Looking for a cheap camping chair that is still pretty comfortable and doesn’t break the moment you sit down? In this article I will present you with a selection of the best cheap camping chairs you can buy in 2022. Whether you are looking for a throw-away chair to use on a festival or you are looking for a durable multi-use product, this list will have options for everybody!
Best cheap camping chairs
This list will include some of the best cheap camping chairs you can buy online. Note that they are not ordered from best to worst – this wouldn’t really be possible because other people have other needs. That said, I will say that the first option in this list is my personal favorite and my number one recommendation for all round use.
Coleman Oversized Quad Chair with Cooler
Let’s start with my favorite affordable camping chair: the Coleman Oversized Quad Chair. This product is by far your best option if you are looking for a traditional camping chair with 4 legs, arm chairs
Why is this better than the alternatives? Well, for starters, this product is one of the cheapest products you can buy, some are slightly cheaper, but you will lose a lot of comfort, durability and overall quality. This chair is fully cushioned, which makes a huge difference when it comes to comfort.
If you are planning on buying a cheaper camping chair, there is a big chance that it will not be fully cushioned. You might regret the decision to save 5 bucks after sitting on one of these for an entire night.
Some additional goodies:
- Mesh cup holder: Okay, so this is pretty common, but remember: you are shopping in the budget section.
- 4-can cooler pouch: On top of the cup holder, it also has a cooler pouch that can hold up to 4 cans. This is pretty surprising considering that you are already getting crazy value for money without this additional feature.
- Mesh side bag: So you are good with the drinks, but what about the snacks? No problem, just store them in the mesh side bag!
- Carry bag: On top of all that, the Coleman Oversized Quad chair also comes with a handy carry bag.
- 1 year warranty: Nothing beats a budget item with a warranty.
The char weighs around 8 pounds (3.6 kg). It packs down to a package of 6 inches x 6.5 inches x 38.2 inches (15.2 cm x 16.5 cm x 97 cm).
The frame is made of steel and the chair is supposed to hold a weight of 325 lb (147.5 kg) in total. However, we found that it doesn’t really hold 325 lb – It would break after a couple of uses. It probably supports a weight anywhere between 250 and 300 lb.
So how cheap is this “cheap camping chair”? For the latest price, simply check out this product on amazon: Coleman Oversized Quad Chair.
Coleman Broadband Mesh Chair
The Coleman Broadband Mesh Chair is a good option for those of you who care about weight as much as they care about their budget.
If you don’t care about the cooler, the mesh side bag and the cushioning, you could save 5 bucks and 4.1 pounds (1.86 kg) by going for the Coleman Broad Mesh Chair instead. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you really care about the weight. Note that this chair also holds only 250 lb – probably even less in reality.
However if you truly want a regular 4 legged camping chair that is very lightweight and cheap, this is the one to go for, no doubt! You have to give up a lot of comfort and goodies, but you do save a ton of weight by making that sacrifice. At this price, this is a solid recommendation that couldn’t be missing from this list.
The only lighter alternatives would be to either go with a very expensive camping/mountaineering chair, a tripod camping chair or a Seat pad. If you are interested in one of these options, keep reading 😉
Once again, for the latest price, consult amazon: Coleman Broadband Mesh Chair
Kijaro Dual Lock Portable Camping and Sports Chair
Another solid option for a reasonable price would be the Kijaro Dual Portable Camping Chair. Now, this option is a bit more expensive than the previous options, but it does provide a lot of comfort and stability.
The weird thing is that there is no cushioning in this chair, but it’s still very comfy, especially for your back. It seems that this chair is really designed to give a lot of back support. I would recommend this product to all my friends who sometimes suffer from back pain.
Except for that, there isn’t too much to say about the Kijaro Dual Lock, it’s just a solid product. It supports up to 300 lb (136 kg), weighs 9.5 lb and it folds down to a package of 37 inches x 6 inches x 6 inches.
It might not come with as many additional features as the cheaper Coleman Oversized Quad Chair, but there are some. It has 2 mesh cup holders and it comes with a handy built-in carrying strap.
Even though this option is not as cheap as the previous options, I still consider this a cheap camping chair and definitely worth the money.
This product is available on amazon: Kijaro Dual Lock Portable Chair
ALPS Mountaineering Rendezvous
The ALPS Mountaineering Rendezvous is different from the previous options because it sits closer to the ground. It may look uncomfortable at first, but it’s actually quite comfy once you get used to sitting lower to the ground. The only downside is that there is no upper back/neck support, which some people considered a bit annoying. All in all, it’s still a pretty comfortable option.
One of the most remarkable things about this product is the durability. ALPS mountaineering is pretty consistent in creating durable camping gear. Even the bag is durable!
It’s not as cheap as the Coleman chairs, but it does make up for it in terms of durability. I would recommend this to all people who are looking for an affordable short chair. Personally, I prefer a short chair when I’m with friends that is sitting on the ground.
It will support a weight of 300 lbs (136 kg). I must say that this chair is a bit heavier than I first expected, given that it’s a lot shorter than some of the alternatives. It comes in at 7.1 lbs (3.22 kg) and has a folded dimension of 29 inches x 8 inches x 8 inches.
If you are looking for a short chair, this is the one to go for, no doubt about it.
Not sure about whether or not you want a short chair, I would suggest to look at the company you are camping with. If they are all sitting on the ground, it’s nice to not be elevated a lot higher than all the other people. However, if everybody brings regular camping chairs, then I would suggest you bring one as well.
For the latest price, you can always take a look on amazon: ALPS Mountaineering Rendezvous
ALPS Mountaineering Tri-Leg Stool
Another ALPS Mountaineering option would be a Tri-Leg Stool. It’s a lighter and cheaper alternative than the Rendezvous, but a Tri-Leg Stool is a lot less comfortable than a regular camping chair.
Even though this cheap camping chair only weighs 2 lbs (0.9 kg) it can still support up to 250 lbs (113.4 kg).
The folded dimensions are 3 inches x 3 inches x 23 inches and the open dimensions are 14 inches x 14 inches x 16 inches. It has a very compact design and comes with a handy carry strap.
Why is this Tri-Leg Stool better than the alternatives? First, it’s very cheap, it’s one of the cheapest stools you can buy online. Second, ALPS Mountaineering delivers quality. The product is solid and strong (powder coated steel frame).
A Tri-Leg Stool is definitely not for everybody. However, it’s probably the best option if you really care about weight but also want to sit at an elevated height. If you do decide to go with a tri-leg camping stool, there is absolutely no reason to go with another brand than ALPS Mountaineering. These guys are both cheap and provide quality!
As usual, for the latest price you will have to take a look on amazon: ALPS Mountaineering Tri-Leg Stool
World Famous Sports Camping Quad Chair
This cheap camping chair is the only product on this list where I don’t vouch for the quality. Then why did it make the list? Well, it’s simply the cheapest chair you can buy on amazon at the time of writing.
For most people I would advice all the other alternatives over this one. However, if you are looking for a dirt-cheap throw-away chair, this will do the trick!
I’m mainly thinking about festival goers who might just leave their camping chair behind. It also come with a carry bag and a cup holder.
For real camping trips I would definitely not recommend this camping chair. I mean, the Coleman Broadband Mesh Chair is only slightly more expensive and provides a lot more value.
The chair is supposed to hold a weight of up to 220 lbs (99.8 kg), but I wouldn’t really trust it to hold more than 200 lbs. It weighs around 4 pounds and the dimensions are 20 inches x 34 inches x 36 inches.
Want to know how cheap the cheapest camping chair actually is? Take a look for yourself: World Famous Sports Camping Quad Chair.
Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad
Now for the ultralight hikers who don’t like sitting on the ground… there is the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad!
Therm-a-Rest is a very well-known and trusted brand within the outdoors industry, so when they design a seat pad for this price, there is absolutely no reason to doubt.
This Pad only weighs 2 ounces (!). If you truly care about weight, this is a no-brainer right?
And because Therm-a-Rest is such a solid brand, they will give you a lifetime warranty as well.
This will definitely not be the “chair” to buy if you care about comfort, but it still beats sitting on the ground. Especially in cold weather, the Z-Seat Pad will prevent a lot of body heat loss.
The dimensions are 16 inches x 13 inches x 0.75 inches so it’s also not going to take up a lot of space.
As I already mentioned, this product really isn’t expensive, it’s actually the cheapest option you can go with. If you are interested in the latest price, feel free to take a look on amazon: Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad
ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair
This last option might not really be considered a “cheap camping chair” anymore, but I really wanted to include it anyway. Why? Well it’s still not very expensive and it is arguably the best (read: ridiculously comfortable) camping chair you can buy today.
The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair is the chair to go for if you care about comfort, durability, easy of use, storage room and simply overall quality. However, you have to be willing to spend a little bit more.
I wouldn’t have included it if I didn’t think it was worth the additional money. Now if your primary goal is to buy a very cheap camping chair and you don’t really care too much about the quality, this is not the right chair for you. There are plenty of options on this list that will be more suited for you.
The only downside is that this chair soaks up water and is quite heavy. However, the chair is so roomy and comfortable that you will have a great time outdoors.
As I said before, it’s not dirt cheap, but it’s still not very expensive either. Especially if you can find it on discount it’s a great bang for the buck. I’m sure it’s the right chair for some of you guys!
For the latest price, take a look on amazon: ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair
Conclusion
I think it’s pretty clear that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a solid camping chair. If you simply go with my number one recommendation, the “Coleman Oversized Quad Chair with Cooler” you will have a good chair for a very affordable price.
Don’t care too much for a regular camping chair? Perfect, you can go even cheaper and lighter by deciding to go with a tripod chair or a seating pad.
If you truly care about comfort, there is only one correct answer here: ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair.
There are truly lots of options, even for people on a budget. The right cheap camping chair can only be based upon personal needs and preferences, but this list should probably have options that will suit you just fine!
Ps: If you prefer the super lightweight (and basic) seat option, you might want to take a look at this article as well: Best seat pads for hiking and camping.