The Best Camping Chairs
Having a decent camping chair can make a big difference to your enjoyment of a holiday outdoors. While spritely people and kids can handle sitting on the ground for long periods of time, some of us might not be suited, or simply may not want to sit on lumpy ground with crossed legs for longer than a few minutes and prefer to have a little home comfort. A good camping chair can make a camping holiday much more accessible for everyone, especially people with mobility issues or other underlying health problems such as; arthritis, ME or fibromyalgia.
When you hear the words “camping chair” most people immediately think of the folding style with four legs, backrest and seat (possibly with fabric armrests incorporating a cup holder). These are the most commonly used types because they’re cheap, lightweight and easy to carry. For long periods of use, however, they are less suitable because you’re sitting in a less supported position than if you were in a chair at home – prolonged use can cause joint pain. A good camping chair for longer periods of use should give you more support.
The Vango Kensington camping chair is a great contender and has the look of a garden chair (and they can certainly be used in the garden or at a park, anywhere you want to sit and spend time). Adjustable armrests allow you to change the angle of the backrest from a recline position to an upright one ideal for eating. The armrests are solid and allow for easy rising from the chair – perfect for the older person and excellent if you’ve had a couple of campfire drinks. At just under 5kg these chairs are easily portable, but not ideal for carrying long distances.
The Trekology Yizi Go foldable chair is built for hot weather. This is more of a bucket style chair without armrests, but the mesh panels in the sides allow for good airflow around you while you are seated, meaning you don’t end up getting sweaty in the sun. The deep bucket style seating doesn’t lend itself to easy rising, but the legs are adjustable so it’s a great chair for cooking, especially as the mesh panels will keep you cooler while you cook, and the legs can be adjusted so you’re closer to the fire or stove. This chair weighs just over a kilo, making it an easily transportable chair for day trips.
Moon chairs are made by many of the big names in camping, and these chairs are padded and round, offering a comfy place to curl up and enjoy a good book or a campfire. Because the seating part wraps around you these chairs keep you toasty round a fire – no cold lower back for you. The construction of moon chairs makes them much more stable and reliable on uneven ground and the level of support you get on the backrest is great for a variety of seating positions. These chairs tend to be heavier than other designs but if you’re camping near your car, or you want something comfy for a full day at the park, or in the garden, then moon chairs are perfect.
If you’re not fussed by comfort and just need something to keep you off the ground then there are many budget options, including folding chairs without armrests. For a festival, short trips out or fishing trips these can be ideal and won’t break the bank. If you’re hiking while camping you will want to prioritise weight over anything else, so a lightweight chair is the order of the day. There are also tripod stools available which aren’t great for a relaxing on, but for a picnic, fishing trip or even a day out at an event these provide a quick, very portable way to take a break.
