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 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.
It weighs 16.5 pounds, so you can move it but not very far or very easily. But if you’re in the market for a chair that simply resides on the porch, you can’t do much better than this one. One armrest is equipped with a built-in insulated pouch that keeps up to four cans chilled, so you’ll never be without a refreshing drink. The other armrest includes a cup holder for your open beverage, while a handy side pocket is attached to hold snacks, reading materials, or keys. The Renetto chair usually comes in between 8 and 10 colors and is rated to hold up to 350 pounds.
We’d recommend this for someone who wants a rocking chair that is easier to move around than your typical rocker. The Best Choice Products Adjustable Zero Gravity provides comfort at a really affordable price. This option gives you two zero gravity chairs for the price of one of many other brands. We really like how it reclines and raises easily, and the large drink tray is accommodating. For how comfortable and nice this chair is, we think it’s a great deal. If you’re looking for an outdoor chair that boasts style and comfort, you’ll find both in the Timber Ridge Zero Gravity Chair Oversized.
Prior to joining the team in 2019, Marisa was an editor at Coastal Living, coastalliving.com, and Luxe Interiors + Design. Her career spans nearly 15 years, much of which has been spent staring at photos of pretty homes and gleaning inspiration for her next beach vacation. You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. And don’t forget to complement your dining area with a protective umbrella. This way, you can enjoy your lunch outside even when the sun stands high. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products.
Our not-too-discriminating underage testers liked all the kids’ chairs, though over time we found several reasons to declare the REI Camp Chair the best of the bunch. The REI chair’s polyester seat material feels both more forgiving and more durable than the thinner material on the Ozark Trail Kids’ Folding Camp Chair from Walmart. The box-shaped cupholder is a little roomier than the round cupholders on the Coleman and the L.L.Bean Base Camp chairs—better for stubby water bottles or mugs of hot chocolate around the campfire. We found that the cheaply constructed Walmart chair had a cupholder that was too small for a soda can, or any of the hard-plastic or metal water bottles that the kids we know brought on a camping trip.
We got some admiring nods en route to the celebration—and we had one of the more comfy seats at the show. The camp-style chairs, like the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong, Coleman Cooler Quad, and Kijaro Dual Lock, generally score the highest as they all packed into their own included carrying bags. In the Kijaro’s case, you can skip the bag, as the chair itself has a shoulder strap on the frame that works well in conjunction with its namesake locking mechanism holding it closed in transit. However, its folded length is nearly 4 feet, which isn’t very compact nor convenient. We gave the Lawn Chair USA Webbing Chair a high score here because of how light it is (around four pounds) and how flat it folds. Some of the other chairs, especially the zero gravity chairs, are best as patio furniture, as they don’t pack down that small and typically weigh 15 or more pounds.
Whether you want a place for quiet family dinners or large garden parties, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from in our selection. We assessed durability not only by using them but by leaving the products out in the full summer sun and getting patio furniture sets them wet for extended periods to look for signs of weathering. Once assembled, this chair measures 27 x 67.5 x 34 with a weight capacity of 300 lbs. Sign up to receive the latest info on new products, special offers, and exclusive sales.
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.
The Kijaro’s 300-pound weight capacity falls well short of the burly King Kong above, but the chair still is made to last. A few chairs on our list allow you to rock back and forth, but none come closer to resembling a traditional rocking chair than the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker. GCI achieves this with a spring-action “tube” at the back of the chair, which allows the metal frame to move up and down as you push off the ground.
Designed in collaboration with Veta, a Mexico City-based boutique workshop, the ITA Leisure Chair is responsibly crafted by hand, so you can trust the quality. It’s also easily foldable, so you can bring it from the park to the beach to the backyard. And care is simple—just wipe it with a soft damp cloth as needed and add mild soap if necessary.