The main types of camping chairs fall into five practical groups: standard folding chairs, compact or telescopic chairs that pack down small, low-to-ground or low-back chairs, high-back chairs with more shoulder support, and reclining zero-gravity styles. The right style depends on how much space you can spare, how high you want to sit relative to your camp table, and how long you plan to stay seated. Camp chairs are treated as basic campsite equipment on official packing lists. [1]
What is a camping chair, and do you need one?
A camping chair is a portable seat built to fold, collapse or pack into a bag so it can travel to a campsite and be set up in seconds. It is different from a picnic rug or a camp stretcher: a chair gives you a backrest and keeps you off the ground, which matters when the ground is wet, sandy or rocky.
Official camping checklists treat a chair as standard kit rather than a luxury. Parks Victoria lists camp chairs among campsite essentials, alongside the tent and a camp trestle table. [1] NSW National Parks includes table and chairs in its essentials list. [2] Explore Parks WA lists camp chairs under essentials. [3]
The terminology is loose. Kings Park event information separates low-to-the-ground beach style chairs from high back deck or camping chairs, and recommends the low style in its general admission area. [4] That distinction – low and reclined versus tall and upright – is the most useful way to sort the market.
The different types of camping chairs
Standard folding chairs. This is the familiar camp chair: a frame with a fabric seat and back that folds flat or collapses into a long carry bag. It is the default for car camping because it is quick to set up and easy to move around the site. Dometic describes its car camping chairs as foldable and built for every adventure. [5]
Compact and telescopic chairs. These are the small camping chairs. Instead of folding into a long bundle, the frame collapses into a short, dense package, often using a telescopic design. Dometic’s Front Runner Series Expander Camping Chair uses a telescopic design that lets it fold into an extremely compact unit for storage and transport. [5] This is the style to look at when boot space or payload is tight.
Low-to-ground and low-back chairs. These sit close to the ground with a shallow back. They are stable on soft ground and pack small, but they are harder to get out of and put your knees higher than a standard chair. Kings Park event information recommends low-to-the-ground beach style chairs in its general admission area and seats its Silver reserved section on low-to-the-ground beach style chairs on the grass. [4]
High-back chairs. A high-back chair gives more support behind the shoulders and usually sits taller, which makes it easier to get in and out and to sit at a table. Kings Park event information uses standard high back chairs for its Diamond, Ruby and Gold reserved seating on the Deck, and allows high back deck or camping chairs at the event but positions them at the rear of the venue. [4] That last point is worth remembering for festivals and open-air events with seating rules.
Zero-gravity recliners. A zero-gravity chair reclines with the seat suspended in the frame, so your legs lift and your back tilts back. It is the most lounging-oriented style, suited to long afternoons at base camp rather than quick stops. The trade-off is bulk: the reclining mechanism and longer frame make these chairs heavier and slower to pack than a folding or compact chair.
Bench-style camp seats. A bench seats more than one person and can replace two chairs at a family camp. Dometic lists a GO Compact Camp Bench that seats two. [5] Benches are less adjustable per person and not the thing to carry if you mostly camp solo.
What makes a comfortable camping chair?
Comfort is mostly geometry. Seat height should match what you sit at: a low chair is awkward at a standard camp table, while a taller chair works better for eating and cooking. Back height decides how much support you get behind the shoulders; a low-back chair is fine for a quick sit but tiring over a long evening.
The frame and fabric matter for durability. Steel frames are common and sturdy; Dometic lists steel as a frame type in its camping chair filters. [5] Fabric tension and stitching are harder to judge online, so check the warranty and whether spare parts exist.
Packed size and weight decide whether the chair actually travels with you. A chair that is comfortable but too long for the 4WD drawer or too heavy to carry to a lookout tends to stay in the garage. If you carry the chair any distance from the vehicle, packed length and weight should come before extra padding.
Finally, think about spares. Frames bend and fabric tears. Dometic lists a repair kit for its Front Runner Series Expander Camping Chair [5], and Darche says it stocks a full range of spare parts for its camp furniture. [6] That kind of support matters on a long touring setup where replacement gear is days away.
Which style suits which trip
Car camping and base camps. A standard folding chair or a high-back chair is the easy choice. You have room for a comfortable seat, and you will use it every evening. Add a bench if you are seating a family.
4WD touring and remote travel. Space and dust are the constraints. A compact or telescopic chair packs into a smaller space and is easier to stow in a drawer or behind a seat. Check the packed length against your storage before you commit.
Festivals and open-air events. If the venue restricts high-back chairs to the rear, a low-to-the-ground chair keeps you with your group rather than behind a row of tall seats. Kings Park event information is a good example of how these rules work in practice. [4]
Long lounging sessions. A zero-gravity recliner is the style for reading, napping and watching the fire. Accept the bulk and treat it as a base-camp chair rather than something you carry far.
Mixed groups. A bench plus a couple of folding chairs covers more people with less clutter, though each person loses individual adjustability.
Camping chair options compared
| Brand | What they offer | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Dometic | Car camping chairs described by the brand as foldable and built for every adventure, including a Front Runner Series Expander Camping Chair with a telescopic design that folds into an extremely compact unit, a GO Compact Camp Chair, and a GO Compact Camp Bench that seats two. [5] | A repair kit is listed for the Expander Camping Chair, and steel appears as a frame type in the range filters. Check availability in your region. [5] |
| Darche | A chairs collection the brand says is a huge range with a style to suit everyone, within a furniture range that also includes tables. [6] | The brand says it stocks a full range of spare parts for its camp furniture. Check availability in your region. [6] |
Which option fits whom
Dometic suits a buyer who wants a folding chair for car camping and values a compact pack-down. The Front Runner Series Expander Camping Chair is built around a telescopic frame that collapses small [5], which is the useful feature when the vehicle is already full. The listed repair kit is a practical bonus for touring. [5]
Darche suits a buyer who wants to see a broad chair range in one place and values spare parts. The brand describes its chairs as a huge range with a style to suit everyone [6], and it says it stocks spare parts for its camp furniture [6]. That is helpful if you expect to keep the same chair for several seasons.
If neither brand matches your setup, the decision still comes back to the same questions: where will the chair live in the vehicle, what will you sit at, and how long do you sit at a time. A low chair for a festival, a compact chair for touring and a high-back chair for a base camp are all correct answers to different problems. Confirm current models, packed dimensions and whether the brand ships to your region on its site before ordering.
Sources
- Packing checklist — parks.vic.gov.au
- The ultimate camping checklist | NSW National Parks — blog.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
- Your ultimate camping checklist | Explore Parks WA — exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
- Chris Isaak in Concert | Kings Park — bgpa.wa.gov.au
- Dometic official site — dometic.com
- Darche official site — darche.com.au
How we put this together: we compared these options using each brand's published product and policy pages and the references listed above. We haven't tested the products ourselves, and details such as prices and policies can change, so check the brand's site before you buy.
You may also find What Is a Water Tank? Camping and Touring Basics useful.