One of the joys of touring is being able to switch off and relax while taking in a beautiful view, whether it’s at your pitch or you’ve day tripped to the beach. However, you’re undoubtedly going to want to be able to sit in comfort, which is where the best camping chair comes in.
Choose the right one, and it will enhance any tour, whether it’s while you’re enjoying the best motorhome barbecue on-site or are relaxing in the sun.
The hallmarks of a good motorhome chair are fundamentally simple. You’re going to want one which is fairly lightweight and portable, so it will not eat into your payload and also be easy to get out and move around. The best camping chair will also be quick to set up or pack, so you’re not wasting too much time fiddling with getting one back in its storage bag or trying to work out how to disassemble it. Importantly, they will also meet your budget requirements and provide a comfortable seat for relaxing in, too.
Don’t forget to factor in the max load, and you will be all set to choose the right motorhome chair.
Here, we’re sharing some of our favourites, featuring camping chairs from brands such as Vango, Isabella, Helinox, and Kampa. If you find yourself looking for ways of getting extra power when you’re pitched up on tour, don’t miss our picks for the best portable power station either.
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What is the best camping chair?
Best lightweight camping chairs
Helinox Chair Two – check the latest price on Amazon
Vango Micro Steel Camping Chair – check the latest price on Amazon
Best folding camping chairs
Outwell Goya Chair – check the latest price on Amazon
Outwell Sardis Lake Two Seater Sofa – check the latest price on Amazon
Isabella Loke High Back Camping Chair – check the latest price on Amazon
Kampa Tubb Padded Camping Chair – check the latest price on Amazon
Isabella Director’s Chair – check the latest price on Decathlon
SUNMER Padded Camping Chairs – check the latest price on Amazon
Strongest camping chair
Vango Samson 2 Oversized Camping Chair – check the latest price on Amazon
Timber Ridge Oversized Camping Chair – check the latest price on Amazon
The best camping chairs:
Helinox Chair Two
- Dimensions: 85 x 55 x 61cm
- Packed dimensions: 46 x 13 x 12 cm
- Weight: 1.3kg
- Max load: 145kg
Reason to buy:
- Very lightweight, side pockets
Reason to avoid:
- No side table, one of the pricier options to feature in our guide
We think there’s a lot to like about this incredibly lightweight camping chair.
Weighing only 1.3kg, it’s able to hold up to 145kg, thanks to its DAC aluminium alloy frame – impressive.
That’s not the only innovative feature though. The seat feels supportive, offering comfort, while it’s made with machine-washable and UV-resistant polyester, providing you with the confidence that this is a product that should last.
While it may not have a side table like some of the camping chairs in our roundup, it does have side pockets, useful for storing any essentials you want to have to hand.
For ease, it’s also quick and simple to put together, before going into what the manufacturer calls a ‘zipper stuff sack’.
If you’re looking for the best lightweight camping chair, we think the Helinox Chair Two could be hard to beat.
Outwell Sardis Lake Two Seater Sofa
- Dimensions: 125 x 57 x 95cm
- Packed dimensions: 30 x 30 x 97cm
- Weight: 8.1kg
- Max load: 120kg x 2
Reason to buy:
- Comfortable, comes with a carry bag, seats two
Reason to avoid:
- Doesn’t recline, heaviest option on list, more for campsite life than taking to the beach
This is a unique product in our best camping chair guide, in that it’s more of a sofa, capable of seating two. As a result, it’s probably more suited to use on a campsite, as opposed to a beach, but we think it’s an ideal piece of awning furniture to consider. It’s got a decent weight allowance too, able to take the weight of up to two lots of 120kg.
At 8.1kg, it’s by far the heaviest option in our guide, but we think it should provide comfortable seating. To make transportation a bit easier, it comes with a carry bag, and a hook and loop strap should help you get it down to a manageable size.
Isabella Loke High Back Camping Chair
- Weight: 5.4kg
- Dimensions: 65 x 81 x 121cm
- Max load: 150kg
- Packed dimensions: 65 x 111 x 9cm
Reason to buy:
- Provides plenty of versatility, thanks to adjustable backrest
Reason to avoid:
- Not as compact to transport as some options, no cup holder in the armrest, fairly premium price
Made by the well-known awning brand Isabella, the Loke High Back Camping Chair may seem like an expensive option, but we like how it provides plenty of flexibility. This is due to the adjustable backrest, which can be moved to seven different positions, allowing you to get a setup which is just right. That’s not all, with two different heights to choose from for the backrest.
It will not fold down as compactly as some of the options in our guide, which can be carried in storage bags, but we think a depth of 9cm is reasonable, and should make it fairly straightforward to transport, even for motorhome owners who are pressed for space.
Ok, it doesn’t have any cup holders in its armrest, but the arms do look sturdy, and we think the dark grey looks smart. It has an aluminium frame, is made with 100% polyester, and the backside of the camping chair is PVC-coated.
Isabella Director’s Chair
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Max load: 100kg
- Dimensions: 52 x 50 x 81 (W x D x H in cm)
- Packed dimensions: 87 x 45.5 x 9cm
Reason to buy:
- Comes with a side table
Reason to avoid:
- Lightest max load
For those who want a side table with their camping chair, this Isabella Director’s Chair could be the best motorhome chair for you. We think it adds a touch of classic style to a pitch, and like the smart appearance of its 100% polyester fabric.
The chair, which comes with an aluminium frame, is the only option in our guide which includes a side table, and we like how it’s removable too, giving you somewhere to store a cool drink or a cup of tea while you enjoy relaxing on tour. We’re impressed by its lightweight of only 2.5kg as well, so it isn’t going to eat into your payload.
One thing we will highlight is that its max load is only 100kg, which is the lowest in our guide. However, if that’s not a problem, this portable camping chair could be the ideal way to enhance any tour.
Check the latest price on Decathlon now.
Vango Samson 2 Oversized Camping Chair
- Dimensions: 104 x 92 x 60cm (H x W x D)
- Packed dimensions: 21.0 x 97.0 x 19.0cm (L x H x W)
- Weight: 3.96kg
- Max load: 180kg
Reason to buy:
- Excellent load capacity considering its weight, hard armrests for support
Reason to avoid:
- Over-sized effect may not suit everyone
We’re impressed by the load capacity of this Samson from Vango, with the camping chair able to bear a max load of 180kg.
This stands out all the more when you think of its weight of only 3.96kg. This could subsequently make it a more tempting choice than the Thor Over-Sized chair from the same brand, as the Samson has less padding and is lighter in weight. However, it’s a different style, which will be something to bear in mind when choosing the best camping chair for your needs.
A steel frame should help to ensure motorhome owners can benefit from a durable product, while the fabric will not only let you sit back in comfort but offers good resilience.
It isn’t stored in a bag, but instead folds flat – if you’re short on space, that could be a consideration. However, we like how the hard armrests should give you some support when it’s time to get up, while the padding on the backrest will give you something comfortable to sit back on.
Outwell Goya Chair
- Dimensions: 68 x 63 x 90 cm (W x D x H)
- Packed dimensions: 10 x 28 x 105 cm
- Weight: 4.5kg
- Max load: 100kg
Reason to buy:
- Quick to set up, good max load
Reason to avoid:
- No cup holder
A trait of the best camping chair will be the speed of assembly, something this Outwell product certainly provides, taking seconds to open or fold, depending on whether you need it.
Its carry bag will ensure storage is straightforward, while we like how its weight of only 4.5kg should make it relatively easy to transport it from A to B when you’re pitched up on site.
Usefully, it comes with a steel frame, while we think the arms should offer some good support when it’s time to get up too.
SUNMER Padded Camping Chairs
- Weight: 3.3kg per chair
- Dimensions: 60 x 58 x 110cm
- Pack size: 99 x 15 x 14cm
- Max load: 120kg
Reason to buy:
- Reasonably priced and quick to set up
Reason to avoid:
- May not want a set of two
Coming as a set of two, these camping chairs should offer a comfortable seating experience, thanks to their high-density foam-filled seat and backrest.
They are made with a weather-resistant polyester, which should give them some sturdiness, while we think the black and grey colour combo offers a smart look.
Each chair weighs 3.3kg, so taking both will only eat up 6.6kg of your payload allocation, which we think is quite reasonable. Thanks to a reinforced steel frame, they can take a max load of 120kg, and have a flat foot design, which should ensure enhanced stability.
However, we do like the small addition of a side pocket where you could put your book while you sit back and enjoy the view on your pitch, as well as the handy drink holder that comes with each chair.
Timber Ridge Oversized Camping Chair
- Weight: 5kg
- Dimensions: 100 x 63 x 61cm
- Packed dimensions: 100 x 20 x 20cm
- Max weight: 200kg
Reason to buy:
- Max weight of 200kg, features an insulated cooler bag in the armrest
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly expensive
This Timber Ridge camping chair comes with the highest max load in our guide, capable of taking 200kg.
Coming with a wide seat, it has an X-shaped frame, and we like that it’s made with 600D polyester fabric.
While its 5kg weight is heavier than some of the options in our guide, we reckon it should still be fairly manageable, and it can be folded down to fit into a carry bag to make it that bit easier to transport.
We also like how it provides a side pocket, a cup holder, and, uniquely within our guide, an insulated cooler bag, which should help to keep a cool drink at a good temperature.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
Vango Micro Steel Camping Chair
- Max load: 120kg
- Dimensions: 64 x 53 x 55cm
- Packed size: TBC
- Weight: 1.5kg
Reason to buy:
- Budget friendly and very lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- A bit more basic than some of the options in our guide
This very budget-friendly camping chair from Vango should be straightforward to set up and transport, making it an ideal choice for those who want a basic but lightweight camping chair.
We’re particularly impressed by the weight of only 1.4kg, which will make it incredibly easy to move around, whether you’re on your pitch or have taken it to the beach. It should still come with a fairly sturdy design, thanks to its steel frame, and despite its budget price, it can still take a max load of up to 120kg.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Kampa Tubb Padded Camping Chair
- Weight: 3.4kg
- Max load: 120kg
- Dimensions: 65 x 50 x 87cm
- Packed dimensions: 19 x 19 x 85.5 (L x W x H in cm)
Reason to buy:
- A budget-friendly camping chair
Reason to avoid:
- Made with 500D fabric, no armrests
For those who are after a budget-friendly camping chair, the Tubb could be another option to take a look at.
While it is padded, it differs from some of the options in our guide, which come with a 600D fabric – the Tubb, instead, has 500D polyester fabric. However, it should still prove to be fairly hardwearing, and it is reinforced by a powder-coated steel frame, while it also gives you the peace of mind of being produced by well-known camping brand, Kampa.
It’s a different style to the Vango Micro, and weighs over twice as much, but the Kampa camping chair does come with a clip-on cup holder, which provides a useful place to keep your drinks.
What to think about when you’re choosing the best camping chair
A good camping chair will provide you with a comfortable seat for relaxing in, whether you’re at a campervan campsite and enjoying an alfresco feast, are looking for some furniture for your motorhome awning, or are at the beach soaking up some sun.
Like a barbecue, a good chair can be a real trip-enhancing product, and there are a few factors you can think about that can help you find the right option for you. For instance, do you want it to come with a carry bag? This could make it easier to transport and carry. Another consideration will be how much weight you would be comfortable with when you’re moving it.
Then think about what features you’d like it to have. For instance, would your chair having a drinks holder or a slot for storing a book or magazine improve your experience? How important is it to get one that can be adjusted?
Once you have a better idea of what you want from your camping chair, you’re in a good position to identify the right one for you.
Don’t forget the accompanying table to go with your camping chair either – if you’re looking for one our best camping table guide.
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