out on the road, my go-to camping chair is the Outdoor Living Suntime camping folding mesh chair. It works just like a standard camping folding chair, except it has a footrest! That’s right, you can kick your feet up just like you’re sitting in your recliner at home.
Speaking of recliners, this camping chair can do that too! The back supports on the chair have pivot points at the bottom that let you adjust the angle. You can sit up and watch the world go by, or you can recline back and take a siesta.
The mesh material is great for airflow. Even on hot summer days, sitting in this chair will keep you cool and comfortable as you kick back and relax.
If you don’t want to kick your feet up (if you want to sit close to a campfire, for example), the footrest can be removed easily to give you more of a standard camping chair feel. Just unzip the zipper at the front of the chair and unscrew the bottom supports. The conversion takes only a couple seconds.
If you want to enjoy a “soda” as you recline in the sun, this chair also comes with a cup holder that fits cans and most cups. There’s also a pretty large storage pocket on the side that will hold your phone, bottle openers, or whatever else you want to stick in there.
This is by far the most versatile camping chair that we’ve ever used. Whether you want to recline, kick your feet up, or sit around a campfire, this foldable camping chair can do it all! Plus, it folds up and fits neatly in our trailer’s storage compartment. You can’t go wrong with this one!
You can snatch up the Outdoor Living Suntime camping folding chair on Amazon for around $70. If that’s a bit more than your budget allows, we’ve also enjoyed the ALPS Mountaineering Escape camp chair, which comes in at around $55. It has the same great footrest abilities, but you won’t get the mesh, recliner, or pillow. If you ask us, just spend the extra $15 and get the recliner. All that relaxation you’ll enjoy is worth a little extra.
What we like:
- Mesh is super breathable (great on hot summer days!)
- Folds nicely into compact carrying bag
- Reclines (with pillow)
- Removable footrest
- Large side pocket
What we don’t like:
- 250lb weight capacity
- Can be hard to get out of with the footrest
Kijaro Dual Lock portable camping chair
You know how most camping chairs sag in the middle when you sit down? Well the Kijaro Dual Lock portable camping chair fixes that problem. Instead of relying on crossed fingers and optimism to hold the chair open when you sit down, this portable camping chair actually locks open.
When you open the Kijaro, two locks on either side of the chair ensure it stays taught, even when you sit in it. The result is a super-sturdy chair you’ll never have to worry about collapsing with you inside.
We find this chair incredibly comfortable. Since it stays taught, it provides much better support for your back and butt compared to other saggy camping chairs. And since you don’t sink into the chair, it makes it super easy to get out of.
One of the coolest features on this chair is that the locks don’t just keep the chair open; they lock it shut, too! That means you can just close up the chair and carry it around using the attached strap without needing to fiddle with the storage bag.
You can’t relax in the woods without a beverage, but unfortunately, drinks come in all shapes and sizes. Luckily, Kijaro thought of that. This chair has two different-sized cup holders that fit just about any sized container you can find. So far, the only container we’ve found that doesn’t fit is gallon sweet-tea jugs (which I probably shouldn’t be drinking as single-serve anyway…).
This fun camping chair also has a zippered side pocket to keep all your knick-knacks while you’re enjoying some relaxation time. Not that we have experience with this or anything… but the zipper is great for keeping your trailer keys safe, even if you forget them in the chair after packing up.
The Kijaro Dual Lock portable camping chair retails on Amazon for around $60, but it does go on sale from time to time. I think we picked ours up at Walmart for $40.
What we like:
- Locks into place for extra stability
- Can carry without a bag
- Two different-sized cup holders (for any container)
- Zippered side pocket
- Comes in purple (and a ton of other colors)
- Mesh back for breathability
What we don’t like:
- Some might find it too rigid (not “snuggly”)
Gander oversized XL padded folding chair
If your camping chair wish list includes the words “big” and “plushy,” the Gander oversized XL padded folding chair might be for you!
The name just about says it all. This is a big ol’ chair with tons of padding that you’ll be happy to sink into on any camping trip.
This camping chair is made of a sturdy canvas material with lots of padding for extra comfort. It has a cup holder for your “sodas,” a magnetic arm pocket for other goodies (might I suggest snacks), and a larger side pocket that hangs down from the seat. On newer models, the magnetic arm pocket is insulated as a cooler bag to keep your refills close by!
Perhaps the best part of this chair is its heavy-duty construction. With its strong metal frame and sturdy canvas, this chair can support up to 450lbs! You’ll never have to worry about this one falling apart on you.
The main downside of this chair is that the canvas doesn’t breathe very well, and it can get rather warm and sweaty on a hot summer day. The canvas likes to hold in moisture, which means it can be hard to dry if it gets wet—and it can get a bit smelly (as my wife can attest).
You can get the Gander oversized XL padded folding chair for around $70. Although Camping World/Gander isn’t our favorite camping company in the world… this chair is good enough to be worth a visit.
What we like:
- Big and comfy
- Heavy-duty construction (450lb capacity)
- Magnetic arm pocket
- Bottle opener included
What we don’t like:
- No mesh or vents for airflow or drying
- Somewhat heavy (13lbs)
- You have to go to Camping World/Gander
GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker rocking chair
Looking for that front porch feeling when you’re sitting at the campsite? The GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker can give you the same porch-rocker feel in a foldable, camp-friendly package.
Instead of using a curved leg support like traditional rocking chairs, the GCI Outdoor camp chair uses “Spring Action Rocking Technology” to let you rock back and forth. This ensures smooth rocking with minimal effort.
One downside to this type of rocker is that you can’t rock using your momentum like traditional rocking chairs. You do need to actively push against the ground to move back and forth. This can be hard for shorter people who might not be able to reach the ground as well. According to Amazon reviews, this chair is suggested for people 5’ 6” and taller.
Because the rocker has a longer footprint than most other camping chairs, it can get a bit unsteady on uneven ground. It’s best used in level campsites without too many rocks, sticks, or hills.
Even with the rocking technology, this chair easily folds into a carrying case like all the other camping chairs out there, making it easy to bring along on any camping adventure without taking up much valuable storage space.
This chair also features a breathable mesh back to keep you cool on hot summer days—and help the chair dry out if it gets caught in a downpour.
The GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker retails on Amazon for around $90. DON’T PAY FOR THE “EXPERT ASSEMBLY.” This chair comes pre-assembled, so don’t waste your money.
If you’re looking for a more traditional rocking chair experience, you can check out the Timber Ridge foldable rocking chair. It’s a bit more expensive and doesn’t fold as small as the GCI Rocker, but it has the same arched leg supports that you’d find on a typical wooden front porch rocking chair.
What we like:
- Smooth rocking ability
- Breathable mesh back
- Foldable
What we don’t like:
- Needs level ground
- 250lb weight capacity
- Can’t rock using momentum (need to actively push off the ground with your feet)
Nemo Equipment Stargaze luxury camping chair
If you’re looking for the ultimate in outdoor lounging comfort, the Nemo Equipment Stargaze luxury camping chair is the one for you. When they say “luxury,” they mean it! Although you might experience a little bit of sticker shock (these babies are expensive!), this truly might be the most unique foldable camping chair out there.
The Nemo Equipment Stargaze luxury camping chair is basically a standalone hammock. The chair itself is completely suspended by straps, meaning you can rock back and forth with nothing but the breeze.
The recliner feature is ultra unique. Locking straps support the back of the chair, so if you want to recline, just lean back. The straps will lengthen with a bit of weight, letting the back of the chair lean back. Without pressure, the straps lock, keeping you in the perfect reclining (or upright) position to suit your lounging preferences. There’s even a built-in pillow so you can “Stargaze” in complete comfort.
Even on hot summer days, the breathable mesh back and bottom on the chair will keep you comfortable with plenty of airflow. Plus, it won’t trap moisture or smells!
When you’re not living the life of luxury in the chair, it folds into an ultra-compact size that fits just about anywhere you want to store it. It’s by far the most compact chair on this list.
The only two downsides to the Nemo Equipment Stargaze Recliner are the price and the assembly/teardown time.
It doesn’t fold up quite as easily as some of the other chairs on this list. Since it’s basically a hammock between two posts, you have to put up the base first, then attach the chair. It might take you a minute or two to set it up, instead of the couple seconds a traditional folding chair takes.
This amazing chair also has an amazing price tag of $220 on Amazon. While that’s definitely a lot of money for a camping chair, you won’t regret it when you feel how comfortable it is!
What we like:
- Super comfortable
- Hammock-like rocking
- Reclineable
- Ultra compact
- Breathable mesh
What we don’t like:
- Price
- Assembly takes some time
Volowoo Camp Chair (budget option)
I’ll be honest, the only reason this chair made the list is because it’s the cheapest chair I could find on Amazon. Every good “best” list has to have a budget option!
The Volowoo Camp Chair is your standard folding chair that’ll get the job done without breaking the bank. While it might not have some of the features of the other chairs (but it does have a cup holder!), you can nab it on Amazon for about $13.
We have two of these budget chairs in our trailer at all times. We always like to be prepared for guests but didn’t want to spend a bunch on chairs that spend most of their time in our storage compartment.
If you want to save even more money, you can find basic folding chairs in stores like Dollar General. I think we picked ours up for about $8 each. They might not be the most comfortable or flashy foldable camping chairs, but they’ve held up and they get the job done. It never hurts to carry one or two with you, just in case.
What we like:
- Cheap, cheap, cheap!
- Still has a cupholder
- Folds to fit in storage compartments
What we don’t like:
- Not many features
- Not incredibly comfortable
- Lower quality
Bonus: Carlson foldable pet bed
You buy a camping chair so you don’t have to sit in the dirt, so why should your furry friend have to? When it comes to having a place for your pets to sit, we love the Carlson foldable pet bed.
The Carlson foldable pet bed works just like a regular human camping chair, but it opens up into a hammock-like cot. Not only is it super comfy for your four-legged buddy to lay on, but it also keeps them off the ground and away from the dirt, mud, and bugs.
When you’re ready to pack up, the Carlson folds up into a compact carrying case that fits into just about any storage space.
The only downside is that the canvas doesn’t dry out very well and can get quite smelly. Just shoot it with a little Febreeze, and you’ll be fine. At least your pet won’t have to lay in the mud and track dirt all through your camper or tent!
We love these beds so much that we’ve bought a few of them over the years. You can pick one up on Amazon for about $70, though they do go on sale from time to time. We got ours for $30! Just keep an eye out for deals.
The Carlson can be hard to find (they sell out a lot), so if they’re out of stock, the YEP HHO folding pet bed is a great alternative for about $50.
What we like:
- Keeps dogs away from the dirt and bugs
- Foldable and compact
What we don’t like:
- Joints aren’t particularly strong
- Canvas locks in smells
- Can be hard to find on Amazon
Stay comfy out there!
Just because camping is called “roughing it” doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable. There are tons of foldable camping chairs out there that will keep you comfy without taking up too much precious storage space.
These are the foldable camping chairs that we’ve enjoyed most over our years on the road, but it’s by no means a comprehensive list. Are there any spectacular camping chairs that you’ve enjoyed in your travels? We’d love to hear about them! Tell us everything in the comments below.
