It's the pinnacle of camping: after packing up the car, driving along highways to small dirt roads, finding your favourite camping spot, setting up your tent and your campsite, getting a campfire going – you finally get to sit back in your camp chair and then – relax!
Camp chairs are one of those things that people don’t find too important, but at the end of the day, having a comfortable chair to relax in, can be the most important part of the whole camping experience.
Read on as we break down the pros and cons of camping chairs to find the best suitable chair for you on the market right now.
| Helinox Chair Zero | Wanderer Reclining Mesh Lounger | Coleman Deluxe Mesh Event Chair | Darche Vipor XVI Camp Chair Black Orange | YETI Trailhead Camping Chair | OZtrail Galaxy 2 Seater Chair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
lightweight  |  | best value  | Our Pick  | heavy duty  | best 2 seater  | |
50 x 48 x 64 cm | 65.5 x 92.5 x 93 cm | 77 x 52 x 59 cm | 73 x 62 x 108 cm | 63.8 x 75.9 x 92.1 cm | 140 x 54 x 92 cm | |
Plastic and alloy | Plastic and steel | Plastic and steel | Plastic and steel | Flexigrid fabric and alloy | Plastic and steel | |
120 kg | 140 kg | 102 kg | 150 kg | 227 kg | 240 kg | |
23 cm | 35 cm | 18 cm | 46 cm | 30 cm | 38 cm | |
0.51 kg | 7.4 kg | 2.9 kg | 6.4 kg | 6 kg | 6.1 kg | |
5 years | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | 1 Year |
Best Camping Chairs Australia
Helinox Chair Zero
Lightweight Chair
The Helinox Chair Zero is an ultra-lightweight and compact chair that you can take camping, hiking or anywhere you may want a chair to sit on. The Helinox is not only lightweight and durable, but it's also very comfortable to relax in after a long hike or other strenuous activity.
It is made from a lightweight alloy frame and a high tech polyester non-stretch thread that can support most adults' weight easily. The seat itself is at a very comfortable angle and you are able to have the 'sinking into the chair' feeling when you first sit down – it's that comfortable and cosy.
When it comes to customer reviews and feedback, there are only 5-star reviews, and literally not one purchaser had anything bad to say about this chair.
It does sit a little low, so sitting around a table is an issue. But really this chair is strong, comfortable, and extremely light and has a 5-year warranty making the purchase of this lightweight camping chair an investment in camping and hiking comfort.
Wanderer Reclining Mesh Lounger
Honourable Mention
When you think of a classic camping chair design – the Wanderer Reclining Mesh Lounger is the look and style that comes to mind. A fully realized chair with a full back, seat and leg support, a decent headrest, mesh fabric to keep things cool and you can recline and lock it into place when you feel like a nap.
The Wanderer folds up easily and quickly so moving it or you around is not a problem and being a little further off the ground, can have you sitting around a camping table eating or playing late-night cards with ease too.
While most customers were very happy with this chair, to the point of ordering multiple at a time, it appears to have an issue which results in it becoming uncomfortable over time – the mesh seat can stretch and sag over the support bar which then pushes into the back of your knees and legs.
Overall this camping chair is well worth the purchase, however, given its other qualities.
Coleman Deluxe Mesh Event Chair
Best Value
Like the Helinox chair, here is another lightweight chair designed for sitting around in the bush. Like the Helinox, the Coleman Deluxe Mesh is far lighter than the other chairs and sits quite low to the ground too.
This is a more standard chair design, however, and also comes with arms rests and drink holders, all for the insanely cheap price of only $30.
As it sits so low, it’s not going to be great for eating dinner at the table, but for sitting around a campfire or the campsite, this little chair provides a comfortable place to relax in. Almost all of the customer reviews are very positive and, given its price tag, the chair is very durable and will last you many camping trips. That is unless you weigh over 90 kg, then it might just break on you.
The only bad reviews were people close to the chair's weight limit breaking it. It’s rated at 102 kg so provided you are well below that weight limit, this compact camping chair is ideal for any camping situation.
Darche Vipor XVI Camp Chair Black Orange
Most Comfortable Chair
While some chairs are trying to be lightweight or have new designs, the Darche Vipor XVI Camp Chair aims to bring you a classic chair with comforts from home.
This chair looks and feels like a camping or a nice picnic chair, it has generous padding to keep you comfortable and is at a nice height that it’s easy to get in and out of.
There are numerous pockets for holding your stubby holder, glasses, magazine and whatever you like to have close at hand while sitting down.
It is made from quality materials that provide airflow to keep you cool, just don't leave this chair sitting in direct sunlight for hours at a time or it will heat up considerably and melt the secret snickers bar you left in a side pocket.
It seems people who have bought and used this chair are all very happy with it as it does everything it says it does. It is a little on the heavy side, but if you are not moving around too much then this is not really a problem, and the price is right in the range of other chairs too.
If you like to sit and relax for long periods – fishing or just watching the world go by – then this is the chair for you.
YETI Trailhead Camping Chair
Best Heavy Duty Chair
The Yeti Trailhead is about as far as you can go from a cheap, lightweight chair and instead is an expensive and heavy-duty camping chair that has a major focus on comfort over everything else.
The Yeti trailhead is made from a very durable Flexigrid fabric that is also UV protected so it won’t fade or break apart in the sun.
This fabric has colour coded tensioners on the arms and back that lock the fabric into place – optimizing the strength and comfort of the fabric. There are reviews where people have sat in this chair for 8-10 hours at a time and it was still comfortable to sit in, that's how seriously Yeti has approached this chair.
It is also designed for heavier people with a chair rating of 227 kg, so unlike the little Coleman that can break if it is overweighted and is very close to the ground – the Yeti will stand up to almost anybody's weight.
It's also very durable with people using these in many situations for years with the only really downside (other than the hefty price tag) is that the armrests are a little small for bigger people. If you want a comfortable chair that will last, the Yeti Trailhead will certainly stand up to the task.
OZtrail Galaxy 2 Seater Chair
Best 2 Seater
The OZtrail Galaxy 2 seater chair is easy to set up and use. It is wider by a long margin than any other chair and has room for two people to sit side by side, or one person to really lounge around on.
For a two-person chair, the OZtrail is also quite light and easy to move around and with 6 legs instead of 4, this comfortable camping chair is also very stable. There are wine/cup holders on each armrest and a pocket on the back for anything else you like to keep close at hand.
The majority of people love this chair, two people can get nice and snuggly under the stars and next to a campfire very easily, with some people loving it so much they also use it at home all the time.
Some reviews are saying it's a little small for two people, but with a width of 1.4m – averaged sized people shouldn't have this issue. If you like to snuggle then this is definitely the chair for you.
What To Look For When Buying Camping Chairs
Like tables, chairs are a home piece of furniture that we want to use temporarily outside for a picnic, a BBQ or when we head out camping. Like camping tables, we need to compromise as the home versions are almost always bulky and heavy.
When we are looking at buying camp chairs, we want to buy something that is comfortable, after all that is half the point of sitting down, but without the heft of our average lounge chair. Camping chairs can be broken into two types: lightweight and practical or heavier and comfortable.
Lightweight and Practical
Two of the chairs on this list fall into this category: the Helinox Chair Zero and the Coleman Deluxe mesh chair, they are both lightweight which makes them easy to carry and move around and they are both close to the ground, aiding stability.
These chairs are still aiming to be comfortable, with the Helinox being a very comfortable seat, but their main aim is to be practical first and foremost by providing you with a simple, lightweight chair that keeps you off the ground.
Heavy Duty and Comfortable
While no chair or piece of equipment sets out to be heavy, sometimes they just need to be to work. The YETI Trailhead weighs over 6kg for example but has loads of adjustments on it to tailor the seat to your comfort and can also support over 200 kg.
The Darche Vipor is another example of a chair that is trying to be as comfortable as possible with some practicalities like pockets added on.
You need to decide what is more important to you: having a half kilo weighing chair that you can sit on anywhere, but are low to the ground or a heavier bulkier chair you can sit in all day and eat at a table with too.
Then there is also the OZtrail double chair, while not common, if you and your partner like to be close and camp at colder times, then this is a great buy as well.
Camping Chairs FAQ
Are camp chairs comfortable?
They should be, the aim of a camping chair should be comfortable, but many designs end up focusing on other things like weight or size. You may end up spending a fair bit of time in your chair, so it's a good idea to find a comfortable one.
Are Coleman chairs good?
Yes, Coleman is a leading brand in camping essentials and their chairs are of a decent quality even if the Coleman Deluxe only costs around $30.
Are folding camp chairs washable?
Yes they are, they are best washed outside with soap and water, followed by a rinse in freshwater. Ensure any metal parts are dry before putting them away to avoid rust or issues with the folding mechanisms.
Final Thoughts
A camping chair is a place that many of us actually spend more time in than we even realise and as such, we really should make sure we get a comfortable one.
If we like to move around a lot, either hiking, biking or driving – then the Helinox is all you really need.
If you want comfort and like to stay in one sport for extended periods – the Darche or the YETI would then be more your style as they are heavier, more sturdy, can take more weight and have accessory pockets within easy reach.
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
