After a long day of hiking, travelling, or just wrestling with a new tent, there is no better feeling than sinking into a comfortable chair with a well-earned drink. A good chair is not a luxury, it is an absolute campsite essential. But I have always believed that you do not need to spend a fortune to get a good one.
I have tested dozens of chairs over the years, from flimsy supermarket bargains that last one trip, to overpriced models that are more hype than comfort. This is my guide to the brilliant budget-friendly options that deliver all the comfort and portability you actually need. These are the chairs that have earned a permanent place in my car boot.
My Top Recommendations in Brief
- Best Overall: The TREKOLOGY YIZI GO offers the best combination of modern ultralight design, comfort, and value for money.
- Best Traditional Chair: For classic comfort and simplicity, the Rainberg Lightweight Folding Chair is a sturdy and reliable choice.
- Best for Backpacking: The Marchway Ultralight is my top pick for hikers where every gram of weight counts.
My Detailed Reviews
Best Overall
TREKOLOGY YIZI GO
This chair is my top pick because it perfectly blends the tiny pack size of a modern hiking chair with the comfort of a much larger model. The frame is made of aluminium poles connected by shock-cord, just like a tent, so it almost assembles itself. The high-back seat is genuinely comfortable and gives great support, which is a rare treat in such a small package. For the price, it is a fantastically designed and versatile chair that feels like it should cost a lot more.
My Verdict
This is the best of both worlds. You get brilliant portability without sacrificing comfort, all for a very reasonable price. It is my go-to recommendation for most campers.
Best Traditional Folder
Rainberg Lightweight Folding Chair
You cannot beat the classics. This is the type of chair everyone pictures around a campfire, and for good reason. It unfolds in two seconds flat, gives you a comfortable upright seat with armrests, and has that all-important cup holder for your morning tea. It is definitely heavier and bulkier than the modern pole-design chairs, so it is strictly for car camping. But for sheer simplicity, comfort, and value, it is still one of the best options out there.
My Verdict
For car campers and festival goers who prioritise simplicity and comfort over a tiny pack size, a classic folding chair like this is a brilliant and affordable choice.
Best for Backpacking
Marchway Ultralight Chair
When you are carrying everything on your back, every single gram counts. The Marchway chair is a fantastic bit of engineering, weighing less than a kilo and packing down to the size of a water bottle. It uses the same shock-cord pole design as my top pick, making it quick to assemble. After a long day on the trail, having a proper chair with back support feels like absolute luxury. For me, the tiny weight penalty is well worth the huge gain in comfort.
My Verdict
For any serious backpacker or multi-day hiker, this is a must have piece of kit. It is a small luxury that makes a huge difference at the end of a long day's walk.
Most Compact Folder
TEIVUL Folding Chair
This chair offers a clever compromise. It has the simple, sturdy frame of a traditional folding chair, but it packs down into a much smaller, flatter shape. This makes it a lot easier to slide into a packed car boot. Even though it is compact, it has a very high weight capacity of 150kg, so it feels incredibly robust. It is a great choice if you want a strong, simple chair but find the classic models just a bit too long and awkward to pack.
My Verdict
A very smart design that gives you the strength of a traditional chair with a much more convenient pack size for a full car. A great problem solver.
The Ultralight Perch
Tripod Stool
Sometimes you do not need full-on comfort, you just need to get off the wet ground for ten minutes. That is where the tripod stool comes in. It is the absolute simplest form of camp seating. It weighs next to nothing and folds down into a tiny package that you can strap to any backpack. I find it perfect for fishing, watching the kids play football, or for outdoor events where you do not want to carry a full chair. It is basic, but it is brilliant at its one job.
My Verdict
It is not for lounging around all evening, but as a lightweight, portable perch, a tripod stool is an incredibly useful and affordable thing to have in your kit.
Buyer's Guide: What to Look For
The Three Main Types
I find budget chairs fall into three camps. 'Traditional Folders' are comfy but bulky. 'Ultralight Chairs' use tent pole style frames to pack down tiny. 'Tripod Stools' are the most basic and lightest, best for short rests.
Frame Material: Steel vs Aluminium
The frame is key for weight and strength. Steel is very strong and cheap, but heavy. Aluminium offers a much better balance of strength and low weight, which is why I recommend it if you need to carry your chair far from the car.
Portability & Pack Size
Always check the packed dimensions. An ultralight chair can weigh under 1kg and pack to the size of a water bottle. A traditional folder will be much larger and heavier. Think about your car space before you buy.
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About the Author
Adam Brooks
For the last ten years, I have been enthusiastically getting rained on in fields from the Cornish coast to the Lake District. My passion for finding gear that actually works was born from one too many easy pitch tents that required an engineering degree and a marriage counsellor to assemble. I created Top Listed Products to provide honest, straightforward reviews for fellow UK campers, so you can spend less time worrying about your kit and more time enjoying that well earned bacon butty.