A lightweight camping chair, for example, may be exactly the item you need in certain situations. Consider what constitutes a “lightweight” designation. The phrase can mean camping chairs for lightweight people. Or the meaning can be a chair that is literally light in weight for those hiking trips where every ounce is being counted carefully. And a lightweight camp chair can mean specifically a chair whose intended use will be occasional or low in expectations for durability.

When it comes time to purchase a lightweight camp chair, be sure you understand what you want the phrase “lightweight’ to mean. Then examine the various ads and item descriptions to see how the retailers are interpreting the same phrase.

“Lightweight” can mean the poor quality that consumers want to avoid. Something that is poorly made or manufactured without careful construction is obviously not what you want. So examine the details on what a seller is offering you.

Photo by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)

Check for the materials used in the construction of the camp chair. Is attention paid to the fabric or webbing used for the seat and back of the chair? Does the retailer share that information? Or are the details glossed over in terms of attractiveness and subjective comfort? The use of mesh fabric, if it is solid and high quality, can be a plus when the chair will be used outdoors. The mesh will allow rain or moisture to wick through and fall away from the seat and thus avoid rotting or destroying the solidness of the support.

Check too the steel and components used to construct the camping chair’s frame. “Powder coated” refers only somewhat to the protection and quality of the item and more to the way the chair will look over time. Details on the construction process, such as double riveting or extra strength joint preparation can help substantiate the manufacturers claim to quality.

Cup holders and arm rests and over-sized pockets for holding maps and books are great – but again, confirm just what you are looking for when you consider the lightweight camping chairs. More important than amenities is the manufacturer’s recommend weight limit: for a quality but still lightweight chair, a load limit of 225 is probably adequate for your needs. But checking this limit is essential for a satisfactory chair that you will count on for comfort and support.

If you are packing gear for two people to on your camping trip and plan on hiking in a long distance, you’re probably better off going with two lightweight camp chairs instead of a double camping chair. Most double camp chairs are not what one would consider lightweight.

If you spend much time in the woods, I think you are likely to come to the same conclusion. On the whole, camping folding chairs are inexpensive, and they’re usually small and light enough to bring along on a camping trip without becoming an undue burden. Let’s take a look at the different types of camping chairs and what to expect (and look for) if you’re looking to buy one.

My favorite type of camping is car camping, since I can drive right up to my campsite and don’t have to worry about limiting my gear for a long hike through the woods. If you go on camping trips like these, then you can afford to focus entirely on comfort when it comes to your camping chair, and you don’t really need to worry about the size or weight of your chair. There are plenty of camp chairs made exactly for situations such as these, and you will think you are in heaven when you sit down in one at the end of a long day in the woods. Since you don’t have to worry about size or weight restrictions for your gear, you can bring along as many Coleman camping chairs as you have people, and everyone can have a nice place to sit by the fire.

My favorite camping chair has a footrest just like the one in the picture, and you can also get chairs like these with a canopy on top to keep the sun off – great for those long summer afternoons.

At the other end of the spectrum, we have camping chairs that are made especially to be small and lightweight. Many of these chairs are actually stools, as they don’t come with a backrest, but you can find some lightweight camping chairs that have backrests. Another option in this category is what you would probably call a stadium seat, which is a simple folding camping chair that rests directly on the ground. A good option for lightweight camping, but not the most comfortable chair to sit in for long periods of time.

Coleman Oversized Quad Chair with Cooler

Rating: List Price: $36.99 Sale Price: $28.36 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

The Coleman Oversized Cooler Quad Chair is packed with features for long-lasting comfort and convenience. This extra-large chair is padded throughout, with comfortable, adjustable-height armrests. The sturdy, powder-coated steel frame supports up to 325 pounds. The built-in soft cooler holds 2-4 cans plus a Chiller's Brite Ice icepack (not included). There's a mesh cup holder and a 13"x9" program holder for your personal items.

Browning Camping Fireside Chair

Rating: List Price: $69.99 Sale Price: $49.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

When you have time free from the demands of work, want to rest, enjoy hobbies or sports, or just sit around the campfire, the Leisure Chair is going to be a comfortable place for you to escape to. The sturdy design will be reliable time and time again. It is offered in mesh so you can get air flow on hot, humid days. The chair has a powder coated steel frame and holds up to 300 pounds. The chair folds up compactly and slides into the included shoulder carry bag which makes it easy to bring with you to all of your events.

Travelchair Ultimate Slacker Chair, Blue

Rating: List Price: $43.64 Sale Price: $17.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

The portability of a folding stool meets the comfort of a chair.

Texsport Bazaar Armchair (Blue, 20.07-Inch X 32.26-Inch X 31.48-Inch)

Rating: List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $8.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

The Texsport Bazaar Armchair is a large folding/colapsing armchair. It has rugged 600 denier coated fabric and a heavy-gauge 15mm steel frame. It weighs only 5.06 pounds and comes with a carry/storage bag.

ALPS Mountaineering Camp Chair

Rating: List Price: $54.99 Sale Price: $49.97 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Product Description

The Camp Chair is incredibly sturdy and easy to "pop open" when you are ready to sit down and rest after a long day. This chair will work great wherever you use it - around the campsite, on your hunting trip, on the back deck, or at any ball game. This chair has our highest weight rating - 350 pounds! - and is a popular choice for bigger guys and for those wanting a little more room for maximum comfort. It also has an engineered aluminum frame with steel connectors for maximum toughness. The extra wide seat, curved padded armrests, and a taller back make this chair a great choice for any outdoor event.

If you were to ask most campers to build a list of essential camping equipment, most people would put things like a tent, sleeping bag, a knife and a flashlight on the list. My main addition to that list would be the simple, humble camp chair. If you’ve ever spent a good deal of time in the woods, you know how uncomfortable it can be trying to find something to sit on, and the whole situation is made worse if the ground is wet, cold or rocky. Sure, you can take your chances on being able to find a nice rock or fallen log to sit on, but even when you’re able to find one, chances are very good that it’s not going to be comfortable. I’ve spent several hours on a log in front of a campfire, and my nether regions were not happy the next day.

So let’s take a look at some of the various types of camping chairs available, and see what you can expect if you take one on your next camping trip.

The first type is the classic folding camping chair, and it is what most people picture when they think of a camp chair. Generally lightweight, collapsible, and comes with its own carrying case. This type of camp chair is sort of the “jack of all trades, master of none” of the camping chair world. It will handle nearly every situation fairly well – you can take it on a camping trip, you can take it to an outdoor concert, to a football game, or just use it to sit outside on your deck at home. These chairs are not very expensive either – you can generally find them at Walmart for around $10 to $20.

There are two situations where the classic folding camp chair is not the best choice: when you need something more lightweight, and when you can afford to sacrifice small and compact for something more comfortable.

If you’re looking for lightweight camping chairs, then your best bet is probably going to be something along the lines of a camp stool, rather than a traditional camping chair. These camp stools are similar in a lot of ways to camp chairs, but they usually do not have a backrest and sometimes have three legs instead of four. These lightweight chairs are great for taking on long backpacking trips, as they will not add too much weight or bulk to your pack.

If weight and size are not an issue, then you can afford to upgrade in terms of size and comfort. Heavy duty camping chairs are generally a good bit heavier than regular camp chairs and they may even come with a footrest or canopy, and you can even find some reclining camping chairs out there.

Black Collapsible Stool

Rating: List Price: $28.99 Sale Price: $10.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

22" HIGH NYLON CORDURA SEAT FOLDS TO 3" DIAMETER CARRY STRAP Product Description Product Description Black Collapsible Stool: Great For Camping.

Rio Sports Ultra-Light Backpack Chair

Rating: List Price: $49.95 Sale Price: $49.95 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Product Description

Ultra-Light Backpack Chair. Large rear-access carry pouch on back

Sherpa Chair, Forrest Green

Rating: List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: Too low to display. Availability: unspecified

Product Description

Lightweight, Easy to Use, Go Anywhere Backpack Chair - By combining a lightweight frame that's easy to fold and carry, Sherpa Chair is the most durable and easy to carry chair around. It also provides a spacious pouch to carry everything else. Sherpa Chair can be carried hands-free as it comes with two shoulder straps so it can be thrown on just like a backpack. An optional cooler bag is available, and fits right-into the chair. These features mean the Sherpa Chair can be taken anywhere with ultimate convenience. It is ideal for a soccer mom's chair, camping chair, fishing chair, hunting chair or tailgating chair.

Byer of Maine Tri-Lite Folding Stool

Rating: List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $15.75 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

Our TriLite Stool is the ultimate in lightweight compact comfort. A newly added WebFoot keeps the chair from sinking in sand, soft soil and snow. A ripstop polyester cover is supported by a lightweight aircraft aluminum frame and nylon hub providing a full 200 lb. weight capacity.

Ameristep High Back Chair

Rating: List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $14.84 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

Weighing only two pounds, this high-back folding chair is light and convenient. It includes a gear pouch perfect for all your small hunting needs.

In my last article, I talked about some super comfortable camping chairs that are perfect for car camping. But as I mentioned, each of those chairs weighs about 10 pounds or more, so what sort of camping chairs should you look for when you are planning on hiking in to your campsite and don’t want to lug around a heavy chair?

(Since we’re talking about lightweight camping and backpacking, it will definitely be worth your time to see if there are any simple things you can do to save weight elsewhere. Make sure to get a lightweight tent and don’t bring a heavier sleeping bag than you’ll need for your trip. You can also pack a small camping water filter so you don’t have to bring as much water as you would otherwise. You can, of course, drink directly from the streams that you find, but one stomach bug will make you wish you hadn’t.)

The first lightweight camping chair we’re gonna take a look at is a traditional camping stool from REI. It’s currently priced around $20 US and weighs just over one pound – perfect for taking on long hikes. You definitely don’t want a big, heavy chair weighing you down on a long trek through the woods.

As you can see, this sort of folding camping chair is a long way from the heavy duty camping chairs with canopies and footrests we looked at last time, but it is well made, durable and reasonably comfortable. It also works well if you have limited space in your campsite – it’s footprint is only about 10 inches.

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The next chair is also a great option for carrying in to a campsite. It’s a stadium-seat-type camping chair, and is super light – it weighs under one pound! This chair is made by Crazy Creek, priced at $40 US and is also available at REI.

These sorts of camping chairs are great for long hikes, as they are so lightweight, and they also fold down to almost nothing, making it very easy to fit into your backpack. The only problem with them is that they are pretty much the bottom of the barrel in terms of comfort. You’re sitting directly on the ground, with only a thin pad between you and any rocks, roots, or mud, and I’ve never been able to really relax in one. But if the weight of your camping chair is a big concern for you, then this is definitely an option to consider.

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The third camping chair is a variation of the camping stool we saw earlier. Instead of a tripod, this one has two U-shaped legs and folds in the middle for transport. This chair is made by Coleman and is available at Amazon for under $20 US.

In my experience, these sorts of stools are generally not as comfortable as the tripod version, but your mileage may vary. This chair weighs in at 2.6 pounds, so it’s definitely an option for someone looking for a lightweight camping chair. There are also other Coleman camping chairs that would fit the bill for a lightweight camp chair.

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The last of the camp chairs we’re going to look at is another version of the camp stool, but this time it comes with a back rest. This chair is available at Amazon for around $20 US.

The back rest would go a long way to making the camp stool more comfortable, but it does come at a weight cost – the stool weighs in at 4 pounds. Still better than the 10 pound behemoths we’re taking car camping, but a factor to be considered for someone going on a significant hike.