Head-to-head · Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong vs REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.7 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Car campers and tailgaters who want maximum comfort, stability, and storage and don't need to carry the chair far. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong

4.7

$79.99as of Jun 7

The King Kong is the consensus best overall camp chair, topping both OutdoorGearLab and CleverHiker for comfort, stability, and value. A jaw-dropping 800-pound capacity, a big padded seat, and loaded storage make it a fortress of comfort at $90. The trade-off is bulk: at roughly 14 pounds and 39 inches packed, it is strictly a car-camping chair.

Strengths

— Most universally comfortable chair tested by OutdoorGearLab
— 800-pound weight capacity with rock-solid stability
— Loaded storage: two cup holders, two side pockets, headrest pocket

Watch-outs

— Heavy at about 14 pounds, the bulkiest chair here
— Long 39-inch packed size is awkward to haul
— Quilted seat retains water if left out in rain

$79.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair

4.2

$89.95as of Jun 7

The Flexlite Camp Chair is the ultralight pick: at just 1.7 pounds it is the lightest chair in OutdoorGearLab's entire lineup and packs to the size of a loaf of bread. It is a hammock-style scoop seat that's great for smaller campers and short carries. The trade-offs are real, it gets wobbly when you shift, and larger or taller campers find it less comfortable.

Strengths

— Just 1.7 pounds, the lightest chair in this comparison
— Packs down to about the size of a loaf of bread
— Intuitive setup with reinforced pole pockets

Watch-outs

— Frame is unstable and wobbly when you shift side to side
— Less comfortable the larger or taller you are
— 250-pound capacity, the lowest in this group

$89.95 · Buy at rei.com Full review →

How they stack up

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong

The most comfortable and stable chair here, with far more capacity than the Helinox Sunset Chair, REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair, GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro, or NEMO Stargaze EVO-X, but also the heaviest and bulkiest of the group.

REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair

The lightest and most packable chair here, beating even the Helinox Sunset Chair on weight, but far less comfortable and stable than the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong, GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro, or NEMO Stargaze EVO-X, and lower-backed than the Sunset.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	ALPS Mountaineering King Kong	REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair
Weight	14 lb	1.7 lb
Weight Capacity	800 lb	250 lb
Seat Height	19 in	—
Packed Size	39 x 8 x 8 in	15 x 4.5 x 4.5 in
Frame	Steel, accordion-style	Aluminum, hammock-style
Storage	2 cup holders, 2 side pockets	—
Setup	Seconds, no assembly	Pole-and-pocket
Price Class	Budget	Mid
Seat	—	Ripstop polyester with airflow slits
Sold By	—	REI Co-op

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