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From camping to sporting events such as soccer and beach volleyball, the best beach chairs offer multiple features such as rust-resistant coatings, auto reclining designs, or supportive headrest for people who enjoy spending quality time outdoors.
Whether you are heading to the ocean or to your favorite camping spot by the lake, you should make sure that the chair you bring along with you is versatile, durable, and comfortable at the same time.
With so many options on the market, it is normal that you might feel overwhelmed because the quest for finding a beach chair is not an easy one.
Luckily, we’ve done our homework and selected the top 10 players that will prove to be perfect for your outdoor adventures. Hopefully, one of the lightweight beach chairs on our list is the one you have been searching for.
OUR TOP PICK
Tommy Bahama Backpack
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Has a built-in adjustable pillow
- Ability to recline in 5 positions
- You can use it completely flat position
- Has shoulder straps to transport easily
- Durable 600 Denier polyester fabric
- The Insulated pocket keeps snacks and drinks cold
- Has a pocket under the armrest for phone or a wallet
- Available in 16 unique colors
Unfolded Dimensions: 27 x 3 x 23 inches
Weight: 7 pounds
Frame Construction: Aluminum
Editors Choice
Sport-Brella 3-Position Recliner Removable Umbrella
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Has a built-in adjustable pillow
- Ability to recline in 5 positions
- You can use it completely flat position
- Has shoulder straps to transport easily
- Durable 600 Denier polyester fabric
- The Insulated pocket keeps snacks and drinks cold
- Has a pocket under the armrest for phone or a wallet
- Available in 16 unique colors
Unfolded Dimensions: 27 x 3 x 23 inches
Weight: 7 pounds
Frame Construction: Aluminum
BEST VALUE
Rio Brands Ultimate Backpack
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Comfortable due to a text line mesh design
- Five reclining positions including fully flat
- Comes with a towel rack and an adjustable pillow
- Can be carried like a backpack due to lightweight design
- Strong and rustproof aluminum frame
- Has large pockets on the back
- Insulated pocket to keep snacks cold and fresh
- Top-notch family run business since 1947
Unfolded Dimensions: 28.5 x 25 x 4.5 inches
Weight: 8 pounds
Frame Construction: Aluminum
AmazonBasics Zero Gravity
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- A traditional summer chair z design
- Weather-resistant Textilene fabric
- Padded headrest and armrests for extra comfort
- Has a sturdy powder-coated steel frame
- 300 pounds weight capacity
- Includes a 1-year warranty
- Available in beige, black, burgundy, and blue
Unfolded Dimensions: 35.4 x 43.3 x 25.6 inches
Weight: 16.5 pounds
Frame Construction: Aluminum
Quick Shade Adjustable Canopy Folding
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Extremely easy to fold and transfer
- Has an adjustable and removable canopy
- Offers protection for the harmful UV rays
- You can tilt it any direction
- Made from a water and stain-resistant 600D polyester fabric
- Has two cup holders for your drinks
- Available in Blue and Green colors
Unfolded Dimensions: 21.2 x 35.8 x 68 inches
Weight: 9 pounds
Frame Construction: Aluminum
Quik Shade Folding Quad Camp
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- One of the most lightweight chairs on the market
- Extremely easy to set up and fold down
- Comes with a shoulder carrying bag
- Made from 300D polyester water and stain-resistant fabric
- Made out of steel
- A pocket in the armrest for your items
- Blue, Green, and Red colors
Unfolded Dimensions: 20.9 x 35.4 x 20.9 inches
Weight: 6.23 pounds
Frame Construction: Steel
KingCamp Folding Arm
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Sleek design that stands out
- Has a reclining back design
- Easy to use and store carry bag
- Durable nylon and water-resistant canvas material
- Lightweight steel frame
- Has a mesh cup holder
- Offers a Lifetime Warranty
Unfolded Dimensions: 42.1 x 11.4 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 9.26 pounds
Frame Construction: Steel
Rio Brands Big Guy Backpack
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Has a weight capacity of 300 pounds
- Strong but not bulky looking
- 4 different reclining positions
- Has a thick cushioned pillow to support the neck
- Can be carried like a backpack
- Has a cup holder for easy access
- Available in blue, blue/green stripes, Pop Surf stripes, turquoise, and navy
Unfolded Dimensions: 28 x 28 x 5 inches
Weight: 8.1pounds
Frame Construction: Steel
Rio Brands 5 Position Classic Lay Back
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Has an optimal height to keep playing with kids
- Even your kids can carry it
- Has an adjustable padded backpack straps
- Made from waterproof and fade-resistant fabric
- Offers more than 20 color and pattern options
- Safe-Adjust armrest keeps fingers safe
- 5 different reclining positions
Unfolded Dimensions: 30 x 24.5 x 9 inches
Weight: 7 pounds
Frame Construction: Steel
Rio Brands WearEver Hi-Back Deluxe Steel
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Comes with padded shoulder straps
- Has a 240-pound weight capacity
- A built-in cup holder
- Available in Lime Green and Navy Blue
- Portable and sturdy enough for camping
- Has high-quality solid hardwood arms
- Has 4 different comfort positions
Unfolded Dimensions: 27.7 x 22.8 x 3 inches
Weight: 8.3 pounds
Frame Construction: Steel
How To Choose A Beach Chair – Buying Guide
When looking for your next chair, it is important to read many beach chair reviews to ensure that you are buying the best one. Below, we have listed our favorite must-have features that differentiate between a good chair and a great one.
Adjustable
Most beach chairs feature an adjustable design. Simply put, this means you can adjust your position to everything from sitting upright to laying down and tanning. This allows you to get the most out of your chairs making them comfortable enough to last for a whole lazy beach day.
Rust Resistant
This is an incredibly important feature in any beach chair. Being near the water, especially ocean water, is bound to take its toll on your chair. The salt spray from ocean beaches will quickly tarnish anything metal aging it much quicker. Investing in a chair that is rust-resistant will drastically increase the lifespan. The rust-proof layer is often seen as a coating over the metal that works to protect it. This will allow you to sit in the water without fear of your chair decaying.
Waterproof/Fade Proof
The true sign of quality, ensuring your chair features quality fabric is important. Let’s face it, the beach is a tough environment for your gear to hold up. Not only are we dealing with direct sunlight but also a wet and dirty environment. With that harsh sunlight, it is easy for your gear to start looking old and tattered pretty quickly. Opting for a high-quality material that is fade-proof, and even waterproof will make your chair last much longer.
Hands-Free Design
Beach chairs are known for having a low profile, lightweight design. This is because you want to transport them easily. Most often you are carting along with kids and additional bags of gear along with you so having a chair that folds up small can be a real lifesaver. Oftentimes, chairs transform into backpacks or come with straps that you can wear across your shoulders. These help to free up your hands and allow you to carry beach tents and coolers with ease. As an additional note, be sure to look for a chair that folds up small and flat. This will allow you to leave your chair in the back of your car without taking up much room.
High Back Style
Having a chair that offers enough support is important, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in it as you do in a sporting game. High back styles also allow your chair to effortlessly transform into a beach lounger without compromising on portability.
Padded Seats And Armrests
The amount of time you will be spending on your beach chair over the summer is likely going to be extensive. For this reason, it is worth ensuring that the chair is comfortable. Adding a little cushioning that allows you to get into the most comfortable position possible should not be overlooked. Let’s also mention the padded armrests as well. Adding padding and comfort to your chair will make your summertime beach experience that much more enjoyable.
You might also like: Beach Cruisers
Chair Legs
This is arguably the most important area of your beach chair to pay attention to. As sand is often uneven, you will likely be putting your chair in some awkward positions. You are also likely to spend quite a bit of time in your chair over the summer and even when not in use, you are going to be transporting it along with a lot of other items. Needless to say, it is incredibly important that your chair is durable.
Make sure you check the weight rating on your chair before buying it. Some chairs have quite low weight ratings that simply won’t suffice for fully grown men. It is also important to note the type of material used to construct the legs. Do they look sturdy enough to withstand uneven ground? Opting for a rust-resistant steel legged chair will likely be your best bet.
Built-In Accessories
After you are done ensuring your new beach chair has all of the supportive and convenient features you could ever want, it is time to look at some luxuries. Lots of beach chairs nowadays feature built-in pillows that help to add comfort to your chair. Many beach chairs come with pockets or storage containers to hold your keys, books, or sunglasses too. Most chairs also feature cup holders that hold your drinks so you will no longer have to put them in the sand. If you look hard enough, some beach chairs even feature insulated cup holders which will work to keep your drink cold even on the hottest of summer days.
Umbrella
When you’re sitting on the beach you don’t want the sun in your eyes. Sunglasses only offer so much protection from the harmful UV rays. When buying a beach chair look for options that have umbrellas or canopies. These offer excellent protection from not only the rays from the sun but also elements like rain and wind. They should also be able to be adjusted to many positions. The sun moves in the sky and your chair’s umbrella should be able to move with it. This will ensure you don’t leave the beach with a painful sunburn.
Footrest
Being able to fully lounge on the beach should be your top priority and putting your feet up definitely helps. Sure you can put your feet up on a cooler, but it can be a pain to move the heavy object every time you switch positions. And coolers aren’t comfortable, either. Footrests are designed as part of the chair. They move when you move and conform to your body’s contours. This means you are getting the most comfort possible. Built-in footrests allow you to fully relax and recline. After all, this is when you are supposed to be the most relaxed.
FAQs
Q: What Kind Of Beach Chair Should I Choose?
The most excellent beach chair for you will depend on a few things. The first is if you are going to hike with it – this can even be a long walk to the beach. If this is the case weight and portability will be near the top of your list.
But if you can get close to the beach you may want added features like an attached umbrella or pockets for your belongings.
You can even opt for a more robust beach chair and put in in a beach cart or wagon. This will give you the ability to make fewer trips to your spot on the beach.
Q: How Much Weight Will A Beach Chair Support?
The average weight capacity of a beach chair ranges between 200 and 400 lbs. That being said, most chairs are closer to the 200 – 300 lb. range.
For those with children sitting on their lap or who want a very durable chair, we recommend paying attention to the weight capacity of the chair you choose.
This will help you get the most out of your beach experience and not have to worry about damaging your chair.
Q: What Material Is Most Comfortable?
It’s not necessarily the material that makes a beach chair comfortable. Yes, it can add to the comfort but the frame is what truly makes beach chairs comfortable.
For example, a beach chair that has a bar that digs into your back will be uncomfortable no matter the material the company uses. Instead, we suggest looking for a beach chair that specifically states that it has a comfortable frame. This will show that the company has put time and thought into the design of their chair.
There are many different types of materials beach chairs are made of. A softer material like polyester and cotton will give you a comfortable place to rest. Most of these materials are also water-resistant in case you sit too close to the water or get caught in a rainstorm.
Many beach chairs are designed to be adjustable. This means you can go from sitting upright to relaxing backward easily.
With armrests that have built-in supports and higher seatbacks that provide neck support, the modern beach chair is built with comfort in mind.
Q: Do All Beach Chairs Come With Drink Holders?
Not all beach chairs come with drink holders. With that being said, it is definitely a feature that is worth noticing.
There is nothing better than a cold drink on a hot beach day. To have your drink close by will avoid spilling and sand in your drink.
It is important to decide on the features that matter to you most before finding the best chair for you.
Some beach chairs even come with a cooler bag for your drink. This allows you to bring a bag of ice to keep your drinks cold for even longer.
Q: What Is The Most Portable Type Of Beach Chair?
Portability is key when looking for a beach chair. Being able to transport your chair with ease is important as you will likely have your hands full with all your other gear.
Some chairs such as the WearEver Hi-Back Deluxe Steel Backpacker Chair by Rio Brands have shoulder straps so you can wear them like a backpack.
Others such as the Folding Quad Camp Chair by Quik Shade have a bag that the chair slips into so that it can easily sit over your shoulders.
This makes transporting your chair even easier.
Q: What’s A Good Beach Chair Type For Kids?
For those with kids, we highly recommend the Beach Chair by Sport-Brella. It sits low to the ground which makes it safe and easy for kids to get in and out of.
It is incredibly comfortable which your kids will enjoy as well as durable enough to handle a beating. It has a drink holder which is great for holding your child’s drinks.
It also features an umbrella top that provides some much-needed shade to give your child a break from the harsh sun.
Q: Which Type Of Beach Chair Is Better For Large People?
The best thing to do is to always check the weight capacity of any chair you purchase. We really like the Big Guy Backpack Chair by Rio Brands for its generous 300-pound weight capacity and wider seat.
You will not have to suffer from the armrests digging into your sides with this chair. The Beach Chair by Sport-Brella also has a 300-pound weight capacity and features an umbrella on top for shade. Sitting close to the ground you will feel very stable with this heavy-duty beach chair.
Globo Surf Overview
When buying your next beach chair, be sure to put some thought into finding the perfect one for you. With so many options on the market, you are able to get quite picky and choose one with all of the features that are important to you. All the options on our list come in at competitive price points and are loaded with some of the top features on the market. Never be underprepared for a day on the beach again.