But with a vintage-style look, it’s not too sporty to serve as full-time backyard seating. We also let two boys, ages 1 and 5, play with them and sit on them in the backyard for six months. After all that, we concluded that the REI Co-op Camp Chair – Kids’ is the best choice for anyone who wants to buy a practical, portable outdoor folding lawn chairs chair for a small child. The canopy quickly and easily transforms into a carrying case—just wrap it around the chair and snap it closed with two plastic buckles, and you can carry the whole thing on your back like an oblong backpack. We brought this chair to a dense Los Angeles neighborhood to watch Fourth of July fireworks.
In our experience, if you don’t need an ultralight model, traditional camp chairs offer the most foolproof structure. The sturdy powder coated steel frame and breathable mesh backrest can support up to 250 pounds in weight, while folding lawn chairs padded armrests and a built-in cup holder make for a more comfortable, luxurious sitting experience. Ground-to-seat height—listed as “height” in the table above—is simply a measurement from the ground to the bottom of the seat.
Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). REI’s Flexlite Chair has been replaced by an entire flock of Flexlite chairs; the one that is the closest to replacing the original Flexlite in the lineup is the Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair.
We strive to make high quality products at a fair price, all made in the USA. We found the Coleman Kickback Breeze Chair to be a simple yet very comfortable seat, though women liked it more than men did (many of them judged it to be too snug). Anecdotally, we found that this chair category in general is more popular among women than among men, who generally prefer a higher, upright seat. We think the REI chair functions better and will last much longer than the similar chair from Walmart.
We did select our favorite upright chair for car camping and tailgating, and then additional low-to-the-ground, ultra-lightweight, and canopy picks, as well as a great chair for kids. The compromises make them less than ideal for camping and everyday use, but the streamlined design is popular among minimalists and when space is at a premium. Popular models in this category include the REI Co-op Flexlite line and Helinox Chair Zero. While it’s equipped for prolonged beverage enjoyment, it isn’t our favorite for prolonged sitting.
Often our camping chairs feature a cup holder and a folding side table to make eating and drinking outdoors even more enjoyable. We also feature a selection of rocking camp chairs that are great to use while reading and relaxing outdoors. These rocking camp chairs are even comfortable enough to take a nap in the sunshine.