These are all nice. In fact, I have Member's Mark folding chair from Sam's Club which is very comfortable. But for some reason, nobody makes a camping couch. Yes, there are "two people" camping chairs, and that's fine. But most families who go camping would like to have a comfortable folding sofa, that's in the style of a camping chair. No divisions. Just a nice camping couch that's six or seven feet long. If a person wanted, he could lay down and take a nap.
We bought the Kelty loveseat and put on our Wal-Mart seat and back cushions which are thick and reasonably firm. We put a moving blanket over top with the arms exposed and it works great! We do winter car camping and it makes it warm and easier to get out of. We couldn‘t be happier. My husband gives it an A+ for napping.
I love the Nemo 'Star Gazing' camping chair from REI. The con is its price, but great for camping and when stored, takes up very little room where storage is limited.
Couple of years ago was wandering around Costco and found some zero gravity chairs with a small table that slid under the seat when folded up it had a cup holder and cell phone storage they are called timber ridge I have had many naps in them and they holding up great. Cheers have a good one
We've tried every chair imaginable and finally settled on a zero-g for my wife and I. We started with this style but it takes up a lot of space to store so I went to umbrella style, director style, beach style recliner, back to zero-g with side table/cup holder. The zero-g is by far the most comfortable and you just have to deal with the larger storage requirements. We found a pair that is fairly light for this style, has the side table, and was only $45. The kids get the cheapo 💺💺💺. They're always trying to steal ours, though! 😄
I love my Cabela's rocker. Got it for about $55 shipped a few years back. It has real rocking rails as opposed to the piston rocking on the 2 GCI rocking chairs available. The seated position is very comfortable for me and I enjoy watching. I get a lot of curiosity and compliments about the chair when I'm using it to its fullest at our campsite from passersby. The cons are that it's not easiest to set-up and breakdown (and my husband hates that) and you need to make sure you're on grass or a mat to avoid scratching the rails and introducing rust. Also, if the ground is un-even (like gravel or patchy grass under a mat), you'll get a jittery rock instead of a smooth one. Also it has drink holders in the arms, but as a rocking chair, it's not conducive to using them for drinks. (Keys, phones, lighter, etc., fine, but not a drink due to spillage if you rock). I hated both FIX piston rockers because the smaller one was too small, I'm 5'7", and felt too confined in it. The larger one that you showed briefly was too large for me and the seating position was too slouchy for me. I can't sit in a slouchy chair long. We really like the GCI sport "standard" chairs, which retail about $40 at Dick's sporting goods. They have good support for both my husband and me and nice sturdy arms. The only drawbacks are they became difficult to close after a season or 2 and while it provides a bottle holder, it isn't the best one. It's a fabric cup having off the side. However, we prefer to use small light plastic tables that fold up for our drinks.
We have super comfortable rockers we love. We also bought foot rests for in front - and game changer - super comfortable. However - want to lie down more to nap - so looking for Zero gravity - but we are tall, so we are shopping for chairs that’s won’t have the bar at our ankles. Great review- thank you.
I was surprised you didn't include the director chairs. Which gave been better for my back. Our Kelty Love Seat is a normal height and we love it. Love zero gravity but ours is very heavy. You are right cup holders are a must.
Our favorite has to be the zero gravity chairs. Ours did come with a plastic piece that attaches to the side. It has a slot for a drink and a slot for a cell phone. We have 4 in the basement of our Reflection travel trailer.
Over our 30+ years of camping we’ve tried all styles of camp chairs. My new favorite is the directors chair with the side table. The only con I have is, it’s not as easy to close. But that’s not enough to stop enjoying it🤗
The zero gravity chairs are very comfortable. I want to try the Strongback Chairs next. They are pricey, but I have some lower back issues and most camp chairs simply don't offer enough support for me and I end up in a lot of pain after an hour or so sitting around a campfire.
I have one and its been nothing but problems. It does support you back and pretty comfortable but all the connections on the chair frame keep failing. Replaced most of them with bolts, have not used it in a year because dont wont to get stuck with no chair while camping. Would consider buying one again if they improved the frame connections.
Good information. One note on the very packable backpacking chair toward the end. Unless you are backpacking, do not waste your money on those chairs. The only reason they exist are so that people who are hiking have something better than a log to sit on when they get to their campsite, and they will pay $80 to $120 for a chair that weighs only about 1 lb that they can put in their pack. If you are just driving to a campsite, the weight and size are not issues and you can just bring regular camp chairs that you will almost certainly find much more comfortable. That being said, Ozark Trail makes a somewhat heavier model of pretty much the exact same design that you can get in ultra light chairs for only $20 at Walmart. So you CAN get the space savings without having to invest much money. It is designed like most other backpacking chairs - not like the one shown in this video which I am aware of but I've never seen anyone dumb enough to actually invest in. I mean, seriously. But if space is not an issue, don't even bother getting the backpacking style chair. Not everyone can sit comfortably in one and to really feel stable you kind of have to have your legs out which means they will also be weighing down on the frame because of the design. I'm glad I have my Ozark Trail one as a backup, but I like to use a regular one when watching sports events plus you can affix an umbrella to a regular style chair, whereas those backpacking style chairs don't really have a good point of attachment for an umbrella.
For you out there that bought a chair with the small tubular arm rest, I have a great solution that I use on mine. Go to the dollar store and buy a pool noodle about 3 in. in diameter. Cut two pieces to length, split them down the middle on one side. install on your armrest with a couple of zip ties or small bungees. Makes really comfy arm rest! If they get in the way when you fold the chair back up, just stash them in a storage bin with other camping gear and skip the zip tie method.
I've had 2 of the 1st chair from Sam's for years. Used them on a covered balcony of an apt for yr & half, then kept in a garage & used for events & such. Bought them 7 or 8 years ago I think?? Finally condemned the 2nd one away after the plastic brackets started breaking last week. Were heavily bleached by the sun years before they gave up. I'd buy them again for sure, that's my go to "upright" chair design. My zero grav is great but it's bulky, heavier, & isn't as nice to fold out compared to other chairs. But it makes up for that with the comfort.
We have a gravity chair (that my wife claimed) LOL, so I got the Sam's special. We also have 3 folders with no armrests, that pack small and light... perfect for an extra seat at the camper table, or when we have company.. slightly better than the picnic table. Good review.
Love the freestyle rockers from GCI, downside is storage as they’re not very compact. We store them in our bedroom on travel days. Same with our zero gravity chairs. We like them, but it’s a workout to get out of especially for those that are up and down a lot!
We have the GSI freestyle rocker very comfortable. They have different models and the ones that fold like the Sam’s club chair pack well but the other models are not as comfortable and take to much room like solvers recliner. We have several chairs like you and I keep going back to my Sam’s Club chair. We have had ours for 3 years and are holding up well.
We carry 2 zero gravity chairs with snap on cup and phone holders, 2 csi rockers mainly used around the camp fire and 1 magellan canvas folding chair the is Freddie`s chair. By stacking them a certain way they fit in one stack in the pass through. Freddie is the dog and yes he has a favorite chair. Con is remember how to place them so I can get them in one row.
I have the Economy Chair from Sam's Club, the Directors Chair with the side table and Zero Gravity from Cabela's. My favorite for camping is the Economy Chair- affordable, compact/easy to store and the high back that goes across your shoulders. Second is the Directors chair- comfortable and the side table is a convenient addition but bulky to store and low back. Third is the Zero Gravity- I have had these chairs for almost 14 years. Durable and comfortable but heavy and very bulky. Hope you do a review on collapsing tables for both full and smaller, end table sizes. I have 2 6 ft Lifetime folding tables and the aluminum folding 18" square. Picked up a small Lifetime table and going to try it next season.
We love our zero gravity chairs, ours have a cup holder with shelf that snaps onto them but biggest con is storage, they take up a lot of room. We also carry 2 fold up Grand Design chairs with cup holder and attached bottle opener (thanks to @changinglanesrv as we used the GD bucks we won in their first giveaway on them) they are great to carry to neighbors camp fire.
We bought 2 “zero gravity” chairs. Not sure of the brand name, but they are very heavy, and the only place I had for them I was in the cab of our RAM 2500, with back seats folded up. They are pretty comfortable, but do not work as smoothly as yours seemed to do. Then we added the 22” Blackstone griddle to our amenities this year, so the bulky, “zero grav” chairs lost out.
Hands down our favorite budget chair is the oversized bag chair from magellan at academy. They are extremely comfortable, have two cup holders, and vented backs that are durable. The downside is the decorative stitching does unravel after a year or two of use leaving the chair quite ugly. Favorite rocker is The Zig Zag Padded Folding Rocker from camping world. Extremely comfortable, great on all ground types, and has neck and head support. Downsides are it's expensive, not easy to fold since it works on a latch system, bulky when folded, and no cupholder. We also have a gci rocker is very comfortable on hot days because of the venting but I personally do not like that there's no neck and head support and only one cupholder. Our son's favorite is the scoop quad chair from camping world. We like this one because it fits most body types, has a pillow attached for your head, is padded, and folds into a bag. Downsides are that it does not have any cupholders. We plan to buy some zero gravity, beach chairs, and a few more basic lawn chairs as well. When we camp we usually have family and friends with us and you can never have enough lawn chairs.
I love my 2 zero-gravity chairs, but as you said, they are bulky AND heavy! Why they can't make them out of aluminum is beyond me...SMH. I also carry 2 low beach chairs, that are super light, and since they're so low, the ground is my foot rest. I have to have my feet up so none of those other chairs would work for me personally... They do make a folding chair, like the first one you showed, that does have a fold out foot rest. Would love to see a review on that one. Thanks for another great video!
I had the first generation Kelty Lowdown chair. It was average durability but amazing comfort. I can't find them anywhere now. The newer model looks way better in both categories.
I’m only 5’2 and heavy bottomed. In the zero gravity chair I don’t have the ability to tip it back or get out of it once tipped back. My center of gravity doesn’t work with a zero gravity chair.
Hard to find a camp chair. I'm under 6foot and if it sits to high or to deep it hard to get out of. I worry about my kids around the fire if I need to get up fast its not pretty. My wife is just at 5foot and finding a chair for her is harder we have been on the hunt for about a year. She has tried so many. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
love seats suck, can never agree to sit in sun or shade, how close to fire, cannot move out of the smoke, one person gets hot? gotta move, one person gets cold, gotta move, the argument chair.
