Top 9 Backpacking Chairs for 2024
Compact and easy-to-carry seats for backpacking, overnight camping, and any situation where a log or damp patch of earth just isn’t suitable
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A great camp chair is perfect for relaxed, easy seating at the park, beach, backyard, or campsite. While it might seem like an unnecessary luxury for serious wilderness adventures—especially for weight-conscious hikers and ultralight backpackers—we’re always glad to bring one on quick ultralight trips or car camping excursions. Thanks to advancements from trusted outdoor brands, it’s now simpler than ever to find a well-designed, comfortable camping chair that barely adds bulk or weight to your pack.
Continue scrolling to see our top selections for the best backpacking chairs. If you’d like to explore more about backpacking seating options before making a choice, read on for a brief guide on key features to consider when choosing your ideal backpacking chair.
Field Mag’s Best Selections:
- Top Ultralight Backpacking Chair for Outdoor Adventures
- Most Reliable Backpacking Chair:The Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is an ultralight seating solution designed for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Top Reclining Backpacking Chair:The Nemo Moonlite Chair offers a lightweight and compact design, ideal for outdoor adventures. Its durable construction ensures reliability, while the ergonomic shape provides comfort during extended use. Perfect for camping, hiking, or relaxing in nature, the Nemo Moonlite Chair combines portability with functionality.
- Top Choice for Versatile Backpacking Chair:
- Best Ultralight Backpacking Chair:The Kelty Camp Chair is a durable and comfortable seating solution designed for outdoor adventures. Its sturdy frame and high-quality materials ensure reliability in various camping conditions. The chair is lightweight and easy to transport, making it ideal for hikers and campers. With ergonomic support and a compact design, the Kelty Camp Chair offers both convenience and comfort in the wilderness.
- The Lightest Backpacking Chair Available:The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat cushion
- Most Distinctive Backpacking Chair:The Sea To Summit Air Chair is a lightweight, portable seating solution designed for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers comfort and convenience, making it ideal for camping, hiking, and other adventures. The chair inflates quickly and packs down small, ensuring easy transport and storage. Its durable construction provides stability on various terrains, while the ergonomic design supports relaxation in nature. Perfect for those who value both functionality and comfort during their travels.
- The Lightest Backpacking Chair Available:The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat cushion
- Top Backpacking Stool:The Hillsound BTR Stool offers a lightweight and portable seating solution for outdoor enthusiasts. Designed with durability in mind, it features a sturdy frame and compact foldable design, making it ideal for camping, hiking, or fishing trips. The stool’s breathable mesh seat ensures comfort during extended use, while its non-slip feet provide stability on uneven terrain. Easy to carry and quick to set up, the Hillsound BTR Stool is a practical addition to any adventure gear collection.
What Defines an Ideal Backpacking Chair?
Weight
The primary specification to focus on is the total packed weight of our camping chair. Aim to keep this figure as minimal as possible—under two pounds is an ideal target. While an ultra-lightweight or low-weight camping chair may offer slightly less comfort compared to a full-size version, it still surpasses the experience of sitting on a rough log or compacted campsite surface.
Compactness
Even the largest backpacking packs have their capacity limits, making it essential to evaluate how compact a camping chair becomes when packed. When stored in their provided stuff sacks, a slender and elongated packed shape allows the chair to fit effortlessly into an external backpack pocket or be secured to a backpack’s daisy chain using web straps or shock cord.
Design and Characteristics
When selecting the perfect camping chair, weight and packability are the top priorities, but the design and functionality should also align with your requirements. For instance, certain chairs offer a seat height that keeps you slightly elevated above the ground, whereas others act as insulation against damp or chilly terrain. If lounging is your preference, evaluate the backrest’s recline angle—some models may even feature a headrest for added comfort.
Top 9 Backpacking Camping Chairs for Outdoor Adventures
Top Ultralight Backpacking Chair Picks:
Helinox’s ultralight folding camp chair stands out for its comfort, portability, and minimal pack weight. The chair features a lightweight aluminum frame with a durable ripstop polyester seat, capable of holding up to 265 pounds (the supports an even higher limit of 320lbs). For those with extra space and weight capacity, Helinox provides a range of accessories, including options like and an . The brand’s updated ($170) version of the ultralight chair adds just six more ounces but delivers an extra seven and a half inches of back support—a worthwhile upgrade.
Most Reliable Backpacking Chair: Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair
It’s no surprise that the trusted Colorado tent manufacturers also produce an exceptionally sturdy and cozy lightweight backpacking chair. The key to their chair’s design is the curved, lightweight aluminum poles, which create a steadier seating experience and a frame that assembles seamlessly without the need for heavy, plastic connection hubs. Made from ripstop polyester with a waterproof finish, it stays dry during sudden rain and can hold up to 275 pounds.
Weight:1 pound 11 ounces
Seat Height: 15”
Price:$150
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Top Reclining Backpacking Chair: Nemo Moonlite Chair
Lightweight camping chairs rarely offer adjustability, making Nemo’s design a welcome exception. Simply tweak the tension of the dual webbing straps to find your ideal reclining position and unwind! The frame, constructed from round and ovalized aluminum tubing beneath the seat, delivers the perfect balance of flexibility and stability, supporting up to 300 pounds. Additionally, the chair’s prominent “feet” tips prevent it from sinking too far into softer ground.
Weight:1 pound 14 ounces
Seat Elevation: 10.5”
Price:$160
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Top Choice for Versatile Backpacking Chairs:
America’s preferred outfitter often gains valuable insights into the design of the products it sells, which explains why their one-pound camping chair has earned our selection as the top all-around choice. The foldable REI Flexlite Air Chair boasts many of the same attributes as rival models, including a lightweight aluminum frame and a ripstop nylon seat, yet it comes at a significantly more affordable price. While the 250-pound weight capacity might deter some buyers and suggests a less sturdy build, it remains an excellent pick for numerous campers.
Best Compact Backpacking Chair: Kelty Camp Chair
Forgive us for stretching the traditional idea of a chair with Kelty’s legless camping chair. This compact, flat-packing ground seat features closed-cell foam padding for comfort, supported by internal composite stays that provide stability. Ideal for turning a log into a cozy spot or serving as a low-profile beach chair on sandy shores.
Most Innovative Backpacking Chair: Sea To Summit Air Chair
Chances are, you’re already carrying an inflatable sleeping pad along with your sleeping bag, which could double as a comfortable camp chair if paired with this clever “chair” from Sea To Summit. Weighing only 8-10 oz, the Air Chair supports your foldable inflatable or closed-cell foam sleeping pad to form a cozy seat. The reclining angle can be effortlessly adjusted using two tension straps that extend along the chair’s length.
Best Ultralight Backpacking Chair: Therm-a-Rest Z Seat
For the minimalist backpacker seeking a dedicated seat without added bulk, the Z Seat from OG Seattle camping mattress brand remains unbeatable with its ultralight 2 oz weight. The closed-cell foam pad folds into the same Z shape as its larger counterpart, the Z-Lite Sol, and packs down to just slightly bigger than a standard one-liter water bottle. Word has it that even a Field Mag gear editor relies on theirs for extra comfort in a home office chair.
Top Affordable Backpacking Chair: Trekology Yizi Lite
To say the least, Amazon offers an overwhelming amount of products. Although we can’t guarantee the durability of this portable, lightweight camping chair, its compact folded dimensions, low weight, and affordable cost are hard to ignore. Despite the questionable 200-pound weight limit, the chair includes practical additions such as a side pocket and a ground sheet for better stability on uneven terrain—features often sold as extras.
Weight:1 pound 10 ounces
Seat Height: 9.8”
Price:$57
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Top Backpacking Seat: Hillsound BTR Stool
Disclaimer: While a stool isn’t technically a chair, we decided it deserved a spot on our list. Designed by Vancouver’s Hillsound, this backpacking stool lives up to its fitting acronym—Better Than a Rock—capturing our sentiment toward camp seating. Available in 14” and 17” sizes, it accommodates the comfort and weight preferences of every ultralight backpacking enthusiast.
Weight:12.2 to 14.1 ounces
Seat Elevation: 14-17”
Price:$85-90
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Discover everything you need to know about every kind of camping chair in our comprehensive Camping Chair Deep Dive!
