Best compact camping chair?

Van Living Forum

Help Support Van Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Tbaldwin

Active member
Joined
Feb 12, 2018
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
My back can no longer handle sitting “round the campfire” in my $10 nylon camp chair so I’m looking for suggestions. I’m in a minivan so must be compact and economical. Thanks in advance!
 
economical and comfortable do not go hand in hand. I recommend a Kermit or the Yeti Hondo.
 
Love the Avatar...………….I had a "Plum Crazy" 66 Econoline Van




I've got a GCI Freestyle Folding Rocker...…Does it fold small enough ?  I bought mine from Dicks Sporting Goods over a year ago.....here's a long ACE link


 https://www.acehardware.com/departm...MIgr35jfmS3wIVDNVkCh3kQgGHEAQYASABEgJPLfD_BwE

The thing(s) I like about this is...…….I'm a BIG guy at almost 300 lbs (the chair is rated 250)...…..this chair is Wide enough and Strong.....Padded seat..….The "rocker" action allows my legs to pump a little avoiding leg pain from poor circulation...……………..

And then there's the little sock to hold your BarleyPop  !
 
It depends on your anatomy and posture.

I think one of the most useful campfire activities is trying out each other's chairs, like Goldilocks, to see if there's a model and brand that's "just right."

If you find a good one, try folding it. I once had one that was rather comfortable but it always resisted folding. And it was never very compact. I gave it away. I had another that was very comfortable and easy to fold, but the fabric eventually tore. That one is pictured below. But the chair that's very comfortable, easy to fold and incredibly durable is the other folding chair in the photo. Camp chairs are mostly crap compared to indoor chairs.

<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/12VLZkY/chairs.jpg" alt="chairs" border="0" /></a>
 
https://www.gcioutdoor.com/tailgate-chairs/pico-arm-chair-telescoping-directors-chair/

This is my favorite chair. It folds down to something the size of a large laptop bag so it is super easy to store in the van but doesn't take up any room. It is very comfortable to sit in as well.

The only downside is the cost. It isn't cheap at all. One year I saw them at costco for around $40. I used them so much that I replaced them last year (I haven't seem them at costco in a few years). Dicks sporting goods was having a sale last year that was buy one get one free so I bought another set.

Withe the holidays in full force you might find a good sale. Or right after xmas might be a great time to pick them up. I can't get myself to pay full price for them even though they probably are worth it. But if you keep an eye out for them a deal with come up eventually. All I can say is best chair I've had in the van ever.
 
Good and cheap are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Cheap is very rarely good and you hope you get what you pay for. I also have the pico chair as a backup. I carry a larger chair that has a high back and a pullout foot rest. It does not fold up small. I carry it on the bed. I did a little searching and don't see it now. It is not a zero gravity chair, I do not recommend them. Glad I bout two for when one gives up the ghost.
 
Gotta love Yeti’s marketing....

[font=freight-sans-pro, sans-serif]“Your current camp chair is a piece of crap, and [/font][font=freight-sans-pro, sans-serif]YETI k[/font][font=freight-sans-pro, sans-serif]nows it. In our research, people break a lot of chairs, says Rob Murdock, YETI’s VP of Innovation. “People buy, break, and buy again.” It’s hardly surprising: No assemblage of aluminum tubing and nylon sold for $15 can indefinitely support American butts.” [/font]

[font=freight-sans-pro, sans-serif]Introducing the $300 Yeti Hondo camping chair.[/font]

[font=freight-sans-pro, sans-serif]?[/font]
 
Yeti: a company built on charging 500% more for a product that's only 50% better.
 
After almost doing several face plants in the campfire from trying to get out of one of those $10. folding camp chairs I switched to an old fashioned aluminum framed webbed chair.

Much easier to get out of. It's my carry chair for porta-partying. I keep a zero gravity one for in my campsite!

Does it fold up as compactly as the camp chairs...not really. It folds flat as compared to small and stuffed in a bag.

One advantage is that it dries fast if you've left it out overnight with dew or rain.

It's lasted me almost 3 winters before the sun tore up the webbing. I'm on the hunt now for a webbing kit or will just buy a new one. But then most of the $10.00 camp chairs don't get that much time either before they break.
 
Helinox Ground Chair, or they have a version with legs too.

Pros:
Incredibly small, very comfy for the size/weight, quick to set up.

Cons:
Takes some agility to get out of, not for use in sand (personal experience), not cheap.
 
Subbed to this thread with great interest. 3 areas I want to compromise as little as possible on are my main camp chair, my bed and my shower. I have storage room, flatbed truck camper, so as long as it'll fold it'll work.
 
Folding zero-gravity chairs designed for outdoors.

Not small nor cheap, but comfortable enough to sleep in. For me can even substitute for a **sleeping** bed, using other surfaces for the more strenuous activity.

If you're large and heavy, be sure to get the oversize one rated for 250+, and pay attention to keeping the legs fairly level.
 
Tbaldwin said:
My back can no longer handle sitting “round the campfire” in my $10 nylon camp chair so I’m looking for suggestions. I’m in a minivan so must be compact and economical. Thanks in advance!

The old metal framed with webbing work great, have a high enough back & are easy to get out of. They are light weight & fold up. The last few years I've found them at walmart & there were only 10 or 12 dollars. 

My wife got us some of the directors chairs, the back is not high enough for me....
 
Almost There said:
I switched to an old fashioned aluminum framed webbed chair.

Much easier to get out of. It's my carry chair for porta-partying. I keep a zero gravity one for in my campsite!

It's lasted me almost 3 winters before the sun tore up the webbing. I'm on the hunt now for a webbing kit or will just buy a new one. But then most of the $10.00 camp chairs don't get that much time either before they break.

I believe amazon sell the web repair kits ... Those are good chairs!
 
I use the $10 fold up chair. but I have a bad back so I put a 3/8 peace of plywood in the bottom makes a good hard seat and is easy to get out of and it can be used for other things around camp
 
we have all those folding chairs which are great cause they a carry case to shoulder and lug to the beach.

but at my campsite I use a hard back patio chair that folds. My chair just is a great sit and I won't give it up for any other chair :)

I suggest truly since your back is bad and can't take it anymore, hit a store. Sit in a ton of chairs. Buy what works just for you and makes your back comfortable. All stores carry tons of patio chairs, folding camp nylon chairs and more.

once you find what you love I would find the space to carry it. One can always find room for something that makes them feel better, even if ya have to strap that thing onto the van in some fashion, any where, just to have it for you and something that makes you feel a lot better.
 
abnorm said:
“Love the Avatar...………….I had a "Plum Crazy" 66 Econoline Van”

1966 Ford Econoline “3 on the tree 6 banger deluxe” Plum Crazy...Cool! Bet you have some fun stories with the Plum Crazy!

I had some great times in my “black hippy van” back in the mid70’s. Shortly after graduating from high school in Iowa, a buddy and I took off for Mexico, California and Colorado. On the way back, my motor blew in Salida, Colorado so I “worked” a couple months for my uncle gathering moss rocks in the mountains in exchange for a new motor. Nirvana!!

Here’s a picture of my current “black hippy van.” Heading to Mexico again via the RTR so we’ll see if lightning strikes twice. Take care Plum Crazy!
 

Attachments

  • 92A08FA6-EEC2-4229-A966-AD2C2019FD80.jpeg
    92A08FA6-EEC2-4229-A966-AD2C2019FD80.jpeg
    817.1 KB · Views: 24
The more modern high mpg vans really don't qualify as hippie anymore.

Unless given a psychedelic paint job I suppose.
 
Top