The best beach chairs we tested
Best beach chair: Tommy Bahama Wavy Marlin Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair
A long day at the beach can be one of the most relaxing ways to spend your time, but only if you come prepared. Along with beach towels, the best beach coolers, sunscreen and something to read, a dedicated beach chair is an essential piece of your beach packing list for maximum comfort. A good beach chair provides a sturdy, supportive place to sit, read, lie down, nap or just zone out. Unlike a typical fixed chair, beach chairs are designed with portability in mind, folding down to fit into a car trunk or hang on a garage wall, and often feature handles and backpack straps for hands-free transport to and from your vehicle.
To help differentiate between the huge number of options available — and ultimately choose the best option overall — we got our hands on 17 of the most popular beach chairs available for real-world testing. After several beach trips and evaluating each model on its comfort, usability and portability, there’s only one beach chair we recommend.
Best beach chair
Simple to use, packed with storage features and the most comfortable chair we tested, the Tommy Bahama Wavy Marlin Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair was a clear choice as our top pick.
Best beach chair: Tommy Bahama Wavy Marlin Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair
Equal parts comfortable, portable and functional, this Tommy Bahama chair was an easy choice as our top pick. First off, this chair is extremely comfortable to sit in. The wide, 22-inch seat provides enough space for a range of user sizes, and the polyester fabric has a nice balance of support and flexibility. Along with a built-in pillow that was significantly softer than any other I tested (most use a hard foam), this design makes for a truly relaxing experience.
This chair offers five reclining positions — which are very simple to adjust by lifting the armrests and leaning the chair to your desired setting — and a fold-out towel rack on the back allows you to lay the seatback flat. Because of the roomy 22-inch seat width (only the full-size Ostrich Chaise Lounge had a seat this wide), this fully reclined setting provides plenty of surface area to relax. For comparison, the chair most similar in size and functionality to this one was the Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair, which had a significantly narrower 19-inch seat.
The aluminum frame of the Tommy Bahama Beach Chair gives it a strong, sturdy feel, and even after my overzealous rocking and bouncing in the seat, I never experienced any noticeable instability or strength issues. The wooden armrests are attractive and give this chair an instant high-end feel over the plastic-armed competition. Along with its sturdy frame, they also make it easy and comfortable to stand up from a seated position.
Although the roomy seat and wooden armrests result in a 28-inch width when folded up (tied for the widest of any chair I tested), the well-designed carrying features help make up for the extra bulk. The padded backpack straps position the chair’s weight evenly, (at 9.1 pounds, it’s about average for my testing pool), and the textured rubber carrying handle on the top of the chair is much more comfortable than the fabric handles of the Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair and Rio brand chairs. I also appreciated a third option: a cutout on one of the armrests that allows for convenient briefcase-style carrying.
Finally, the Tommy Bahama Wavy Marlin Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair features plenty of storage options. You get a cup holder and Velcro storage pouch on one armrest — perfect for keeping your cell phone close but also out of the sun where it could overheat — and two large zippered pouches on the back of the seat. With one insulated pouch for cold drinks or snacks and the other for dry goods, this chair could easily double as your beach tote for the day.
Considering the overall stability and comfort, functional storage and variety of carrying options, choosing this chair is a no-brainer.
How we tested
To determine the best overall chair and help differentiate between models for more specific recommendations, I ran all 17 models through a comprehensive testing process.
Usability
- Operation: Right out of the box, I judged each chair on how easy it was to open and set up. I unfolded its frame, locked it in place and explored any available adjustment and reclining settings. I noted whether this process was straightforward or frustrating and complex, and timed the entire setup process to compare later. Several complex chairs included written instructions, which I evaluated on their helpfulness.
- Features: I utilized any additional features like cup holders, cooler pouches or storage pockets. I noted if they worked well and were convenient to use or if they felt like an afterthought that wasn’t designed with the user in mind.
Construction
- Comfort: During my beach and at-home testing, I sat in each chair for several hours to judge how comfortable it was to sit in. I evaluated how comfortable the fabric felt on my skin and the ergonomics of the shape, structure, and angle of the seatback (through all positions offered). I also noted any comfort-specific features like pillows and padding. Since beach chairs are typically low to the ground, I noted how comfortable each chair was to get up from the seated position and if any armrests lacked stability or width to support my weight.I also factored noise into this category, as some chairs had unexpectedly creaky, squeaky frames that affected the relaxation benefits.
- Durability: I stress-tested the frame and fabric by bouncing up and down on the seat, rocking back and forth, and doing my best to identify structural and stability issues. Even if the chair held up to this rudimentary test, any noticeable rattling or shifting in the frame (or lack of it) was a rough indicator of which were more likely to stand the test of time. I also factored in each chair’s recommended weight limit, which helped give a rough idea of its long-term durability.
- Material: I researched the materials of the chairs, which helped identify those significantly more durable than others that would potentially justify a higher-than-average price tag (such as the mind-boggling strong yet lightweight mesh of the Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair).
- Beach compatibility: While at the beach, I paid close attention to how the chairs interacted with the sand. I noted whether their legs sank lower than others, if any materials were particularly challenging to brush sand off and if they had more nooks and crannies that were inconvenient to clear sand out of when packing up.
Portability
- Size and weight: To compare how easy each chair was to carry, transport and store at home, I carefully measured the dimensions of each model when packed up (these dimensions tended to vary from the advertised measurements). I also weighed each chair with a luggage scale to identify any models lighter or heavier than average.
- Travel features: I also evaluated design features that made the chair easier to transport. I used any available backpack or shoulder straps and handles throughout my testing and compared their comfort and effectiveness. These features varied more than you might expect, and a fabric handle versus one with rigid rubber certainly affected my experience, especially when walking longer distances down the beach.
Do I need a beach chair?
If you’re more interested in lying on your beach towel all day, then no, you don’t need a beach chair. But if you plan on reading, monitoring young children or enjoying the beautiful scenery, you’d benefit from a beach chair. By providing the necessary back support to recline and relax your body, you’ll have a more comfortable experience overall. And if you do feel like stretching out on your towel, that’s still an easy option. Beach chairs are also low to the ground, allowing you to stretch your feet into the sand or water while keeping the rest of your body clean and dry. Many even offer built-in cup holders, storage pouches and cooler bags, allowing you to transport a few drinks and snacks without needing a separate cooler.
What to consider when purchasing a beach chair?
There are more differences between beach chairs than you’d think, so keep these factors in mind to ensure you end up with the best option for your needs.
Functionality
Bare-bones beach chairs simply unfold and provide nothing more than a place to sit. These could be ideal for those who don’t plan on sitting for hours at a time, and they’re typically light enough for easy transport (the Lawn Chair USA Charleston Beach Chair is a personal favorite for quick and easy operation). But if you want to achieve maximum relaxation — a common goal on beach days — you should look for a chair with multiple reclining options. Those who prefer to stay off the sand should consider the full-length size of a chaise-style chair (the Ostrich Chaise Lounge performed better than any other of these types).
Storage features
Consider the best type, size and quantity of storage features that would be most beneficial for you. While most — but not all — beach chairs feature some kind of cup holder for easy access to your drink, many also offer armrest-mounted storage pockets to keep your phone or keys within easy reach. Others, like the Tommy Bahama and Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair, provide insulated cooler bags to hold a few cans or drinks without needing a cooler. These models would be useful for those who prefer not to carry a separate beach tote or cooler. For maximum storage, the Mac Sports Beach Day Foldable Chaise Lounge Chair even transforms into a beach cart.
Portability
Size, weight and carrying features vary, so consider how much room you have in your garage or car, how far you need to travel once you’re at the beach and how much weight you can comfortably carry. Models with backpack straps, like the Tommy Bahama, Homevative and Pacific Breeze Lounger (or a shoulder strap like the Ostrich Chaise Lounge), can be carried hands-free, allowing you to haul more belongings in a single trip. If storage space is a priority, consider camping-style chairs that break down. These, like the Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair and the Helinox Beach Chair, require some assembly each time you want to use them but their ultra-compact and lightweight storage bags are much easier to store than typical beach chairs that fold down flat.
Other beach chairs we tested
Ostrich Chaise Lounge
If you’re interested in the full-length support of a chaise-style chair, this Ostrich model is a fantastic option. Its 6-foot length adjusts to four positions, including a completely flat setting that I found especially relaxing. By including a cleverly designed padded cutout underneath the pillow, and two cutouts on either side of the seatback, this chair allows you to comfortably read or nap while lying face down. Despite its impressive length, this chaise folds to a slim 4 inches thick, and at 9.8 pounds, weighs about as much as our top pick, the Tommy Bahama. A single shoulder strap is sufficient to carry this chair comfortably, and I appreciated the lack of excessive handles and straps. It lacks a cup holder or storage, but that’s typical for chaise-style chairs.
Kelty Lowdown Chair
A high-quality camping-style chair that’s low enough for beach use, this Kelty model features a cushioned seat and rock-solid steel frame. By extending through the armrest, this sturdy frame makes it especially comfortable to stand up from the seat, and it had no trouble supporting my weight. It’s powder-coated too, which came in handy when it was time to brush it off after a day at the beach. The expandable storage pocket is sectioned off into two compartments (one is a dedicated cup holder) and the heavy-duty storage roll keeps the chair tight and protected when folded up (its 32.5-inch length and 8-inch diameter is more compact than the Coleman Portable Camping Quad Chair, although still much longer than the 12.5-inch Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair or 19.5-inch Helinox Beach Chair). While it lacks a headrest or reclining feature, I found that the extra-deep 20-inch seat (only the Rio Beach 17-Inch Beach Chair With Deluxe Arms and the chaise-style models were deeper) allowed you to scoot forward enough to have some partial head support.
Helinox Beach Chair
Essentially a bigger, beefier version of the Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair, this Helinox model has the added benefit of a tall back and padded headrest (and still at an extremely light 3.16 pounds). While the assembly process is roughly the same — the bungee-connected frame pieces snap to their connections — stretching the seat over the frame corners takes a decent amount of effort and might not be ideal for those who want something a bit more low-stress. Although it doesn’t recline, I found the tall height and wide, scooped seat comfortable to sit in for hours at a time, and the wide-set feet had enough surface area not to sink into the sand. Helinox also offers an optional sunshade, which is a bit bulky and not the most convenient to assemble, but very effective for sun protection.
Lawn Chair USA Charleston Beach Chair
Combining the hassle-free design of a lawn chair with the low seat of a beach model, this Lawn Chair USA option is about as easy to use as it comes: just open it up and you’re ready to sit. Despite its sturdy build and rock-solid feel, this chair weighs just 3.5 pounds (only the Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair and Helinox Beach Chair weighed less), thanks to a rustproof aluminum frame. I also appreciate this company’s focus on sustainability, designing its chairs to be easily re-webbed if they ever wear out. You can even choose from a range of different webbing colors. The lack of a reclining option, cup holder and storage kept this chair out of our top spot. These issues might not be ideal for a long day at the beach but for shorter events like a kid’s soccer game or backyard BBQ, this compact chair could be the perfect choice.
Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair
Although this Homevative chair has a supportive, comfortable seat, the unstable armrests (looser than any other I tested) were concerning, particularly when using them to stand up from the seat. The tall, laced seatback and padded pillow made for a relaxing experience, and selecting the five reclining positions was simple and easy. Just like our top pick, the Tommy Bahama, the hanging cup holder and large storage pouch are nice perks, and I especially appreciated the attached carabiner which ensured my car keys didn’t end up lost in the sand. Its backpack straps are comfortable but the fabric carry handle is noticeably inferior to the rubber- or plastic-handled versions.
Rio Beach Lace-Up Backpack Chair
The thin fabric and hard seat of the Rio chair made it less comfortable than most chairs I tested, with a front frame that dug into my thighs more than most. Loose stitching and fraying Velcro on the headrest were also poor indicators of overall durability, and the leg-mounted cup holder was much less convenient to use than typical armrest-mounted options. The rear storage compartment also lacked the security of a zipper, instead opting for two adjustable closure straps. For its $80 price, there’s no reason not to purchase the Tommy Bahama instead.
Rio Beach Big 4-Position Folding Backpack Beach Chair
This was the best Rio beach chair I tested, and although it boasts many similarities to the Tommy Bahama, it proved inferior in several ways. First, despite the soft pillow, the squeaky and creaky fabric and frame were a constant issue. Second, the shallow cell phone slot on the armrest is much less protective and useful than the Velcro pouch of the Tommy Bahama. Finally, its price tag is $10 higher than the Tommy Bahama, so you don’t get a better deal. That said, the extra-large storage pocket on the back of the chair is roomy enough for a good amount of supplies, and the cooler pouch is still a convenient feature, so if the Tommy Bahama isn’t available, this could be a suitable alternative (as long as you don’t mind the squeaks).
Rio Beach 17-Inch Beach Chair With Deluxe Arms
Although the 17-inch seat is taller and thus more comfortable to sit down and stand up from, this Rio beach chair is incredibly noisy, and any movement results in loud squeaks from the fabric and creaks from the frame. This noise issue, plus its lack of a headrest, made this chair one of the least comfortable I tested. It’s also bulky when folded and annoyingly lacks a strap to keep it from swinging open when carrying. Unless your priority is a beach chair with a higher-than-average seat height, I recommend spending the extra $10 and purchasing the Tommy Bahama Wavy Marlin Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair instead.
Rio Beach Backpack Lounger
This chaise-style lounger features a nice taut fabric for support, but unfortunately, the adjustment mechanism broke after a few minutes. Since I couldn’t fully test this chair, and due to some quality-control concerns, I can’t recommend it to anyone. If a chaise-style chair is what you want, the Ostrich Chaise Lounge is a comfortable, reliable option for less than $10 more.
Salt & Swell Lowers Chair
This compact little chair is simple to open and close, and the powder-coated frame feels solid and reliable, but it lacked the comfort of most other chairs I tested. While the pad that covers the seat is thick and supportive, its Velcro attachment to the frame — unlike almost every other chair that comes as a single piece — was loose and flimsy, causing it to slide out of position over time. Its low back and lack of adjustment settings prevent you from leaning back, and the metal clip connecting the closure strap was less convenient to use than the plastic clips of other chairs. The small size and 5-pound weight make it easy to transport, although the backpack straps are uncomfortable as the protruding frame digs into the back of your neck.
Pacific Breeze Lounger, 2-Pack
The unique design of this model makes it much easier to transport and store than a typical chair, but it still has the necessary back support for upright sitting. Essentially a chaise-style chair with no legs, this lounger provides an extra-long 28-inch seatback and 47-inch pad (roughly the same size as the Ostrich Chaise Lounger), which allowed my 5-foot-10-inch frame to stretch completely straight with about 6 inches to spare. The folding steel support on the seatback was strong enough to handle my overzealous rocking and bouncing, and the 20-inch width was more than enough space to lie back and nap comfortably. The 1-inch foam lacks the taut support of a framed chair, but at just 6 pounds, the added portability could be worth the trade-off. Just know that since this chair is flat on the ground, it’s not as easy to get up from as a raised chair.
Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair
At $180, this camping-style chair isn’t cheap, but its high-quality materials and ultra-compact size could be a great choice for those who value portability over all else. Weighing just 1.2 pounds and measuring 12.5 inches long when packed into its carrying case, this chair is the lightest and smallest of any I tested, making it perfect for tossing into a backpack or tote bag.
While some assembly is required, this process is extremely user-friendly. The frame pieces are connected by elastic cords that make it practically impossible to connect incorrectly, and a large “bottom” tag on the seat ensures it’s oriented the right way when attached. Unlike most camping-style chairs, this one can recline (although not by much) and I appreciated that the storage bag doubles as a platform to keep the legs from sinking into the sand. The 11-inch-deep and 16-inch-wide seat is one of the smallest, though (for comparison, the Tommy Bahama seat is 22 inches wide by 17 inches deep), and the seatback lacks a headrest for maximum relaxation.
KingCamp Low-Sling Beach Chair
The low, wide-set legs of this KingCamp chair are better suited to sand than most camping-style chairs, and the collapsible design makes it a particularly portable option. The soft, cushioned mesh set is comfortable to sit on (and at 23 inches is tied for the widest of any chair we tested), and the sturdy, cushioned arms offer a stable foundation to push yourself up and out of. The alloy steel frame and 600D polyester material have a strong, sturdy feel, and the 300-pound weight limit makes it ideal for heavier users (not to mention a good indicator of its overall longevity). The low back height fails to offer a headrest, though, and the lack of any reclining feature prevented this from being a top recommendation.
Coleman Portable Camping Quad Chair
This camping-style collapsible chair has a sturdy, supportive seat, but the low back and lack of a headrest make it hard to recommend for beach use. But if leaning back or resting your head isn’t a priority, this is a high-quality option. It also features an impressive amount of storage options for refreshments and supplies: an insulated cooler pouch that fits four cans on one armrest, a mesh cup holder on the other and a larger mesh storage bag hanging from the seat. The 24-inch seat is higher than most (the Rio Beach 17-inch Beach Chair with Deluxe Arms is the next tallest) making it a convenient choice for those who may have issues getting up and down from a lower height.
Mac Sports 2-in-1 Beach Day Lounger and Cargo Cart
The multifunctional design of this Mac Sports model converts from a chaise-style chair to a pull-cart wagon, allowing you to transport nearly 4 cubic feet of beach supplies. This conversion from cart to chair is a fairly simple process — just unhook the mesh basket and unfold the frame — and the large tires and telescoping handle make it comfortable to pull across the sand. While the chair is comfortable and sturdy, and the headrest pillow was appreciated, I wish it could recline completely flat (like the Ostrich Chaise Lounge). The main drawback to this chair is its overall size. The beefy wheels create a bulky shape, and the 36-by-24-by-10-inch packed dimensions were the largest of any chair I tested. These wheels also frustratingly prevent you from leaning the chair against a wall or car when loading up and cause the bottom to roll outward and fall to the ground.
