When you want the lightest, most compact and easy to carry seat available, you need a camping stool. These ingenious, usually three-legged gadgets can be transported anywhere you go, being lightweight enough even for the most weight-conscious hiker. Unfolding in seconds, they are an instant seat that’s surprisingly comfortable, even for extended periods when fishing or hunting.
You need your camping stool to be strong enough to hold an adult’s weight year after year so a well-made, high-quality frame topped with durable fabric is important. They need to be light and fold up compactly enough to tuck in a backpack or add to your mound of camping gear. Once tried, you won’t want to venture far in the outdoors without one of these always available seats. Here are the camping stools we’d recommend.
TravelChair Slacker Chair
Compact and durable
There’s nothing slack about this stool other than the laidback name. Durable Nailhead fabric and 600d ripstop polyester plus a reinforced frame make this a dependable seat on and off the trail. It folds down to the size of a rolled-up newspaper for you to transport with the integrated carry strap.
ALPS Mountaineering Tri-Leg Stool
Strong and easy to carry
Light, portable and strong thanks to a powder-coated steel frame and 600d polyester fabric construction. This stool folds up compactly and can be held by the attached carry strap or in the included shoulder bag. It weighs 2lbs but can hold up to 250lbs.
GCI Outdoor Quick-E-Seat Folding Tripod Field Chair
Stool with a backrest
This portable folding stool has a backrest for extra comfort when camping, boating or fishing. It’s joined by a padded seat, an extra-wide padded backrest and even has a drinks holder. The integrated shoulders strap helps you carry it anywhere and it’s easy to set up and collapse.
Walkstool Comfort Camping Stool
Incredibly strong stool
This Swedish-designed stool can take a load of between 495-935 lbs thanks to its telescopic aluminum legs and high-tech seat material. It should stay steady and remain comfortable for years and packs up compactly for storage and transport.
Bottom line
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Being able to carry your own seat with you when camping, hiking or fishing cannot be underestimated. The ground can be cold and wet or hard and dry but it’s rarely very comfortable. Unfold one of the best camping stools though, and you have an instant place to rest your legs, whether it’s by the campfire, on the riverbank or at top of a mountain. The camping stool we would recommend for most people is the TravelChair Slacker Chair. This three-legged stool is strong, comfortable and lightweight. Folded up you will hardly notice it in your backpack and you’ll never regret having somewhere to sit when taking a break or relaxing later on.
If you want to have no concerns about how much weight your stool can take, the Walkstool Comfort Camping Stool regularly gets advertised holding up a family car, with one stool under each wheel. It’s a quality piece of kit.
