11 Best Lightweight Camping Chairs & Stools – Touring, Bikepacking, Backpacking, Motorcycle Camping

The most comfortable/lightest camping chairs & stools for lightweight/heavy people.

Foldable, portable, and heavy-duty chairs for bikepacking, backpacking, and motorcycle camping

Are you looking for the most comfortable camping chair? Or the lightest backpacking stool for your ultralight backpacking setup? Or do you want to know what’s the best portable chair overall? This article has got you covered.

Camping chairs are always a need. Whether for a long backpacking trip, a motorcycle journey, a bikepacking adventure, or that barbeque party with college mates at the beach, these all-purpose chairs are not only foldable and portable enough to be carried anywhere but are also very reasonable to purchase. 

However, finding the best camping chair for your needs is not a piece of cake. While it’s clear that having the lightest camping chair is the best for bikepacking and backpacking, It would be wise to consider various other factors than portability and comfort. 

After all, buying a compact chair that isn’t even your size can cause your money to be wasted. There are also several extra features like side tables or cup holders with camping chairs. To make a value choice, one should know the ins and out of these features. 

This article will guide you A to Z about the best lightweight camping chairs. Not only that, but we also have a tested and reviewed list of the nine best lightweight camping chairs for you. 

Whether you’re searching for the best backpacking chair or a cheap one for a family camping trip, you’ll find the best of it!

We’ll start by listing our favorite camping chairs and stools for each category, then you’ll find a convenient comparison table and ultimately a buying guide. So scroll below without any more delay!

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Best Ultralight Camping Chairs in a Nutshell

5 Lightest Camping Chairs and Stools [for backpacking, bikepacking, cycle touring]

• 1. Helinox Chair Zero
  • Lightest Backpacking/Camping Chair
• 2. REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair
  • Best Value For The Money
• 3. TravelChair Slacker 
  • Best budget ultralight camping stool
• 4. Walkstool Tripod Stool Comfort
  • Best portable camping stool for bikepacking
• 5. Therm-a-Rest Z Seat 
  • Best Multipurpose and Versatile Chair For Outdoors

3 Best Lightweight Foldable Camping Chairs

• 6. MARCHWAY Lightweight Folding High Back Camping Chair 
  • Most Durable Camping Chair For Hiking
• 7. Sun year Camping Chair Lightweight Portable Folding Backpacking Chairs
  • Best Cheap Foldable Backpacking Chair
• 8. Big Agnes Big Six 
  • Luxury Camping Chair For Long Trips

3 Most Comfortable Camping Chairs [Heavy-duty for car camping and overlanding]

• 9. GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair
  • Best Travelling Camp Chair For Any Season
• 10. REI Co-op Camp X Chair 
  • Most Comfortable Camping Chair For Seniors
• 11. Kijaro Dual Lock Portable Camping and Sports Chair
  • Best portable camping chair for sports and outdoors

9 Best Lightweight Camping Chairs and Stools Compared

We decided to sub-divide this article to give the readers clearer navigation, and an easier chance to find the best camping chair for their needs. Let’s start from the lightest.

5 Lightest Camping Chairs and Stools
[for backpacking, bikepacking, cycle touring]

1. Helinox Chair Zero

Lightest Backpacking/Camping Chair

Price: about $129

Weight: 1 lb

This product is one of our most valuable picks that is extremely lightweight and compact in shape and size. You can fold it down to the minimum size and keep it in your pannier or backpack. 

It weighs just a pound and offers a weight capacity of 265 lbs. This camping chair is all you need on a bikepacking trip. Keep all your essentials and accessories safe with the sack provided. 

The design of this camping chair is flexible for people of all weights and sizes. The ripstop polyester seat is made to distribute weight and offer ease while sitting for long. The seat height is 8.5 inches, which can be low for some but is usually ideal. 

PROS: 

• Lightweight and compact
• Distribute weight
• Foldable to a large extent

CONS:

•  Seat height is too low

2. REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair

Best Value For The Money

Price: about $69

Weight: 1 lb

Another of the lightest camping chairs in the market. This camp chair is an ideal option if you are looking for the best package of features at an affordable price. For just 70 dollars, you’ll get a durable body made of a tent-like aluminum frame that is long-lasting. 

Moreover, the 4-leg design makes the seating more comfortable even on a rough surface. Relaxing and reclining for longer periods is a specialty of this chair. 

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) feature of the seat, while also being abrasion-resistant, is rarely found at this price tag. 

Opening up and setting this chair is as easy as it can get. You can pull it out and back in a flicker! It is 11 inches off the ground and weighs just 1lb. Ultra-lightweight and compact.  

PROS: 

• DWR feature
• Affordable and budget chair
• good for backpacking due to its compact shape

CONS:

•  A bit uncomfortable for the senior people 

3. TravelChair Slacker 

Best budget ultralight camping stool

Price: about $29

Weight: 1.90 lbs

We found this ultralight camping stool to be very comfy even when sitting for extended periods of time.  

This small lightweight stool is meant for travelers to sit by the tree and relax for a while. If you are looking for a combination of comfort and compact body, a stool that is perfect for a kid’s size and for the size of a grown person too, this one is the final purchase you should make.

With a weight capacity of 275 lbs, it’s able to support even the largest member of our family. Great for such an easily transportable stool, packing small and extremely compact. A great option for those who prioritize weight but still don’t want to miss in comfort. It has a soft and stable polyester seat.

PROS: 

• 1.90 lbs lightweight
• Good weight capacity of 275 lbs

CONS:

• Not a complete chair but a stool

4. Walkstool Tripod Stool Comfort

Best portable camping stool for bikepacking

Price: about $30

Weight: 2 lbs

Another ultralight stool, another absolute favorite we’ve used on several bikepacking trips. It’s lightweight, compact, sturdy, and offers great value for money. This camping stool by Walkstool can be set up in seconds for a comfortable rest along the road during your cycle touring adventure. 

It’s also a great backpacking stool for families with kids, you can make the toddlers sit by if they’re tired and start wining.

The seat is comfortable, a size friendly to all users, and has an incredible weight capacity of up to 440 lbs, an ideal one for heavy people. 

The basic dimensions for this chair are 35.3 x 36.3 x 45.2 inches. It has rubber feet that offer increased stability to sit easily on uneven surfaces.

PROS: 

• High load capacity
• No setup needed
• Lightweight and compact

CONS:

• Not the most stable

5. Therm-a-Rest Z Seat 

Best Multipurpose and Versatile Chair For Outdoors

Price: about $16

Weight: 0.1 lbs

Therm-a-Rest Z is the leading brand in the world of lightweight camping mats and sleeping pads, also for hammock camping. This little mat is an all-purpose value purchase that can be used as an extension of your sleeping pad or as an outdoor floor seating surface. 

The 13 by 16 base is large enough to sit comfortably with your legs crossed. You can set this up instantly and fold it again into your backpack whenever, wherever!

Moreover, it insulates when traveling in cold weather and is just as comfortable for summer. We recommend this pick as a top option for those who want to stay ultralight and on a budget. We’ve used it for our cycling and camping trip in Estonia and enjoyed the comfortable padding and insulation in cold weather.

PROS: 

• Multipurpose
• Insulation in cold
• Extra padding

CONS:

• Not comfortable for seniors or folks who can’t sit on the floor

3 Best Lightweight Foldable Camping Chairs

6. MARCHWAY Lightweight Folding High Back Camping Chair 

Most Durable Camping Chair For Hiking

Price: about $73

Weight: 3.7 lbs

This foldable MARCHWAY chair is made for hiking, cycling, sunbathing, or camping. A built-in pillow and breathable mesh seat are summer-friendly and dissipate heat rapidly. 

The moderate angle for tilt this chair provides is great both for relaxing and for eating, you can recline, sit back and relax with the tilt feature. Durability and a long-lasting body is the key feature of this chair.

The frame is made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy, while the poles are thick aluminum. The deal is surely a great deal when you get all these quality features in just 3.7 lbs!

Of course, this is a heavy choice for bikepacking, but a great choice for car or motorcycle road trips. we have 4 of those for our BnB and guests are quite happy about them.

PROS: 

• Made with tough aluminum 
• Durable and strong build
• Built-in pillow

CONS:

•  A bit weighty

7. Sun Year Camping Chair Lightweight Portable Folding Backpacking Chairs

Best Cheap Foldable Backpacking Chair

Price: about $74

Weight: 1.8 lbs

This backpacking chair is a perfect option for backpackers and cycle tourers. Sun Year offers this luxury ergonomic design at an affordable price. It weighs just 1.8 pounds and has a nylon seat with rubber covers.

The storage pouch that comes along with the chair is a very nice feature to store your smartphone or a bunch of snacks. With an aluminum alloy frame that lasts longer than ever and an oxidation-resistant body, you surely don’t have to worry if the kids are around. 

It doesn’t have a headrest, but for this weight category, you won’t find a camping chair that does. We have seen this used for house concerts in Oslo and where quite impressed. 

PROS: 

• Shrinks to the size of a small bag
• Corrosion-resistant

CONS:

•  No headrest 

8. Big Agnes Big Six 

Luxury Ultralight Camping Chair For Long Trips

Price: about $149

Weight: 3.2 lbs

This pick on our list is expensive but comes with maximum value. You can use this one for long overlanding trips, weekend fishing trips, or similar endeavors. 

You get a tall and wide adjustable seat, easy to recline, and relaxing. The seat is deep enough so you can make the kids sit peacefully for dinner. 

Big Agnes is one of the most reputable outdoor brands and this chair is ranked high for stability due to its wide base of 18×16 inches, offering an easy seat even in rough terrain. Although this camping chair takes more time to set up and isn’t the lightest one out there, it offers all the luxury features at a good price. 

PROS: 

• Stable seat
• Comfortable Headrest

CONS:

•  Hubless pole design takes more time to setup
• Pricey

3 Most Comfortable Camping Chairs
[Heavy-duty for car camping and overlanding]

9. GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair

Best Travelling Camp Chair For Any Season

Price: about $75

Weight: 11 lbs

We tested this chair while traveling east Africa by car with an instant family tent. This rocking chair is very comfortable and ideal when chilling out with friends and amazing for fishing, but at 11lbs is certainly not a backpacking chair.

The seat is wide and the back suspension makes it incredibly comfortable, the drink holder is a great add on for those of us who like a beer in the outdoors.

Not only that, but the powder-coated steel body offers longevity and reliability. Furthermore, you get padded armrests and an ideal seat height of 19.7 inches. 

When folded, the dimensions are 31x26x24 inches which makes it relatively small for such a luxury camping chair.

This height is perfect for adults but can be a bit high for kids or people of small heights.

PROS: 

• Padded armrests
• Easy setup

CONS:

• Too high for people of short height
• Heavy weight, at 11 lbs

10. REI Co-op Camp X Chair 

Most Comfortable Camping Chair For Seniors

Price: about $62

Weight: 9.5 lbs

We found this camping chair to be the most comfortable one to sit for long periods, even great for a nap! 

With the new X-Web technology, this chair is carefully designed to accommodate people of any shape or size and distribute weight over the chair’s frame. 

Using a fabric that absorbs moisture efficiently, it is one you can sit on for long hours even in hot weather. The seating of this Camp X Chair by REI is made of mono-mesh Nylon and Polyester to provide max ease while you’re out on a fishing trip or on a camping adventure with the family. 

Talking of the extra accessories, you get a cupholder on the left and a drop-down pocket on the right to hold all your essentials. The cup holder is wide enough to hold any big steel bottle or medium-sized disposable teacup. 

Thus, the versatility this camping chair offers is certainly exemplary. 

PROS: 

• Easy storage of accessories
• Good weight capacity of 300lbs

CONS:

• Seat height isn’t ideal for kids 

11. Kijaro Dual Lock Portable Camping and Sports Chair

Best portable camping chair for sports and outdoors

Price: about $49

Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz

This chair is an excellent option if you’re looking for a heavy-duty camping chair that is still lightweight and portable enough. The Kijaro chair is made of diamond ripstop polyester and a steel frame body. 

With maximum durability, breathable fabric, and an affordable price tag, this camping chair is a great bang for the buck.

Talking accessories, the Kijaro chair offers two cup holders, mesh pockets, and a zipper pouch for all your essentials. 

Moreover, the chair contains a carrying strap that contributes to portability. Just close it up and carry it anywhere! With a weight of 9.5 pounds and a capacity of 300 lbs, anyone can sit back and relax while you’re having a barbeque dinner in the wilderness. 

PROS: 

• Foldable 
• Good for long outdoor trips
• Offers dual lock

CONS:

•  None really

Lightest and Most Comfortable Camping Chairs
a comparison table

PRODUCT NAME	PRICE	WEIGHT
Helinox Chair Zero	about $129	1 lb
REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair	about $69	1 lb
TravelChair Slacker Stool	about $29	1.90 lbs
Walkstool Chair	About $30	2 lbs
Therm-a-Rest Z Seat	about $16	0.1 lbs
MARCHWAY Lightweight Folding High-Back	about $73	3.7 lbs
Sunyear Camping Chair	about $74	1.8 lbs
Big Agnes Big Six	about $149	3.2 lbs
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair	about $75	11 lbs
Kijaro Dual Lock Portable	about $62	9.5 lbs
REI Co-op Camp X Chair	about $49	7 lbs 3 oz

Buyer’s Guide – How To Choose The Best Camping Chair

Weight:

Weight is naturally the most important factor when choosing a travel chair or stool for bikepacking, cycle touring, or hiking & camping trips. Ideally you want to stay below 2lbs for a chair you’re planning to bring with you on such a journey.

Stools seems the natural choice, but products such as the Helinox Chair Zero and REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair are even lighter and give you the possibility os resting your back.

Size:

You need to know the weight and dimensions (folded and unfolded) of the camping chair you buy. The primary reason is that an adult or teenager would need a different chair size than a toddler or a kid. 

Extra Accessories:

There aren’t “extra” but they do come along with the purchase package. This heading includes any cupholders, headrests, armrests, or pockets that make it easy to sit back and enjoy the weather while you’re seated. 

Comfort:

The most crucial factor is your comfort. Check if the chair is padded and if the seat fabric is easy to bare. The fabric should be moisture resistant and absorbs moisture fast. Moreover, also check if the height of the chair suits you individually. 

FAQs About Camping Chairs: 

Conclusion: 

Hence, now that you have a clear idea of how to purchase the best camping chairs from the market, you’re good to go! Choose your best pick from our nine best lightweight camping chairs, and you won’t regret it even once! 

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