Camping Chairs Guide

One of the things that I always make sure to bring when I go camping is a comfortable, handy camping chair. One too many trips when I had to sit on a log or a rock, or even make do on the ground, convinced me that a camping chair is pretty much a necessity for an enjoyable camping trip. If you've ever spent much time sitting on a bumpy log, a hard rock with sharp edges or the cold, wet ground, chances are good that you know exactly what I'm talking about.

But, with so many options and choices out there, what types of camping chairs should you get? Let's take a look at the different varieties of camping chairs available and see what sort of things you should keep in mind when you decide to get one.

The easiest option to find and get is what I consider to be the quintessential camping chair: the basic model (pictured to the right). This sort of chair is going to handle just about any situation with ease, they are generally well made and you can find them at just about any mega-mart, camping supply store or outdoors retailer.

A couple of things you'll notice about this chair that I definitely recommend: armrests, a back and padding on the seat and back. They do make folding camping chairs without all of those options, but they're not nearly as comfortable or convenient. This sort of chair can handle most camping trips with ease, as well as pull double duty at a football game or any outdoors event.

If you're looking for more than the basic model, then the factor that will matter the most when you're deciding exactly which sort of camping chair to get is the type of camping that you do most often. If you do a lot of car camping - where you're able to drive your car or RV right to your campsite - as opposed to backpacking, then certain aspects of camping chairs will matter and others won't. On the other hand, if you go backpacking more frequently and have to pack your gear into the woods for a good hike, then you'll want to look at other options.

First off, let's talk about going car or RV camping. In these sorts of situations, a lot of things aren't going to be a concern: the size of your chair, how much it weighs, how bulky it is, etc. Since you're driving your car right to your camp spot and won't have to lug your gear very far, then those considerations aren't super important. As long as your chair fits in your car easily and you're able to move it around as needed, then you most likely aren't going to run into any problems.

In this sort of situation, you pretty much want to go for the most comfortable chair you can find. Since you're not worried about weight or size, there's really no need to skimp on your camping chair so just go for which ever one you think you'll enjoy sitting in the most.

A couple of things to consider when you're looking at getting the most comfortable camping chair possible are a footrest, drink holders, and a canopy. You might think that drink holders aren't necessary, but if you've ever been camping and have had to balance your plate and drink at the same time while trying to eat, you know how handy they are.

Footrests and canopies are also great to have. Footrests, obviously, allow you to relax your feet - great after a long day of hiking and running through the woods - and canopies fit over your chair to provide additional shade. If you're going to be camping in the open or if the temperatures are predicted to be significant during your trip, then the extra shade can come in very handy.

Now that we've discussed all of the most comfortable chairs available, it's time to talk about what you should look for if you go backpacking a good bit of the time and need something smaller to fit in your pack and not lug you down. In this situation, you want to find something suitable from the selection of lightweight camping chairs available.

First off, let me say that if you do go backpacking a lot, then you certainly don't want to try and bring a huge, bulky, 10-pound behemoth of a camping chair with you. It will definitely be more trouble than it's worth, and there's a good chance you'll end up chucking it on the side of the trail about a mile in. The good news, though, is that there are a number of good options available that will provide you with comfort at your campsite and won't kill your back on the way in.

My favorite lightweight camping chair option is the traditional camp stool, like the one pictured above. It's lightweight - the one pictured weighs just over one pound, and you can find many more about that same weight - compact, and can fit just about anywhere. The only downside is that it doesn't have a backrest, but you can find those as well, and the stool and backrest together usually weigh about 3 to 4 pounds - not too much for a decent hike.