Top 9 Backpacking Chairs for 2024
Compact and easy-to-carry seats designed for backpacking, overnight camping, and any situation where a log or damp ground just isn’t an option
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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 indulgence for serious wilderness adventures—often overlooked by weight-conscious hikers and ultralight backpackers—we’re always glad to bring one on short UL trips or car camping excursions. Thanks to advancements from trusted outdoor brands, it’s now simpler than ever to find a cozy, well-made camping chair that barely adds bulk or weight when packed in a backpack.
Continue scrolling to discover our top selections for the best backpacking chairs. If you’d like to explore more about seating choices for backpacking adventures before deciding, 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:
- Most Reliable Backpacking Chair:The Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is an ultralight, compact seating solution designed for outdoor enthusiasts. With its minimalist frame and durable materials, it offers comfort and portability for camping, hiking, or backpacking adventures. The chair’s streamlined design ensures easy setup and packability without sacrificing stability. Ideal for those who prioritize weight savings and convenience, the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is a reliable choice for on-the-go relaxation.
- Top Reclining Backpacking Chair:The Nemo Moonlite Chair
- Top Choice for Versatile Backpacking Chair:
- Most Compact Backpacking Chair:The Kelty Camp Chair
- The Lightest Backpacking Chair Available:The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat cushion
- The 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 is easy to inflate and pack, ensuring hassle-free transportation. 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 excursions.
- The Most Lightweight and Compact Backpacking Chair AvailableThe Therm-a-Rest Z Seat cushion
- Top Backpacking Stool Choice:The Hillsound BTR Stool offers a lightweight and portable seating solution, designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable comfort during their adventures. Its durable construction ensures stability on uneven terrain, making it ideal for camping, fishing, or hiking. The stool’s compact design allows for easy transport, while its sturdy frame supports users of various sizes. Whether you’re taking a break on the trail or waiting by the waterside, the Hillsound BTR Stool provides a convenient and comfortable place to rest.
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 minimal—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 sitting on a rough log or compacted campsite terrain.
Compactness
Even the largest backpacking packs have their constraints, so evaluating how compact a camping chair becomes when packed is crucial. When stored in their provided stuff sacks, a slender, 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 choosing the perfect camping chair, weight and packability are the top priorities, but the design and functionality should also align with your requirements. For instance, some chairs offer a low seat height, keeping you slightly elevated from the ground, while others act as insulation against damp or chilly terrain. If lounging is your preference, pay attention to the backrest’s recline angle—certain 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 ounces but offers an extra seven and a half inches of back support—a small trade-off for significantly improved comfort.
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 foundation of 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 Elevation: 15”
Price:$150
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Top Reclining Backpacking Chair: Nemo Moonlite Chair
Lightweight camping chairs rarely include adjustability, making Nemo’s design a welcome exception. Simply tweak the tension of the dual webbing straps to find your perfect reclining angle and unwind! The chair’s frame, crafted from round and ovalized aluminum tubing, delivers an ideal balance of flexibility and support, handling up to 300 pounds. Additionally, its prominent “feet” tips prevent excessive sinking on 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 is why their one-pound camping chair has earned our selection as the top all-around choice. The foldable REI Flexlite Air Chair includes many of the same attributes as rival models, such as 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 seat. This compact, flat-packing ground chair features closed-cell foam padding for comfort, supported by internal composite stays that provide stability. Ideal for turning a log into a cozy seat 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 just 8-10 oz, the Air Chair holds your foldable inflatable or closed-cell foam sleeping pad in place, transforming it into a cozy seat. Once you sit down, the recline angle can be effortlessly adjusted using two tensioning straps that extend the full length of the chair.
Best Ultralight Backpacking Chair: Therm-a-Rest Z Seat
For the minimalist backpacker seeking a dedicated seat without added weight, the Z Seat from OG Seattle camping mattress brand remains unbeatable at just 2 oz. Its closed-cell foam design folds in the same Z shape as the larger Z-Lite Sol, with a packed size slightly bigger than a standard one-liter water bottle. Some even say a Field Mag gear writer uses it to soften 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 its 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 believed it deserved a spot on our list. This backpacking stool is crafted by Hillsound, a Vancouver-based brand, and its product acronym perfectly captures our sentiment toward camp seating: Better Than a Rock. Available in both 14” and 17” sizes, the stool meets the comfort and weight preferences of every dedicated 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!
