9 Of The Best New Camping Chairs

Sitting comfortably is almost as important as a good night’s sleep when you are camping.

Here’s our round-up of folding chairs and some advice on what to look for when you’re buying

TOP TIPS

1 Size matters – for packing away/transportation as well as how much space a seat may take up if inside in your tent.

2 Seat height is one of a number of factors worth considering – especially if you want to sit at a table, for instance.

3 Easy to fold/unfold? There’s only one way to find out – go see for yourselves.

4 Do they fit in their bags? If you’re viewing in a shop, ask if you can have a go at taking the product out of its carry bag (if supplied. And putting it back in again. You’ll learn a lot.

KAMPA LUMBAR
Expect to pay £60
kampa.co.uk
A clever strap for adjusting the lumbar support is a neat touch here, as are the adjustable feet – ideal; for getting on the level on uneven ground. And then, of course, there’s the all-important drinks holder, just waiting to be swung into action. All-important details are: weight 5.2kg; load capacity 120kg; seat height 46cm; pack size 96cm x 29cm x 23cm; open dimensions 98cm x 66.5cm x 64cm.
Key features Steel frame, fixed armrests, carrybag, three-year warranty

ROYAL STOOL WITH 20L COOLBAG
Expect to pay £17.99
royal-leisure.co.uk 
Clever little folding stool that incorporates 20 litres of coolbag under its seat, thanks to two compartments accessed by zips. There’s also an adjustable clip-on strap with a sliding padded section for slipping over your shoulder for carrying. Easy folding, it weighs 2.3kg and has a weight capacity of 80kg. Folded out dimensions are 38cm x 29cm x 41cm. It’s a design that’s borrowed from the angling market, where such items are very popular with fishermen (fisherwomen, too?). But equally, it’s so handy if you want an simples eat as well as somewhere to keep drinks and food cool.
Key features Steel frame, polyester fabric, removable strap

QUEST LAZY BACK
Expect to pay £25.99
questleisure.com 
From Quest’s Easy range, the Lazy Back boasts a patented frame system which allows you to sit normally, or the backrests tilts freely. There’s also a side organiser, ideal for storing your phone, small books etc. Other vital statistics are size 86cm x 50cm x 83cm, folded dimensions 90cm x 18cm x 13cm, seat height 39cm, weight 3.5kg, maximum load 120kg. Team it with the footstool and/or table from the rest of the Easy line-up.
Key features Powder-coated steel frame with patented tilting backrest, Q-tex Weave Deluxe fabric

EASY CAMP BREAKER
Expect to pay £37
easycamp.com
You sit low to the ground and you get seven reclining positions with this chair – going all the way to flat, if you want the full sun bed effect (long enough for kids, anyway). The padded headrest adds to the comfort, too. Pack size is 65cm x 12cm x 70cm, folding out to 65cm x 50cm x 77cm, with seating some 21cm from the ground. Maximum load is 100kg. Weight is 4.1kg. Like most of Easy Camp’s other chairs for 2019, the Breaker is available in two colour choices – Aqua Blue or Coral Red.
Key features Steel frame, Textilene woven polyester fabric, padded headrest

VANGO KRAKEN II
Expect to pay £55
vango.co.uk
Designed for the, ahem, more generously proporioned user, this “oversized” chair can take a weight of up to 180kg (over 28 stone) as well as having larger than average dimensions – 61 x 67 x 95cm, folding down to a very manageable 23 x 21 x 89cm. Yet, its own weight, 4.8kg, isn’t particularly hefty. Also, at 47cm its seat is high. The steel frame has a textured finish, while the fabric is Vango’s DuoWeave, with extra padding in key seat and back areas.
Key features Steel frame, DuoWeave fabric

MOUNTAIN WAREHOUSE RECLINING GARDEN CHAIR
Expect to pay £69.99
mountainwarehouse.com 
OK, so there’s a clue in the name…. not exactly lightweight (7.2kg) or small (165cm x 65cm x 114cm), you can see why they’re also considered suitable for back at home. Nevertheless, if you have the space to transport them, and want the sheer out-and-out comfort of such a design, do consider such chairs for your camping trips. The elasticated fixings between frame and fabric mean plenty of extra support, whilst the overall design offers multi-position reclining, plus there’s a sliding headrest. The twin locking feature should avoid any embarrassing moments, too.
Key features Steel frame, polyester fabric, sliding headrest, choice of fabric finishes

OUTWELL ULLSWATER
Expect to pay £80.99
outwell.com
One of a range of folding chairs from Outwell, named after UK lakes, the Ullswater is a high-back, three-position recliner. Like the rest of the range, it uses diamond-patterned, padded upholstery fabric, plus there are armrests and a foldaway cupholder. Maximum load is 125kg. Seat height is 45cm. And it weighs 5.9kg. Packed, it’s 110cm x 20cm x 17cm, opening out to 107cm x 79cm x 61cm.
Key features Powder-coated steel frame, two-tone 100% polyester fabric, padded back, carrybag

VANGO ENTWINE
Expect to pay £85
vango.co.uk 
New from Vango for this season, The Entwine live up to its name, with its wrap-around padded fabric. Seat width is a generous 50cm, maximum load is rated at 140kg. Seat height is 46cm. It all folds easily to 40cm x 30cm x 110cm. Total weight is 6.2kg. Colour choices are Carmine Red, Mykonos Blue or Granite Grey.
Key features Steel frame, 600D polyester fabric, padded seat and backrest, carrybag with handle, two-year warranty

HELINOX CHAIR TWO ROCKER
Expect to pay £170
helinox.com
Not the cheapest of chairs, but it’s certainly a little bit special. It only weighs some 1.2kg, for starters, yet it’s sturdy enough for folk up to 145kg. And, because it has rockers, there’s little chance of it blowing over in the wind – a common problem for standard lightweight chairs left unattended. Another clever touch is the way its storage bag can be converted into a headrest (just put some soft clothing inside). Set up, you sit (rock?) some 25cm from the ground. Pack size is 42cm x 12cm x 10cm. Or you can go “rocker-less” with the standard Chair Two for some £50 less.
Key features DAC aluminium pole structure, seat fabric with breathable mesh, zipped carrybag, five-year warranty