The Most Comfortable Lounging Essentials
What does relaxing after a hike, gathering around the campfire and stargazing all have in common? Camping chairs! Here are some of our favorites.
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Serene Seat
NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxury Chair
What We Liked:
There are cheaper ways to lounge around camp, but this swinging chair is worth the splurge. Its mesh bucket cradles the body, while webbing straps provide a gentle rocking motion; you can also lean it fully back to view the heavens in comfort. A cup holder, headrest, and a storage pocket round out the features. The one-piece aluminum frame makes assembly a breeze. Get it here.
Featherweight camp chair
REI Co-op Flexlite Air
What We Liked:
Everyone likes the idea of a camp chair, but no one likes packing one. But the Flexlite Air, which stows easily into a pack’s outer pocket or bottle holder, eases the pain—and our rumps. After a two-day hike through Aravaipa Canyon in Arizona, one tester said, “Its one-piece, hubbed-pole system snaps together in seconds, so I was able to whip it out, assemble it, and sit down while my companions were still taking off their packs.” The Flexlite Air is one of the lightest camp chairs available (the Helinox Chair Zero, which we gave an Editors’ Choice Award in 2017, is the same weight but $20 more). A center aluminum pole improves stability, so there was no tipping on Aravaipa’s soft clay or loose pebbles. Get it here.
Best for Car Camping
GCI Backpack Event Chair
What We Liked:
At 8.2 pounds, you’ll never carry this chair into the backcountry. But when it came to car camping, this lounger got high marks for comfort, while built-in backpack straps made it relatively totable. Ding: It’s tough to set up. With four positions, finding your optimal lounging setup is easy, whether you’re reclining for naptime or sitting up for fireside dinner. To switch between positions, just lift the arms and settle the notch on the underside onto the frame, like an old-school pool lounge chair. A large pocket on the chair’s back side has space for sundries, while an attached beverage holder kept our beer close at hand. A cushioned headrest provided comfortable support. It’s available here.