Best Chairs for Wild Camping

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After a hard days hiking to find the perfect spot for wild camping, there is nothing better than putting your feet up and relaxing with a beer. After struggling to get comfortable on the ground one time, I decided to find the best chairs for wild camping, to make sure I can relax in some level of luxury next time I go out into the wild.

In a hurry, here are my favouring chairs for wild camping:

What Are the Best Chairs for Wild Camping?

Taking a camping chair with you when going wild camping is a luxury as opposed to a necessity. It shouldn’t replace other necessary items in your rucksack. With this in mind, when choosing the best chair for wild camping, there are a few considerations you will need to make to ensure that the benefits of having somewhere to park your behind aren’t outweighed by the be the inconvenience of having to carry it.

Weight

When hiking between camping spots as part of your wild camping adventure, you will be carrying a lot of gear, including your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat as well as many other items of clothing and food.

If you are taking something to sit on, you need to make sure that your camping chair doesn’t add too much weight to your back. Having a seat is great, but having a bad back or painful knees is not.

Pack Size

Similar to the weight of all your gear, you need to think about the pack size as well.

There are many items that will be taking up vital space on your rucksack and if you aren’t planning on carrying a rucksack with a large capacity, you will need to think of the pack size of the chair.

Are you happy to leave some food behind so that you can take your favourite chair? Go for it. If your belly trumps your behind any day of the week? Go for as small a chair as you can.

Comfort

Another consideration is the level of comfort you will get from the chair you choose.

At the most basic level, you can get foam mats that will give some level of comfort when sitting on harder ground. You can also get sit mats that allow you to lean back, giving a significantly increased level of comfort. At the top end, you have compact chairs that provide the full benefits of a normal chair without the weight and larger pack size.

Types of Camping Chairs for Wild Camping

There are many different types of camping chair that you can buy, but not all of them are suitable for taking wild camping. There are three main types of chair that you should consider for your next wild camping trip:

Sit Mats

The most basic form of seat you can take wild camping with you is a sit mat.

Sit mats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the basic idea behind a sit mat is that you can position it on the ground or other surface to make where you sit more comfortably. Sit mats are generally made from a foam construction, providing insulations and comfort when seated.

The most basic sit mat is just a piece of material with foam inside. You can buy some that are more comprehensive and also provide support for your back as well. I have personally gone for the sit mat with a backrest in the past as the added comfort is worth the extra bulk and weight.

The main advantage of sit mats is that they are light and don’t take up too much space in your rucksack. The downside is they really only add a basic level of comfort, but are more comfortable than sitting on the ground.

Camping Stool

If you prefer an elevated seating position, you might prefer to go for a camping stool over a sit mat.

A camping stool is fairly self-explanatory, as it is a flat surface to sit on with legs to make sure you are on the ground. The main difference between a camping stool and a normal stool is that you can fold a camping stool down to a small size to fit in your rucksack.

The advantage of camping stools is that they provide much more comfort than a sit mat, as you are elevated and are seated more like being in a chair. They are also lighter and smaller than camping chairs, so are much easier to transport.

The disadvantage of a camping stool is that the level of comfort they offer when compared to a chair is low. There is no back support, so you can’t relax as easily. This can be a major disadvantage particularly after a long day of hiking.

Camping Chair

If you are looking for something comfortable to take the load off after a long day of hiking then you should probably look into getting a camping chair.

You’ve probably seen a lot of people with camping chairs at campsites or even in parks and you’re thinking “they don’t look very light and they look bulky”. You would be right to think that about normal camping chairs, but what you need is a compact camping chair.

Compact camping chairs are much lighter than a standard camping chair, weighing between 800g – 1,500g compared to standard camping chairs, which start at around 2,200g. They also pack down small compared to a normal camping chair, meaning that they can fit in your rucksack.

The main advantage of a compact camping chair for wild camping is the significant increase in comfort that it will provide. Being able to sit back and relax after a long hike and pitching up your tent is great.

Compared to a sit mat and a camping stool, you are compromising on pack size and weight, as a compact chair will be heavier than both of these.

If you’re willing to deal with the extra weight to carry, a compact chair will fast become one of your go-to camping essentials.

Best Camping Sit Mats

If you prefer the idea of taking a sit mat with you, here is my list of the best sit mats you can take wild camping:

Best Camping Stools

You you would like to take a stool with you on your next wild camping trip, here is my recommended list of the best camping stools you can take wild camping:

Best Compact Camping Chairs

If you would like to take a chair with you for complete comfort on your next wild camping trip, here are my recommended compact camping chairs:

Camping Chair FAQs

Can You Leave Camping Chairs Outside?

Camping chairs are a must-have for any camping trip, but what do you do with them when you’re not using them? If you’re like most people, you probably just leave them sitting out in the open. However, is this really the best option? Can you leave camping chairs outside without worrying about them getting ruined?

The answer to this question depends on the type of chair that you have. In general, though, it’s usually safe to leave camping chairs outside as long as they’re covered up. This will protect them from the sun and rain, which can damage them over time. If your chair doesn’t come with a cover, you can buy one separately or use a tarp or blanket.

How Do I Keep My Camping Chair Dry?

One of the great things about camping is getting to spend time outdoors in nature. However, one thing that can ruin a good camping trip is if it rains and your camping chair gets wet. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help keep your camping chair dry.

The first thing you can do is make sure that you take a ground cloth or tarp with you when you go camping. This will help protect your camping chair from getting wet if it rains. You can also put your camping chair under an awning or tree if possible to further protect it from the rain.

Another thing you can do is pack your camping chair in a waterproof bag. This will help keep it dry even if it does rain. You can also pack other items in the same bag to keep them dry as well.

How Do You Store Folding Camping Chairs?

Camping chairs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most of them fold up for easy transport. How you store them will depend on how big they are when folded up.

If they are small enough to fit in a closet or under a bed, you can just leave them there until you need them again. If they are too big to fit inside, you can hang them on a coat rack or wall hook.

Another option is to put them in a storage container or shed. Just make sure that they are dry and free of dirt and dust before putting them away.

Why Are Camping Chairs so Uncomfortable?

Camping chairs are often seen as an uncomfortable necessity. They’re generally small, hard, and not particularly supportive. But why are camping chairs so uncomfortable?

One reason is that they’re designed for portability, not comfort. They need to be light and easy to carry, which can often mean sacrificing comfort. Additionally, most camping chairs aren’t designed for long-term use, meaning that they can start to feel uncomfortable after a while.

Finally, many camping chairs don’t have much padding or support, which can lead to discomfort. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and there are some camping chairs that are actually quite comfortable. So if you’re looking for a comfortable chair for your next camping trip, be sure to do your research before you buy!

Summary

I hope I have helped you decide which chair to take on your next wild camping adventure. The main thing to remember is that a camping chair is really a luxury, so you shouldn’t ditch any of the necessities to take one with you. If you have the space though, taking a camping chair with you will significantly increase your comfort at camp and your overall wild camping experience.