Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). We blame the crossbar design, which runs front to back rather than side to side; this creates a lot of wobble from right to left, especially if the chair is not on perfectly even ground. The box-shaped cupholder is a little roomier than the round cupholders on the Coleman and the L.L.Bean Base Camp chairs—better for stubby water bottles or mugs of hot chocolate around the campfire.
“They fold up flat and are easy to carry. Much nicer than sling chairs, and easier to get in and out. They are perfect for watching high school sports and camping.” In addition, the tray has a handy cup holder, which virtually eliminates the risk of spilling your drink. The one thing this chair doesn’t have, however, is storage. Fortunately, this is also easy to remedy via DIY engineering.
No other chair in our testing pool—except perhaps the extremely pricey Yeti Trailhead—came close to matching the King Kong’s build quality. Its steel frame doesn’t wobble when you get in or out. Of the chairs we tested, the Coleman chair was the only one that came with a built-in cooler bag, which can hold four standard-size beer or soda cans. The chair also has the round mesh cupholder found on most chairs of this type. Closed ozark trail canopy sides keep the wind from blowing through.
At a whopping 28”, this chair can accommodate just about anyone. There are also chairs that are hybrids between categories, such as the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair, which comes highly rated and recommended. Renetto licenses its patent to a company called Kelsyus, which makes cheaper versions of the chair.
This railroad underpass, which was constructed in 1925, is just under 30 feet long. Start your journey at the Rock Creek Bridge that was put in place in 1921, became part of Route 66 in 1926 and was bypassed in 1952. This Sapulpa bridge is one of the state’s best remaining examples of the steel-truss architecture that was popular in the pre-World War II era. With a patchwork of red bricks and concrete, you can truly feel the age of this narrow bridge, which is closed to vehicles but open to foot traffic. Oklahoma has an even older stretch of roadway called the Ozark Trail that dates back to 1913. Plan a road trip to ride on a piece of history.
But this isn’t the chair you’ll want to spend most of the day in. The Chair One has a 600-denier polyester and mesh seat and aluminum legs, which are linked with shock cord (like what you’d find inside high-end tent poles). This chair costs slightly more than the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair, but it’s still a budget-friendly option.
If you’re like me and prefer to shop from the comfort of your home, I’ve rounded up Walmart’s best clearance deals you can shop online right now. Either way, adding a bit of storage is easy if you want or need it. Owing to its extra-wide seat, the first thing you’ll notice about this oversized director’s chair is that it looks rugged and robust. The Ozark Trail XXL Director chair’s metal frame also has an all-business look about it too, which clearly sends the message that this is a go-anywhere chair. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times.
We also don’t have suggestions for couch-style or loveseat chairs (we’d like to look at those someday, though). Many testers found other chairs more comfortable and easier to put together than the Nemo Moonlite Reclining Camp Chair. This is also the most expensive lightweight chair we tested, and we think the Chair One is a better value. It’s durable and comfortable for a range of campers. The Coleman Cooler Quad has been our pick since 2016, through numerous camping trips and several testing sessions. “These are fantastic chairs. Padded seat is super comfortable,” raved one shopper.