Stumps, stools, boulders, and picnic tables are fine for sitting briefly outdoors. But if you want to kick back and stay comfy, the right camping chair can make all the difference. Setting up the Ozark Trail Camping Chair, like most traditional models of camp chair, is a simple pull out and extend which takes seconds. The frame felt robust and the legs sat securely on the ground to give stability, despite the small tree roots on our camp site.
If you order one of these, it will arrive ready to go right out of the box. Just unpack, unfold, and sit down—that’s all there is to it. It would be overselling it to call this a handsome chair.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). There are also chairs that are hybrids between categories, such as the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair, which comes highly rated and recommended. GCI Outdoor makes several rocking chairs, and we plan to try more of them to see if they’re any better than the Freestyle Rocker, which we weren’t enthusiastic about.
Despite the Renetto chair’s weight and bulk, our testers found it simple to ozark trail wagon set up and adjust. The canopy quickly and easily transforms into a carrying case—just wrap it around the chair and snap it closed with two plastic buckles, and you can carry the whole thing on your back like an oblong backpack. Our testers consistently said the King Kong chair was the most heavy-duty-feeling model of all the chairs we tested. Convenient carrying bag makes is easy to keep in the trunk. Made with a steel frame and rated for up to 300 pounds. Higher back and a head rest that make it more comfortable.
However, it is marginally above average in terms of comfort compared to other camp chairs. The Ozark Trail XXL Director Chair is a reasonably comfortable, versatile camp chair, offered by a reliable company. Recommended for anyone up to 500 pounds who is looking for a basic camp chair. It’s more affordable than other chairs we tested of similar quality. Most other chairs in its price range don’t match its quality, features, or reputation. Camping chairs can also be reasonably priced, casual (albeit less comfy and less durable) alternatives to patio furniture, if you don’t mind the lack of aesthetic appeal.
Air mattresses are popular, and can be very comfortable – as long as the mattress stays inflated. No matter how much I spent on an air mattress, it never seemed to stay inflated through the night. This one is the ultimate solution for the solo camper. This cot not only gets you off the ground but also keeps you protected from the elements with its hybrid tent/cot design.
The Chair One is rated to hold up to 320 pounds—more than any other lightweight chair we tested aside from the Moon Lence. It can hold a lot of supplies, and it’s easy to carry and set up. The King Kong chair has two cupholders and intuitively placed storage pouches under each armrest; unlike the Coleman chair, though, this one doesn’t have a cooler pouch. No other chair in our testing pool—except perhaps the ozark trail wagon extremely pricey Yeti Trailhead—came close to matching the King Kong’s build quality. Its steel frame doesn’t wobble when you get in or out. Several Wirecutter staffers have owned the Coleman chair for years, using it on camping trips, in backyards, and at sporting events.
For the most part, it’s held up well, but one common quibble is that the seat bottom begins to sag after several years of use. The Coleman Cooler Quad has been our pick since 2016, through numerous camping trips and several testing sessions. It’s perfect for tall individuals due to the longer back and head rest panel which gives stability and ample back support to the chair. The wide seating area makes it comfortable for users of all heights and everyone can benefit from the longer back panel. One of the best features is the longer back panel which reaches up to the neck and allows for you to tip your head back and rest it on the lightly cushioned area for extra relaxation.