As the weather warms and days lengthen, camp grounds across the UK are filling up with bookings from groups keen to stretch out in the wide open spaces and breathe in the fresh air.
Whether it’s an activity-filled trip or a couple of days catching up with your best mates, this summer is on track to be another golden year for British camping.
When out in the great outdoors, it pays to bring efficient kit that will safeguard your comfort. Tents are naturally a given (if you can, attempt to put it up before your leave to check for faults or tears), but you’ll also need a decent sleeping bag, inflatable mattress or camp bed.
Unless you plan on standing around all day, you’ll also need a good chair to lounge in. While you can spread out on the grass, it’s not ideal for long periods and especially at night when you could become a trip hazard to your fellow campers.
A good camping chair should offer proper back support first and foremost, but for us, armrests too have become non-negotiable. Integrated cushioning is a nice extra and you can now also get designs with pockets and a canopy on top to protect you come rain or shine.
Most of our listed options come with a carry bag for easy portability, so you can take a seat anywhere you like.
See our favourites below
Umi. Essentials Camping Chair
Folding down into a bag that can be carried with just one finger, Amazon’s ultra-lightweight chair is one of the most impressively compact we’ve seen. There is some construction involved; you’ll need to fix the high strength aluminium alloy frame into place (it slots together much like tent poles) before attaching the fabric seat part. It takes seconds.
The deep seat can hold up to 265lbs and is perfect for outdoor trips as well as activities like fishing. Mesh panels keep things feeling breathable and there are three handy pockets for keeping essentials close to hand.
With all these benefits, we’re willing to overlook the absence of arm rests, although they would be welcome.
Buy now £28.99, Amazon
Trail Outdoor Leisure Kestrel Deluxe High Back Camping Chair
This padded foldable chair is a cut above its peers thanks to the higher back (104cm) which offers a greater level of support - perfect if you're sitting for long periods of time on a camping trip or at a festival. The sturdy legs can support around 19st and are made from steel, making it both lightweight and remarkably strong. In fact, the entire chair weighs only 3.5kg, making it easy to sling over your shoulder in its matching bag along with the rest of your gear.
This super comfortable chair gives throne-like energy, so be warned; it will attract many a yearning glance from your camp mates so be careful of seat pinchers. It won't stay unoccupied for long. A great camping chair at an even greater price.
Available in purple, pink, red, blue and green.
Buy now £29.99, Trail Outdoor Leisure
Garden Trading Wimborne Butterfly Chair
More of a glamper? Sit out under the stars in style with this chic butterfly-style chair. Inspired by the bog-standard camping chair’s folding design, it elevates the outdoor experience with a suspended canvas seat and comfortable sponge padding for a perch so comfy it will leave all your fellow campers green with envy.
Buy now £160.00, Garden Trading
HI-GEAR Haddon Director’s Chair
Own the starring role in your next camping adventure with a director’s style chair from Hi-Gear. The best thing about this design (apart from its sturdiness), is the fold-down table on the right hand side, complete with cup-holder. No more awkwardly reaching for your drink, or searching for the flattest bit of grass to balance it on. Sitting on hollow stainless steel, it’s completely collapsible which makes storing it in the winter months a breeze. Right now, it’s on a buy two for £45 offer.
Buy now £25.00, Go Outdoors
Amazon Basics Camping Chair with Cooler
Amazon’s own-brand basics range is full of essential no-frills products for a fraction of the price of established brands. Amongst the collection is this camping chair, which does come with one helpful extra - a built-in cooler suspended from one armrest (hooray!) with space for four cans of beer.
Available in two sizes - normal and XL - the chair comes with a cupholder and an extra pocket for magazines and snacks. The frame folds shut and doesn’t require deconstructing, just pop it into the carry bag and sling it over your shoulder to find the next sunspot.
Buy now £37.02, Amazon
Trespass Oversized Moon Chair
Your future self will thank you for buying this cloud-like chair. It offers cocoon comfort like nothing else. Apart from the lovely padding, the dense fabric also acts as windshield. The steel frame is sturdy but light and there’s a 12 month guarantee for extra peace of mind. Carry bag included.
Buy now £49.99, Trespass
Eurohike Lazi Lounger
No armrests, no drinks holder - why is this on our list? Well, as far as lounging goes, this Eurohike design beats any rigid chair and best of all, it weighs practically nothing. If you’re only away for a couple of days and want to save space for more important things - cough beer cough - this is a great option. The little exertion required to inflate (you’ll need to run to catch enough wind inside) will be instantly rewarded when you plump down on this colourful seat.
Buy now £15.00, Go Outdoors
Kelty mesh low Loveseat
Why buy one when you can cosy up as a two? This folding loveseat has enough space for two happy campers to sit, or if you don’t fancy sharing, room for one to sprawl Titanic-style across. Fitted with a cupholder in each arm, it also collapses down and fits into a carry bag for easy portability.
Buy now £89.95, Wildbounds
UMI. by Amazon - Folding Camp Chair
Take a load off in this reclinable folding chair with a foot rest, offering total relaxation. The high seat design includes a cup holder in the right armrest and a slim pocket to the side for easy access to essentials. It comes in black and a red colourway too, but we think the green will be much more in keeping with your surroundings. Folds quickly and easily into a carry bag.
Buy now £48.99, Amazon
Twin Umbrella Camping Chairs
You can never tell what’s going to happen with the British weather, even when forecasts are promising sunny days ahead. Save yourselves running for cover from a passing shower with this genius option: two seats with a cool box in between covered with an adjustable and removable canopy.
Buy now £24.50, Studio
Decathlon Folding Camping Chair Reclinable Comfort Quechua
With a headrest, armrests and solid frame, this beige folding chair is a chic piece of kit to take to your next camping getaway. It can recline too, allowing you to sit back to digest your BBQ meal or just look up at the stars.
Buy now £44.99, Decathlon
Verdict
Whether you’re driving to your pitch or taking public transport, space and weight are two major considerations on any camping trip. For the compact size and ultra light weight, Umi’s Portable Camping Chair is our frontrunner on our list of best camping chairs.
Trail’s Kestrel High Back chair is a second by a cat’s whisker, offering fantastic support and comfort for an incredible price.
