10 Best Backpacking Chairs (2024)
Definitive Review (Buyers Guide)

Buyers Guide:

How To Choose The Best Backpacking Chair

You may think (like we did prior to producing this review!) that a camping chair is a luxury item, or that it’s not a true necessity for a hiking trip. But our field testing has convinced us that backpacking chairs are actually a great accessory, and not just for hiking and camping either.

More comfortable than perching on a rock or sitting in the dirt, there are some very good reasons for having ultralight camping chairs on your kit list.

Everyone knows that comfort can make or break a trip – and not just at the end of the day when you’re relaxing around the campfire. Having a light enough chair that can set up easily and pack down small can make your whole backpacking experience so much more rewarding.

When choosing a chair, here are some important factors to take into account:

Type Of Chair

Taco Style/ Ground Chairs

Taco style seats are designed to be used to sit on the ground or very close to the ground. They have a basic, timeless design, and fold up like an “L.” These chairs don’t have legs – you can use your own legs to create a comfortable angle to sit at. Straps and buckles adjust the seating position.

Here’s why:

Taco style chairs tend to be made of very durable fabric as they are designed to be used directly on the ground; they are versatile because they can be used on any surface, still affording you a degree of comfort and protection from the dirt.

Depending on the model, they offer varying degrees of padding, insulation, and breathability. Some styles – like the Crazy Creek PowerLounger – fold flat and can also double as a sleeping pad.

Folding/ Tent Style

Foldable seats offer a bit more comfort than a ground seat, as well as sitting higher off the ground. They often have a tent-style setup, usually with lightweight poles and mesh seats, some of which can be removed and machine washed.

Sitting heights and back heights can vary, and many come with stuff sacks making them easy to pack and carry in your rucksack.

Common construction materials are lightweight aluminum poles, and durable ripstop nylon or polyester.

What does this mean for you?

Foldable chairs are more comfortable than other chair types but with the pole set up, they are slightly heavier and more expensive than the taco style chairs.

Foldable chairs come in a variety of set-ups, with anything from 2 to 4 legs. The Alite Butterfly had two legs, meaning you had to use your own legs to find balance. The Helinox Swivel Chair has four legs but allows you to (as the name suggests) swivel.

Pole legs tend to be thin with narrow feet, which means that this style of chair can be susceptible to sinking into soft ground.

Stool

Like foldable chairs, stools will give you height off the ground but lack the back support that a chair can provide. They frequently have a tripod design, which makes them super compact and lightweight.

Without back support…

…they are less comfortable, and so not ideal for sitting for long periods of time.

When choosing the best ultralight camping chair for you, there are a few metrics to take into account, depending on what you’ll be using the chair for.

Packed Size

Ideally, the best hiking chair will pack away inside your backpack. Many chairs come with their own stuff sack, and some backpacking chairs like the Helinox Chair Zero pack up smaller than a one-liter water bottle!

Nevertheless:

If space-saving is important to you, you’ll probably be looking for the smallest camp chair you can find – this may be your overriding concern.

If you’re not planning on carrying the chair inside your backpack, features that attach hiking chairs, stools, and pads to the outside of your backpack are also an option to look out for.

If you’re planning on car camping, then packed size might not be such a priority.

Weight

If weight is really critical, you might want a camping chair that can double up as your sleeping mat, like the Crazy Creek PowerLounger.

We think a product under 2 lbs will make for the best ultralight camp chair.

If you’re not walking far, or if you are planning to car camp and you’re not looking for the lightest camp chair, your main consideration won’t be weight – you’ll probably be choosing based on comfort level.

Comfort

Comfort is important because the primary reason you’d pack a chair in the first place is to be comfortable.

If you’re carrying a chair on your back all day, you’ll probably want to have a snug chair to sit in when you rest. Bottom line is that if it’s not comfortable, you’ll leave it behind next time you travel – we’re trying to save your cash here.

Comfort does come down to personal preference. Consider whether you want a full-on hiking seat or an ultralight backpacking stool, or if you’d be happy with just a pad to sit on the ground.

Do you need breathable fabric?

Do you need insulation? Or

more padding?

Think about where you’ll be using your chair, the height you want to sit, and what level of comfort you want.

The Helinox Swivel, TravelChair Joey, Big Agnes Big Six and the REI Co-op Flexlite Chair all scored very highly for comfort. Generally, we found the taco style chairs less comfortable on account of being close to or on the ground, but the ALPS Weekender Seat did score well.

Durability

In the wilderness, tough terrain can be a challenge for outdoor equipment. Having a chair that lasts is all-important.

All the chairs we’ve reviewed scored highly for durability  – an important consideration when choosing a chair.

The Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 PowerLounger came out on top for durability, making it a great backpacking seat to have with you in rugged terrain.

Versatility

Being versatile is also an important aspect of any backpacker chair. A multi-functional product can be a lifesaver.

Overall, when considering versatility, we took into account features, variety of uses, seat height, stability, and suitability for different terrains.

For example:

We liked that the Hex 2.0 PowerLounger can be used on any surface and can also double as a sleeping mat – a great feature when space is at a premium.

While somewhat heavier, we liked that the Helinox Swivel Camp Chair can be used for so many activities beyond just sitting – making cooking, fishing, and even photography so much more comfortable!

Value For Money

Value is not the same as price – we see it as a balance between performance and cost, and between luxury and practicality. We’re seeking out affordable products that perform best for the money. In this review, we measure whether or not the products justify their price tag.

Whether you’re looking for a lightweight multi-purpose chair or a luxury camping chair for relaxing around the campfire, you’re sure to find a chair to meet your needs in this list, whatever your budget.

Comfort

We judged comfort based on its construction materials, breathability, ventilation, and insulation, as well as seat height and back height.

On a hot day, having breathable fabric is essential, so chairs with a mesh seat are very much appreciated. None of the taco-style ground chairs had particularly breathable fabric.

But wait, let me tell you something…

With its mesh seats and panes, the chair which offered excellent ventilation was the TravelChair Joey.

Depth of seat was also a factor:

The deeper seats and the fabric of the Big Agnes Big Six tends to provide a more ergonomic and more comfortable sitting position. The back height of the Big Agnes Big Six meant that it was our pick for those with bad backs. The taller back height of the Crazy Creek PowerLounger was also highly rated for comfort.

Chair height is another all-important factor when considering comfort.

Depending on what you want to use your chair for, or how easy you find it to get in and out, you’ll have a different opinion from the next person on comfort.

We looked at three taco-style ground chairs for sitting on the ground. Our review also included folding chairs which ranged from a standard 11 inches off the ground to 20 inches for the Big Agnes Big Six.

Packed Size

Packed size and weight are also critical factors to judge a backpacking or camping chair.

Compact, light chairs that can pack down small are what we’re ultimately looking for in our quest to award the title of the best lightweight camp chair.

Durability

Long-lasting and durable outdoor equipment is the holy grail, and quite rightfully we expect our investments to last and see us through many seasons of adventures.

Durability is an important factor when selecting a backpacking chair. We want to know that when we get to our destination, our equipment will still function and serve its purpose.

In our review…

…we’re looking for sturdy legs, robust feet, strong fabric that will not rip, and we also consider weight-bearing capacity. For taco style chairs that are used on the ground, the outer shell needs to be rugged and durable enough to protect it from the ground.

Weak points on camping chairs often occur at weight-bearing points and pressure points where supporting rods or poles are in contact with the fabric of the chair.

Versatility

The final factor we took into consideration when rating backpacking chairs was versatility.

Given how precious space is, lightweight chairs that could multitask definitely achieve additional points, saving the need to take more than one item with you to serve each purpose. If you could eat, sleep, read, cook, rest and relax in a chair – it became a winner in our eyes.

Some chairs have handy extra features like storage pockets or stuff sacks that could double as a storage pouch.

We really liked the fact that the Crazy Creek PowerLounger could double up as a sleeping mat. This means that you don’t necessarily have to pack or carry a separate sleeping mat with you on hiking or camping trips – saving you space, weight and money.

We also took into consideration the versatility of conditions that the chairs might cope with.  While the Helinox Chair Zero seems to need an entirely flat surface in order to be stable, the TravelChair Joey has sturdy anti-sink feet which make it excellent for soft, uneven surfaces like mud, sand and grass and other uneven surfaces.

Think about it:

While we’re talking about backpacking chair reviews here, there are a variety of alternative activities that a lightweight backpack chair would come in handy for.

Having a versatile chair that can be enjoyed in a wide variety of scenarios is ultimately going to be more valuable, and you’ll end up getting good use and good value from your chair.

Car Camping

If you want a compact camping chair but aren’t planning on hiking far from the car, there are plenty of camping chairs to choose from where weight isn’t the defining factor.

Packed size is still important when car camping, but comfort is probably your chief consideration.

Folding hiking chairs that are great for car camping would be the Helinox Swivel Camp Chair or the TravelChair Joey.

If you have a bad back, however, we’d recommend the Big Agnes Big Six.

Outdoor Events

A truly great application for backpacking chairs in the summer is an outdoor music or sporting event.

Something lightweight and compact like the taco style chairs is ideal, and that’s why we love the ALPS Mountaineering Weekender Seat.

It’s comfortable, pretty lightweight – making transportation easy, and the straps can attach easily to bleachers, giving you a much more comfortable seat to enjoy the show.

At The Beach

When we think of summer, our thoughts go straight to the beach. But the beach can prove quite a challenging setting for your choice of seat – most chair legs will sink right into the sand the moment you sit down.

Put another way..

You’ll want a lightweight chair that you can transport easily over the dunes. Taco-style chairs are a great solution for this.

If you want more height, you’ll need a chair with wide feet – that’s why we choose the TravelChair Joey, with its specially designed anti-sink feet. The rubber disk feet make this chair much more stable on soft surfaces like sand and mud.

Jargon Buster

Backpacking:

Hiking with all your camping gear in a rucksack or backpack.

Packed Size:

The dimensions of your chair when it is packed away.

Stuff sack:

A storage bag for your chair.

Ripstop Nylon:

Light-weight durable nylon fabric in a crosshatch pattern, with interwoven reinforcement threads that provide extra durability.

Shock-corded poles:

Lightweight fiberglass or aluminum poles which fold in sections and are held together with an internal bungee or elasticated cord.

TopNotch Top Tips

• When deciding which camping chair is the right pick for you, you need to consider exactly where you’ll be using it and how
• Packed size and weight are particularly important if you’ll be using it as a backpacking chair – whereas comfort might be your priority if you’re looking for more of a car camping chair
• Plan your budget and stick to it – it’s easy to get carried away and pay more than you need to
• Choose one of our Top 3, you simply can’t go wrong
• Sit back, relax and enjoy your new purchase for years to come