Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Beach Chair
Rio Beach Portable Compact Fold Breeze Beach Sling Chair
Tommy Bahama 2016 Backpack Cooler Beach Chair
When it comes to relaxing at the beach, nothing helps you achieve comfort like a high-quality beach chair. If you are there to work on your tan but do not want to lay on a hot towel on the sand, then you may want to look for the best beach chair that fully reclines. Other relax-friendly features to look for include models with UV protection and weather resistant fabrics, frames that fold easily and will not rust, and chairs that are simple to transport. We looked at numerous models and curated what we believe offer the best combination of features and value. Here is a list of beach chairs to consider.
The Best Beach Chair
1Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Beach Chair
If you are looking for one of the best low beach chairs that offers the most comfort and portability, the Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair is your best choice. The chair can be locked into any position, while an adjustable headrest and lumbar support add comfort where needed. No matter the location or event, this chair will tick off all the checkboxes for must-have features. While the fabric is made from outdoor-grade textiles, it also benefits from a “double bungee” system built into the frame to prevent unexpected collapse. A unique component is the proprietary “Dual Finger Tip Locking System,” newly engineered to let you lock the chair once reclined.
Because of its weight and folding feature, the Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair is a great choice for the backyard barbecue, a day at the beach, or a weekend camping. Once reclined and elevated, the chair reduces pressure on the back and simulates gravity-free environment that astronauts experience in outer space. Make sure you also check our guide to the best camping chairs.
Maximum supported weight: 300 pounds.
Seat-to-floor clearance: 14.5 inches.
Made from high-strength steel.
Frame is iron phosphate powder-coated to inhibit corrosion.
- BrandCaravan Canopy
- Model80009000150
- Weight19 pounds
2Ostrich Chaise Lounge Beach Chair
The Ostrich Chaise Lounge Chair has been designed and engineered with two simple goals: To provide endless relaxation and maximum comfort. This is achieved by relentless independent testing, and manufacturing guidelines that ensure the best customer experience possible. Innovation drives function, allowing for the birth of a great design. Ostrich is committed to not only refining how chairs function at the beach, but anywhere else that comfort, durability, and portability are in demand. This is a truly versatile beach lounger which includes many outstanding features: A face cavity with patented open/close option so you can lay flat on your back or stomach; Multiple folding positions; and an included carrying strap for simple transportation.
Maximum supported weight: 250 pounds.
Reclining positions: 4.
Frame: Heavy-duty steel, powder-coated.
Material: Heavy-duty polyester.
- BrandOstrich
- ModelCHS-1002B
- Weight9.8 pounds
3Tommy Bahama 2016 Backpack Cooler Beach Chair
Made by the company with the motto “Living the Island Life,” the Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair exudes charm and helps fulfill the pleasures of simplicity – relaxing in style, breathing freely, and living life spontaneously. It is one of the best reclining beach chairs and features a lightweight, 5-position frame that can be reclined flat, plus an easy-to-carry backpack with pockets and storage options built-in, one of which is insulated and ideal for keeping cold beverages within reach. Once you sit down, you may decide that a nap is in order, all the more easy to enjoy with its built-in adjustable pillow, and contoured armrests with a hanging cup holder and compartment to stash your smartphone. This chair is available in the colors and designs synonymous with the name Tommy Bahama, and also comes with a storage pouch and towel bar. You can combine it with one of the camping tables from our list.
Seat-to-floor clearance: 8 inches.
Maximum supported weight: 300 pounds.
Reclining positions: 5.
Material: 600 Denier polyester.
Molded armrests with cellphone and cup holder.
- BrandTommy Bahama
- ModelSC539BT
- Weight7.7 pounds
4SwimWays Kelsyus Original Canopy Chair
In case you were wondering, it is pretty much impossible to get away from the sun. Without it, your life and our world would be, well, cosmic toast. While the sun’s energy is plentiful, too much can be harmful. Ultraviolet or UV rays are known to damage skin, causing sunburn, and resulting in signs of premature aging and even skin cancer. These are the risks you must defend against when enjoying time at the beach, and the SwimWays Kelsyus Original Canopy Chair makes it a little easier and less dangerous. It comes with a canopy which offers 50+ UPF sun protection (ultraviolet protection factor), meaning it has been tested to block up to 98 percent of harmful ultraviolet radiation. If you are concerned about skin damage from the sun, there is no better sun chair on the market.
One of the chair’s neatest features is the ability for the canopy to transform into a carrying bag when needed. Simply throw the strap over your shoulder and you are good to go. The seat is made of flexible, breathable mesh, allowing body heat to easily dissipate, and there are two contoured armrests with cup holders.
Maximum supported weight: 250 pounds.
UPF protection: 98 percent.
High-strength steel frame.
Seat width: 22 inches.
- BrandKelsyus
- Model80373
- Weight12 pounds
5KingCamp Low Sling Beach Camping Concert Folding Chair
Thanks to its oversized feet and low center of gravity, the KingCamp Low Sling Beach Camping Concert Folding Chair is stable on many surfaces. Constructed like other folding chairs, this folding chair is easy to open and close, much like an umbrella, and requires no assembly before first use. If you are larger sized with big arms, the chairs durable armrests are guaranteed to support your girth while at the same time being comfortable for prolonged seating periods.
Some other notable features include a carrying bag with strap, low ground clearance allowing you to solidly place your feet before standing, and mesh fabric that dries easily. It weighs slightly more than six pounds, making it easy to carry from one location to the next. Because the chair folds inward from the center, it is especially easy to carry and transport whether you are riding a bike, walking, or a passenger in a vehicle. The high-strength steel frame is worry free as it is coated with a rust-preventive finish. Our handy guide to the best beach tents features more great products like this.
Maximum supported weight: 300 pounds.
Seat-to-floor clearance: 8 inches.
Frame: Heavy-duty steel, powder-coated.
Material: Reinforced mesh.
- BrandKingCamp
- Model6927194724878
- Weight 6.61 pounds
6Kelty Low Loveseat Chair
Nothing says amore at the beach than this Kelty Low Loveseat Chair. With comfortable seating for two, there is no reason why you cannot get cuddly with your favorite someone. Camping or beach friendly, this two-for has all the features you would expect, such as a steel frame for durability, double-insulated cup holders, a slightly reclined backrest, and 600 Denier polyester fabric that resists damage from the sun, water, and sand. The Kelty Low Loveseat Chair is also a great addition to your camping gear and is a great option to outdoor sporting events where seating is at a premium. It is one of the best beach chairs available for two people.
Maximum supported weight: 500 pounds.
Seat-to-floor clearance: 13.5 inches.
Frame: Steel.
Material: 600 Denier polyester.
- BrandKelty
- Model61510719
- Weight15.6 pounds
7STRONGBACK Low Gravity Beach Chair
The STRONGBACK Low Gravity Beach Chair with Lumbar Support has all the characteristics you expect to find in a high-quality low gravity chair. The bottom is low to the ground, it has an all-steel lightweight frame, and a weather-resistant covering made of 600 Denier polyester. If you have spent any time close to the water, with beachgoers or pets splashing nearby, you know that low gravity chairs can get very wet – and often retain water. Not so with this chair. The polyester mesh fabric repels water, and the design allows water to pass through it. One of the best low beach chairs for the money, it has a patented ergonomic design, solid armrests, and folds easily. An ideal chair for the beach, camping, outdoor games, and sporting events, it has a low center of gravity and feet placed 20.5 inches apart to give it a stable feel.
The chair has a comfortable ergonomic design, allowing your back, arms, and head to stay supported even for extended periods of sitting. The armrests are padded and especially comfortable, with a cupholder on the right side to give you easy access to your favorite chilled beverage. Thanks to its lightweight all steel design, the STRONGBACK Low Gravity Beach Chair will support up to 300 pounds. It is fairly compact, too, as its dimensions are (W x D x H) 21.5 x 23.5 x 24 inches (55 x 60 x 61 cm). Taking it with you is easy because of its weight and the fact it includes a storage bag.
Maximum supported weight: 300 pounds.
Seat-to-floor clearance: 4.5 inches.
Frame: Steel.
Material: 600 Denier polyester.
- BrandSTRONGBACK
- Model400LC15-BKGR
- Weight8.5 pounds
8Rio Beach Portable Compact Fold Breeze Beach Sling Chair
Easily foldable, the Breeze Beach sling chair is comfortable to sit on and features breathable mesh fabric that does not retain water and allows for air flow. It is a compact beach chair whose design makes it easy to carry and the chair comes with a storage bag and padded shoulder strap. There are a number of other design queues that make this an ideal companion when camping or present at different outdoor activities, such as a large, foam pillow headrest and cup holder for your favorite beverages. All of the features of this chair allow it to compete with more expensive options and will leave you satisfied with your choice.
Maximum supported weight: 250 pounds.
Seat-to-floor clearance: 13.5 inches.
Frame: Powder-coated steel.
Material: Breathable mesh.
- BrandRIO Gear
- ModelABHC101-14-1
- Weight10 pounds
Beach Chair Buying Guide & FAQ
How Do We Choose Our Selection Of Best Beach Chairs?
With the summer just around the corner, now is right time to be in the market for the best beach chair available. A vast selection of affordably priced and innovative chairs can be had, if only you know where to look and how to decide on the right feature set. If you are going to the beach or need comfortable seating for an outdoor concert or sporting event, a compact beach chair may be your best choice.
In our search for the best beach chair, we searched diligently for products that combined value with useful features. We wanted a beach lounger that would be comfortable and easy to transport, but we also looked at other characteristics that consumers key on when making a purchasing decision.
- Brand – We considered beach chairs from the top names in the business: Caravan Canopy, Ostrich, Tommy Bahama, Kelsyus, KingCamp, Kelty, STRONGBACK, BeachMall, RIO Gear, and PORTAL.
- Customer Reviews – Yes, these are important, but we put more weight in features.
- Design – It is the little things that matter with a beach chair, like lightweight frames and breathable fabric that is weather resistant.
- Price – Buying a beach chair should not equal a car payment, so we looked at value for the money.
Features To Look For In A Beach Chair
Beyond those most basic criteria, there are other features to consider. When considering what beach lounger to buy, you have some questions to ask yourself: How often will I need to take a chair with me for on-demand seating? Am I looking for something that I will not use often? Can my body withstand a mesh seat back for several hours of sitting?
Portability – Exerting the least amount of effort when spending the day at the beach is what a vacation is all about, right? If you have a goal of relaxing or grabbing a few rays of sunshine near a popular body of water – freshwater or salt, the last thing you need to worry about is lugging a large, heavy, beach chair with you. Portability is a critically important factor when choosing a lightweight beach chair. You want something that folds, and a chair that can be stowed in a backpack, beach bag, or comes with its own pouch or carrying case.
Durability – If you are spending time at the beach, chances are better than not that you will be there during primary sunlight hours. Any beach chair you choose, regardless of style, needs to be treated with UV protection, with any steel or aluminum surfaces also coated to inhibit rust or other corrosion caused by salt water or sand. Durability is another key consideration. Besides wanting a chair that resists damage from the sun, water, and wind, you want a model highly rated for its ability to withstand constant use. And by constant, we mean regularly being folded, unfolded, moved, and tossed into the back of your minivan or SUV, or hung on a rack in the back of your garage.
Comfort – Now that you have decided to go to the beach, one word should be foremost in your mind – relaxation. If you are enjoying a full-blown vacation or just a few precious hours away, comfortable beach chairs should be able to provide a level of comfort, so you can relax and take your mind off any stress in your life. The ideal beach chair will adequately support the lower half of your body, as well as offer support for your back and neck. A padded headrest and armrests are a nice feature to look into, too.
Cup Holders – Now that you are at the beach and relaxing, you take a sip from your favorite ice-cold beverage and then realize you have nowhere to put it. You do not want to put it near your feet in the sand or set it on a towel. It will spill. What you should have done was bought a sun chair with ample cup holders, preferably one built into each armrest. If possible, look for a cupholder with expandable mesh sides and a solid plastic support to hold the bottom of the cup. The expandable mesh will accommodate different size beverage containers, giving you more options when needed.
Storage Pockets – In case you have not noticed, just about anyone who spends time at a beach needs to store items from time to time. If you are reclining to catch some rays, where will you put your bottle of sunscreen? Or your cellphone? Or your digital camera? No piece of electronic equipment should be set on the sand – even if they have an IP68 rating. In other words, storage pockets are absolutely essential. Some beach chairs have them underneath the seat or armrests, while others have them integrated into the back support. You want storage pockets that are large enough to hold items you need to regularly access, but not so large they will be a problem when folding or transporting the chair.
Types Of Beach Chairs
As the name suggests, beach chairs are different kinds of outdoor seating, meant to be used at the beach, but also can be used almost anywhere outdoors where seating is required. The typical reaction of most consumers is a dismissive shrug of the shoulders, as if to say, “There cannot possibly be that many kinds of beach chairs, right?” Au contraire! There is a surprising variety of beach loungers available at different price points, each with unique features you will find useful depending on the situation. Over the years, companies learned what consumers wanted and needed, a combination of practicality, price, and must-have options. Of course, vanity and brand loyalty play a role, partially explaining while a lifestyle company such as Tommy Bahama now makes beach chairs. Here are the main types of beach chairs to be aware of during your search.
Low Gravity – These low beach chairs have their seats close to the ground, usually with less than 12 inches of clearance. Most models are characterized by a low profile, ergonomically designed seat for maximum comfort, large feet pads so the chair does not sink, padded armrest and headrest, and lumbar support. This kind of chair is of the folding variety and often, folding chairs are top sellers because of their portability. They are great for many outdoor activities, such as a day at the beach, camping, hiking, a picnic at the park, or just lounging in your backyard after a long day at work. Folding beach chairs, thanks to the Tommy Bahamas of the world, are now style fixture at upscale hotels and high-end resorts as they dot poolside patios and cafes. Their most attractive feature is portability, as a folding beach lounger can be quickly folded for transport or storage. Now, you can take your favorite beach chair from one destination to the next. The most popular materials they are made of include high-strength steel or aluminum, plastic, or treated wood, with weather resistant polyester and other fabrics to cover the frames and armrests. Manufacturers like Strongback work diligently to make different kinds of low gravity chairs to meet consumer needs.
Reclining – These types of beach chairs may be your best choice if you want to work on your tan. Most reclining beach chairs include all the modern comforts you hope to find in a high-quality beach lounger – padded support for arms, head, and back, handy storage pockets – but their biggest selling feature is the one not offered by other kinds. That is, of course, the ability to recline into multiple positions. Some chairs recline flat, others only a few positions. It is important to find a chair that fits your needs. If you will be at the beach and expect to be active, then a full-recline model would not be your best choice. Above all else, a reclining chair should be comfortable and allow you to easily stand when needed.
Camping – Who can get along when camping and not have a portable chair to take with them? After a productive day of hiking, tossing a frisbee, grilling dinner, or clearing brush from the campsite, you deserve to relax. A high-quality chair is a great option, a piece of portable furniture you can set up almost anywhere, and just kick back and relax, have a drink, share conversation with family or friends. The ideal chair is one that is durable, easy to store, and can be left exposed to the elements. It has to be something you can quickly fold up and toss in the back of your truck or RV, and not have to worry about being damaged while moving around. These chairs also should have the creature comforts you have come to expect, like an adjustable back, sag-free seat, padded arms rests with cupholder, and lumbar support.
Beach Chair FAQ
Q: What are beach chairs made of?
A: Beach chairs can be made from a variety of materials. The most popular choices are steel, aluminum, or wood.
Steel - These kinds of chairs are known for their durability, but they are often more expensive and heavier than aluminum or wood and need to be cared for properly, so they do not rust. Most steel beach chairs made in the last five to 10 years have frames which are powder-coated with rust inhibitors.
Aluminum - Aluminum beach chairs are lighter than steel chairs, easier to fold, and often less expensive. They, too, have frames which are pre-treated with rust inhibitors. But unlike steel chairs, these kinds may accumulate their share dents if not handled with care.
Wood - Wooden beach chairs are revered for their timeless appearance and their ability to blend in with different environments. They will not look out of place at the beach, around the pool at a high-end resort, or at your camping site. Unlike steel or aluminum, a wood-frame chair will not be hot or uncomfortable to the touch as the temperature rises. Like other materials, the wood is pre-treated to weather different weather conditions, as well as sand and salt. Wooden beach chairs are heavier than their aluminum counterparts, but also have the advantage of lasting longer as they can be refinished every few years to maintain their appearance and functionality.
Q: Do canopy beach chairs offer UV sun protection?
A: Most canopy beach chairs sold today do offer some measure of UV sun protection. Everyone knows the sun’s energy is constant, but it also can be dangerous if you are exposed to it for too long of a period. Today, we know that ultraviolet or UV rays can damage the skin, hair, and eyes, cause painful sunburns, and in the worst-case scenarios cause premature signs of aging or skin cancer. If you are worried about these kinds of risks while at the beach, protect yourself with sun screen, and also think about buying a canopy beach chair with a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating. The SwimWays Kelsyus Original Canopy Chair and other similar models would be a good choice. This specific chair offers 50+ UPF sun protection, meaning it can block up to 98 percent of harmful ultraviolet radiation
Q: Are lightweight beach chairs better than a model which reclines?
A: Not necessarily. When shopping for a beach chair, it is important to find a model which suits your needs. If you would like to work on a suntan at the beach, then a fully reclining chair would be advisable. But lightweight beach chairs are sometimes easier to fold and carry.
Q: Can beach chairs be left outside when not in use?
A: Yes, but not indefinitely between seasons. Most beach chairs today are weather resistant, but their finish and fabric can be damaged over time if left exposed to weather extremes for long periods of time.
Q: Are there beach chairs made for children?
A: Absolutely! Many companies make beach chairs for children, with models that mimic chairs for adults. They often come with the same features, but are smaller, lighter, and made with brighter colors that kids find attractive.
