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.
Full review
Real-World Comfort
The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong earns its top ranking the simplest way possible: it is the most comfortable chair most reviewers tested. OutdoorGearLab, which scored it 80 out of 100, called it 'the most universally comfortable chair we tested,' praising its 'large, well-padded seat with stable and adjustable armrests.' CleverHiker rated it an exceptional 4.9 out of 5, noting the seat 'is fairly firm and doesn't sag over time, and has plenty of lumbar and back support, but it's cushy enough for hours of lounging at camp.'
That balance, firm enough for support yet padded enough for an evening around the fire, is exactly what a comfortable camp chair should deliver, and it works for a wide range of body shapes and sizes. Treeline Review summed up the consensus, calling it 'the best overall camp chair due to its incredible comfort and ease of use at a fantastic price.' Out of eight major review sites, seven gave the King Kong high marks.
Stability and Capacity
The King Kong's headline spec is its 800-pound weight capacity, the highest by far in this group and roughly double what the Helinox Sunset, REI Flexlite, GCI Comfort Pro, and NEMO Stargaze offer. CleverHiker called it 'a jaw-dropping 800-pound weight capacity' that lets the chair 'handle the toughest conditions.' That overbuilt frame translates directly into stability: OutdoorGearLab reported that 'neither leaning back onto the rear two legs of the chair nor rocking the chair from side to side revealed any stability issues.'
For larger and taller campers, that capacity and the wide, deep seat mean no anxiety about the chair flexing or tipping, a real comfort advantage over the lighter scoop-style chairs here. The accordion-style steel frame deploys in seconds with no assembly, so there's no fussing with poles or sleeves.
Storage and Features
Where ultralight chairs strip features to save weight, the King Kong piles them on. OutdoorGearLab counted 'two large side storage pockets that can each easily hold a flat, average-sized magazine' plus additional mesh storage behind the headrest, and a tester noted, 'there are two cup holders, two side pockets, and a smaller pocket behind the headrest.' For base camp, the tailgate, or a long evening by the fire, that storage keeps drinks, phones, books, and snacks within reach. The reinforced fabric is built for season-long use, adding to the chair's already strong value at $90.
Where It Falls Short
The King Kong's comfort comes at the cost of portability. At roughly 14 pounds it is, in OutdoorGearLab's words, 'one of the heaviest single-person chairs we tested' and 'no small item to haul around,' and its 39-inch packed length is awkward to carry or fit in a packed trunk. The quilted padded seat that feels great also 'retains water if caught in an afternoon thunderstorm,' so you'll want to stow it under cover. And CleverHiker flagged that 'the quilted fabric makes it feel warm on hot, humid summer days, and cup holders are too narrow for big containers.' None of these matter for car camping, but they rule it out for anything you carry on foot.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The King Kong is the comfort-and-value benchmark of this group. The Helinox Sunset Chair and REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair weigh a fraction as much but give up the King Kong's plush seat, armrests, storage, and capacity. The GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro matches its price and suits tall users but scores lower on overall comfort. The NEMO Stargaze EVO-X is arguably more luxurious thanks to its recline and swing, but it costs twice as much and holds far less weight. For pure seated comfort per dollar, the King Kong is unbeaten here.
Long-Term Durability and Value
At $90 with the build quality reviewers describe, the King Kong is one of the best values in camp furniture. The Equipment Guide, which scored it 81 out of 100, noted it is 'made from powder-coated steel bars and 600D polyester' with 'wide feet, meaning the chair won't sink too deep in soft ground,' and CleverHiker specifically praised that the seat 'doesn't sag over time.' That heavy-duty 600-denier fabric and steel frame are why the King Kong routinely lasts many seasons of hard use, and why so many campers consider it a buy-it-once chair.
The 800-pound capacity isn't just a comfort spec, it's a durability one: a frame engineered to hold that much weight flexes far less under normal loads, which extends its life and keeps it feeling solid years in. The only maintenance note is to keep the padded seat out of the rain, since it absorbs water. For roughly the price of two cheap folding chairs, the King Kong delivers comfort and longevity that justify its ranking as the best overall pick here.
Who It's Best For
The King Kong is the default pick for car campers, tailgaters, and base-camp loungers who want the most comfortable, stable, feature-rich chair for the money and never have to carry it far. It's especially good for larger and taller campers thanks to the 800-pound capacity and roomy seat. Backpackers and anyone tight on trunk space should look at the packable Helinox Sunset or REI Flexlite instead, and comfort-seekers who want to recline should consider the NEMO Stargaze, but for the classic camp-chair job, the King Kong does it best.
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
- +Sets up in seconds with an accordion-style frame
- +Excellent comfort and durability for just $90
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
- −Cup holders are too narrow for large bottles
How it compares
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.
Who this is for
At a glance: Car campers and tailgaters who want maximum comfort, stability, and storage and don't need to carry the chair far.
Why you’d buy the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong
- 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.
Why you’d skip it
- 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.
Rating sources
“The King Kong is the most universally comfortable chair we tested. It features a large, well-padded seat with stable and adjustable armrests.”
“With a jaw-dropping 800-pound weight capacity, this chair can handle the toughest conditions.”
“The seat and backrest are padded for comfort, and the adjustable armrests are also large enough to rest your entire arm on, allowing for relaxing lounging.”
Our 4.7 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
