But knowing the the best folding beach chair out there for family beach day, and knowing the best backpack beach chair for you, are two separate things.

The best beach chair or camp chair might be judged based on related brand reviews about attractiveness, comfortability of the seat, durability of the aluminum frame, any UPF 50 sun protection add-ons, price, how compact it is, how many cup holders it comes with, is it harmful to bad knees, and so on. You know a chair is a great product when it has most of these features (plus a storage bag!)

An article like this one is therefore very helpful if you are truly interested in knowing the following; what the beach chairs out there are, why they are considered the best, which one of them is the ultimate best, and, most importantly, which one of them is best for you.

So please join us as we help you filter through what might make for an overwhelming decision and as we help you figure out what the 10 best beach chairs are as well as try to answer any “buyers’ questions” you might be longing to ask.

A Quick Glance at the 10 Best Beach Chairs

Picture	Product Name	Seat Dimensions	Rating
	Ultimate Backpack Chair with Cooler by Rio Gear	24H x 18W x 16 Deep and 11.5 from ground.	4	Check Price
	Recliner Chair by Sport-Brella
	Backpack Cooler Chair with Storage Pouch by Tommy	24 x 3 x 27 inches ; 7 pounds	4.3	Check Price
	Folding Quad Chair with Carry Bag by Quick Shade	21.2 x 35.8 x 68 inches ; 9 pounds	4.3	Check Price
	Big Guy Backpack Chair by Rio Gear	28 x 28 x 5 inches ; 8.1 pounds	4.3	Check Price
	Hi-Back Deluxe Steel Backpack Chair by Rio Gear	31 x 28 x 22 inches ; 10.25 pounds	3.3	Check Price
	5-Position Classic Lay Flat Beach Chair by Rio Gear
	Portable Umbrella Chair by Sport-Brella
	Kid’s Canopy Chair by Kelsyus	11 x 15 x 32 inches ; 4.8 pounds	4.1	Check Price
	Coleman Portable Beach Quad Chair with Cooler	7.8 x 27 x 27 inches ; 7.75 pounds	4.4	Check Price

1. Ultimate Backpack Chair with Cooler by Rio Gear
2. Recliner Chair by Sport-Brella
3. Backpack Cooler Chair with Storage Pouch by Tommy
4. Folding Quad Chair with Carry Bag by Quick Shade
5. Big Guy Backpack Chair by Rio Gear
6. Hi-Back Deluxe Steel Backpack Chair by Rio Gear
7. 5-Position Classic Lay Flat Beach Chair by Rio Gear
8. Portable Umbrella Chair by Sport-Brella
9. Kid’s Canopy Chair by Kelsyus
10. Zero Gravity Chair by Timber Ridge

Best Beach Chairs 2019

1.    Ultimate Backpack Chair with Cooler by Rio Gear

Rio is a reputable family-owned business that has vast knowledge and experience in the production and manufacturing of outdoor furniture.

You will find proof of their intriguing craftsmanship in every furniture they design including their famous Ultimate Backpack model.

The chair is solidly built with a fully padded pillow that can be easily adjusted to suit your taste as well as a well-built armrest that only adds to the comfort.

The material is made out of polyester with an intricate and delicate that leaves you feeling like you are lying on a bed made out of clouds. Also, the material does not absorb heat which means you would never sweat no matter how warm it gets.

The chair offers 5 different positions including an option to lay fully flat and take a nap.

The frame is made from aluminum. Which makes the chair is rust-resistant and easy to transport (since it weighs only about 8 pounds) yet still strong enough to support a lot of weight.

Its extra features include two large pockets to store essentials, with one being insulated; and a towel rack.

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2.    Recliner Chair by Sport-Brella

A unique product from Sport-Brella, an outdoor furniture making company that prides itself in creating models that offer comfort, convenience as well as style.

The frame is made of aluminum which means the chair is strong and durable and the fabric is made of polyester which means it is comfortable.

To combine comfort, convenience and style into just one chair, the Recliner Chair carries several amazing features including an adjustable umbrella which seems to be the highlight of this product.

It also comes with an adjustable footrest that can be easily removed when necessary.

And to crown up the features, there are those 4 large storage holders, two in front and two behind. One of the cup holders at the front is even insulated and can keep your drink cold no matter how warm the beach gets. It also has a bottle opener to make it easy for you to get your drinks opened.

Just like the name implies, the chair can be reclined or adjusted to take 3 different positions; sitting, laying fully flat, or even laying with your feet up.

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3.    Backpack Cooler Chair with Storage Pouch by Tommy Bahama

The taste that is common with all Tommy Bahama product is once again shown in making this folding beach chair.

The construction of the lightweight Backpack Cooler Chair illustrates a genuine quality that is only unique to products only Tommy Bahama can make.

Not only are most of the fabric designs on these products very beautiful to look upon, but the chair also brings comfort and convenience – all the things that are required in a beach chair.

The sturdy aluminum frame gives this camp chair longevity and doesn’t weigh too much. In fact, it weighs only about 7 pounds but the seat can support up to 300 pounds. One of the strongest folding chairs around.

The fabric is usually made from high-quality polyester which is one reason why the chair has a very comfortable seat to rest on.

Also to add to its comfort, this lightweight chair comes with an attached padded headrest. The chair can also be easily adjusted to five various positions.

The extra accessories usually include a covered pocket, for keeping valuables such as keys and phones; a drink holder to prevent you from ever placing your drink on the beach sand again; and tote bag and backpack sling to help in carrying the chair around easily.

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4.    Adjustable Canopy Folding Chair by Quick Shade

It seems like Quick Shade, the proud makers of this outdoor folding beach chair were trying to prove the fact comfort doesn’t always have to look complex.

This chair comes with one of the simplest designs yet offers a good deal of comfort.

The chair was also designed to be as affordable as it is simple with convenient shipping.

The frame is made of steel. It would, therefore, be expected to be a heavy chair as it is common with all the best beach chairs built with steel frames, yet this lightweight Folding Chair weights only 5 pounds. The frame also makes the chair rust resistant and very durable.

The fabric of the chair is made from high-quality polyester material and this is beneficial in a number of ways. The chair is known to be very comfortable and quite easy to clean as stains come off very easily.

The fact that this chair is very portable makes it ideal for storing even in a very little space. It also means the chair can be easily carried and moved about. To make it even easier to carry about, there is the additional carrying bag it comes with.

It is easy to fold and hence can be set up or packed up in no time. For extra accessories, the chair comes with a drink holder at the armrest.

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5.    Big Backpack Chair by Rio Gear

Capacity, comfort, and durability. Those must have been what the manufacturers had in mind while designing the seat and other features of this backpack beach chair.

Just like the name implies, the Big Backpack Chair is indeed big but not so much that it makes the chair unbearable to carry around which is not usually the case as the chair doesn’t weigh much and can be carried around, comfortably, on the back with the aid of its padded shoulder straps.

The frame which usually looks genuinely solid is built from aluminum and is perfectly designed to allow anyone to get in and out of the chair without difficulty. The solidness of the frame also allows it to support heavy weights, supporting up to 300 pounds without trouble.

Also, the frame comes with a powder coating to prevent rusting.

But the sturdy frame is not the only thing responsible for the high capacity of Big Guy Backpack Chair. There is also the extra thickness of the fabric used.

Apart from strength, the polyester used is also very comfortable to the bare skin.

And since the chair can be adjusted to take 4 different positions, including laying fully flat, you could doze off or take a nap on it for hours and not risk a back pain.

To add to this comfort, there are also the following extra features; a padded pillow for maximum head support; a padded well-molded armrest to keep your arms comfortable while you sit or lie; and a drink holder.

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6.    WearEver Hi-Back Deluxe Steel Backpacker Chair by Rio Brands

The Rio Company, perhaps, designed this beach chair to combine portability, convenience and all-around comfort into one chair.

The chair has since become a favorite among many beachgoers and for very good reasons at that. The chair is constructed in a manner that allows it to be exceptionally solid and durable.

The frame is made from steel coating with powder on finishing. The steel makes it solid while the powder coating keeps it from rusting. As far as outdoor outings are concerned, this chair is fit for not just at the beach, but for camping and sporting events as well.

The frame design is great for your back, aligning with the fabric to allow you to sit or lie for hours. The fabric is made from polyester which, apart from making the chair comfortable, also makes it water and stain proof.

The chair which weighs only about 10 pounds can support up to 250 pounds and is easy to get in and get out of. It can be reclined and adjusted to take 4 positions so that you can be as comfortable as you want to at any point.

Aside from its light weight, the chair can also be easily folded and carried about especially since it also comes with shoulder straps that make it easy for you to carry it like a backpack.

The chair features a rare hardwood armrest and features other extra things like storage pouch, a cup holder, and a padded pillow.

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7.    5-Position Classic Lay Flat Beach Chair by Rio Gear

Rio Gear clearly took a lot into consideration before making this chair with the most obvious two being comfort and portability.

The 5-Position Classic Lay Flat Beach Chair is exactly the name described it – classic with the rare option of reclining it to 5 different positions.

The frame is made of aluminium and reinforced with steel to provide more support to an already sturdy beach chair. The chair is, therefore, more durable than many beach chairs.

However, a solid frame is not the only thing this beach chair boosts of.

There is also the strong fabric made out of high-quality polyester material. Not only is this material solid enough to support heavy weights, but it is also very comfortable to your skin. It doesn’t absorb heat which means you won’t sweat no matter how warm the beach gets.

It also boasts of a well-crafted wooden armrest that is designed purposely for your relaxing pleasure. The materials used make this chair very portable and easy to fold and transport. And the presence of two padded shoulder straps only adds to the ease.

It offers an extra width, making it more suitable for large beachgoers. Speaking of extras, the chair comes with a towel bar as an extra accessory. The chairs weigh only about 6 pounds yet can support a weight of up to 250 pounds.

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8.    Portable Umbrella Chair by Sport-Brella

With this portable design from Sport-Brella, the days of worrying about the sun and the wind ruining your day at the beach are over.

The Portable Umbrella Chair was designed to offer you the best comfort possible.

The umbrella might not cover your entire body yet it gives you just the coverage you need to take a nap at the beach.

The body of the chair is made with a lightweight steel frame and covered with a nice combination of nylon and polyester fabric. This makes the chair very sturdy yet very easy to carry around.

It is also very durable and resistant to rust.

It is designed in such a way that it can be folded easily. This usually means you can set up and pack up sooner than you would with other types of beach chairs. Also, the attachable umbrella can be taken off when necessary.

The chair, however, can only recline to 3 different positions. Meaning you might not get all the positions you want from this one. Although it weighs only about 10 pounds, this high-end chair can support a weight of 300 pounds without stress.

Other included extra features are a zippered pouch for keeping your valuables, an insulated pocket, a bottle opener as well as a cup holder.

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9.    Kid’s Canopy Chair by Kelsyus

The makers of this beach chairs figured adults should not be the only ones entitled to have a great time at the beach. So they created this chair to suit a child’s needs specifically.

The chair is made with a strong aluminium frame that guarantees durability.

It is covered in fine polyester material which makes it very comfortable and easy to clean.

The chair was designed with kids that are 3 and above in mind. Hence it weighs a mere 5 pounds and can support up to 75 pounds conveniently.

Also, the padded armrest only adds to the amount of comfort your child would enjoy.

The chair features a canopy that is large enough to cover the child’s entire body and protect them from regular elements like sunlight and wind. However, the height of the canopy cannot be adjusted.

The chair folds very easily, which makes it even easier to carry or transport. And the padding on the shoulder sling helps to make the work a whole lot easier.

The other extra features that come with it include a mesh pocket on the roof of the canopy (used for keeping all kinds of stuff) as well a cup holder.

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10. Coleman Portable Beach Quad Chair with Cooler

Our list would be incomplete if we did not include this dynamic piece of wonder.

The chair carries certain designs that are not common. For instance, it is known to possess a locking system that prevents the chair from wobbling in the sand, thereby making you get a really great treat.

Also, among all the beach chairs we have reviewed here, this seems to be the only one that has a seat that can support up to 350 pounds, making this the strongest of all the outdoor or camping / beach chairs listed in these reviews.

The frame is solidly built to support any form of use – whether just regular sitting or lying on it.

The fabric material equally allows for greater comfort and the height of the backrest can be adjusted to suit needs.

In spite of the fact that this chair supports such much weight, it still doesn’t weigh much and can be easily folded and carried around effortlessly. It can occupy very little space if you intend to transport it in the back of your car from the camp site.

The chair features other accessories like an adjustable padded pillow to recline on as well as a cup holder which also contribute to giving you a fun day at the beach or when camping.

Because of the intricacies of its design, the Zero Gravity Chair can serve both as an excellent beach chair and the type of chair you want to have by your patio.

How to Choose the Beach Chairs for Your Needs

There are a couple of things to consider when it comes to picking out the beach chairs.

For instance, we all agree that, while all the types of beach chairs are usually made for one sole purpose – sitting – they do not all provide the same type of comfort.

Each beach chair provides a different kind of all-around comfort whether on the sand during beach day or while camping. So that while one chair is designed to give your back the best comfort, the other one focuses more on protecting you from the sun. These two bring comfort in their own way.

It is therefore important that you already know what features you are looking for in a beach chair before making a purchase.

Here are a couple of common features to help you choose rightly:

1.    Sturdiness and Top Durability

This seems to be one of the most important features to look out for in a beach chair.

Considering what environment the beach chair is usually used, there is a need for it to be as solid as possible. This allows the chair to stay still even on those days when the beach gets too windy and protect bad knees.

A durable beach chair is also a great chair to own. It is inevitable to get water on your chair. The water mixed with air would cause a less durable beach chair to begin to rust in no time. While a good beach chair will be rust-free and remain useful for a very long time.

Now, if what you are looking for is a solid and durable beach chair, like a lounger for long sitting, then you might want to steer clear of highly flexible chairs as these don’t only get easily blown away by the wind but they also tend to rust easily.

2.    Good Weight and Size

The weight and size of all beach chairs are usually not the same. It is therefore important to consider these two before setting out to buy one.

They do not all come in the same size and the various sizes all serve different purposes. A wider chair is usually more suitable for people with larger body sizes.

Also, not only do all beach chair not weigh the same, but they also support varying weights, so that one chair can support more weight and the next chair will support a lesser weight.

3.    Intricate Design

The design of the beach chair or lounger is also another very important feature.

Most beach chairs are designed to be sturdy, easily foldable / adjustable. This is important for a number of reasons. A compact beach chair that can be easily folded can be very easy to pack and transported. If it can fold, then it can fit in a small space in the back of your vehicle.

Adjustable beach chairs are those types that allow you to sit and recline in whatever position you like at the beach. You can sit or lie on them if you want.

Also, some are designed to bring you the best type of comfort a beach chair can afford. While some come with a high back style so that you can transform them into a beach lounger, others come with a pillow, towel bar, head and feet rest.

4.    Padded Beach Chairs and Comfortable Armrest

These are two other features you should look out for. A well-padded beach chair speaks of comfort and a great time at the beach. The more padding a chair has, the more comfort it offers.

The importance of padding becomes very glaring when you sit on your beach chair for a long time. Kids may not care about the comfort of a beach chair, but their grandparents definitely will. While a great chair with mesh padding will allow you sit comfortably for hours without experiencing any sort of pain, a sparingly padded chair will induce certain forms of pain that will make your overall beach experience a bad one.

Also, it is important to make sure the chair has enough padding on the armrest as well. Your hands also deserve some comfort.

5.    Extra Accessories

Picky reviewers tend to go for the beach chairs. The beach chairs come with some extra accessories. These sometimes free accessories (depending on the brand) are very much for luxurious purposes as they are for convenience purposes.

Among the extra accessories, the ones presumed to the most important are canopies, mesh storage pockets, a reclining backrest, a durable seat, and side tray or pouch.

While the storage pocket comes as a built-in feature, the canopy and side tray are usually extra features that can be easily attached and detached to the main chair.

The canopy offers you a chance to have a great time without suffering from sunburn (if it offers UPF 50 protection). Some can even be reclined so that you can turn them to whatever position the sun rays are coming from.

The storage pocket and side tray are used to keep things and some others in place. The pocket can be used to keep things such as books, car keys, etc.

The side tray is useful for holding your drink in place. When you own a beach chair with a side tray, you never have to place your drink on the beach sand ever again.

Other extra features to look out for include shoulder straps, for carrying your lightweight chair on your back like a backpack; built-in pillows for reclining, to add to comfort; straps for pinning the chair to the ground to prevent it from being blown off, as well as a towel bar.

Advantages of Beach Chairs

1.    Comfort

Depending on who you are and what you are looking for in a beach chair, one beach chair can hold numerous benefits to one person and not do the next person much good.

But generally speaking, the beach chairs all try to offer one irresistible benefit – comfort at a reasonable price.

This seems to be the most important advantage of owning a beach chair and likely one of the most important characteristics for reviewers of beach chairs that the manufacturers work hard to improve every now and then.

A beach chair / lounger is designed to help you stay comfortable while having a great time at the beach. It is now possible to spend hours sitting at the beach without risking a back pain all because beach chairs are really comfortable to sit or lie on.

2.    Lifts You from Sand and Dirt

Another advantage of a beach chair is that it can keep you away from sand and dirt. While it might be okay to simply spread a towel on the beach sand and sit or lay on it, it is not recommendable as that might pose a threat or two to your health. This is beside the point that laying on a towel can cause a lot of discomforts.

There may be those who are highly allergic to the countless dirt on the beach sand.

A beach chair, therefore, allows you to stay healthy while enjoying a safe and fun beach day.

3.    Gives You a Complete Best Beach Experience

This is one of the best parts of owning a beach chair. No day at the beach is complete without spending the time to sit down and enjoy the beauty of the beach.

And if you want to do this in a comfortable and safe manner, then the beach chair is likely your best chance.

Also, aside offering comfort and safety while resting at the beach, some beach chairs (usually those with canopies) can protect you from the elements like sun and rain.

Attributes that Differentiate Various Beach Chairs

1.    Portability

This is simply the ease by which the chair can be moved around. Some beach chairs are easier to carry around than others and since the beach chair is likely not going to be the only thing you are carrying to the beach, you might want to consider going for the most portable beach chairs.

Some beach chairs are designed to be solid. These types take forever to set up and almost never fold. This makes them hard to transport as they tend to take up a lot of space.

Others are built to be highly flexible. They are the portable ones that are also very easy to set up and pack up. They are also lighter in weight and because they are easily foldable, they tend to occupy a very small space and can be transported easily.

However, they are not the most comfortable and usually not the best for larger individuals.

Also, because of their lightweight, they can be easily blown off by the wind.

2.    Versatility

How useful a beach chair can also set it apart from the rest. Some beach chairs can be used for more than one purpose and are therefore considered highly versatile.

An adjustable beach chair can go from being just a regular chair to becoming a lounger while some are simply rigid and remain upright at all times. They can be used only as a beach chair.

There are also beach chairs which can be used for more than a single activity; they can be used at the beach, for sporting events, and for camping by the beach (where they are almost as important as beach tents).

How versatile a beach chair is can, therefore, determine how useful it would be.

3.    Materials Top Used

Beach chairs are not all made from the same materials. The type of material used can set a chair apart from the rest.

The material used can determine how comfortable a beach chair is. Beach chairs constructed from soft materials such as cotton or polyester are usually considered to be the most comfortable while those made from checkered mesh gingham are known to provide less comfort for a bare-skin. Similarly, chairs made from nylon can easily be heated by the sun making it hot and uncomfortable to use.

The material used to build a beach chair can also determine how long the chair would last. For instance, a chair made out of old fashion wood can last longer than those made with aluminum. The ones made out of aluminum can in turn last longer than those made of plastic which are generally considered the least durable.

4.    Best Frame Design

This particular attribute cannot be overlooked. This is because the way the frame of the chair is designed can add or take from the amount of comfort the chair brings.

A beach chair built with a crossing bar at the back (usually for extra support) can be uncomfortable for extended use as the bar tends to dig into your back.

The frame design also can be responsible for how much weight a beach chair can support. Those built with a stronger frame can support more weight compared to those chairs with light frames.

Moreover, it is interesting to note that the way the frame is designed can determine the ease with which you rise or sit on your beach chair.

5.    The option of Extra Features

The importance of added features such as canopies, storage pockets, side trays, carrying bag and so on cannot be overemphasized.

Yet, not all beach chairs come with them.

These extra features can, to a large extent, determine how much fun you catch at the beach and while a lot of manufacturers ensure to always include them in the beach chairs they produce (sometimes as free add-ons), there are some beach chairs that come with no extra feature at all.

Hence, the more added features a beach chair comes with (and the more useful those features are), the more beneficial it could be to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I know which beach chair to buy?

Answer: Different people have different needs and since not all beach chair serve the same needs, you might want to know what your own needs are. Knowing what your size requires, knowing how solid and durable you want your beach chair to be, as well as knowing how portable and versatile you want your chair to be are some of the things that will guide you into making the right choice. Also, chairs that come with extra accessories and convenient shipping should sit at the top of your list.

Question: Which is the most comfortable beach chair?

Answer: Usually chairs made out of lightweight materials like cotton and polyester are considered to be the most comfortable. Also the type of frame design, a chair comes with can speak volumes about it comfortable. Very often, extra features also mean extra comfort.So, the most comfortable chair would be the one made out of cotton or polyester, with a perfect frame design and with additional features.

Question: Do they come with extra features?

Answer: Everyone loves a little bit of extra comfort – a canopy to shield from the elements, a side tray to hold drinks in place, a storage pocket to key our keys, a shoulder sling for easy transportation.But the sad truth is not all beach chairs have these extra features. Some don’t come with any extra accessories. Others have a few extra features. But there are also some with all the extra features your good self deserves.

Question: How much load can I place on my beach chair?

Answer: The amount of weight a beach chair can comfortably support depends entirely on the type of beach chair. A lightweight chair doesn’t mean it’s weak. On average, a beach chair can support between 200 – 400 pounds. However, there are those that can support up to 500 pounds. So, if you own a solid chair that can support heavy weight, then you do not have much to worry about. If not, please be careful with how much load you put on it.

Question: What chair is the most portable?

Answer: Portability is usually the ease with which you can move your chair around and this depends largely on what the chair is made out of. For instance, chairs made out of wood or steel are heavier and hence less portable than a lightweight chair made from aluminum.

Chairs that are collapsible and foldable are also one of the easiest to carry around.

And lastly, the presence of a shoulder sling is usually an indication that that chair is very portable.

Question: Is there a recommended chair for kids?

Answer: Yes, there is. Since kids and adults clearly do not have the same body requirements, the manufacturer also tries to make something that fits the child’s need perfectly. For instance, Sport-Bella has a beach chair they call the Sport-Bella Beach Chair. This chair is designed especially for kids. It is cute and low to the ground (to allow the kid to get in and out of very easily). It also comes with amazing extra accessories like a canopy and a cup holder.

Final Thoughts

There are a countless number of beach chair out there under different brands and names. And while we know that picking from all of these can be a daunting challenge, we really hope these reviews helps you narrow down your choice.

However, we are also aware that, at the end of the day, the best chair for you is that one that suits most, if not all of your needs.

Moreover, we have taken the liberty of picking Ultimate Backpack Chair with Cooler by Rio Gear as our ultimate winner out of these reviews.

The chair offers you a chance to also experience fun in a variety of positions.

And we think the reason is obvious. The chair offers a taste of everything, from durability to comfortability to portability.

It also comes with several extra features including an insulated pocket.

And apart from the fact that it doesn’t come with a canopy (which doesn’t seem to be our greatest concern, thanks to sunscreens) we really believe that this chair is the chair for about anyone.