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When you need a break from soaking up the sun on your beach towel, you can sit in a lightweight, portable chair. Though you can use any folding chair on the beach, beach-specific options are especially durable and low to the ground for rust prevention and stability. In preparation for your next beach day, the This Old House Team researched the best beach chairs on Amazon. Learn more about our top five recommendations below.
Compare the Best Beach Chairs
| Product | Material | Weight | Weight Capacity | Extra Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman Camping Chair | Polyester and steel | 8.2 pounds | 325 pounds | Cup holder, drink cooler, storage pocket |
| Tommy Bahama Beach Chair | Polyester, aluminum, and wood | 7 pounds | 250 pounds | Cup holder, two storage pockets, head pillow, towel bar, can opener |
| Nice C Folding Chairs | Polyester and steel | 6.2 pounds | 300 pounds | Cup holder |
| Esright Lounge Chair | Textile and steel | 22.9 pounds | 370 pounds | None |
| Kelsyus Lawn Chair | Fabric and steel | 11.2 pounds | 250 pounds | Cup holder, canopy |
| Product | Material | Weight | Weight Capacity | Extra Features |
Top 5 Beach Chairs
- Best For Drinks: Coleman Camping Chair
- Most Portable: Tommy Bahama Beach Chair
- Best Pack: Nice C Folding Chairs
- Best for Lounging: Esright Chaise Lounge Chair
- Best for Shade: Kelsyus Original Canopy Chair
Best For Drinks: Coleman Camping Chair
Coleman Camping Chair
- $44.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Is made of a durable steel frame
✔ Holds up to 325 pounds
✔ Offered in multiple color options
✘ Users can’t recline in the chair
✘ The chair doesn’t include a stable surface to use as a small table
What Customers Are Saying
This portable camping chair garnered mostly positive reviews from customers who liked the wide seating area, multiple storage pockets, and included carrying bag. Happy customers also highlighted the chair’s comfortable shape and angle. However, some users thought that the chair was too wide and the cup holder was too small.
Most Portable: Tommy Bahama Beach Chair
Tommy Bahama Beach Chair
- $92.72
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has tilt-lock protection and multiple reclining positions
✔ Features a headrest for additional comfort
✔ Can carry the chair as a backpack using its built-in straps
✘ The chair may be too low to the ground for some users to find comfortable
✘ Is the most expensive beach chair in this review
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied users thought that this chair was durable and comfortable. Many customers also mentioned the insulated drink storage pouch in their reviews, and others were able to store their cell phone and other valuables without getting sand on them. Alternatively, some customers experienced issues with the frame cracking and the arm finishes being mismatched.
Best Pack: Nice C Folding Chairs
Nice C Folding Chairs
- $79.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ The chairs come in a pack of two to seat a friend or loved one
✔ Each chair has its own built-in cupholder
✔ The chair sets up and stores away in seconds
✘ The chair presented some comfort issues for taller users
✘ Some customers said that the cupholders were too low to the ground
What Customers Are Saying
Positively, customers appreciated how sturdy and lightweight these chairs were. They also liked that the chairs were sold in a pack of two so that they could enjoy concerts, beaches, campsites, and other adventures with their partner. Negatively, some users reported issues with the fabric seams tearing after sitting in the chairs a few times.
Best for Lounging: Esright Chaise Lounge Chair
Esright Chaise Lounge Chair
- $79.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Though the chair fully reclines, it has armrests to make sitting up more comfortable
✔ No assembly required
✔ Comes with a one-year warranty
✘ The chairs aren’t as portable or compact as other beach loungers in this review
✘ Some customers had trouble folding the foot of the chair in and out
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied users mentioned that this chaise lounge chair felt reasonably priced and sturdy given the overall quality of its materials. Although heavy, most users were able to carry the folded chair with one hand. Some users did have trouble folding the chair, as it didn’t have a clip to secure it.
Best for Shade: Kelsyus Original Canopy Chair
Kelsyus Original Canopy Chair
- $57.66
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Includes a mesh cupholder on one of the armrests
✔ The chair can be used without the shade canopy if users want more sun
✔ The rounded front edge of the seat won’t cut into the back of users’ legs
✘ Only supports up to 250 pounds
✘ The chair is heavier than other options in this review
What Customers Are Saying
Besides the built-in shade canopy making this portable chair useful for hot, sunny days, happy users appreciated the chair’s sturdiness, quick setup, and comfort. Unhappy customers found the chair to be heavy and, thus, cumbersome to carry.
Buyer’s Guide
Finding the perfect chair for the beach can take some research. Although most beach chairs have similar characteristics, here are some factors to keep an eye out for as you’re making your next purchase.
Material
Beach chairs come in various materials. With exposure to water, salt, sand, and sunlight, a durable material is a necessity. Aluminum and powder-coated steel are common materials for chair frames because of their rust and corrosion resistance. Polyester is a durable option for the seat, with mesh also being common for breathability.
Reclining Angle
All beach chairs allow the user to sit at a relatively comfortable angle, but some loungers lay flat or nearly-flat for complete relaxation. If you want multiple comfort options, choose a beach chair that reclines and locks into several different positions.
Weight Capacity
Some beach chairs are lightweight, making them easy to carry from the beach to the car. However, because of this lightweight construction, they tend to have a lower weight capacity of 150-200 pounds. If you want a long-lasting beach chair, choose a model with a higher weight capacity of 300-350 pounds.
Portability
All foldable beach chairs are designed to be easy to carry, but some are more cumbersome than others. Inversely related to weight capacity, the lighter and easier to carry, the less weight the chair will likely be able to support. To make carrying easy, the chair should have a built-in carrying strap or storage bag.
Features
Canopies, cup holders, pillows, pouches, coolers, and other features make a beach chair multifunctional. For example, you don’t need to buy or carry an umbrella if your chair has a built-in canopy. Look for these extra features if you want to get more value from your beach chair purchase.
Color and Style
Although your beach chair isn’t an integral part of your home’s decor, you can look stylish while hanging out on the beach. Find a beach chair in a color and finish you enjoy looking at, and one that’s easy to recognize when you make your way from the water back to your spot. You can also find a beach chair that matches the color of beach towels you have.
How To Stay Comfortable at the Beach
Beach chairs are a practical and convenient way to sit comfortably on the sand. However, here are some additional pointers to help make your time at the beach more relaxing and enjoyable:
- Embrace the sand. It’s inevitable for sand to get all over your belongings, so leave some of your valuables back at the house or hotel. Wear open-toed sandals—or no shoes at all—so that sand doesn’t get in your socks and sneakers.
- Drink plenty of water. Even if the ocean feels cold, you’re still sweating if it’s hot outside.
- Unplug from social media and work. The soothing noise of the waves crashing against the shore can be relaxing and even meditative. The beach may also be a good place to listen to your favorite podcast or playlist.
- If you burn easily, apply high-SPF sunscreen before you go outside. Make sure to get every area of your body, including the tops of your feet and ears, and reapply every few hours. You can also use a canopy or umbrella along with your beach chair to limit the amount of sunscreen you need to apply.
- For general safety and preparedness, consider bringing a basic first aid kit in your beach bag.
- Bring some type of ball to throw around if you get bored easily. There are also a variety of fun, casual yard games that you can play on the beach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beach Chairs
What are some of the benefits of a folding beach chair?
Some of the benefits of a folding beach chair include their portability, durability, and resistance to water, sun, and sand damage. Many beach chairs also pack into carrying bags or feature backpack straps to make transport as effortless as possible.
Why are beach chairs low to the ground?
It’s difficult to keep a chair steady in the sand because of the movement of the granules. A beach chair that’s low to the ground has a lower center of gravity for better stability.
What is the most important consideration when purchasing a beach chair?
In most cases, the most important consideration is personal comfort when purchasing a non-reclining or reclining beach chair. However, you may have other priorities. In addition to the factors in the buying guide, also consider:
- Portability
- Manufacturer
- Number of positive customer reviews
- Overall durability
How do I carry a beach chair?
Most beach chairs fold into an included carrying pouch with a shoulder strap. If yours doesn’t come with a carrying case, you can carry it in your arms or fasten it to your backpack with a carabiner or bungee cord. Some models function as backpack beach chairs, featuring their own built-in straps.
Why Trust The This Old House Team
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We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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