The Best Camping Chairs in Australia
Camping chairs ranked on independent recommendations, maker specifications and price, with Amazon Australia stock checks and sales-ranked budget picks.
On this page
- The best camping chairs in Australia
- 1. Best overall for portable camping: Helinox Chair One
- 2. Best for upper-body support: Helinox Chair One Highback
- 3. Best for backpacking with recline: NEMO Moonlite Elite
- 4. Best for padded car-camping comfort: OZtrail Big Boy Arm Chair
- 5. Best budget armchair: OZtrail Classic Camping Arm Chair
- 6. Best budget compact chair: Levede Camping Chair
- How we chose
- Camping chair buying guide
- Camping chair maintenance tips
Camping chairs need to be comfortable when you stop and manageable when you pack up. Our top pick is the Helinox Chair One: its compact packed size and independent recommendation for balancing comfort, stability and portability make it the best starting point if you want a chair for more than car camping.
If the chair will mostly travel in the boot, we’d spend less and choose the padded OZtrail Big Boy. The reviews below separate chairs worth carrying from chairs worth settling into, so you don’t pay for portability you won’t use.
The best camping chairs in Australia
- Best overall for portable camping: Helinox Chair One
- Best for upper-body support: Helinox Chair One Highback
- Best for backpacking with recline: NEMO Moonlite Elite
- Best for padded car-camping comfort: OZtrail Big Boy Arm Chair
- Best budget armchair: OZtrail Classic Camping Arm Chair
- Best budget compact chair: Levede Camping Chair
| Product | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Helinox Chair One (10003223) | from $220.31 | $220.31 at Amazon |
 | Helinox Chair One Highback (10003314) | from $266.69 | $266.69 at Amazon |
 | Nemo Equipment NEMO Moonlite™ Reclining Camp Chair (B0FY3WF6N7) | from $385.60 | $385.60 at Amazon |
 | OZtrail Big Boy Arm Chair (FCE-BIGB-F) | from $94.99 | $94.99 at Amazon |
 | OZtrail Classic Camping Arm Chair (FCC-PAC-B) | from $25.99 | $25.99 at Amazon |
 | Levede Camping Chair Foldable Lightweight Steel Frame Beach Picnic Black (OD1037-L-BK) | from $26.99 | $26.99 at Amazon |
1. Best overall for portable camping: Helinox Chair One
When you have to carry your seat beyond the car park, a bulky chair becomes another thing to manage. The Helinox Chair One is our first choice for keeping that burden reasonable without choosing on weight alone.
At approximately 1.12 kg, it packs into a case about 37 cm long. That gives you useful measurements to check against your bag before buying. T3 recommends it as its best lightweight camping chair for its balance of comfort, stability and compact packing.
The catch is the approximately 38 cm seat height. If getting up from a low seat is already awkward, we’d look elsewhere. It also costs considerably more than the budget chairs below; that makes sense for regular carrying, less so for a chair that stays beside the car.
Pros
- Manageable carrying weight and a compact packed shape
- Washable seat makes cleaning easier
- Mesh panels allow ventilation
Cons
- Low seat may be awkward to get out of
- Considerably dearer than the budget picks
Our verdict: Buy the Chair One if portability matters on most trips. If you’re only carrying it from the boot to your campsite, we’d choose the cheaper Big Boy.
2. Best for upper-body support: Helinox Chair One Highback
A portable seat isn’t much help if you spend the evening wanting more support behind your shoulders. The Helinox Chair One Highback addresses that with an upper-back and shoulder-supporting design while keeping its listed weight to approximately 1.28 kg.
CleverHiker recommends it as its most comfortable ultralight chair for campers wanting upper-body support without a bulky folding chair. That’s a good reason to consider it if comfort is what stopped you buying a smaller chair.
You pay more than for the standard Chair One, and the packed case is longer. Our take is that the extra support earns its cost if you spend long stretches sitting at camp. If you mostly stop for a quick meal, choose the standard model.
Pros
- Upper-back and shoulder support for longer seated breaks
- Keeps carrying weight modest despite the higher back
- Washable fabric simplifies cleanup
Cons
- Costs more than the standard Chair One
- Longer packed case needs more room in your bag
Our verdict: Choose the Highback when upper-body support matters enough to justify the extra cost and packing space.
3. Best for backpacking with recline: NEMO Moonlite Elite
If your pack is already heavy, adding a chair needs a clear reason. The NEMO Moonlite Elite gives you adjustable recline at a listed weight of approximately 539 g, so you can change your sitting angle without committing to a car-camping lounger.
4X4 Australia recommends it as its best compact chair for its small packed size, reclining comfort and quality construction.
It’s the dearest pick in this guide. We’d reserve that spend for someone who will regularly carry it and use the reclining adjustment. The supplied specifications don’t include packed dimensions or a load limit, so confirm both before deciding it fits your pack and requirements.
Pros
- Low listed weight reduces the load you carry
- Adjustable sitting angle suits meals and relaxed breaks
Cons
- Most expensive chair in this guide
- Packed dimensions and load limit need confirmation before purchase
Our verdict: Worth considering for backpackers who want recline and can justify the cost. Occasional car campers should spend less.
4. Best for padded car-camping comfort: OZtrail Big Boy Arm Chair
When the car does the carrying, we’d put more of the budget towards a comfortable seat. The OZtrail Big Boy makes that case with padded fabric and somewhere to keep your drink and small essentials close.
Australian Geographic recommends it for roomy, supportive comfort, strong construction and good value for recreational camping and outback touring. It also costs substantially less than either Helinox here.
Our take is that this is the sensible comfort buy for trips where walking with the chair isn’t the priority. The missing weight, packed dimensions and load limit are the catch: check those before buying, particularly if boot space or capacity is a concern.
Pros
- Padding suits buyers prioritising seated comfort
- Drink storage and organiser keep essentials nearby
- Lower cost than the independently recommended lightweight picks
Cons
- Missing carrying weight and packed measurements make transport harder to judge
- Load capacity needs checking before purchase
Our verdict: Our value choice for padded car-camping comfort. Confirm its dimensions and capacity, then choose it over a dearer portable chair if you won’t be carrying far.
5. Best budget armchair: OZtrail Classic Camping Arm Chair
Buying several seats for a campsite can get expensive quickly. The OZtrail Classic is the cheapest pick here, with a drink holder and a carry bag.
It was ranked number 1 in Camping Chairs on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check, so its sales position is the reason it makes this list.
You give up the Big Boy’s padding, and OZtrail states a 110 kg capacity. That’s a reason to check who’ll use it before buying a set. For occasional use within that limit, we wouldn’t pay more merely to get a longer feature list.
Pros
- Lowest purchase cost in this guide
- Built-in holder keeps a drink within reach
- Carry bag makes storage and transport easier
Cons
- Single-layer seat lacks the Big Boy’s padding
- Unsuitable for anyone above its stated 110 kg capacity
Our verdict: Choose the Classic for inexpensive, occasional seating. Spend more on the Big Boy if padding is the reason you’re replacing your current chair.
6. Best budget compact chair: Levede Camping Chair
A low price doesn’t solve the problem if the chair won’t fit with your other gear. The Levede Camping Chair gives you a compact bag shape to plan around, at a price close to the OZtrail Classic.
Its carry bag measures 42 × 12.5 × 14.5 cm, and the chair weighs 1.75 kg. Levede says elastic cords connect the frame sections to make assembly quick. You still have to assemble that frame, so choose it because the packing format suits you.
It was ranked number 10 in Camping Chairs on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check. That keeps our recommendation cautious despite the low price.
Pros
- Compact bag dimensions help with packing
- Low price makes occasional use easier to justify
- Connected frame sections help with assembly
Cons
- Frame assembly adds a step before you can sit
- No independent owner rating to support a comfort judgement
Our verdict: A reasonable budget choice when packed size drives the decision. Choose an independently recommended chair above if you’re paying for greater confidence in comfort.
How we chose
These reviews draw on owner ratings where available, independent recommendations, maker specifications, and price and stock checks. No independent owner ratings were available for these six picks at the retailers we check. Independently recommended products come first, ordered by their recommended strengths, features and price; sales-ranked choices follow.
All six were in stock at Amazon Australia when checked, and Amazon was the only retailer recorded as stocking each pick in the supplied data. Check the warranty and returns terms on the offer before ordering.
Camping chair buying guide
If you’re carrying it, check weight and packed size together
A chair can be manageable to lift but awkward to fit in your bag. Check both measurements against the space you have after packing food, clothing and sleeping gear. If weight or folded dimensions are missing, get them before buying for a walking trip.
For car camping, don’t pay extra to save carrying weight unless you’ll regularly move the chair a meaningful distance.
If comfort is the problem, choose the support you need
The most comfortable camping chair for you depends on what your current seat gets wrong. Padding addresses a different need from shoulder support or an adjustable sitting angle.
Choose padding if a basic fabric seat isn’t enough. Look for a higher back if you want support further up your body. Choose recline if leaning back is the whole reason you’re buying.
If low seats are awkward, check seat height before ordering
Overall chair height doesn’t tell you how far you’ll have to lower yourself to sit down. Look for the seat-height measurement, and compare it with a chair you already find easy to use.
Photos alone aren’t enough to judge fit.
If several people will use it, check the load limit
Buy for the people who’ll actually sit in the chair. Don’t infer capacity from steel tubing, aluminium construction or a product name. A missing load rating needs confirmation from the seller or manufacturer.
If you want the best compact camping chair, measure your storage space
Compact is useful only when the packed chair fits where you need it. Check the bag’s length as well as its width and depth against your boot, cupboard or backpack.
For occasional campsite seating, the budget Levede deserves consideration. For regular carrying, the independently recommended Helinox Chair One is our stronger choice.
If you’re watching the budget, pay for the feature you’ll use
We’d start with the OZtrail Classic for inexpensive seating, move to the Big Boy for padding, and spend more on the portable chairs when carrying is part of the trip.
A sales rank tells you a product sells. It doesn’t settle comfort, fit or durability.
Camping chair maintenance tips
Inspect it before packing
Check fabric, frame sections and connections for damage before leaving home. Make sure the chair is fully assembled before sitting, and follow its instructions for securing any moving parts.
Keep it clear of the campfire
Leave enough distance from flames and sparks to protect the fabric and frame. Don’t use the chair as a place to leave hot cooking equipment.
Clean it according to its instructions
Brush off loose dirt and follow the maker’s cleaning directions. Don’t assume every removable seat is machine washable.
Let the chair and its bag dry fully before storage.
Store it without crushing the frame
Keep it in a dry spot and avoid piling heavy gear on top. Before the next trip, check it again rather than discovering damage after you’ve unpacked at camp.
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