Selecting the Perfect Backpacking Chair
At GearLab, we think adventure is just as much about relaxing and taking in the scenery as it is about covering distance or completing iconic trails. A few of us were initially reluctant to carry the additional bulk of a backpacking chair in our already heavy packs, but after experiencing cozy nights at camp, we can’t imagine returning to sitting on the ground.
Is a Backpacking Chair Necessary for Your Trip?
Simply because gear enhances comfort doesn’t obligate you to bring it or desire the added burden. In the wilderness, a log or smooth stone works just fine. Yet, much like using a rolled-up puffy jacket as a pillow, nothing matches the convenience of the actual item. Ultimately, you must determine whether the weight or cost of a luxury is worth it.
For some, a chair may seem like an extra, but for others, sitting on the ground simply isn’t an option. If your hips or lower back are stiff, you might struggle to find even minimal comfort on the ground while cooking or relaxing at camp. If this sounds familiar, having an actual seat could transform your experience from merely enduring camp to fully savoring it.
Backpacking chairs proved to be more than just a luxury in another situation: soggy campsites. You might be familiar with “Vermud.” Some trails stay perpetually wet, while other times, spring snowmelt turns camp into a choice between standing, staying in the tent, or enduring a constantly wet seat.
Perhaps you enjoy a more leisurely style of travel, stopping at every scenic spot without worrying about long distances. When traveling alone, where lengthy reading breaks are likely, carrying an additional pound might be less important than having the right gear to relax and fully appreciate the surroundings.
On the other hand, those meticulously tracking weight will probably avoid adding even a few extra ounces. If you’re covering long distances—hiking from dawn till dusk each day—your camp routine will likely involve quickly eating some food before collapsing in the tent. In this case, a lightweight and adaptable ground pad, just a few ounces heavy, is probably a better fit than a full-sized chair.
The market currently offers a wide variety of lightweight, packable chair designs, and we rigorously tested a significant number of them. Discover the available styles and find out how to streamline your choices from the extensive options available.
For those who prefer a more substantial option, check out our standard camping chair review, featuring full-sized models ideal for tailgating and car camping.
Varieties of Chairs
Styles of Seating Furniture
Different Chair Designs
Categories of Seating Options
Classifications of Chair Types
Foam Seating
In this evaluation, we examined chairs from two distinct categories: foam and tent-style designs featuring poles. Certain foam options are simple sit pads, while others, which we’ll refer to as—taco-style” Incorporate a backrest for added comfort. Basic ground pads are the most lightweight choice, though they provide minimal support and functionality. Their primary role is to create a waterproof, insulated, and cushioned spot to rest on the ground.
Taco-style chairs are instantly identifiable due to their simple construction. They feature a foldable L-shaped fabric design, filled with closed-cell foam and reinforced by support beams. To sit, you recline and rely on the counterbalance between your legs and back to form a seat. These chairs rest directly on the ground, are lightweight, nearly unbreakable, and ideal for quick use since they need no assembly. However, don’t expect complete comfort—they demand some muscle effort to stay in place and can be tricky to stand up from.
Both varieties of foam chairs typically fall on the more affordable side of the backpacking chair market, making them a solid choice for beginners uncertain about bringing a chair on their camping trips. The ultra-light ground pads also serve as a great alternative for weight-conscious campers who might otherwise hesitate to pack a seat due to strict weight considerations.
Tent-Style
The chairs featured in this review are called tent-style due to their collapsible, tent-inspired poles that provide support. A suspended fabric seat allows your weight to rest comfortably within the frame. These models typically elevate your seat between 7 and 12 inches off the ground, offering greater comfort compared to foam chairs. That said, they tend to be pricier and sometimes bulkier. We couldn’t wait to take them on all kinds of adventures, whether deep in the backcountry, at car camping gatherings, or during climbing sessions at the crag.
Applications and Flexibility
While this review focuses on backpacking options, we acknowledge that chairs can enhance comfort across various activities. Purchasing any new gear becomes more worthwhile when it serves multiple purposes in your daily life.
Backpacking
First, let’s discuss backpacking. Since every ounce matters, we suggest checking our Size & Weight Metric, especially since you’ll be hauling your chair over long distances. Anything heavier than 2 pounds will probably feel like a burden, making most hikers reluctant to keep it in their backpack.
For those who prioritize minimal weight, a basic foam pad seat is often the ideal choice. Weighing mere ounces, these pads provide sufficient comfort to transform an unpleasant meal with a damp, chilly backside into a relaxing moment around the campfire.
Exploring the World with Roadside Adventures
Chairs in this classification tend to be bigger and offer greater comfort. That said, the downside of such opulence is added bulk. Among all the chairs we evaluated, these were the most substantial in weight.
Concerts
Summer outdoor concerts are a highlight of the season, and bringing a lightweight chair can enhance the experience. Since many outdoor venues prohibit chairs with legs, the taco-style options featured in this review are ideal. Comfort takes priority over weight for these events, so choosing the coziest option is advisable. These chairs sit flat on the ground and are simple to carry and adjust as needed.
Key Factors to Evaluate Before Buying
Choosing a lightweight, portable camp chair comes with numerous benefits, and the priorities vary depending on individual needs. To help you narrow down the options, we’ve outlined the four key criteria we applied in assessing each chair, allowing you to concentrate on the factors that matter most for your choice.
Comfort
Comfort is the primary and most significant factor in our evaluation, accounting for 35% of the total score. While performance may take precedence over comfort with certain equipment, this is not the case for chairs, where comfort is paramount.isWhy carry an additional pound or two of chair if its only function is comfort but fails to deliver? To assess each option, we recorded the height from the ground and the seat width. We also examined the seat pocket’s design and texture, analyzing how it influenced the comfort level for our backs, arms, necks, and rear.
When weight isn’t a concern, comfort is likely the top priority in your purchasing decision. However, if you’re watching every ounce, you’ll need an option that balances comfort with the additional load you’ll carry. In general, tent-style chairs offer greater comfort compared to foam chairs, as they elevate you off the ground. Higher seating tends to improve comfort and makes standing up easier—though increased height also means more weight. The seat pocket’s shape and depth further influence how comfortable the chair feels.
Dimensions and Mass
When planning to bring your chair deep into the backcountry, minimizing weight is essential, and the ability to attach it securely to the exterior of your pack is crucial. This factor becomes the top priority if you’re looking for a chair suited to backpacking, bike-packing, or any extended human-powered journey.
Does this describe you? If that’s the case, you’ll be pleased to hear that we weighed every chair on a scale to determine its precise travel weight and recorded the packed dimensions. Many chairs in this review weigh significantly less than twenty ounces. While each has distinct features and uses, all meet the mark when low weight and a small packed size are priorities. For those considering backpacking chairs as a space-saving substitute for standard camp chairs, this category also includes bulkier options. These models are slightly heavier yet provide a balanced solution—offering greater height and comfort while remaining lighter and more compact than conventional camp chairs.
Stability
When assembling your chair outside, uneven terrain is unavoidable. Our stability assessments are comparative since most of these portable seats are noticeably less steady than their bulkier counterparts made for car camping. Among the chairs we evaluated, some feel solid and dependable, while others seem precarious, perched on slender legs that might give way unexpectedly. With tent-style chairs, reduced weight typically translates to smaller, less sturdy supports. Consider your own steadiness when lowering into or rising from a squat. If you move with ease, a marginally less stable chair might help you cut down on weight. However, if balance is an issue in crouched postures, opt for a sturdier, higher-seated design to ensure secure transitions in and out.
In contrast, foam chairs offer greater stability because they sit directly on the ground, with the full width of your seat providing a solid base. Certain models feature an adjustable backrest, allowing you to select your preferred recline angle and maintain an upright posture using the counterbalance of your legs and torso—a stark contrast to the narrow poles and small feet of tent-style designs. However, maintaining balance in this type of chair requires some muscle engagement, preventing complete relaxation. Simpler versions, consisting of just a ground pad, are as stable as the surface they’re placed on but depend on your ability to sit down and stand up comfortably. If sitting cross-legged or with straight legs on the ground is uncomfortable for you, this chair style may not enhance your outdoor experience.
User-Friendly Design
Our testing revealed a clear contrast in usability among the models evaluated. As previously noted, the foam chairs stand out for their effortless setup, though they can be somewhat cumbersome to enter and exit due to their ground-level design. Additionally, the taco-style variants often collapse when unoccupied.
Tent-style seats typically feature a hub design where poles are inserted, similar to how tent poles are assembled. The poles are linked by a bungee-cord system, allowing for swift and effortless placement. A key aspect of their usability lies in the amount of force needed to attach the seat fabric to the pole ends. Many designs demand initial effort but become easier over time, whereas others employ tightly woven materials that resist stretching and remain snug during assembly.
When it comes to instructions, the models we evaluated vary significantly. Certain options feature color-coded poles and sleeves, eliminating any confusion about orientation. Others display instructions directly on the seat or carrying bag, while a few provide no guidance at all, requiring users to judge the correct position based on comfort and how well it fits.
Conclusion
- Is a Backpacking Chair Necessary for Your Trip?
- Varieties of Chairs
Styles of Seating
Different Chair Designs
Categories of Chair Models
Forms of Chair Structures -
- Foam Seating
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- Tent-Style
- Applications and Adaptability
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- Backpacking
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- Exploring the World Through Road Trips and Vehicle-Based Camping
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- Concerts
- Factors to Evaluate Before Buying
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- Comfort
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- Dimensions and Mass
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- Stability
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- User-Friendly Design
- Conclusion
- Foam Seating
- Tent-Style
- Backpacking
- Exploring the World Through Road Trips and Vehicle-Based Camping
- Concerts
- Comfort
- Dimensions and Mass
- Stability
- User-Friendly Design
