The 5 Best Camping Chairs of 2026: Tested

When it comes to car camping chairs, comfort and functionality trump weight savings any day of the week—and that’s where this camp chair from NEMO shines. Hitting the sweet spot between hammock and traditional camp seat, the NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair allows for comfy lounging while eliminating pressure points. The padded headrest supports a user’s neck when leaning back, so you can view your next Perseids meteor shower without pain.  

Unlike rocking chairs, which inherently feel unstable on dirt or sand, the chair’s low center of gravity and aircraft-grade aluminum suspension frame keep it from tipping over, even in “lumpy meadow grass and wood chips,” as one tester noted. Additionally, the chair received high marks for ease of assembly and breakdown. "The setup was very intuititve and straightforward," remarked our Pennsylvania-based tester. 

Though it’s not as lightweight and packable as, say, the REI Flexlite Air Chair, at less than 8 pounds the Stargaze is a manageable heft for short trips to and from the car. And its slim carrying case comes equipped with an adjustable sling strap, should you need to haul the chair around a concert or festival. It also scored high marks for packability, even with its fun extras like two integrated drink holders. It's not our testers’ top choice for hauling into a backcountry site, but it's easy to nestle it into a packed trunk or truck bed. 

Not everyone loves to share. But for those who do, the Kelty Low Loveseat provides a cozy space to snuggle. The low double chair is a seriously luxurious spot to sink into after a long day on the trails, with enough room for two people to huddle close to the fire (and space for a furry friend in between). "I thought I wouldn't like the low design, but I actually felt like it was more comfortable than a taller chair since I could really stretch my legs out in front of me," said one Wyoming-based tester. The low height also makes the Loveseat outdoor-concert friendly, an added bonus for live music lovers.

Double chairs inherently have some heft to them, and the Low Loveseat is no exception. Haul the 15-pound package in the included roll tote, but don't plan to take it all much farther than the parking lot unless you're looking for a challenge. Bonus feature: One tester discovered that the padded roll tote can double as a mat for your feet when changing out of wet and muddy clothes at camp.

The Loveseat's durable steel frame stands its ground in high winds and keeps the chair feeling rock solid. Its 600-denier polyester seat fabric withstood weeks of red dirt, mucky paws, rainstorms and rolling around in the back of a pickup truck without so much as a scratch. And two insulated, adjustable drink holders mean there's really no need to get up once you've plopped down.

When it comes to camp chairs, most trade comfort for portability. Fortunately, the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Dreamer Chair doesn’t ask you to choose. Its seat depth supports a user’s full thigh, and its ample recline holds the hips open rather than folding you like a taco. This is the exact spot where Virginia-based tester Gilberto G. says most camp chairs let him down—but not the Flexlite. “This became my favorite chair in the house,” he says.

Unlike sling-style chairs that wobble on uneven ground, the Flexlite’s aluminum frame and four-leg design keep it steady no matter the terrain. Colorado-based tester Lori G. put it through grass, rocks, dirt, a sloping hillside and a sandy lakefront with users ranging from a 30-pound 4-year-old to a 250-plus-pound adult—without a single complaint. The only time it tipped was when it was free of an occupant, loaded only with a 30-ounce metal water bottle in its mesh side pocket. (Keep that in mind if you plan to leave gear stashed inside an otherwise empty chair!)

At 3 lbs. 7 oz. and folding down to roughly the size of a pillow, the Flexlite is easy to grab and go. Gilberto carried his chair over his shoulder into an outdoor concert without trouble, and Lori proclaims the Flexlite to be a space saver. “The size when it’s [packed up] in its sack was great,” she says. “It took minimal room compared to our other camping chairs in our van.” Setup does require a small learning curve, though. With no instructions included in the packaging, Lori ’s family needed a few tries to wrangle the chair back into its storage sack. 

If you slap the word "recliner" on a camp chair, you’d better be able to back it up. Fortunately, the Zempire Xuno Recliner (mostly) does. Tester Laura E., who used the chair while camping in the Adirondacks in New York and in her backyard, says "the ability to recline at any angle, rather than at 'stationed' positions, is really fantastic." The "breathable padding on the seat makes this a standout in terms of comfort," she added, and the pillow's adjustability meant that she could use the cushion no matter what angle she had the seat back. But Washington-based tester Tony C. wasn’t as convinced on fit, noting the Xuno felt “a tad narrow in the seat.” 

Structurally, the Xuno is tough to beat and proved its mettle on uneven ground. Tony found the chair “well built” with “good stability,” while other testers appreciated its 500-pound weight capacity. (Note: That’s even more capacity than the two-person Kelty Low Loveseat, also featured in this guide.) Initial setup was challenging for two testers. Laura said "after wrestling it out of its carrying bag, it took quite a while to set up, even with good instructions included." Tony, however, figured it out quickly, calling the setup process “reasonably easy with minimal head scratching.” So maybe, one camper’s wrestling match is another’s walk in the park?

Portability is a tradeoff. Expert Advice Managing Editor Phuong Le ruled it out for her sedan but could see it working for “a van camper who wants a luxury setup” with cargo room to spare. Tony agreed, calling the footprint “pretty big” and the 16-pound weight “pretty heavy” to haul. The side-mounted cup holder was a hit, though Le flagged that its detachable design would make it easy to misplace over time. 

This sturdy, ultralight and highly packable chair from REI Co-op impressed our ounce-counting testers who appreciated its featherlight comfort. Weighing in at a scant 1 pound, the chair collapses down to a little larger than a 48-ounce Nalgene—one of our two Washington testers was even able to stuff it into the side water bottle pouch on his overnight pack. “There is always a moment of internal debate around whether or not to bring [camp chairs] backpacking. The decision was easy with this chair,” he said. 

Multiple testers told us that the Flexlite Air remained comfy and sturdy across a wide variety of terrain, from concrete porches to rocky backcountry campsites and everything in between. Not only did this petite chair remain in place on uneven ground, it felt supportive all the while, even for one 215-pound tester. 

Unlike some ultralight chairs on the market, the Flexlite Air is a breeze to assemble and break down. Simply snap the four-leg frame together, like you would with lightweight tent poles, then slip on the included, bluesign®-approved ripstop nylon seat. “It's a very intuitive setup,” said our second Washington tester. “I didn't reference directions [and] setup took less than a minute.” Worth noting: Because there’s little worse than lounging in a wet chair, the seat fabric has a durable water repellent (DWR) finish to resist moisture as well as stains. 

The only downside? While backpackers who used this lightweight seat appreciated its comfort after a day on their feet, car campers craved more cushion and space. “For car camping, I prefer something bigger and cozier, like the Flexlite Camp Boss Chair,” said one tester.