Go Camping Australia
  • HOME
  • Blog
  • Campsite Reviews
    • Kangaroo Island >
      • Kangaroo Island Tips for new travellers
      • American River camping
      • Western KI Caravan Park camping
      • Antechamber Bay camping
      • Flinders Chase camping
      • Wreckers Beach camping
      • Activities on Kangaroo Island
    • Queensland >
      • Amity Point Campground
      • Brooloo Park Campground
    • Northern Territory >
      • 13 Tips for new travellers in the Outback
      • Ellery Creek Big Hole
      • Kings Canyon
      • Yulara (at Uluru)
      • Ormiston Gorge
      • Serpentine Gorge
      • Standley Chasm
    • Tasmania >
      • Cradle Mountain
      • Mt Field
      • Fortescue Bay, Tasman Ntl Park
      • Freycinet National Park
      • Bay of Fires, Tasmania
      • Mt William National Park
    • Overland Track, Tasmania >
      • Cradle Valley to Waterfall Valley Hut
      • Waterfall Valley to Windermere
      • Windermere to Pelion Hut
      • Pelion Hut to Kia Ora
      • Kia Ora to Windy Ridge
      • Windy Ridge to Pine Valley
      • Pine Valley to Narcissus
      • Narcissus to Echo Point
      • Echo Point to Cynthia Bay
    • National Parks (Victoria) >
      • Princess Margaret Rose Caves
      • Grampians - Plantation Campground
      • Grampians - Lakeside Tourist Park
      • Grampians - Mt Stapylton
      • Grampians - Borough Huts
      • Grampians - Smiths Mill Campground
      • Lower Glenelg NP - Hutchenssons
    • Flinders Ranges >
      • Acraman Camping, Flinders Ranges
      • Horseshoe Top End
      • Spear Creek
      • Stony Creek Bush Camp
      • Merna Mora
      • Bendleby Ranges
      • Flinders Ranges - Argadells
      • Flinders Ranges - Wilpena Pound
      • Flinders Ranges - Aroona
      • Telowie Gorge
      • Mambray Creek >
        • Kingfisher Flat
      • Melrose
    • Lincoln National Park >
      • Surfleet Cove
      • September Beach
      • Fishermans Point
      • Spalding Cove
      • Engine Point
      • Taylors Landing
      • Donington Beach
    • National Parks (South Australia) >
      • Beachport Conservation Park
      • Bool Lagoon Conservation Park
      • Canunda National Park
      • Deep Creek Conservation Park camping >
        • Eagle Waterhole Camping
      • Innes National Park
      • Little Dip Conservation Park
      • Maize Island Conservation Park
      • Newland Head Conservation Park
      • Redbanks Conservation Park
    • Yorke Peninsula Free Camping >
      • Hillocks Drive Butlers Beach
    • NSW >
      • Bendalong Point Tourist Park
      • Hosanna Farmstay (NE NSW)
      • Wollemi National Park (NSW)
    • Other Places (SA) >
      • Burra (Worlds End)
      • Chookarloo at Kuitpo Forest
      • Clayton Bay
      • Lake Bonney
      • Naracoorte
      • Mt Crawford Forest
      • Piccaninnie Ponds
      • Rapid Bay
      • Saunders Gorge
      • Wirrabara Forest
  • Equipment Reviews/Advice
    • CAMPING GEAR ADVICE >
      • Best Camping Pillows
      • Best Camping Chairs - Our top 5
      • Groundsheet/Footprint for Tents - Must Read Guide
      • Water Filters for Hiking and Camping
      • Camping Showers (and how to choose one)
      • Choosing a Headlamp
      • Canvas or Nylon Tents - what to choose
      • Kids Camping Gear
      • How to choose a camping BBQ
      • Camping Coffee Makers
      • Camping and hiking stoves
      • 10 Pieces of Beginner Camping Equipment you need
      • Self Inflating Mat - How to choose
      • Inflatable Tents -- what is available?
      • Air Mattresses
    • TENT REVIEWS >
      • Cinch Pop Up Tent Review
      • Southern Cross Ultimate Tent
      • Hammock Review - Sky Bed
      • Mountain Hardwear Drifter 3 Tent
      • Napier 84000 Sportz SUV Tent Review
      • Black Wolf Turbo Tent
      • MacPac Apollo Tent
    • SLEEPING GEAR >
      • Jack Wolfskin Sleeping Bag Review
      • Western Mountaineering Alpinlite Sleeping Bag
      • Black Wolf Zambezie Sleeping Bag
      • Marmot Plasma 15 Sleeping Bag review
      • Sky Bed Hammock
    • COOKING GEAR REVIEWS >
      • Wacaco Nanopresso Review
      • Wonderbag Review
      • Aeropress (coffee maker)
      • Jetboil Flash
      • MSR Mugmate
      • MSR MicroRocket Stove
      • Primus Omnifuel Cooker
    • OTHER GEAR REVIEWS >
      • LIGHTING >
        • Bosch Camping Gear
        • Luci Solar Light
        • Coleman Rechargeable Retro Lantern
        • Fenix CL20 Lantern
      • OtterBox Cooler/Esky
      • Chammock Review
      • Travall Cargo Guard
      • Honda EU20i Generator Review
      • IceMule Cooler
      • Ezygonow Go Anywhere Kit
      • Water Bottle Filters - Diercon and Sawyer
      • Griffin Survivor Case Review
      • Helinox Chair One Camping Chair
      • Sawyer Squeeze Filter
      • Wilderness Wear Thermal Top
      • 3 in 1 Camping Jacket (Aldi)
      • Thetford Porta Pottie
      • Thumper Battery
  • Camping Tips
    • GEAR TIPS >
      • Portable Camping Toilets Guide
      • Collapsible Camping Gear
      • Choosing a camp stretcher
      • Choosing a Family Tent
      • 10 tips to help choose a tent
      • How to choose a sleeping bag: 5 tips
      • Choosing a camper trailer
      • How to buy a used tent
      • Double Sleeping Bag Guide
    • BEGINNER TIPS >
      • Beginners Guide to Camping
      • Packing your car for camping
      • Top 10 Camping Etiquette Tips
      • How to choose a campsite
      • 10 Beginner Camping Mistakes
      • Summer Camping Tips - stay cool
    • CAMPSITE TIPS >
      • Camping in the Rain
      • 10 tips to camping in thunderstorms
      • How to sleep well in a tent
      • Cleaning up your campsite - 4 tips
      • Camping Security: How to keep safe
      • How to keep your campsite clean
      • Condensation in Your Tent (and how to prevent)
    • CHILDREN AND CAMPING >
      • 5 reasons to take your children camping
      • Camping with Teenagers: 5 survival tips for parents
      • Top 10 tips camping with children
    • CARE AND REPAIR TIPS >
      • How to care for camping gear
      • How to Store A Sleeping Bag
      • How to remove mould on tent
      • How to fix a tear in tent
      • How to fix leak in mat
      • How to care for your tent - 5 easy tips
      • Caring for your sleeping bag
      • How to Season A Tent
      • How to Wash Down Sleeping Bag
      • How to Waterproof Your Jacket
    • MISCELLANEOUS >
      • Keeping clean when camping
      • How to prevent mosquitos when camping
      • Sick when camping - tips to help
      • Camping with Cats and Dogs
      • Camping and makeup - what to pack
      • 7 Tents you don't see too often
      • Glamping Australia
  • HIKING
    • Hiking Checklist: What you need to bring
    • Beginner Trekking Poles
    • Smallest and Lightest Hiking Stoves
    • Overnight hiking: gear advice for beginners
    • First Overnight Hike - Gear
    • Lightweight and Ultralight - What it means
    • Layering Clothes for Outdoors
  • FOOD
    • Coffee Makers for Camping
    • Camping Meals for Beginners
    • 10 tips to keep food cold
    • Camping Food On a Stick
    • Camping Breakfast Ideas
    • Camping Food Preparation for Beginners
    • Foil Pack Cooking - How to Guide
    • French Toast when Camping
    • S'Mores Australia
  • Get in touch
    • About Us
    • Disclosure Policy/Disclaimer

The Best Camping Chairs - Our top 5 options

Camping Chairs - top picks


Being comfortable when outdoors is very important to us.   Sitting around the campfire or just relaxing comfortably with a good book (or wine) is part of the camping experience.  So what do we like and use?   Find out below.
​
1.   The Basic Chair 

When you are new to camping, you may not want to spend a lot of money on some gear, and this humble camping chair is a good way to sit around the campsite and not be too precious with your gear.   

Found at variety stores (eg. KMart, Big W) and camping stores this chair should not set you back more that $10.   If you pay more for this chair, you have paid too much.

Benefits:  Cheap,  doesn't take up too much room in the car, you won't be too precious about it with dirt/rain/smoke etc.  Readily available in many stores.  

Cons:  May not last long (some of our chairs lasted for years, others less than 12 months).  Can be slightly uncomfortable depending on your build and your bottom.  Basic.  
Camping chairs - which one to pick
2.     Zulu Chair  (by Planet Earth)
Camping chairs which one to pick
 
This chair is a lot more robust than the chair above, and more comfortable.     You pay more, but you get more.    It reminds me of our Helinox Chair One (but that chair is a lot lighter than this).   We are always looking for gear that gives us more room in the car. This is like a cheaper version of the Helinox but still saves you room. 

Benefits:  Sturdy.  Packs up to a smaller size (so great if you are trying to save space).   Steel frame.    Comfortable though it may not look it. 

Cons:   Steel frame means not ideal for hikers.   It requires you attaching the fabric to frame for each set up which some people may find tedious.  You may feel it's a bit unstable when sitting on it - you do get used to it though. 

See pricing and availability here (from Tentworld)
​



3.  The Glamping Chair - Darche Firefly Compact Directors
Camping chairs - our top picks

This is the chair for those who don't want to rough it.   You want comfort and a place for your drink and dips!   Car campers only for this chair.   You will have to decided that you really enjoy camping before buying.   Comfortable and padded, it's good for those of us who need that sort of comfort at the campsite.

 Benefits:  Comfortable. Steel frame.   Storage pockets.   Wide seating area.   Not likely to tip over when in use as supports are good and stable.

Cons:  Heavy (over 6kg) and bulky.  Car campers only.  

Buy it here (pricing and availability) from Tentworld


​4.   Hiking Chairs 

Just because you are hiking, you shouldn't have to be uncomfortable.   As mentioned earlier, the Helinox Chair One was one of the first hiking chairs we purchased in 2014 and it still is going strong today.   It has been on many hikes and always coveted by those who are sitting on rocks/ground during the hike.

There are a variety of these chairs and the benefits are the same for all - lightweight, surprisingly sturdy construction, and comfortable after a days walk and pack up very small.     The cons are the same for all - you pay for the design and technology so the cost is high (wide range of prices though).   Because of the price, you do tend to be more protective of them.

Here are a few that we own and have used - we recommend all of these (there are a lot more on the market than just these, but we can only comment on chairs we try).

​
top hiking chair
Helinox Chair One (weight:  960g)  -    click here for availability and pricing via Amazon
click here for availability and pricing via Tentworld


​Click here for our review 
top hiking chairs
Helinox Ground Chair (640g) - we purchased this one when it came out to save on weight and also because it just seemed perfect for hiking.   Whilst we use the Chair One for car camping if needed, this one tends to be hiking only. 

Click here for availability and pricing via Amazon


​FYI:  Helinox also have a side table that goes with these chairs if you wish - see it here. 

top hiking chairs

The Thermarest Trekker 20 hiking chair sleeve is not your conventional chair but a sleeve that turns your Thermarest mattress into a chair.  

If you are hiking and have your mattress, the sleeve gives you an option for using it when not sleeping on it!     The video below is going to give you a guide on how to use it.



5.   King Kokoda (by Oztent)
top pick camping chair

This chair is the sort of chair you can relax in for a while around a campfire.  Very comfortable and high back, means you have a place to rest your head.     Has adjustable lumbar support though I have never used it and handy side pockets to store all sorts of things in as you rest.   We actually bought this when we were very new to camping and it's never let us down. 

Benefits:  Very comfortable and sturdy.   High headrest is a feature that many chairs don't have.   You feel stable in it. I feel its the sort of chair that is going to last us all our camping days. 

Cons:   Bulky and heavy (6+kg).   Never seems to go back in the supplied bag as easily as it should!  


See pricing and availability here from Tentworld


FYI - If you are wanting lumbar support, might want to check out another chair we have recently used.  The Outdoor Connection Burly Lumbar Chair. Very comfortable, bit heavy and also have trouble getting back into the bag which seems like a universal problem. 


Latest blog story

Disclosure Policy (affiliate program information included).


​​



Stay in touch with Go Camping Australia.  



Subscribe to our free newsletter here
Go Camping Australia - All rights reserved 2014      No re-use of any written content or photos without permission.   

BACK TO TOP

© Go Camping Australia | All Rights Reserved