Head-to-head · Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro Chair 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

Helinox Sunset Chair comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Campers who want a genuinely comfortable high-back chair that packs small enough to carry to the beach, festival, or short trail. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Comfortable Camping Chairs

GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro Chair

4.3

$55

The Comfort Pro is the budget pick built for tall and larger campers: a tall seat and high mesh back make getting in and out easy and keep you cooler, all for about $55. OutdoorGearLab calls it one of the more supportive chairs at its price. The catches are an awkward 45-inch packed length and a weight that rules it out for backpacking.

Strengths

— Tall seat and high back are easy to get in and out of
— More supportive than most chairs in its budget price range
— Breathable angled mesh back panel for hot-day ventilation

Watch-outs

— Long 45-inch packed size is awkward to carry and store
— About 8.3 pounds, too heavy and bulky for backpacking
— 300-pound capacity trails the King Kong by a wide margin

$55 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #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

GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro Chair

The budget tall-camper pick here, cheaper than the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong, Helinox Sunset Chair, REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair, and NEMO Stargaze EVO-X, with a higher seat than most but a bulkier packed size than the King Kong.

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	GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro Chair	Helinox Sunset Chair
Weight	8.3 lb	3.2 lb
Weight Capacity	300 lb	320 lb
Seat Height	~15 in (front edge ~20 in)	—
Back	High angled mesh panel	High back with optional headrest
Packed Size	45 x 7 x 5 in	18.5 x 4.5 x 5.5 in
Frame	Steel	Aluminum alloy
Setup	Fold-out, no assembly	—
Price Class	Budget	Premium packable
Headrest	—	Carry-bag pillow
Warranty	—	5 years

← See the full ranking of best comfortable camping chairs