We all know the fight for a good seat.
In fact, we consider it in almost every aspect of life, sometimes subconsciously.
Where will we sit in the cinema?
Where’s the best position on the sidelines of a sports game to catch all the action?
What’s the most ideal spot around the campfire for maximum warmth and minimum smoke?
Of course, the most important factor is the seat itself. The comfort and convenience of the chair beneath your derrière can make or break a social experience (well, aside from the jokes you tell). At the campsite, usually on offer is the modest wooden log, the humble tree stump, the ground, possibly your mate’s lap… or any of the camp chairs in this year’s best sellers list!
Stripped of all bias, this selection is based on our sales data over the previous 12 months. From padded backs and Hotspot pockets to quad-fold designs and knick-knack holders, take a seat and read up on what makes these the most popular camp chairs for 2024.
From padded backs and Hotspot pockets to quad-fold designs and knick-knack holders, take a seat and read up! Image: Oztent
Best All-Rounder
Oztent King Goanna
One of the most comfortable chairs on the market, the King Goanna Chair provides hours of seating comfort in every Aussie campsite.
Boasting a tough 600D fabric over a heavy-duty steel frame, the chair features front support struts and machined steel feet to support up to 200kg. A fully padded seat combined with adjustable lumbar support also delivers ultimate tailored comfort, while two insulated drink holders and accessory pockets keep necessities at hand too. For added warmth in the wintery weather, check out the Hotspot version too.
With added padding on the carry bag for safe and secure storage, the King Goanna delivers years of reliability at the campsite.
Oztent King Goanna Chair
Best for the Beach and Beats on the Green
Coleman Deluxe Mesh Event, OZtrail Festival Arm Chair, and Low Sling Quad
Great things come in three’s, like this triplet of low-rise retreat seats!
Firstly, a great value chair for any outdoor event is the Coleman Deluxe Mesh Event, offering cool but compact comfort. With a low-seated design and super strong mesh for breathability, kick back and enjoy the outdoors with an easy, breezy, seating solution in warmer weather. At a lightweight 2.9kg too, it remains neat and compact when packed into its included carry bag.
Next, the OZtrail Festival Arm chair has been designed for seaside slumbers and festival frivolities alike. Built akin to a regular quad-fold camp chair only with a low powder-coated steel frame and generously padded seat and back to ensure stable comfort wherever you park your derriére. Keep the bevvies at your beckoned call thanks to a cup and stemmed wine glass holder, while an included carry bag offers simple storage and transport from the backseat to the seaside. Go seamlessly from sand and sun to shaded grassy parks with the OZtrail Festival Arm chair.
Lastly – from absorbing that sunrise at dawn to dozing off at the water’s edge, the comfy but compact Coleman Low Sling Quad offers true beachside tranquility. A durable powder-coated steel frame sits close to the ground to allow the stretching of the legs, while a mesh cup holder keeps hydration handy and padded armrests provide added comfort. Plus, a quad-fold design enables compact packing into the included carry bag for convenient storage.
Left to Right: Coleman Deluxe Mesh Event Chair, OZtrail Festival Arm Chair, and Low Sling Quad Chair
Best for the Loafers and Loungers
OZtrail Galaxy 2- and 3-Seater Lounges
It’s never easy to choose between your best mates – until the Galaxy 2- and 3-Seaters waddle their way into camp!
With room for two and three respectively, these extra-long seats boast a hard-wearing 600D denier fabric with double-layer padding, while their powder-coated steel tube frames offer durability against wear, tear, and your derrières! From picnics and campsites to kicking back at a concert, keep the bevvies close by in the integrated wine glass holders at either end and stash your phone, book, or tablet in the mesh pocket too.
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves – until we don’t have to, thanks to the Galaxy 2- and 3-Seaters!
Left to Right: OZtrail Galaxy 3-Seater Lounge and Galaxy 2-Seater Lounge
Best for Cold Weather Camping
Oztent Koala Hotspot Lounge
Like a giant hug on legs, the Koala Hotspot Lounge from Oztent is the cuddliest cradle in our camp chair range!
Fully padded for surrounding comfort, a 600D ripstop polyester fabric covers a durable steel frame boasting a 200kg weight rating. With adjustable lumbar support too, a HotSpot pouch provides passive heat on the frosty mornings and chilly evenings for added consolation at camp. An insulated drink and phone holder on one side keeps the necessities in arm’s reach, while two mesh pockets hold other knick-knacks and essentials for those drawn-out lounge-abouts!
Curl up in cushioned comfort with the Koala Hotspot Lounge.
Oztent Koala Hotspot Lounge Chair
Best for Watching Campsite Drama
BlackWolf Compact Directors
Grab the popcorn.
Featuring a folding steel frame that supports a sturdy seating platform, its durable padded seat and backrest also contribute to its impressive 140kg weight rating. A unique and compact folding action with built-in carry handle makes for easy transport, while a built-in side table, cup holder, and accessory pocket are handy touches.
Lights – camera – BlackWolf! Take action with the Compact Directors Chair.
BlackWolf Compact Directors Chair
Best Stool
Outdoor Connection Multipurpose Compact
Yep, just as it sounds: lightweight, portable, and found beneath your backside.
…Uh, not that kind of stool.
Constructed from durable material, the Multipurpose Compact stools feature a wave cylinder design with multiple locking points for strength and stability. Thanks to a simple pull-and-twist mechanism, they lock into place at your chosen height. Just like that solid piece of stump pretending to be a chair at site, these stools are tough and robust, boasting a 150kg weight rating – plus, a carry handle and adjustable shoulder strap for carrying convenience.
Use as a stool, side table, or footrest!
Outdoor Connection Multipurpose Compact Stools
Best for the All-In-One Campers
OZtrail Cascade 5 Position Recliner
Caution: This chair may turn ‘just resting my eyes’ into your new favourite hobby
The OZtrail Cascade 5 Position Recliner isn’t just a chair – it’s your ticket to outdoor bliss. With its sky-high back and 5 reclining positions, it’s been dubbed ‘perfect’ more times than you’ve hit snooze.
Boasting a feather-light but bull-strong aluminium frame, it’s a breeze to lug around. The padded 600D seat? Comfier than your favourite PJ’s. Throw in cup and wineglass holders and a tough carry bag tougher, and you’ve got the ultimate campsite companion.
The Cascade 5 – turning every patch of dirt into your personal outdoor oasis!
OZtrail Cascade 5 Position Recliner
The comfort of the chair beneath your derrière can make or break a social experience! Image: OZtrail
Best for Compact Packing
Helinox Savanna
Make room, because the compact yet impactful Savanna Chair by Helinox has officially taken a seat at the campsite!
The stretch limo of the lightweight and compact Helinox range, this chair provides ultimate comfort when camping, caravanning, or 4WDing! An advanced aluminium alloy frame boasts a dynamic duo of lightweight durability and heavy-duty strength, with strong fibre-reinforced nylon connecting hubs, quality fabrics, and strengthened stitching and panels. With a built-in cup holder, it boasts a compact packed size of just 54cm – plus, cushion your head thanks to a carry bag that doubles as a neck pillow.
Kick back in a chair that perches by the campfire with power and pride!
Helinox Savanna Chair
Best Solid-Arm Quad-Fold
Darche Vipor XVI
If ‘solid-arm quad-fold’ sounds like a gym exercise to you, it might be time to sit down.
This absolute unit is the perfect chair to use in the height of summer, thanks to a breathable foam padding and mesh layer on both the seat and back. With a waterproof Neoprene panel sewn at the front too, the top of the chair also curves to form a headrest for added comfort and the ultimate kick-back experience.
A detachable storage pocket features two Velcro pockets, an insulated pocket, and a zippered pouch – so you can settle in for respite with everything in arms’ reach. With a retractable drink holder that tucks in for easy storage too – invest in the Vipor for versatility on every outdoor adventure!
Darche Vipor XVI Camp Chair
Best Children’s Chair
Coleman Firefly Illumi-Bug
For the kids who like to kick back, the Firefly Illumi-Bug by Coleman provides the ultimate lounge-about hangout!
With glow-in-the-dark designs that kids will love, these cheeky chairs feature an insulated cooler pouch and mesh drink holder – plus a safety lock mechanism to keep the frame secure while in use. Embellished with a padded backrest and additional storage pockets, and bundling compact into their included carry bag – they’re the restful nests that put the ‘fun’ in functionality for the little campers with massive imaginations! Check out the sleeping bags in this range too.
Coleman Firefly Illumi-Bug Kids Chair
Best for the Self-Proclaimed Kings of the Campsite
Oztent King Kokoda
Delivering true rustic royalty, the King Kokoda is the top-selling solid-arm chair – the alfresco throne blending sturdy and solid with tailored support and padded comfort.
Promising years of reliability, a heavy-duty steel frame works with a robust 600D fabric construction, while a fully padded seat combines with adjustable lumbar support to overdeliver on camp comfort. Two insulated drink holders and accessory pockets keep necessities at hand too – plus, a carry bag provides additional padding when stored within the headrest.
Oztent King Kokoda Chair
Ben and Lauren also discuss camp chairs in Episode 64 of the Snowys’ Camping Show:
Any chairs you reckon should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below!