Choosing The Ideal Camping Chair: A Comprehensive Guide

Couple enjoying sitting on camping chair

Camping is all about having fun! Whether you’re skiing on the waters of a pristine river, hiking across a scenic trail or exploring rolling sand dunes, you’ll be spending your free time enjoying the natural beauty of Australia’s outback - until you’re not. 

When it’s time to relax from your outdoor adventures, you’ll want the perfect chair to sit back and relax in. With so many to choose from, how exactly do you decide on the right camping chair for your needs? The huge amount of camping chairs on the market means it’s hard to pick one, but that’s why we’re here to go through them all!

This blog will discuss all the features of different camping chairs you need to look out for, so you’ll know what you want when it comes time to purchase your own. Read on to find out what style of chair for camping is the best for you!

What Is A Camping Chair?

A camping chair is a portable, lightweight chair designed for use outdoors. Camping chairs usually consist of a metal or plastic frame with a cloth bottom and backing. They will fold down to a more compact size for travel and storage, often inside a useful carry bag.

Camping chairs can vary wildly in price but don’t tend to cost over $250. They are an essential camping supply for hiking, as they may be the only elevated surface hikers can safely sit on during breaks, and are equally important for static campers who want to sit comfortably on something that isn’t a fold-out table and dining chair combo.

You can find many high-quality camping chairs at Camping Adventures, your one-stop shop for camping accessories in Melbourne.

Types Of Camping Chairs

Camping chairs are so easy to pack away that they can fit just about anywhere in your camper or caravan. Let’s break down all the different types of camping chairs you’ll find on the market.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the variations in chairs you’ll see in camping stores across Australia:

Classic Chair

Classic Chair

The classic camping chair is one you’ll see at practically every campsite, and for good reason! It has an outstanding balance of comfort, portability and weight, with many boasting useful extras like built-in cupholders and side pockets. These four-legged camping chairs compact into a long, slender package that is easy to slide into your camping storage space when not in use.

Director’s Chair

Director’s Chair

Source: Coleman Directors Chair Plus from Camping Adventures

The director’s chair is a comfortable chair for camping that mimics the way many people naturally sit. It is extremely sturdy thanks to its elongated legs and often features a built-in table that lets you keep food and drinks close at hand.

These chairs are also a good option for dining if you don’t want to bring a portable table with you while you camp. They fold flat and can be slid under or beside fixtures in your camper or caravan when needed.

Moon Chair

Moon Chair

Source: EPE Luna Chair from Camping Adventures

Curl up and relax in the uber-comfortable moon chair! These camp chairs are designed so you can bring your feet up like you would on a sofa or couch, making them the ultimate comfort when away from home. These camping chairs are also a great choice for pets who want to relax as their humans do.

Beach Chair

Beach Chair

Source: OzTrail Beach Sling Chair from Camping Adventures

These portable camping chairs aren’t just for the beach but are actually very handy whenever you’re trying to sit on an uneven surface, whether it’s a sandy hill or a rocky mound. Their low legs help prevent you from tipping over when sitting down, and they’re also perfect for when you’re after a chair that won’t block the view of people behind you, like at a festival.

Scoop Chair

Scoop Chair

Source: Helinox Chair One XL from Camping Adventures

The scoop chair provides simplistic comfort that unfolds easily and packs away quickly. Their seat and back come together in one smooth, curved shape that makes them lovely to settle into. They don’t have armrests, which makes them one of the most lightweight camping chairs available. These small portable chairs are useful for sitting in cramped spaces with.

Camping Stool

Camping Stool

Source: EPE Alfa Stool from Camping Adventures

Light and compact camping stools are perfect for when you need to carry your chair with you as you travel, like when you’re hiking or making the long walk from the car to the beach. Camping stools are very easy to store thanks to their slim shape when folded up, which makes them easy to fit into large backpacks or compact tents.

Discover a wide range of camping chairs for sale at Camping Adventures, such as the Darche Vipor Chair and the Darche Firefly Chair.

Family tent setup with camping chairs

 

How To Choose The Right Camping Chair - Features To Consider

When looking to purchase camping chairs for Australian adventures, be sure to consider the following features:

What Kind Of Support Do You Need?

If you need a specific type of support when sitting at home, ensure your camp chair offers this same stability. Having sore knees or a bad back necessitates a camping chair that allows you to sit comfortably. Look for chairs with good back support or padded seats, and ones that make it easy to sit down and stand up from, like classic camping chairs and director’s chairs. Avoid chairs that you can sink into with a low seat height, like scoop chairs or moon chairs.

Many camping chairs are sized and designed to fit all sorts of body types. Check the weight capacities on your proposed chair if you are worried, and keep an eye out for extra-large chairs if you’re very tall.

How Durable Is The Chair?

Will your camping chair get used twice a year or twice a month? If you think you’ll be using your camping chair a lot, it might be worth shelling out for one made from superior materials. Look for a frame made from sturdy metal like steel and durable, strong material like canvas or a poly blend. 

Avoid flimsy plastic chairs that can crack or rip easily, as well as very light aluminium frames that may also break under great strain. You should also look for chair materials that are easy to clean - synthetics like polyester resist water and are easy to wipe clean, while natural materials like cotton are prone to absorbing stains.

What Is The Terrain You’ll Be Camping On Like?

Are you camping on flat, compacted dirt, sandy dunes or a pebbly mountainside? More unstable ground may necessitate a sturdier chair, so avoid ones that are easy to fall over when sitting in, such as a moon or scoop chair.

Instead, beach chairs, stools and even the classic camping chair are all great choices due to their wide, flexible legs, and the low height of a beach chair is especially handy if you’re trying to sit on uneven terrain.

Does It Come With Any Additional Features?

How much time will you be spending in your camping chair? If you’ll be using your camping chair to relax around the fire, read a book in or fish from, it may be worth choosing a chair with a few extra features and accessories.

Some camp chairs have cup holders in the form of mesh pockets that will keep your stubby, bottle or cup secure while you relax. Some chairs even have insulated holders that will keep your beverages cold, perfect for warm summer days lazing around the water.

Side and back storage pockets offer spaces for the things you always want to have on hand, like sunscreen, bug spray, your phone or even some first aid supplies.

Bags for storing the chair are another great accessory, as they prevent the legs and armrests of your chair from getting damaged or caught when it’s in storage. These bags should pull tight with a drawstring or snap closed to keep dirt and insects out of the bag while the chair is not in use.

Camping Adventures has some amazing camping chairs for sale, such as the Darche 260 Chair and other Darche camp chairs in the range.

Camping Chairs on beautiful sea side

 

Find Quality Camping Chairs At Camping Adventures

Ready to start looking for your new camping chair? Camping Adventures has one of the best collections of camping chairs in Australia. This range also includes add-on side tables and cup holders you can adhere to your existing chair for an affordable price.

If you need quality camping supplies, Melbourne residents can visit our store in Clyde North, or we deliver our camping equipment across Australia when you order online. Contact us at 03 9708 2946 if you have any questions; our team is ready to help you find the perfect chair from our range of camping gear for sale!

For more information on what to take camping, make sure to check out our blogs on the Best Camping Lights and 80+ Camping Accessories For Your Next Adventure.

 

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