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Head-to-head · Best Beach Chairs

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair vs Rio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach 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.

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The short answer

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about big-and-tall adult who needs a wide seat, high capacity, and stable platform at a beach base camp — read the strengths below before deciding.

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Beach Chairs
ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair
4 sources3 derived$79.99as of Aug 1

Big-and-tall buyers get their champion in the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair: 800 lb capacity, a 24 in wide seat, roughly $100 retail. OutdoorGearLab ranked it #1 of 22 camp chairs they tested with a score of 80/100, and GearJunkie awarded it best heavy-duty pick. A bulky 14 lb folded weight and limited breathability are the trade-offs; for a stable beach base camp the value is hard to beat.

Strengths
  • — 800 lb weight capacity is the highest in this comparison and most camp chairs anywhere
  • — Wide 24 in seat plus 15-19 in seat height accommodates big-and-tall adults comfortably
  • — Two cup holders, three storage pockets, and adjustable armrests beat the Yeti for usable features
Watch-outs
  • — 14 lb folded weight and 39 in carry length make it bulky to transport
  • — Heavy polyester sling is poor in hot weather and slow to dry after wet conditions
  • — Cup holders too narrow for some large bottles
$79.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Rio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach Chair
Ranked #3 in Best Beach Chairs
Rio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach Chair
3 sourcesall derived

The Rio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach Chair is the low-seat foldable beach chair you grew up with, and at roughly $55 it's the budget pick on this list. DIVEIN, Outoria and Beaches and Coral all praised the build for the price, singling out the wooden armrests, the lay-flat recline and the 8.5 inch ground-hugging seat. No headrest and a weaker fabric-to-frame attachment are the trade-offs against pricier chairs.

Strengths
  • — Five reclining positions including full lay-flat with SAFE-ADJUST patented arm design
  • — 8.5 in low seat height is the closest to the sand for sunset and beach reading
  • — Wooden armrests with marine-grade coating add upscale feel for the price
Watch-outs
  • — No headrest or neck support beyond what the seat back provides
  • — Fabric-to-frame attachment can wear or break after a couple of seasons
  • — Recline mechanism can be tricky to lock into the position you want
Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair

Beats the Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair on raw capacity (800 lb vs 500 lb), seat width, and price ($100 vs $300) but is heavier (14 lb vs 13. 3 lb) and uses less breathable fabric. Unlike the GCI Outdoor Waterside SunShade Backpack Beach Chair, there is no integrated shade or cooler.

Rio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach Chair

The lowest-priced and lowest-seated chair on this list — the 8. 75 in).

Specs side-by-side

SpecALPS Mountaineering King Kong ChairRio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach Chair
Weight Capacity800 lbs250 lbs
Empty Weight14 lbs10 lbs
Seat Height15-19 in8.5 in
Seat Width24 in—
Unfolded Dimensions37 x 24 x 38 in32 x 25 x 23 in
Folded Dimensions39 x 8 x 8 in29 x 25 x 4.5 in
Frame MaterialPowder-coated steelAluminum
Fabric600D polyester600D polyester
Carry StyleBackpack carry bag with adjustable strapsPadded backpack straps
Cup Holders21
Recline Positions—5 (including lay-flat)
← See the full ranking of best beach chairs