Picking the perfect camping chair can be a daunting task, with so many options available on the market. However, with some research and consideration of your needs and preferences, you can find the perfect chair for your camping trips. Here are some tips to help you choose the best camping chair for you:
Consider The Size And Weight Of The Chair
If you plan on hiking to your campsite, you’ll want a lightweight and easy chair. Look for folding camping chairs that fold into a compact size and have carrying straps or a carrying case.
Also, if you have kids, you must buy a child-specific chair to fit them. Kids camping chairs are much lighter and almost always come with a carrying case so the child can carry their chair. They also have built-in locking systems so that the chair doesn’t fold up on them accidentally.
Consider The Type Of Terrain
If you are camping on rocky or uneven ground, look for a chair with wide, sturdy legs and built-in leg rest. If you plan on using the chair on the sand, a chair with a lower seat and wide, flat feet will be more stable.
If you are going to use the chair on multiple types of terrain, you can also look for a chair with an adjustable feel allowing it to work on sand and solid surfaces.
Check The Rated Weight Capacity
Make sure the chair you choose can support your weight. Most camping chairs can hold up to 300 pounds, but it’s always best to check the manufacturer’s specifications to be sure.
Some oversized camp chairs can hold up to 600 pounds. These chairs usually have a wide stance, so they offer extra room for larger individuals, making them more stable and more comfortable as you don’t have to squeeze into them.
Consider Which Additional Features You Need
Some camping chairs come with added features but keep in mind that they may also add weight to the chair. Here is a list of added features and their benefits.
Built-In Cup Holders – Built-in cup holders add to your chair’s usefulness without adding much, if any, additional weight. One thing to consider with the cup holders is if they are big enough to hold your preferred cup size. So double-check the cup holder size to make sure it fits.
Storage Pockets – Each chair can have multiple types of storage pockets, from a big pouch behind the chair for your jackets and coats to small waterproof pouches for your cell phone. Depending on what is important for you, take a minute to look over the different pouches each chair offers to see which ones are most important to you.
Built-In Cooler – A handful of chairs will have armrests with built-in insulated coolers so you can keep your drinks or even sandwiches cold. This can be important if you plan to spend long days watching sports or fishing on the bank of the lake.
Built-In Heaters: If you are planning on some cold winter camping or would like to stay warm on a crisp supper night, look for a chair with its own built-in heater. Heated camping chairs are new features that allow you to attach an external battery pack to your chair that allows the built-in heating elements to reach a heat of 131 degrees.
Get To Know Your Warranties
You will find as you start researching the right camp chair that many of the chairs you will look at may not have a warranty at all, while others might only have a 3-month warranty. Unless the chair breaks the first time you take it out, you are going to be out of luck. Look for a chair that offers at least a one-year warranty. If a manufacturer is willing to stand behind their product for at least a year, you know that it is going to be a quality product.
Check The Return Policy
It is really hard to tell just how comfortable a camp chair will be without actually sitting in it. So if you are ordering it online, check and see if the store offers some return policy. Even if it is just a couple of days, you will want to get it out and open it up to give it a go. You might find that unbearably uncomfortable, but you won’t know until you sit in it.
Test It Out When Possible
This tip applies if you are lucky enough to have a camping store with a pretty good selection of chairs. Try out the chair before you buy it. This will give you a sense of how comfortable and sturdy it is and whether it meets your needs.
Considering these factors, you can find the perfect camping chair for your next outdoor adventure. To help you get a head start here is a link to the National Parks Website where you can find a list of the closest national parks to where you live. Happy camping!
