Any hiker who has ever crushed double-digit trail miles in the backcountry will know that nothing beats sitting at the final destination taking in sweeping views of alpine lakes, mountain cirques, or miniature tree tops. Have you ever considered bringing a lightweight camp chair to rest and relax even more in mother nature’s lap? A comfortable chair will let you level up your create comforts game without adding too much weight or hassle to your outdoor excursion.
Gear design has come a long way in making outdoor equipment that is durable, lightweight, and compact. Gone are the days of gigantic folding camp chairs, although these can still be luxuriant at your car-camping site, they won’t fly for an overnight in the backcountry. If you’re craving a comfortable seat on your next mountain adventure or simply desire a little lift off the ground on an overnight camp trip, a lightweight backpacking chair is a perfect addition to your outdoor gear kit.
Table of Contents
Best Overall Chair
Moonlight Reclining Camp Chair
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $149.95
- Material: Recycled polyester
- Style: Collapsible, one-cord, aluminum frame
What We Love
This ultralight chair combines some of the best features from others on this list into one, the lightweight package you can tote anywhere. The reclining aspect is a feature not many other gear makers have sorted out and we sure appreciate the ability to kick back and look at the night sky.
What We Don’t Love
The price tag is a little high and the chair can be heavy for long hikes. It’s just shy of two pounds and can take up a bit of space in an overnight pack.
Product Overview:
This chair is ultra-comfortable because of its intuitive design, multiposition reclining system, and breathable mesh seat. For its size, weight, and shape, this chair is an awesome piece of gear to bring on multiple nights in the backcountry. It offers excellent support and is spacious for bodies of all shapes and sizes. What’s more, the NEMO Moonlight Reclining Camp Chair offers a lifetime warranty.
Lightest Chair
Helinox Chair Zero
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $129.95
- Material: Ripstop polyester
- Style: Collapsible, aluminum frame.
What We Love
The Helinox Chair packs down to about the size of a roll of paper towels and easily fits into backpacks. The single-cord, aluminum pole structure allows campers to set up the Helinox Chair Zero easily and break it down again in the morning. If you’re seeking the lightest option, this low-profile chair is it.
What We Don’t Love
The actual seat of the Helinox Chair Zero is snug for more body frames. You’ll feel nestled into it and it may grow increasingly uncomfortable depending on your hip width. This camp chair also requires level ground to make it supportive and stable. What you gain in a reduced load you sacrifice in comfort.
Product Overview:
Helinox makes a line of ultralight chairs but this one takes the prize for best overall. At only one pound, it packs a lot of bang for its buck. It may be the lightest chair on the market. It’s a tad pricier than other options but customer reviews cite this folding backpacker chair as one of the best. It’s supportive, has a weight limit of 250 pounds, and is easily cleaned due to its water-resistant fabric.
Most Spacious Chair
Mica Basin Armchair
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $144.46
- Material: nylon Robic fabric
- Style: collapsible, shock cord, aluminum frame
What We Love
The cozy, supportive Big Agnes Mica Basin Armchair is perfect for those who don’t want to sacrifice an iota of comfort when it comes to lounging. Complete with two built-in cup holders, this chair isn’t just meant for the trail but also for concerts, picnics, and courtside at your weekend volleyball match.
What We Don’t Love
It’s 2 pounds and 15 oz, so a bit on the heavier side when compared to other chairs on this list. If you can do without the increased weight capacity and cup holders, you may want to opt for a less heavy option.
Product Overview:
The Agnes Mica Basin Armchair’s sturdy seat boasts a weight capacity of 300 pounds, packs down, but allows for a spacious seat forming to all shapes and sizes. It feels sturdy when seated on all types of terrain and the self-leveling center bar is a feature that many other camp chairs lack. Even with cupholders, it still counts as a lightweight camping chair.
Easiest to Set Up and Breakdown
Helinox Swivel Chair
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $149.95
- Material: Polyester
- Style: swivel, shock cord, aluminum frame
What We Love
We love the novelty of a swivel chair at the campsite! Plus, the swivel frame is super easy to set up and the whole chair unfolds into place in a matter of minutes.
What We Don’t Love
It’s not the most durable of the chairs on this list. It feels a bit unsteady while swiveling.
Product Overview:
Customers love the Helinox Swivel Chair so much that it has received no 2 or 1-star reviews on REI. This chair is relatively lightweight for what you’re getting, conveniently packs down into a small carrying case, and is so easy to set up. The seat cover easily pulls over the chair legs.
Best Budget Backpacker Chair
Flexlite Air Chair
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $59.89
- Material: ripstop nylon, Bluesign approved
- Style: collapsable, shock-corded poles, foldable chair seat
What We Love
The REI Flexlite is REI’s answer to Helinox’s pricey, lightweight chair. The price difference is significant between the two. If you’re on a budget, take advantage of REI Co-op’s awesome, accessible store brand and pick up this chair.
What We Don’t Love
It won’t work on uneven surfaces or soft ground. It’s so lightweight and compact that the frame requires it to be seated on mostly flat, firm ground. Some customers complain that the chair feels cheap and breaks after a few years, however, you do get what you pay for.
Product Overview:
If you’re still on the fence about getting yourself a low-profile chair, go for this one first. It’s a low-risk investment in a comfortable backcountry setup. It weighs one pound, sits you eleven inches off of pokey pine nettles, and has a durable water repellent (DWR) finish that sloughs water right off.
Most Supportive Backpacker Chair
Helinox Chair Zero Highback
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $169.95
- Material: ripstop polyester, DAC aluminum
- Style: highback, collapsible, shock cord frame, foldable chair seat
What We Love
Not many other small, portable chairs on the market also offer a high back. The Helinox Chair Zero Highback is simply a more comfortable, supportive version of the lightweight Helinox Chair Zero. You can kick back, rest your head against the extended back, and not feel like you’re going to tip right over as you may in some of the other smaller seats.
What We Don’t Love
The actual seat feels narrow and can be uncomfortable over long periods for individuals with a larger frame or wider hips.
Product Overview:
With air holes in the side for breathability, this seat is convenient and comfy no matter the weather. The higher back, padded headrest, and increased weight capacity of 265 pounds that this version of the Helinox Chair chair provides can benefit taller campers.
Luxury Backpacking Chair
Stargazer Recliner Luxury Chair
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $249.95
- Material: water-resistant nylon mesh
- Style: suspended, shock cord recliner, foldable chair seat
What We Love
This is one of the lightest weight reclining camp chairs on the market albeit the heaviest chair on this list. While it still weighs a little over 6 pounds, this is one of the most luxurious seats you can have at the campsite. Recline and enjoy a little suspension with the Stargazer Recliner. It’s like you’re in your own miniature hammock.
What We Don’t Love
The price tag and the weight are prohibitive for many folks. The carrying case is larger than any of these other chairs, meaning you most likely won’t want to make room for it in your overnight pack. It’s best utilized during car camping, music festivals, or short hikes in the mountains, unless you like carrying six pounds of extra weight up steep grades.
Product Overview:
With padded armrests, an integrated cup holder, aircraft-grade aluminum, stash pockets, suspended air-rocking, and auto-reclining make this one sweet setup. You will undoubtedly be the most relaxed camper around the campfire. The NEMO Stargazer’s deeper seats cushion your natural form and let your whole body rest. You may just decide to sleep in this thing overnight.
Best Ground Chair and Seat Pad
Crazy Creek Hex Chair 2.0
Key Technical Specifications
- Price: $64.95
- Material: 210 Denier rip-stop nylon
- Style: Floor seat, foldable chair
What We Love
Everyone loves a Crazy Creek. This type of chair rolls up to 4 inches in diameter, there’s no reason not to bring it. At 1 lb 4 oz, it’s easily packable and stashable on the top of your backpack. Unlike actual taco-style chairs on this list, the Crazy Creek ground chair is ideal for soft ground or wet ground because it doesn’t rely on thin poles to give it shape. You won’t sink into the wet ground but instead float on top of it from the convenience and comfort of your water-resistant, padded Crazy Creek.
What We Don’t Love
For those with any sort of back or hip issue, it may not provide the most support. You use your weight to counterbalance the back and the seat.Product Overview:
Product Overview:
Made with water-resistant ripstop nylon and reinforced wings, the Crazy Creek is ultra-durable and can take a beating. This seat pad has so many other uses – like adding extra support under your head while sleeping or doubling as a comfortable canoe cushion for an impromptu paddle. People hold on to their Crazy Creeks for years and they are bound to outlast many other camp chairs on the market.
Quick Guide Runner Ups
- Ultralight stool: Skyline UL Stool
- Most affordable: Flexlite Air Chair
- Easiest to set up: Mica Basin Camp Chair
- Most comfortable chair: Big Agnes Big Six
- Smallest pack size: Flash Sit Pad
- Best ground chair: Crazy Creek Long back Chair
- Best sit pad: Therm-a-Rest Z-seat
Buyer’s Guide
Finding the right backpacker’s chair is dependent upon what you want and need for your mountain adventures. If you’re a thru-hiker with weeks of trekking on your to-do list then you may opt for a seat pad instead of a collapsible chair. If you only want a cushioned chair for short-distance overnights, then you can afford to carry a bit more weight on your back.
- Price: Figure out what you have room for in your budget and find a chair that fits within that. Look for warranties available from either the seller or the manufacturer. See if you can even buy a used chair first before splurging for a nicer one. There are plenty of affordable chair options as well as some luxury chair options.
- Durability: If you spend a lot of time in rugged terrain, you may opt for a portable chair that is a little sturdier, can self-level, and is made with waterproof or water-resistant fabrics. Many of the foldable chair seats are machine washable so you can simply pop them in the wash and keep it looking fresh. Breathable fabric may mean less durable but lighter weight, so figure out what you prioritize before seleting a chair.
- Weight: Depending on your tolerance for a heavier pack, any existing back issues, or simply space in your backpack, you’ll need to figure out how many extra pounds you want to carry.
- Portability: Do you want a chair that you can pack and unpack efficiently? Look for a chair with a collapsible, shock cord frame that snaps easily into place. The fewer connection points the better.
- Comfortable: Do you need back support or a wide base? See if you can swing by a local outfitter, guide shop, or REI and test out some camp chairs.
- Seat height: Seat height could make or break your lower back or knee issues on long treks or during multiple days in the backcountry. Again, see if you can try out a few chairs first before making a purchase.
We hope that this backpacking chair guide has helped you determine what is important when seeking out a backpacking chair. As always, try to shop local and support your fellow outdoor enthusiasts. If you can, reuse, repair, or recycle outdoor items – like camping chairs – when possible.
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