Head-to-head · Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong vs Helinox Sunset 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 narrow margin (4.7 vs 4.5). 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 #3 in Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

Helinox Sunset Chair

4.5

$169.95as of Jun 7

The Sunset Chair is the comfort-meets-packability pick: a high-back, 3.2-pound chair that breaks down to half the size of most camp chairs yet supports 320 pounds on a high-tech aluminum frame. OutdoorGearLab loves it for packability and durability, and the carry bag doubles as a headrest. The downsides are no armrests and a steep $170 price.

Strengths

— High back with optional headrest for genuine comfort
— Just 3.2 pounds and packs to half the size of most camp chairs
— Strong high-tech aluminum alloy frame holds 320 pounds

Watch-outs

— No armrests, which gets uncomfortable over long sits
— Expensive at $170 for a packable chair
— Less plush than padded chairs like the King Kong

$169.95 · Check Price on Amazon 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.

Helinox Sunset Chair

The most packable comfortable chair here, far lighter than the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong, GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro, and NEMO Stargaze EVO-X while more supportive and higher-backed than the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair, though it lacks armrests.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	ALPS Mountaineering King Kong	Helinox Sunset Chair
Weight	14 lb	3.2 lb
Weight Capacity	800 lb	320 lb
Seat Height	19 in	—
Packed Size	39 x 8 x 8 in	18.5 x 4.5 x 5.5 in
Frame	Steel, accordion-style	Aluminum alloy
Storage	2 cup holders, 2 side pockets	—
Setup	Seconds, no assembly	—
Price Class	Budget	Premium packable
Back	—	High back with optional headrest
Headrest	—	Carry-bag pillow
Warranty	—	5 years

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