Choosing A Good Camping Chair

Photo of author
Jay Elliott

Chief Camping Officer

When you’re taking your first steps into the wilderness, you want to make sure that everything is going to be just fine: you are prepared for anything.

Every camping trip should start with a good night’s sleep in an elevated tent, something warm and fuzzy on the sides of your body, and a comfortable place to sit down during those long summer days. That thing is your chair. There are some key things that you’ll need to consider when deciding what type of camping chair will suit you best. 

Materials

As opposed to the chair you sit on at home, a camping chair is going to be offered as an object that provides comfort and support to your body. This means that it will have a high-quality fabric that keeps its form well when it’s wet or placed into the elements. You don’t want to buy something made out of a cheap material that’ll usually tear after only a few uses.

Capacity

Camping chairs are lightweight, but they lack the capacity to effectively hold back weight. Without a sufficient pad or back support, it is common for the person sitting on the chair to find that their legs and feet get tired and uncomfortable from supporting the majority of their body weight.

The seat can also cause temporary discomfort in sensitive areas if you lean against it while you are reclining on the ground. While this is minor discomfort, it can become annoying after a few hours and is something to consider when purchasing any camping chair.

Accessories

The next disadvantage of camping chairs is that most campers do not have any accessories available for the chair that covers other area needs such as utensils for eating, blankets for heat, pillows for comfort, and even books and games such as cards and board games.

If people bring these things, there is more room in their packs for a camping chair, but most people do not think about bringing extra accessories that will make their camping trip more comfortable.

Weight

Camping would be more fun if you didn’t have to lug around a heavy camping chair. A lot of chairs like this are really big and they take up a lot of room in the car or your pack.

More importantly, they’re bulky and heavy, weighing close to ten pounds each as compared to other chairs which weigh in at two or three pounds for the smaller ones.

You can get a lot of benefits when you choose a lightweight camping chair. The first benefit is that it will be much easier for you to haul it around because of its smaller size.

You won’t have problems fitting it in your backpack or car, even if you are going on long hikes and trips outdoors with your family or friends.

Packability

A good camping chair is a lightweight and compact option for sitting around the campfire or at your campsite. The best camping chairs will be easy to carry and won’t take up loads of space when you’re packing for your next trip.

If you’ve ever unpacked a tent or two after arriving in the wilderness, only to find that the chairs were still back at home, then you know what we mean. That’s why it pays to choose a camping chair that suits both your needs and your lifestyle.

Comfort

You want one that will still feel solid under your weight even after lots of use. The best option for many people is to invest in a camping chair that’s designed to support your back. You’ll be staying in one place for extended periods of time, so you want a chair that can support your back but won’t restrict your motion.

Durability

If the chair is going to be used often, you also want something that is durable enough, so it doesn’t wear out too quickly. Don’t forget to look at the size of the chair as well.

Your camping chair should be comfortable but also durable strong enough to withstand the worst of weather and abuse out in the great outdoors.

Using a camping chair as an everyday chair

Camping chairs are also a great accessory to carry with you while traveling and can be useful for picnics, backyard barbecues, lunches in the park—or anywhere else where you need some extra seating.

It’s okay to use your chair every day if you want; that’s what it was made for. However, camping chairs are intended for camping and outdoor use, so they should not be used in your indoor living space. They were not designed for everyday but for occasional outdoor use.

Avoid buying cheap camping chairs

The first reason to avoid cheap camping chairs is they break after only a few uses. This is because they are often made of poor-quality materials that are not fit for their purpose. The chair will also need to support your weight as you sit on it over an extended period of time, and if it can not do this, it will break. A more high-quality chair will be stronger and will last longer.

The second reason to avoid buying cheap camping chairs is they do not offer the support or durability that a more expensive chair will. This is because most camping chairs are made with cheaper materials and they generally come with less comfortable padding and no backrest. It will also break very quickly- quicker than you might expect.