Best camping chairs in 2023

A comfortable and portable seat is an essential piece of kit for camping, festivals, picnics, relaxing on the beach or fishing on riverbanks. Here's our pick of the best collapsible and folding chairs around in 2023

Whether you love sitting out under the stars, by the campfire, soaking up the morning sunshine, or perching in your tent listening to the rain drum on the roof, a camping chair is an essential item of outdoor kit.

But let's be honest, there are a lot of crud camping chairs out there. The ones that push your shoulders forward, forcing you into an awkward slouch. Or offer a shapeless bucket shape that provides zero support for your lower back. The bulky ones that take up valuable boot space. The ones that threaten to sever a finger as you wrestle to unfold them. And the ones that break, leaving you sprawling in the wet grass.

Fear not. There are some high quality alternatives out there. Durable, comfortable and practical. Here is our pick of the best for camping, festival going, sunset-watching, fishing, garden gatherings and many other contented occasions, all tried and tested by our expert reviewer, Pat Kinsella, and his highly refined posterior.

We’ve got plenty of suggestions for camping lovers with our pick of the best camping mugs, handy gadgets to take on your next adventure and an essential family camping check-list.

Pros: Compact, lightweight, stylish.

Cons: A little lower to the ground than other chairs.

This stylish, compact camping chair makes for the perfect picnic perch - sturdy enough to protect you from a sandy bottom, without the inconvenience of lugging a cumbersome armchair to the beach with you.

We particularly like the bold contrast between the woodland green and potters clay hues of the recycled nylon seat, as well as the chic beech wood arms. Our only concern is that some users may find it slightly low to the ground, although our 5'4" tester found it perfectly comfortable. ML

Our verdict: Best on test for portability - a small, stylish chair, perfect for summer picnics.

Pros: Lightweight, easy to carry, compact.

Cons: Some users may find it too low.

Ultra lightweight (1185g) and extremely easy to carry and assemble, Helinox's Chair 2 has an ingenious design that provides comfort and support, but takes up next-to-no space when broken down. The high supportive back is comfortable. Some people might find it too low, but the stability of the design is decent. PK

For more outdoor essentials, check out our summer backpacking checklist to cover all grounds.

Our verdict: Best on test for camping – a comfy, clever chair you can take anywhere

• Read our full Helinox Chair 2 review

Pros: Comfortable bucket seat, lightweight, easy to assemble, portable, well ventilated.

Cons: None!

The second generation of the Vagabond camping chair from from Peak District-based brand Alpkit features a comfortable and supportive bucket seat with a higher, more supportive back than its predecessor, and a headrest.

Like all Alpkit gear, the design is very well thought through by people who genuinely use the equipment they produce, and this lightweight, easily portable seat purposely positions you close to the floor for convenience when tending to camp stoves (no need for drink holders – just use the ground). T PK

Our verdict: Best on test for value - a practical perch for proper campers

Pros: Rocking and reclining feature for stargazing, robustly made, includes drinks holder.

Cons: Not great for eating in, expensive.

One of the great pleasures of camping is watching the sun set and the stars start to pin prick through the darkening sky. Robustly made (as you’d expect for the sky-high price tag) with an aircraft-grade-aluminium skeleton, and very easy to put together, this high-end rocking and reclining chair features a drinks holder on the left side and a stash pocket for a phone or book on the right.

Not one, perhaps, for sitting in while eating anything too complicated or messy, but it really is lovely to gently sway away in, while daydreaming, reading, gazing at the campfire or looking up at the galaxy. PK

Our verdict: Best on test for relaxing. A luxury, top-dollar outdoor rocking chair for kicking back and looking at the heavens

Pros: Sidetable, sturdy and supportive, folds flat.

Cons: Heavy.

Camping chairs don't come any sturdier than the Dometic Forte, which pops open to supply a rock-solid seat and a decent-sized side table for balancing your book, beer or coffee on while you relax. It's ideal if you have young kids who like to curl up on your lap.

It's easy to get in and out of and fixed in an upright position: excellent for posture and doing practical things such as eating dinner from a table or off your lap, but perhaps less ideal if you’re someone who prefers to lounge and slouch while hanging around camp. PK

Our verdict: Toughest on test. A super-solid outdoor throne with an inbuilt side table

Check out our roundup of the best cool boxes for keeping your beverages and snacks chilled while camping.

Pros: Quality craftmanship, elegant design, ergonomic feet.

Cons: No headrest or drinks holder, luxury price tag.

Made with top-notch materials and meticulously designed in Japan, Snow Peak outdoor furniture isn't the sort of gear you carelessly lob in the back of your van to drag off on a rough and ready trip to the sticks. More suited to glamping than camping, this is quality stuff, oozing craftsmanship and with a price tag to match.

The low beach chair folds open and shut like a piece of origami. It has bamboo armrests and the robust canvas material is perfectly stretched over an aluminium and stainless steel frame, with flattened feet on the back legs and little shoes on the front to avoid it sinking into sand or mud – if you let it near such mucky terrain. PK

Our verdict: Best for glampers. High design and a fine finish make this stylish outdoor chair a standout choice for glampers

Pros: Heated seat, comfortable, seven seating positions.

Cons: Heavy.

I hesitate to call this an electric chair, for obvious reasons, but the first thing to mention is that you can plug it into a power bank, and it will keep you warm on chillier evenings or frosty mornings in camp or on the riverbank, thanks to the inbuilt Graphene heating element.

Besides this interesting feature, the chair is easy to erect and extremely comfortable, with a sumptuously padded, high backrest and an integrated but adjustable pillow. Seven sitting position settings are possible, from fully upright to nearly horizontal. PK

Our verdict: Best on test for fishing. A seat with in-built heat to keep your cheeks flushed no matter what the weather

Pros: Reclining feature, integrated pillow, fair price.

Cons: No carry case, quite heavy, no drink holder or storage pouches.

Offering multiple settings, this decent-value deckchair-style camping seat from Decathlon brand Quecha works well in all sorts of scenarios, from sitting upright while playing card games or eating, right through to reclining near-horizontally to snooze or catch some rays.

There are various stages in between, and it's easy to move between them by lifting the arms and putting gentle pressure on the backrest, which is made with mesh to aid airflow and avoid sweaty backs. An integrated pillow adds to the comfort levels, but there's no drink holder or storage pouches. PK

Our verdict: An affordable, laidback deckchair with an in-built pillow

Pros: Comfortable padded seat, easy to assemble, pragmatic design.

Cons: No drinks holder or pillow.

With a medium-height and extra-broad seat, and a very well-padded, curved backrest, which embraces you as you sit down and cuts out chilly breezes after dark, this chair will hit the sweet spot with people who prioritise pragmatic design. The back is quite low, and there are no fancy extras such as pillows or drink holders, but it opens up and locks into place quickly, is lovely to sit in, and the rear leg is angled wide to provide excellent stability even on inclines and lumpy terrain. PK

Our verdict: A reliable, round-backed, comfortable camping chair

Pros: Perfect for couples, insulated drinks pouches, relatively portable.

Cons: Harder for one person to transport than carrying a chair each.

For couples who like to snuggle up nice and close when sitting around the fire or looking up at the stars, this double camping chair is ideal. Like a foldable sofa, it pops into place nice and easy, and the steel frame supplies amble support for two people.

Each person gets an adjustable armrest with an insulated pouch for placing drinks in and keeping them cold. Check out our roundup of the best cool boxes for more ways to keep your beverages chilled in the wilderness. This is the low version of the Loveseat, but the seat is easy enough to get out of, and it's a good bit more stable and less cumbersome to transport than its longer legged cousin. PK

Our verdict: A portable pew for two

Pros: Hammock style chair, comfortable, lightweight.

Cons: Dependant on surroundings.

The next best thing to snoozing in hammock is kicking back in a floating chair, dangling from a branch or beam, swinging in the breeze. The hammock chair from Indonesia-based brand TTTM is pretty easy to set up (once you’ve found an obliging tree or something else to lob the rope over), and it's ridiculously comfortable to lie back in, especially if you also rig up the accompanying floating footrest (included). The Moon Chair is a available in a spectrum of great colours, and the brand support local tribes in East Indonesia through the TTTM Foundation. PK

Our verdict: A hammock chair for carefree campsite swingers

Pros: Comfortable, portable, stable.

Cons: Little on the small side, no drinks holder.

For a seemingly quotidian item, camping chairs can get pretty flippin’ pricey (as we can see here), but there are still very good alfresco seats out there that do the job perfectly without breaking the bank, and this bucket chair is one of them. It's comfortable, supportive and stable; it's lightweight, folds down nice and small and comes with a carry bag; and it's tough enough to survive multiple adventures. The maximum load is slightly less than others and there's no drink holder, but if you just want a no nonsense, comfy camping chair, this is a good option. PK

Our verdict: A bargain bottom-supporting campsite throne

Pros: Lightweight, comfortable, compact when packed, tough.

Cons: Price.

Weighing just 1.6kg and collapsing down to a very portable size, this is the perfect seat for soaking up rays on the beach or campsite. The broad feet and splayed legs prevent it sinking into sand and keep it steady. It's easy to assemble, too. PK

Our verdict: Expensive, but light, packable, comfortable – and won't sink in to the sand

• Read our full Helinox beach chair review

Investing in a high-quality camping chair will undoubtedly enhance your outdoor experiences, allowing you to relax and enjoy nature in utmost comfort. So, grab your favourite chair and embark on your next camping adventure with confidence, knowing that you have a reliable and comfortable seat to accompany you on your journey.

For more camping essentials, check out the best lightweight camping kit of 2023.

Reviews by Pat Kinsella (PK) and Maddi Lane (ML)

Author of numerous books about the outdoors, including: 100 Great Pub Walks (National Trust)

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