Wherever you end up, you'll have a place to park it. Photo: Fredrik Arnell/Getty Images When you head out into backcountry, you have to find the right balance between being prepared and carrying the lightest load. And camp chairs—often bulky and cumbersome—are usually the first items to be jettisoned. But there’s a new breed of lightweight, compact chair that was born for backpacking. So whether you’re trekking into the wild or just planning a summer backyard-barbecue circuit, you won’t regret taking these comfortable seats along. Best for: Backpacking and bike touring Weight: 1.97 pounds with tote bag The Helinox Chair One has won two of the most coveted awards in the outdoor industry, and for good reason. The Chair One’s poles are made from the same TH72M aluminum-based alloy found in the world’s best tents and hiking staffs. With shock-cord technology, the self-locating poles automatically pop into place. All you have to do is slip on the mesh seat cover, and you’re ready to relax.
Chair One can hold more than 300 pounds, but weighs less than two. When collapsed in a bag, it’s about the size of a shoe. Helinox also makes a portable camp table from the same materials. Best for: Backpacking and music festivals The Monarch is not your standard four-legged chair. In fact, it’s not a four-legged chair at all. This seat’s innovative two-leg design lets you use your center of gravity to either sit still or rock back and forth. It works on any terrain. At 1.5 pounds, the Monarch is a very lightweight chair, yet it can hold up to 250 pounds. We reviewed this product a few years ago and it’s still one of the best and most innovative camping chairs around. Coleman Oversize Quad Chair with Cooler ($35) Best for: Car camping and tailgating This chair has the same general design as your standard folding camp chair, but with some nice extras. Though fairly inexpensive ($35), it’s more durable than a cheap chair you might get from Walmart. While the Oversize chair is well built and functional, the feature that really sets it apart is its storage space: there’s a built-in cooler bag that can accommodate five beers and some ice.
A storage flap on the other side will hold your keys, camera, snacks, and magazines. Best for: Backpacking, camping, watching a game Everyone should have Kelty’s folding camp chair in their vehicle’s trunk. Simple design and versatility make this a worthy seat. Basically a sleeping pad, its closed-cell, Therm-a-Rest-style foam padding will insulate your bottom from the frozen ground. What raises the chair to furniture status, and not just that of a pad, though, are its internal composite stays (which give it structure) and its adjustable straps (which let you adjust your sitting position). Chaheati Four-Season Heated Chair ($72) Best for: Cold-weather camping and ice fishing This all-season chair has a built-in heater that will keep you warm during those cool spring nights. It uses a lightweight lithium-ion battery (no cords!) that can be recharged in the car as you drive. The Chaheati, which can go up to 145 degrees in less than 20 seconds, uses a single button for switching among four heat settings.
Its battery lasts up to six hours, so you can spend a whole day ice fishing next winter without worrying about a frozen butt. Do keep in mind, though, that this chair is too bulky to bring on a backpacking trip. Lafuma Futura Air Shell Zero Gravity Camp Chair ($240) Best for: Car camping and stargazing This is the perfect perch to watch the sky from. All you have to do is lean back to recline, and resistance levers keep you in position. The chair’s ergonomic design and extended leg support render it the most comfortable on our list. A single-thread weave of Batyline material makes up the breathable, durable mesh. For added comfort, there’s a mattress that clips to the chair and that, along with the 3-D mesh, can be removed and washed. Photo: Eagles Nest Outfitters Best for: Backpacking and camping Have you ever wanted to sit and read a book while hanging directly over a rushing backcountry stream? Then you might want to check out the Lounger. Eagles Nest, which makes some of the most popular camping hammocks on the market, has remained true to its history with the Lounger, a hanging seat you can set up just about anywhere.
When teamed up with a carabiner and a strap, the Air Craft aluminum frame can hold up to 250 pounds. The adjustable angle-of-recline and dangling-footrest features let you customize whatever space you choose to occupy.When you go camping, do you love to sit by an open fire while you enjoy the company of the great outdoors while listening to the call of the wild? Or how about setting up a lightweight backpacking chair at the water’s edge, letting the cool waves lap over your feet? Unfortunately, most camping chairs have a reputation for being bulky, awkward and cumbersome. We often wish we didn’t have to pack them in at all. The average outdoor seat can weigh up to 13 lbs, making your overall backpacking load a lot heavier. On the other hand, if you do buy a thinner, more rickety chair, your back aches after 20 minutes and they seem to just fall apart over time. Thankfully most backpacking gear design has evolved drastically! Today you can find feather-light hiking chairs that preserve strength, durability and especially comfort, with radically reduced weight.
They can weigh as low as 2 lbs! Sit back and relax and enjoy our list of the ultimate easy-to-carry camping chairs available today. At the top of our list, we have the Helinox Chair One. We love the simple sleek design and bucket style seat. Measuring 20 x 26 x 21 inches, it packs up to the size of a newspaper, so space is certainly not an issue. Just fold it up, slip it into your bag and you’re ready to go hiking wherever your gps takes you. The Helinox only weighs 1.9 lbs and yet, it can hold a whopping 320lbs in weight! The workmanship on this chair is impeccable. The polyester fabric is reinforced at each corner and the stitching is perfect. There’s no fraying or unravelling to worry about here. The legs are made from the same aluminium pole technology used in tent poles, providing optimal support for your tired body after a long hike. To keep the chair light as a feather, the designers had to omit some of the “luxuries” you might be used to when using a camping chair, for example there are no cup holders, which is a bit inconvenient.
Also, the chair sits very low to the ground, which makes getting up a little more difficult. Having said that, it’s still the best lightweight camping chairs on the market as far as we’re concerned. You just can’t go wrong buying this chair for your next trip. The name says it all. We could quite honestly lounge around in this camping chair all day. At 2.7lbs this chair is ultra-lightweight and can support up to 350lbs of weight! The main feature of this outdoor chair is its comfort. Unlike other camping chairs, the Ultra Lounger has a truly high back rest that allows your body to sink into it. After carrying your hiking gear for long distances, this extended back design moulds to your body and contours around your tired back and shoulders. Additionally, this lightweight backpacking chair also has a pillow that is sewn into the top of the back rest, which provides extra soft padding for your neck and head. Note: Falling asleep in this chair is very likely!
Although it is ultra-lightweight, it is quite long (due to the extended back support) and will have to be carried as an extra piece of equipment, rather than fitting neatly into or on top of your backpack. The legs are also separate from the frame. This allows for easy cleaning and storage but does take a few extra seconds to set up. The Kingcamp Moon Leisure Lightweight chair is a really the most comfortable option on the list. Your entire body can easily sink into the large cushioned seat padded with heavy duty polyester fabric all round. It folds up so effortlessly. It’s not the lightest backpacking chair on the list (9lbs), but the awesome comfort really makes up for that. At 35″x8″x8″ when folded, this chair can also make packing light a little more difficult. It’s recommended for basic hikes and other fun (and easy to get to) open-air activities. Although lacking cup holders, there is a handy pouch at the back of the chair, where you can store magazines, a phone, books etc. for a lazy evening at your favourite outdoor spot.
If you’re looking for a really comfortable chair for your next camping trip and don’t mind a little extra weight, this is the chair for you On a side note: Be sure to keep the legs dry and clean them when you get home as the metal has a tendency to rust if left exposed to nature’s unpredictable elements for too long. Camping chairs really don’t get much more portable than this. They even managed to get a cup holder in there too! This cute little 3lb tripod chair may not be the most stylish, but it offers everything you need for your next adventure and it can hold an impressive 250lbs in weight! The high quality denier polyester is durable as well as comfortable with an extra wide, padded backrest for added support. The legs are made from powder-coated steel, giving them a hard, tough finish that keeps nasty rust away. One downside to this camping chair is that it doesn’t have a carrier bag – it does, however, have a shoulder strap for carrying, but it can be slightly awkward – especially if you already have a bulky load.
You could literally take this little guy hiking anywhere. It’s quick and easy to set up and even easier to pack up. The folding legs just pop into place, making this a very convenient option. It is not recommended for long periods of sitting, but rather a quick rest until you are ready to move along again. Ok, so it might not be an actual chair with legs, but at 1lb the Crazy Creek Original Chair certainly is lightweight! It offers basic seating on the ground, doesn’t take up much space (at all) and takes a whole 2 seconds to set up. The backrest is sturdy and supportive, and can be adjusted to your chosen angle. The weight of your lower body perfectly counter-balances the weight of your back creating surprisingly strong support. The backpacking seat material is made from EVA closed cell foam, which is less than half an inch thick, but still quite comfortable and will keep your butt nice and comfy. Carrying this chair is so extremely easy – fold it in half or roll it up, clip it onto your backpack and you’re ready to go.
You can carry several at a time before you even feel the weight. It is compact and convenient but if you are looking for a really comfortable, camp chair, then this probably isn’t the way to go. However, if you are planning a long hike and are trying to pack as light as possible this is the perfect chair for you. So we all know about the standard, fold-up camping chairs that serve their purpose and serve it well, but we also found some camping chairs that are seriously next level! We have yet to meet someone who doesn’t enjoy hanging out in a hammock when they go camping, but often there just isn’t enough room in your bag to pack one AND a camping chair…well here’s your opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. It’s a hanging camping chair! Hook it up to a tree, lie back and relax in body contouring comfort while your feet stretch out in the additional support sling. Sorry, this product is not currently available A unique option to saving weight it combining two camping chairs in one.