11 best camping chairs for 2023 holidays: Folding and lightweight seats for relaxing al fresco

This is without a doubt the best looking chair on the list. It feels futuristic, weighs just 2,860g and has a load strength of 136kg. The team at Nemo are so confident of its brilliance it comes with a lifetime guarantee, too.

What sets it apart from others on the list – in addition to its space age design – is the fact you can swing in it despite the fact it has legs. It also has a completely adjustable back – you don’t have to fit into certain settings. It also comes with a drinks holder and a phone or book pocket to hold whatever you’re reading while you gaze at the night sky.

The aluminium frame is sturdy on uneven surfaces and it’s low to the ground with a 30.5cm seat height which lets you stretch your legs without the need of a foot stool. The seat fabric is breathable too, and has been treated to resist the build up of bacteria.

While it might not have legs, this is one of the comfiest chairs on the list. It weighs just 1,700g, making it one of the lightest and easiest to transport as it doesn’t have cumbersome poles, and  can take weights of up to 120kg too. It does need trees or a hook in order to hang, but it only needs a single anchor point.

Made with reinforced parachute silk nylon, it’s triple stitched with taped seams and stainless steel rings so it won’t rust either. The backrest is adjustable and rather than settings – like a chair – you can adjust it to whatever angle you want. The fabric is breathable, hypoallergenic, mould and mildew resistant and is ethically handmade in Bali. Its also chemical and pesticide free, comes with a ten year warranty and is also available in 21 colours from yellow and pink to purple, black and white.

It might not be the cheapest on the list, but it can fit three people – four children at a push – and can also double as a camp bed if needed. And despite fitting plenty of bums, it weighs in at just 2,100g. Thanks to the advanced high-tech aluminium alloy frame, a higher specification than aircraft-grade aluminium which goes through over 70 production processes, it can take 190kg in weight too. With a five year warranty it comes in sensible black, a funky tie dye purple blue and red colour, rainbow bandana and blue paisley so it really will suit any style.

One of the few on the list with a headrest, Quecha’s is easily one of the most comfortable we tested. In fact, we may have even fallen asleep during testing in the sunshine. The Quecha HQ is at the foot of Mont Blanc in The Alps and all of its products are rigorously tested by outdoor enthusiasts before coming to market.

It’s not the lightest on the list weighing in at 4.65kg but this isn’t really designed to be portable – it’s a “set up camp” type of chair. It takes a maximum weight of 110kg but the ventilated fabric on the backrest meant clam-free backs even in the warmer temperatures. The downside is that it doesn’t have a cup holder so there’s nowhere for a cool glass of sauvignon after a day’s camping.

Unlike most camping sofas, the Kelty is designed to be lower to the ground, just 32cm off it to be precise. It’s at the perfect height to enjoy and manage a fire pit and stretch out tired legs, and as well as fitting three humans, it also spacious enough for a dog to curl up on, too.

It’s generally heavier than others, weighing in at 9.5kg, but that’s to be expected for a sofa that fits three and boasts a maximum load weight of 272.2kg. Whoever sits in the middle won’t have one of the two adjustable drinks holders – which fits cans, glasses, flasks and bottles – though. It measures in at 163cm x 60cm x 80cm while the packed size is 89cm x 23cm x 34cm. But the carry wrap it comes in also doubles as a padded mat so no design is wasted.

One of only two wooden models on the list, this might not seem like a camping chair as we know it. It packs completely flat so can easily sit in a boot or under a camper van seat and despite being made of oak it weighs just 3.5kg.

The name Futon might not be synonymous with camping, but the Adirondack style seating made it ergonomic and incredibly comfortable. It lacks a head rest so it’s not one to fall asleep in and it doesn’t have a drinks holder but the good news is, it’s so low to the ground, you can easily rest a can, glass or bottle on the floor without having to reach for it. This is one of the best looking on the list too, so a pair outside your tent will definitely make a style statement.

A stool might not be everyone’s idea of a relaxing camping seat but long before aluminium became de rigueur for camping seats, wood, especially teak – was a popular choice. The Stripes company has stuck with using grade-A teak for its beautiful stools which means it weighs in at 1.9kg and is suitable for an average sized adult to sit on.

Available in a staggering 57 colours and striped patterns, there’s every possibility you’ll spend longer choosing a stool than sitting on it. The Stripes company also offers deckchairs and directors chairs in the same 57 colours so it’s possible to get matching sets, and use this as a footstool. Helpfully, the fabric seats are removable and washable too.

With a high back and three adjustable positions, the Ullswater feels and acts like a traditional camping chair. It weighs in at 5.9kg so is towards the heavier end compared to others in our list, but it does have a maximum load of 125kg. The cupholder folds away which is handy and the padded upholstery in the back and neck rest make it a really comfortable chair.

The carry bag is ergonomic which makes it comfortable to carry across a few fields to your final campsite, and folds away fast too. And while it might not win any awards for colour scheme or futuristic design, it’s an exceptionally comfy chair at a reasonable price. The cherry on top is that it comes with a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

Any camp chair list wouldn’t feel complete without a Vango on it. Synonymous with camping and the great outdoors, the Vango titan oversized camping chair is wide and sturdy, and feels very much like a bucket chair when you’re sitting in it. It’s comfortable enough for nights round the campfire, sitting by the river with a fishing rod or even having a snooze in after a day at the beach.

It weighs in at 5.96kg but can take 180kg which gives it one of the biggest weight loads on the list. The wrap around design makes it one of the better looking chairs on the list too, and the brick dust colour sets it apart from competitors. It did get slightly clammy in direct sunshine though so isn’t as breathable as it could be, but the extra padding is what makes it so comfortable.

The bucket style of this chair makes it one of the better looking on the list. Weighing just 3.8kg and with a maximum load of 113kg, the chair has a steel frame finished in black which just adds to the style and class. During our testing, this one felt warmest in the evening, the wrap bucket style carried heat well. The bottle holder isn’t a conventional one, it’s simply a fabric pocket, so it won’t fare well with a glass or a can. But it does come in its own carry bag which is ergonomic to carry and the high back really lets you feel like you’re sinking into comfort, which is much needed after a day spent outdoors.

The only inflatable on the list, blow up chairs might not be the first thought when it comes to camping but with more people turning trips under canvas into longer holidays, comfort has become paramount. At 6.6kg it’s the heaviest on the list but this chair is more for those setting up a home-away-from-home than it is for wild camping.

There’s no need to remember a pump as this chair self inflates, and you can choose how firm you want the finished seat to be from plush to firm. The cover is also detachable so can be cleaned easily. It’s definitely not one to put into a backpack for a day’s hike but when it comes to comfort, the Lake Huron is hard to beat.