After a long day spent on the trail or at a secret fishing hole, the last thing you want is to park yourself on a cold, hard rock. A good camp chair isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for backcountry adventures.
Whether you’re car camping, backpacking, or just hanging out in the park, a camp chair will ensure you can lounge in comfort. Add some plush to your tush with one of these options from top brands like Kelty, Sea to Summit, CLIQ, Nemo, and more.
The Best Camp Chairs for Backcountry Adventures
1. Yeti Hondo Base Camp Chair
The Hondo is the Cadillac of camp chairs, and it’s designed for maximum comfort and extreme durability. The mesh fabric can hold up to 500 pounds, and the double-walled aluminum frame is made with cast joints for exceptional strength. It also comes with a cupholder and a built-in handle for easy carrying.
[$300; yeti.com]
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2. Kelty Loveseat
When the night gets chilly, snuggle up. This two-person chair comes with several top-shelf features, including a tough steel frame, adjustable armrests, and double-insulated cup holders.
[$110; sunnysports.com]
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3. MacSports Club Chair
This plushly padded chair is guaranteed to be the most coveted perch around the campfire. But don’t let the cushy appearance fool you: It’s made with water-resistant polyester fabric and has a powder-coated steel frame, so it’s rugged enough for many camping seasons.
[$68; campingworld.com]
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4. REI Camp X Chair
Looking for a budget-friendly option that’ll keep you cool on hot summer days? The highly breathable mesh keeps your back from getting sweaty, and supportive webbing evenly distributes your weight for a more comfortable feel. The oversized cup holder can handle larger canteens, and the drop-down pocket with a cinch cord provides a convenient place to hold your phone and valuables.
[$50; rei.com]
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5. Nemo Stargaze Recliner Luxury Chair
Stargazing is one of the best parts of any camping trip—especially if you bring along a chair designed for that exact purpose. This luxurious camp chair from Nemo comes with several unique features that amateur astronomers (or anyone who wants to relax) will appreciate. It has a headrest, can recline, and the unusual frame allows you to swing gently while sitting.
[$220; nemoequipment.com]
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6. CLIQ Chair
Backcountry adventures require easy-to-use gear, and that’s exactly what makes the CLIQ chair such an appealing choice. Press a button, extend the arms, and in a few seconds you’ll have a comfortable seat. Plus, it can hold up to 300 pounds, offers lumbar support, and packs down to the size of a water bottle.
[$140; cliqproducts.com]
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7. Sea to Summit Air Chair
For the true minimalists out there, the Air Chair from Sea to Summit is definitely worth a look. This attachment kit converts your Sea to Summit sleep mat (sold separately) into a camp chair with just a few folds and buckle clips. It weighs only eight ounces, but the waterproof nylon base and back panel, double-stitched seams, and adjustable side straps make it durable and comfortable, too.
[$60–$65; seatosummitusa.com]
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8. Helinox Chair Zero
Backpackers are ounce counters, but that’s just one reason why the 17-ounce Chair Zero from Helinox is a popular choice. Aside from being lightweight and compact, it’s made with a tough aluminum alloy frame and durable fabric, so it can support up to 265 pounds and withstand the elements without issues.
[$120; helinox.com]
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9. Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair
This chair is nice enough to be a permanent fixture on a deck or patio. The ergonomic design makes it supportive, and the arms are a comfortable place to rest. It folds up and packs into a sling-style carry bag in seconds for easy transport to campfire, the beach, and more.
[$300; yeti.com]
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10. Big Agnes Mica Basin Camp Chair
This is surprisingly comfortable and supportive for being small and light (2 lbs, 3 oz). The nylon seat is made from Robic yarn that’s 30 percent stronger than straight nylon, and tough enough for heavy use. While the 16” seat is lower than some, this chair was easier to get in and out of than other backpackable chairs, which we appreciated after a long day on the trail.
[$130; bigagnes.com]
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11. Alps Camp Chair
The supportive seat and articulated arm rests make this a chair you can really kick back in. For more compact carrying, the upper back unclips from the body. To keep your beverage nearby at all times, there’s an oversized cupholder sleeve hanging off the front. The 11-pound chair can support up to 425 pounds, and it’s wide, too.
[$190; alpsmountaineering.com]
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12. Nemo Moonlight Reclining Chair
This pick is great for backpacking, as it’s 1 lb, 14 oz, but also stable and comfortable enough for base camping. The mesh seat offers plenty of airflow, while sliding straps at the elbows can be released to enable reclining or tightened when it’s time to sit up and eat dinner or play cards.
[$140; nemoequipment.com]
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13. Helinox Playa Chair
Once you settle in to this low-riding, extra-roomy, drink-sling-equipped chair, you won’t want to get up. It’s super stable, with splayed legs and broader feet to keep it even on soft surfaces. The high mesh back has a pillow pocket, and the chair mates with Helinox’s Toasty ($129.95), a sleeping bag-like cover that insulates for bone-chilling fall and winter outings. It supports 320 pounds despite being 4 lb, 3 oz, and packs down small.
[$200; helinox.com]
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14. Coleman One Source Heated Chair and Rechargeable Battery
Coleman’s heated fabric stadium chair keeps you warm and toasty during tailgating season and frosty base camp evenings. The wide chair has space for two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in the cloth arms that power an integrated heating pad. You can flip the pad to heat your butt or back. The USB-C charged batteries—use the pad with one or two—each have a USB-charging port to power up a phone, portable speaker, or other small devices, which store in a pocket by the power button. The other arm has a mesh pocket to balance a beverage. One fully charged battery powers the pad for 1.5 hours on high (133°F), two hours on medium (123°F), three hours on low (113°F), or 2.5 hours pulsing from low to high. When you’re on the move, the chair packs into a shoulder sling for easy transport.
[$150; coleman.com]
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