Topic: The Best Camping Chairs for Bad Backs of 2023 (Read 69 times)
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If space is at a premium in your car or hiking backpack, the Big Agnes Big Six Camp Chair will occupy less space than most of your other camping gear and packs down to about the size of a rolled-up camping blanket. The color-coded ends of the aluminum frame make the chair a breeze to set up. While the seat can be a little difficult to stretch over the frame, the tension creates a super supportive seat that doesn’t sag and feels super supportive. It does tend to hug you when you sit in the seat, so it might not fit the best for large campers. However, this seat is super co*fortable, enough so for a nap.
One thing that sticks out about this chair is how incredibly light it is. At just over three pounds, it feels even lighter than that. However, one drawback that co*es with the lightweight is that the chair tended to tip forward whenever I would go to stand up, so if you’re a camper that likes to lean forward while you’re sitting, the Big Six might let you down there. And those super lightweight materials will also make your wallet significantly lighter as well. Still, this chair packs incredibly well and its lightweight construction makes it a versatile option that you can take with you whether the campsite is off the trail or at the beach.
If you’re looking for a chair that has co*fortable, padded seating, the RTIC Big Bear Chair has plenty of cushion for your back. And if you want to plop down for a mid-day siesta with a couple of your coldest friends, the left armrest has a built-in four-can cooler to make sure you both stay chill. While the padded seat sinks down to a co*fortable height, depending on your bad back, some campers might not find this ideal, especially if getting up from a low-seated or squatted position aggravates your back. But if sitting in an extremely cushy seat helps relieve your back pain, this is a great option. And the two-digit price tag runs lower than other options in this review, so this chair offers plenty of co*fort and packable convenience at an affordable price.
A lot of camping chairs can make you feel like you’re curling into a ball when you sit in them, mainly because they lack back and/or seat support. The STRONGBACK Elite, however, provides both. With a reinforced frame that contours toward your back and extra padding, this camping chair provides ample support for campers with bad backs, specifically if rounding the lumbar area of your back irritates or causes you disco*fort. And the high back provides support for your upper back and neck as well. While this chair isn’t as light as the Big Agnes Big Six, it is one of the lighter chairs in this review at just under 12 pounds. And if you’re counting on a dependable cup holder, I wouldn’t hold your breath with this one. But if sturdy lumbar support is your ticket to enjoying time outdoors, look no further.
Most camping chairs are fine when it co*es to sitting around the fire or just taking a load off. But when you really need to stretch out after a hard day of hitting the trails, most camping chairs just don’t give you that option. Thankfully, the Freeform Zero Gravity Lounger from GCI Outdoors allows you to do just that. The locking mechanisms allow you to stretch out almost 180 degrees without worrying if the seat will fold back up. But you can also casually lounge in an upright position, too. This chair is definitely nap approved, and the added head pil*ow makes it hard not to resist one after an exhausting day outdoors.
This chair co*es with a large footprint, so you definitely won’t be taking this one off the beaten path. But it does fold nicely for travel or storage purposes. While this chair isn’t the cheapest option, it certainly won’t break the bank. I’ve used multiple GCI products in the past and have had zero issues with durability. If you want one of the best camping chairs for bad backs that reclines, this one is hard to beat.
If you want a solid camping chair, the GCI Freestyle Rocker, which has an aluminum frame, makes an excellent option. The spring-loaded shocks allow for smooth rocking when you want, but it also sits stationary for those times when you’re eating one of the best camping meals around the fire. But this chair isn’t just convenient, it’s also super co*fortable and provides a sturdy, supportive backrest that doesn’t give like other camping chairs I sat co*fortably in this chair for hours (way longer than you probably would on a camping trip) and would have no problem hauling it to the campsite or other outdoor get-togethers.
While the Freestyle Rocker makes a great addition to your campsite or backyard fire pit, it’s a bit heavy for any trip that requires a significant amount of walking to your setup. And the removable Velcro arm rests don’t provide much cushion or stay in place. But for everything within a short walking distance, this chair is my go-to, which is why it won best overall in the best camping rocking chairs review.
While testing the best backpacking chairs, there was a clear winner for size, stability, and support: the Helinox Chair One XL. When I had my husband—6-foot-3—sit in both this and the Big Agnes Mica Basin XL, he was unequivocal that this was the most co*fortable chair, both to get in and out of and to actually sit in for long periods of time. In fact, this chair is so big and so co*fortable that I would happily use the Helinox Chair One XL as my regular car camping chair.
In addition to its seat height and the highest weight limit in my test, the Helinox Chair One XL was also one of the most stable chairs I tested, excelling on a number of different terrains, including sand, mud, and firm ground. It was also the least forward-tipping chair of the bunch, which puts less strain on your core muscles when getting to standing position.—Laura Lancaster
While this chair runs almost half the price of others in this review, that doesn’t mean that it sacrifices co*fort or back support. The Coastrail Outdoor Padded Camping Chair includes a generous amount of padding and lumbar support, which you can adjust depending on your preference and height. It also includes a cooler bag to keep a few drinks. The seat might give a little too much, especially for campers who prefer a firmer seat, but if you’re on a budget and lumbar support is your main concern, this chair from Coastrail makes a reasonable option.
Based on my interview with DPT Killen, the best camping chair for a bad back varies from individual. Because “bad back” might mean something co*pletely different from one camper to the next, there’s not really a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it’s important to find a chair that allows you to sit in it co*fort