The Eno Lounger DL Chair is the best overall camp chair, offering an ideal balance of portability, plushness, and ease of use. It is a sling-style chair that conforms to your body like a hammock, with a simple assembly that snaps poles into plastic hubs. It features rounded leg caps, a padded headrest, a bottle holder, and two pockets. It packs into a triangular backpack with comfortable straps and dries quickly. However, it was the slowest to pack up at 93 seconds, and the sling can pop off when moved.
Best Budget: Coleman Portable Camp Chair
The Coleman Portable Camp Chair is a tried-and-true scissor-style frame chair that sets up in 27 seconds. It includes a generous cup holder, a mini cooler in the left arm that holds two cans with ice, and a mesh pocket for storage. The carry bag is easy to use. However, some may find the Amazon Basics version slightly more comfortable due to a different grommet design.
Most Portable: Helinox Chair Zero L
The Helinox Chair Zero L is an ultralight sling-style chair that packs down to the size of a fanny pack, weighing only 1.43 pounds. It sits low to the ground with a 12-inch front height and supports up to 320 pounds. While it feels stable, some users may find it flexes and feels unstable at first. The bag closure is also a minor annoyance.
Most Comfortable: Nemo Stargaze Reclining Evo-X Camp Chair
The Nemo Stargaze Reclining Evo-X Camp Chair is a portable hammock that uses an accordion-style frame and a strap system to recline. It is the most comfortable chair tested but lacks armrests and has awkward cup holder placement. It is heavy at 13.75 pounds and can be tricky to take down. It supports up to 350 pounds.
Best of the Rest
Yeti Trailhead Field Chair: Fastest setup and takedown, but costs $225 with no extra features. SunnyFeel Camping Directors Chair: Features a hard table top and multiple pockets, but is heavy and less comfortable. KingCamp Double Camping Chair: A sturdy two-person love seat that is large and heavy.
What to Know About Folding Camp Chairs
Camp chairs come in scoop/sling styles (lower, more comfortable) and director's chairs (higher, easier to sit/stand). To clean, hose them down and let them dry in the sun. Steel frames are stronger but heavier; aluminum is lighter but more flexible.
