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We focused on comfort, portability, and extra features while testing the best beach chairs for lounging by the shore. pop up privacy tent
Few things are quite as relaxing as spending time on the beach, feet in the sand with waves lapping your toes in the warm sunshine. Laying on an uncomfortable towel and getting sand everywhere can certainly ruin the mood, but that’s when a good beach chair can save the day. As a beach lover and traveler, I’ve used many types of beach chairs, which I can confirm are not all created equal. From lugging a hefty seat and using one that’s difficult to set up, to being uncomfortable while trying to lounge, my experiences with poorly designed models have taught me what to look out for when choosing my next beach chair. Portability, ease of use, durability, and comfort are all key features that I’ve made my top priorities (bonus points for a chair that features cup holders, built-in shades, and the ability to carry it as a backpack).
With so many beach chairs to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find the best one for you. So along with my personal insights, the Travel + Leisure team tested a wide array of products. From reclining beach chairs to hammock-style seaside seats, we’ve rounded up the best beach chairs for your relaxing beach days.
It has five seating positions, a lightweight design that doesn't sacrifice durability, and a cup holder for drinks.
It lacks a head rest/pillow.
I love a beach chair that combines intuitive features for optimal comfort without the bulk. The RIO Beach Classic 5-position Beach Chair fits the bill, and without breaking the bank. For me, a beach chair with multi-position options is key, but I really like that this one offers a lay-flat choice as well. The padded shoulder carry strap and lightweight design means you won’t have to struggle to carry it to or on the beach, which is a major bonus in my book. It folds and sets up with ease so you don’t have to waste fun in the sun.
This chair is sturdy and durable, with reinforced stitching so it doesn’t rip. It also comes in a wide array of colors and designs and has a cup holder for drinks. The built-in tilt-lock protection prevents haphazard folding of the chair, thanks to the locking bracket. The material wipes clean in a breeze if you spill on it, too. I’ve used this chair at the beach, by the pool, and even at the lake; it’s comfortable to lounge in the sun, read a book, or just hang out in.
The Details: Aluminum, polyester | 30.8 x 24.75 x 29.5 inches | 7 pounds | 250-pound weight capacity
It can easily convert into a backpack thanks to its lightly padded straps and lightweight design.
Opening and closing the chair requires a bit of a learning curve.
A backpack-style beach chair makes it easier to carry, allowing for your hands to be free to lug other items for your day on the coast. The Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair was our top pick in this category thanks to the lightly padded straps and lightweight design for carrying comfort as key features. Highlights include the detachable pillow, arm rests, and the option to fully recline for enhanced comfort. We also liked how sturdy the chair felt once the legs were locked, the rust-proof frame, and the two spacious zippered pockets located on the back. While one is dedicated for drinks or cold snacks, the other is great for a hat, book, bottles of sunscreen, keys, or other small but important items. Although the price point is higher than other comparable models, we feel it’s a worthwhile investment for a durable and practical beach chair that will last for years of relaxing with your feet in the sand.
The Details: Aluminum, polyester | 24 x 25 x 30 inches | 8 pounds | 300-pound weight capacity
It rolls effortlessly, making it easy to navigate the walk to the beach and on the sand.
There’s no cup holder.
For easy portability, we love the Mac Sports Beach Day Foldable Chaise Lounge Chair for its wheels. Although it’s heavier than other models, it has an integrated pull-cart combination for carrying not just the chair, but your other beach gear as well. We were able to put a cooler full of snacks, beach umbrella, and several other chairs in it on our trip to the beach and were impressed at how lightweight and maneuverable it remained.
The chair opened and closed easily, though there’s a bit of a learning curve at first with the multi-step set-up process. We found it comfortable with a pillow and four sitting positions, and we enjoyed having our legs raised off the sand and felt it was sturdy and durable. This chair has the ability to turn into a wagon, making it a great option for families or beach goers who have extra things to carry.
The Details: Aluminum, polyester, plastic | 60.6 x 30.3 x 23.6 inches | 19 pounds | 225-pound weight capacity
With higher weight, the seat portion can almost touch the ground.
A hammock-style beach chair promotes ultimate relaxation, and the Helinox Beach Chair is our favorite. Not only is it ultra-lightweight, making it super portable, but it’s breathable as well, perfect for those hot sunny beach days. The high back and low profile design make it easy to sit back and enjoy the scenery, read a book, watch the waves, or take a nap. We loved how easy it was to set up; it took less than a minute. We also appreciated how quickly the fabric dried so you don’t have to put a wet chair in your car when leaving the beach. The chair felt durable with sturdy poles and feet that prevent sinking into the sand.
The Details: Aluminum, polyester ripstop, mesh | 31 x 23 x 28.5 inches | 3.5 pounds | 320-pound weight capacity
It has an adjustable padded foot rest.
It’s a bit pricier than other chairs on this list.
We love the extra comfort details of the Ostrich Deluxe 3-in-1 Beach Chair, with a padded footrest, cup holder, side pockets, and adjustable lumbar pillow. The wider frame makes it a roomy seat and the padded strap for carrying and its lightweight profile make it easy to transport. We love how it folds up for storing nicely in the back of the car as well. We also appreciate the five sitting positions so you can decide what level you’d like to lay at during napping, sunbathing, or reading. The chair feels sturdy, well-made, and durable. The unique ability to lay on your stomach with your head comfortably in the open face cavity makes this beach chair extremely easy to find your preferred position. Wider arm rests and a zippered side pocket are additional features that make this our most comfortable pick along with its overall design.
The Details: Wood, aluminum, polyester | 60.76 x 28.1 x 39.75 inches | 9.5 pounds | 275-pound weight capacity
It’s a versatile chair that sits low to the ground and has a UPF 50+ rated shade.
It doesn’t come with a pillow, so depending on your height, your head might rest against the bar.
We love how aesthetically pleasing the Sunflow The Original Chair is in addition to its comfort level for all-day use and built-in sun protection. The UPF 50+ rated shade with this chair is a fantastic option for those who want sun protection but don’t want to lug a bulky umbrella to the beach. We love that it reclines in four positions for napping, reading, eating, or listening to music. A built-in drink holder is ideal as well, so you don’t have to put your cup or water bottle in the sand. Its compact and lightweight design not only make it extremely portable, but also easy to store when you’re done using it for the day. We also appreciate that it comes with detachable backpack straps for carrying. Although the price point is higher than other models, this beach chair is a worthy investment due to its durability, comfort level, and extra sun protection.
The Details: Aluminum, polyester | 24 x 22.5 x 5 inches | 9.4 pounds | 250-pound weight capacity
It’s sturdy, yet portable.
The cup holder doesn’t fit wider water bottles.
We love the durable, high-quality Parkit Voyager Chair for its stylish aesthetic, functionality, and lightweight design. Although it doesn’t come with a carrying case, built-in shoulder straps make it easy to transport. We appreciate how easy it was to open and set up, and we especially like the included cooler that can be attached to the beach chair by simply clipping it on.
Packing it up was a breeze as well, it could even be folded easily with one hand. It was comfortable to sit in for several hours, and although there was no adjustable recline, it was designed to have a slight built-in recline. We noticed the woven polyester material felt very durable and rip-resistant and overall, the chair was tough, sturdy, and supportive, while also easy to wipe clean.
The Details: Aircraft-grade Aluminum, woven polyester, faux teak | 32 x 16 x 22.5 inches | 12 pounds | 350-pound weight capacity
It features a lightweight design that's very durable and sturdy thanks to its aluminum frame.
We found the KingCamp Low Folding Beach Chair to be a very sturdy yet lightweight product that’s well-made and a worthy investment. We loved how easily it collapsed into a bag with a shoulder strap, making it easy to carry to and on the beach. No assembly is required, and once it’s out of the bag, it’s a breeze to unfold and start relaxing. The mesh material is perfect for hot days on the coast to keep you from getting too sweaty with optimal air flow. Padded armrests enhance the comfort level and the low profile seat allows for a more relaxed position where you can really stretch out your legs. We love that it comes with a cup holder with mesh on the bottom to let sand go through.
The Details: Aluminum frame, polyester | 24.8 x 23.2 x 25.2 inches | 6.5 pounds | 300-pound weight capacity
The reclining angle is easy to adjust.
The armrests don’t feel as sturdy as other models.
We love a reclining beach chair to achieve full relaxation mode and the Low Tides Dune High Backpack Beach Chair performed the best. We loved that it was lightweight and it opened and set up quickly and smoothly. Plus. the integrated backpack straps are easy and useful for transporting. The adjustment settings make the reclining easy to do and give you some versatility in angle, for whether you want to sit up and read or lay back and soak up some sun. We also loved how comfortable the chair was and appreciated the padded headrest. It sits low to the ground, allowing for stretching your legs out when reclined. We felt that the chair was durable, with rip-resistant fabric, and a sturdy, supportive frame.
The Details: Aluminum frame, repreve fibers | 37.4 x 28.6 x 19.9 inches | 8.8 pounds | 250-pound weight capacity
You can lay face down comfortably.
It’s a little on the heavier side.
For a chair that allows you to lay on your back or your stomach, the Ostrich On Your Back Backpack Beach Chair is our top pick, and just one of the reasons it’s so versatile. We love the wide backpack straps for ease of portability, particularly because they help to distribute the weight evenly. We found the chair to be very roomy, supportive, and comfortable with just enough give in the material and appreciated the cupholder so our drinks didn’t get sandy.
The included headrest enhances the comfort level with a hole for the option to lay on your stomach putting and arm holes for whether you want to read, nap, or scroll on your phone while at the beach. While this option is fantastic, laying on your stomach can be awkward for your legs, depending on your height. We found that propping them up with a rolled beach towel helps with this issue. With the wide array of features and options for laying how you’d prefer, this is our most versatile beach chair pick.
The Details: Steel frame, polyester | 46 x 27 x 33 inches | 10.56 pounds | 275-pound weight capacity
These beach chairs didn't quite make it onto our list of favorites because of a few minor issues we found upon testing. However, some travelers may still find they work for their needs.
Ostrich Chaise Lounge Beach Chair: We really liked the functionality of this chair, and the ability to put our face and arms through it to lay on our stomach for reading or tanning. We especially appreciated how its partially constructed from recycled ocean plastic. However, this chair lacked a cup holder and didn’t feel as durable as other chairs we tested.
Orbit Beach Chair: We love that this beach chair swivels and spins 360 degrees around and we found it quite comfortable to sit in. Unfortunately, though, it was pretty heavy, so we wouldn't recommend it for carrying longer distances.
For several months we traveled with and sat in several beach chairs to compare and contrast each one based on comfort, ease of use, portability, value, and durability. This included making notes on whether there were carrying straps, extra features like cup holders or canopies, and multiple reclining angles to pick the best beach chair to take with you on your next trip to the ocean.
Testing began as soon as the beach chairs were unboxed. We closely examined the quality of the chairs until we were confident buyers could expect them to arrive in pristine condition. Then, we packed up our beach necessities and set out for the ocean. We paid close attention to how easy it was to walk with them across the sand, and sat in them for at least a few hours to get a feel for comfort, durability, and stability. We also noted if there were any special features the chair brought to the table, especially to judge overall value of the beach chair.
When shopping for a beach chair, it’s key to prioritize durable materials since it will be exposed to elements like sand, salt water, and sun. Choosing a chair that can withstand more than one season of use will ensure you won’t have to purchase a new chair each summer. Look for a rust-proof frame and don’t forget to search for a beach chair that also has durable fabric. Materials like waterproof canvas or recycled 600D polyester are typically the best options as they can wipe clean and don’t hold as much sand, but will be hearty enough to remain durable.
No one enjoys lugging heavy items to the beach. Keeping portability at the top of your priority list can save you from the annoying task of carrying a beach chair blocks to the shore. A beach chair should be lightweight enough that it won’t weigh you down. It should also have an easy way to transport it, like backpack straps. You’ll also want to find a chair that can fold up (and stays folded until you open it), and store quickly without taking up too much space.
Sun protection is a fantastic feature to consider in your beach chair search so that you don’t have to carry a separate umbrella while still having the option for shade. Many chairs offer either an attached shade with UPF protection or an attached umbrella. This can make your beach setup more of an all-in-one situation versus having to transport several different items. However, if you prefer to keep your beach chair separate from your shade option, consider adding a tent or umbrella so that you have the option to get out of the sun when needed.
It really comes down to your preference, but ideally, the best beach chairs are portable, comfortable, and versatile, with options to recline to more than one position. Additional features like storage, cooler pouches, head rests, foot rests, cup holders, and face holes will depend upon how you like to relax on the beach and what you typically do while spending time in the sand. For instance, if you like to nap, you may want to choose a chair that can lie flat. If you prefer to lounge with your feet in the water, you may want to choose a chair that sits lower to the ground so you can extend your legs easier.
With so much potential exposure to water, beach chairs can easily get moldy. Make sure you clean them and ensure they’re dry before storing, and then store them in a moisture-free place. If this isn’t an option, you can also keep your beach chair in the basement, garage, or shed, but you might want to consider covering it if there's a chance it may get wet. If you do get mold or mildew spots, you can clean your chair using white distilled vinegar.
Aluminum chairs will be lighter than steel-framed beach chairs, but steel tends to be more durable. Rust-resistant frames are great as they’re already treated to handle it. If you don’t have a long walk to the beach, a steel chair will likely last longer and can handle more weight. What you choose will depend upon your specific needs and usage.
Writer Lauren Breedlove scoured our testing insights to find the best beach chairs. She also tapped into her own travel writing experience and love for the beach when using a variety of beach chairs. She’s vacationed on Florida beaches for many years and loves Tommy Bahama and the Rio Beach chair brands for their comfort, portability, and reclining abilities. Using these factors, she curated this list of top beach chairs for relaxing on the coast.
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