Choosing the right camping chair can significantly impact your outdoor experience. This comprehensive review explores our journey through various camping chairs, from bulky behemoths to lightweight champions, highlighting the trade-offs between comfort, portability, and price. We've tested chairs from budget-friendly options at Aldi to premium brands like Snow Peak, sharing our experiences and insights to help you find the perfect fit for your camping style and vehicle. Whether you're traveling in a 4WD, caravan, or teardrop camper, this review covers a range of options to suit different needs and budgets.From heavy-duty chairs that dominated our storage space to sleek, easily packable alternatives, we’ve learned valuable lessons about the importance of weight, size, and comfort in a camping chair. This review details our experiences with six different chairs, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. We'll guide you through the evolution of our chair selection, revealing our ultimate favorite and providing you with the knowledge to choose the ideal lightweight camping chair for your next adventure.
Pros And Cons
- Comfortable
- Includes a small table
- Inexpensive
- Bulky pack size
- Durable (lasted 9+ years)
- Sturdy construction
- Good value for money
- Low seating position
- Requires a separate table
- Easy to set up and pack away
- Comfortable
- Includes a carry bag
- Swivel function
- Relatively inexpensive (buy one get one free sale)
- Requires a separate table for drinks
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
- Durable (lasted 10 years)
- Small pack size
- Requires a separate table
- Low seating position
- Can blow away in wind
Read more: Top 5 Square Camping Tables for Your Next Adventure
Heavyweight Champions: Our First Camping Chairs
Our camping journey began with bulky, heavy-duty chairs. These behemoths were incredibly comfortable, boasting fold-out footrests and a substantial build. However, their significant weight (around 30 kilos!) and substantial size made storage and transport a real challenge, especially when traveling with our teardrop camper, Dixie.
We often had to lash them to the roof rack, a cumbersome task. The sheer bulk made them impractical for smaller vehicles. Despite their comfort, the inconvenience of their weight and size eventually led us to seek lighter alternatives.
Mid-Range Marvels: The Wanderer Director's Chairs
Our next purchase was a pair of more compact director's chairs from BCF. These offered a good balance of comfort and portability, with a handy side table for drinks and snacks. At around $45 each, they were a budget-friendly option that served us well for many trips.
However, even these chairs proved somewhat bulky for our increasingly minimalist camping style, particularly when space was at a premium in Dixie. The packaging size remained a slight inconvenience, prompting a further search for even more compact solutions.
Aldi's Affordable Aces: The Adventure Ridge Chairs
Our hunt for lighter chairs led us to Aldi, where we discovered a fantastic value option: the Adventure Ridge collapsible chairs. These chairs, around $35 each, were incredibly light and easy to store, fitting perfectly in the back of our FJ Cruiser.
They proved durable, lasting for about 10 years with regular use. However, they required a separate table, which added to the overall camping equipment. The low seating height also became a concern as we aged.
Premium Performance: Snow Peak Chairs
Next, we upgraded to Snow Peak chairs from Drifter, known for their high quality and durability. These were expensive, but their superior build and comfort were undeniable. Despite being over nine years old, they show minimal wear and tear.
The low seating position and the need for a separate side table remained minor drawbacks. The high price point, while justified by their longevity, ultimately led us to seek out more space-efficient alternatives.
Drifter Stockton Chairs: A Step Up
Drifter Stockton chairs addressed some of the issues we had with the Snow Peak chairs. They offered a slightly higher seating position, making getting up and down easier. A reclining back added to the comfort.
However, these chairs are a little rickety compared to the Snow Peak chairs, and the joints can loosen over time. They also lack the same robust build and materials. Despite their improvements, their low seating height remained a factor influencing our next choice.
The Bushwhacker Take Five: Our Current Favorite
Our current chairs are the Bushwhacker Take Five lightweight chairs. These offer the perfect blend of comfort, portability, and ease of use. The quick setup and pack-down are remarkable, and the swivel function is a welcome addition.
They are lightweight, comfortable, and have armrests. The only minor drawback is the drink holder, which is not suitable for drinks in stubby coolers. Overall, these are our favorite camping chairs so far and are highly recommended for those who value comfort and convenience in a compact package.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Chair for Your Needs
Over the years, we've used a variety of camping chairs, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Our experiences highlight the importance of considering factors like weight, size, comfort, and ease of use when selecting camping chairs, especially when space is limited. The best chair depends entirely on individual needs and priorities.
For those with limited space, lightweight and easily packable chairs like the Bushwhacker Take Five or Aldi Adventure Ridge are excellent choices. If budget and durability are top priorities, the Snow Peak chairs are hard to beat despite their higher price tag. Remember to factor in your vehicle size, camping style, and personal preferences for seating height and features when making your decision.