The Best Backpack Beach Chairs for Every Oceanside Getaway, Tested
With plush headrests, built-in coolers, and much, much more, these chairs are the keys đồ sộ summer bliss.
Updated on April 21, 2023
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Travel + Leisure / David Lee
Wrangling your friends, family, and gear for a beach day can be stressful, but it’s always worth it once you kick back with your feet in the sand. To eliminate the cumbersome part of your beach journey, we recommend packing travel-friendly backpack beach chairs that miễn phí up your hands.
We headed đồ sộ the shores đồ sộ test out 12 backpack beach chairs from trusted brands lượt thích Tommy Bahama, Life Is Good, and Ostrich, judging the comfort, durability, stability, and, most importantly, portability of each. From the minute we left our houses with the chairs, we paid close attention đồ sộ how comfortable they were đồ sộ carry, phối up, sit in, and break down after a full day of lounging oceanside. Whether you’re looking for a beach chair for napping, reading a book, or storing all of your favorite beach accessories, we found the best backpack beach chairs for your outdoor lounging.
Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 5/5
Ease of Use 4.5/5
Comfort 5/5
Durability 5/5
Value 4/5
Why We Love It Weighing just under 8 pounds, this chair is lightweight and easy đồ sộ carry for long distances thanks đồ sộ padded backpack straps and handles. What đồ sộ Consider It takes some extra effort đồ sộ fold and unfold the chair.
Tommy Bahama is the ultimate brand đồ sộ get you beach ready in no time, and its backpack beach chair didn’t disappoint. Weighing just under 8 pounds, the chair is ideal for carrying long distances since it’s made with a lightweight, rustproof aluminum frame and a breathable polyester fabric seat. The adjustable backpack straps are lightly padded, and while the folded-up frame is slightly noticeable while walking, it wasn’t uncomfortable or painful. One of the best parts of this backpack chair is that it comes with an insulated cooler pocket on the back ví you can easily pack snacks and drinks in ice without having đồ sộ bring another bag. And there's an additional pocket below the cooler for your book or other items that need đồ sộ stay dry.
There is a slight learning curve đồ sộ unfolding and folding up the chair, but once you vì thế it once or twice, it gets easier. Be sure đồ sộ listen and feel for the locks clicking in place ví you can start enjoying one of the five reclining options and comfy detachable headrest without falling over in the chair.
Price at time of publish: $69
The Details: 24 x 25 x 30 inches | 7.93 pounds | 5 reclining positions | Insulated cooler pocket
Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 5/5
Ease of Use 4/5
Comfort 5/5
Durability 5/5
Value 5/5
Why We Love It The plush headrest can be adjusted up or down for a customized fit. What đồ sộ Consider There is a slight learning curve đồ sộ opening up the chair at first.
The Rio Beach Folding Chair takes comfort đồ sộ a whole new level thanks đồ sộ its removable and adjustable headrest pillow. The headrest can be adjusted via velcro straps ví you can tailor it đồ sộ whichever of the four reclining positions you’re in. There is a lace-up suspension system holding the polyester seat đồ sộ the aluminum frame ví the fabric molds around the toàn thân for a supportive yet cushy feel that we loved. The adjustable backpack straps have generous padding, and they help đồ sộ evenly distribute the weight of the nearly 8-pound beach chair, which is especially helpful if you’re carrying it with items lượt thích a beach towel or drinks packed in the large back pocket. The tilt-lock bracket helps keep the chair feeling stable no matter the position you’re resting in, but it is slightly difficult đồ sộ click into place at first.
Price at time of publish: $68
The Details: 44.7 x 25. 5 x 26.5 inches | 7.84 pounds | 4 reclining positions
Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 5/5
Ease of Use 5/5
Comfort 5/5
Durability 5/5
Value 4.5/5
Why We Love It The chair has plenty of pockets for packing beach accessories without needing another bag. What đồ sộ Consider It sits about 16 inches off the ground, ví this chair might be too tall for an outdoor concert.
Schlepping gear đồ sộ your favorite beach can be difficult. The Homevative backpack beach chair mitigates this beautifully with plenty of pockets for all of your beach essentials ví you can show up đồ sộ the sand hands-free. The chair has two large zippered pockets in the back (one is even insulated for keeping snacks and drinks cool) and a little caddy that hangs off of the armrest that has a velcro pocket and a drink holder. Even if you pack the pockets full of beach gear, the chair is extremely lightweight and the padded straps are adjustable for a customized fit. We love that it has suspension laces going up both sides đồ sộ give it a slightly bouncy feel but is still supportive. There are five comfortable reclining positions, with the option đồ sộ lắc the chair completely flat for that glorious mid-afternoon beach nap. One thing đồ sộ note is that this beach chair sits about 16 inches above the ground, ví if you’re planning đồ sộ take it đồ sộ an outdoor concert with chair height restrictions, you’ll want đồ sộ double-check đồ sộ make sure it’s allowed.
Price at time of publish: $70
The Details: 17 x 25 x 33 inches | 8.33 pounds | 5 reclining positions | Insulated cooler pouch
Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 4/5
Ease of Use 5/5
Comfort 5/5
Durability 5/5
Value 3/5
Why We Love It The frame locks into place easily and feels sturdy in every reclining position. What đồ sộ Consider This is one of the heavier beach chairs we’ve tested.
While all of the beach chairs we tested felt sturdy, this one from Life Is Good had superb stability without any difficulty folding and unfolding the chair. There is a small red latch on the right side that clicks into place and releases when you press down on it, quickly and effortlessly folding and unfolding the chair. Whether the chair was reclined slightly or completely flat, the frame didn’t teeter and the taut seat fabric kept us 10 inches off the ground, allowing us đồ sộ soak in the sun and beautiful ocean views for hours on over. The chair is packed full of special features, including a detachable insulated pocket that doubles as a tote bag, two cup holders built into the plastic armrests, and an adjustable headrest for customizing the pillow depending on your resting position. Due đồ sộ the weight and larger size of this beach chair, this wasn’t the most portable option we tested, but the padded and adjustable backpack straps help for carrying the chair shorter distances in comfort. Plus, you can always detach the cooler bag and carry it as a tote if the weight feels too heavy.
Price at time of publish: $67
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The Details: 26.18 x 28.94 x 33.07 inches | 11.95 pounds | 5 reclining positions | Removable insulated cooler pouch
Travel + Leisure / Cameron Silva Travel + Leisure / Cameron Silva Travel + Leisure / Cameron Silva Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 4.5/5
Ease of Use 4/5
Comfort 4.5/5
Durability 5/5
Value 5/5
Why We Love It The padded headrest lifts up đồ sộ reveal a face cavity with even more padding for laying on your stomach comfortably. What đồ sộ Consider It was a little difficult đồ sộ figure out how đồ sộ recline the seat at first.
This beach chair from Ostrich has a padded headrest that is super comfortable for sitting upright, and when you lift it up, it reveals a face hole with padding around the cavity, similar đồ sộ a mát xa table. When we wanted đồ sộ take a break from napping đồ sộ enjoy a beach read, the two arm holes were perfect for accessing the space below. The only downside is that there isn’t any leg tư vấn ví you may want đồ sộ have a cooler or use something đồ sộ prop up your legs for a more comfortable resting position. We vì thế also love the deluxe version of this chair, which includes a footrest but has an over-the-shoulder strap rather than vãn a backpack build. With four other recline angles đồ sộ use, the On Your Back Chair has various comfortable positions besides facing down, but we would have appreciated instructions on how đồ sộ use the armrests đồ sộ recline since it wasn’t very intuitive. Still, this chair won us over with backpack straps that are adjustable and very padded, making it extremely comfortable đồ sộ carry despite its heavier weight. Note that there isn’t any storage beside the fabric cup holder, ví you may need đồ sộ bring another beach bag for supplies.
Price at time of publish: $90
The Details: 24 x 26.4 x 33.85 inches | 10.2 pounds | 5 reclining positions | Face cushion
Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 5/5
Ease of Use 4/5
Comfort 4.5/5
Durability 5/5
Value 5/5
Why We Love It The folding mat chairs are super cushioned and comfortable đồ sộ lounge in while laying down or sitting upright. What đồ sộ Consider The backpack straps could have been a bit more comfortable.
Ultra lightweight and easy đồ sộ store, these folding mat lounge chairs from Pacific Breeze only weigh 6 pounds and come in a phối of two, making them perfect for the laid-back beachgoer. While these don’t have the same structured frame as a traditional beach chair, the padding is thick and plush ví you won’t feel the ground when you sit on the mat. Plus, the back of the chair has a frame that left us feeling plenty supported when sitting upright. This is the ultimate beach chair for naps; the backing can lắc flat ví it’s lượt thích you’re bringing a bed đồ sộ the beach. And when you’re ready đồ sộ head trang chủ, the Pacific Breeze Lounger easily folds up into a compact rectangle, and the backpack straps are simple đồ sộ adjust and toss over your shoulders. We didn’t find the lightly padded straps đồ sộ be the most comfortable, but since the chair is virtually weightless, the slight discomfort wasn’t a huge inconvenience.
Price at time of publish: $112
The Details: 74.8 x 21 x 27.5 inches | 6 pounds | Pack of two
Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Amazon
Our Ratings
Portability 5/5
Ease of Use 4/5
Comfort 4/5
Durability 4/5
Value 4/5
Why We Love It There are colorful prints đồ sộ choose from including palm trees, hibiscus flowers, and nautical stripes. What đồ sộ Consider The discreet pocket underneath the chair is a bit awkward đồ sộ use.
With a variety of maritime prints and colors đồ sộ choose from, these Lightspeed Outdoor beach chairs are as comfortable and portable as they are stylish. Whether you opt for stripes or palm tree patterns, you can also feel good about your purchase knowing that the fabric is made from recycled post-consumer plastic water bottles. The rustproof aluminum frame is lightweight and sturdy, and while we wish this chair reclined all the way flat, the fabric seat and four recline positions are comfortable and supportive for sitting at the beach all day long. Each armrest has a fabric caddy that falls đồ sộ the side for items lượt thích a book, phone, or drink. There’s also a discreet pocket on the bottom, which we found awkward đồ sộ reach when the chair is unfolded but handy for storing valuables. The straps have generous cushioning and adjustable buckles, making this already lightweight beach chair even more comfortable đồ sộ carry long distances.
Price at time of publish: $100
The Details: 26.5 x 24.5 x 31.25 | 7 pounds | 4 reclining positions | Made with recycled materials
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There were several other backpack beach chairs we loved but didn’t quite make the cut due đồ sộ minor issues we experienced while testing. Runner-ups in our eyes, they still may be the perfect chairs for you if they hit some specific needs.
Rio Beach Big Boy: This chair is large and roomy, and we loved how comfortable it was đồ sộ spread out in. However, its bigger size made it cumbersome đồ sộ carry, ví it’s best if you're only traveling a short distance đồ sộ the beach.
GCI Sun Shade: It comes with a canopy, which is ideal for having built-in shade at the beach, but it was quite difficult đồ sộ phối up and break down the sun shade. Buyers should be prepared for a slight learning curve at first.
We traveled with and sat in 26 beach chairs, including 12 options with built-in backpack straps, đồ sộ compare and contrast each one based on comfort, stability, portability, ease of use, and durability. When looking at the 12 backpack beach chairs we tried, we carefully examined portability notes, weighing factors lượt thích weight, strap material and placement, and frame design đồ sộ pick the easiest backpack beach chairs đồ sộ take with you on your next trip đồ sộ the ocean.
Testing began as soon as the beach chairs were unboxed. We closely examined the quality of the chairs until we were confident buyers could expect them đồ sộ arrive in pristine condition. Then, we packed up our beach necessities and phối out for the sand. We phối up the chairs and sat in them for at least a few hours đồ sộ get a feel for comfort, durability, and stability. Since portability is the main attraction of a backpack beach chair, we noted the comfort of the straps, the weight of the chair, and how easy it is đồ sộ walk short or long distances with the beach chair strapped đồ sộ our backs. We also paid close attention đồ sộ the storage and other special features the chair brought đồ sộ the table, especially đồ sộ judge the overall value of the chair.
High-quality backpack beach chairs can cost a little more than vãn an average camp chair, ví you’ll want đồ sộ take a look at the specs of the product đồ sộ make sure you’re getting the most out of what you’re paying for. Beach chairs can often double as storage for towels, drinks, and other beach accessories, ví consider getting a chair with a regular zippered pocket, an insulated pocket, and a caddy by the armrest đồ sộ hold a drink or phone. Depending on your reclining preferences, you should kiểm tra the number and level of recline positions since not all chairs lắc completely flat.
Whether you’re planning on lounging at the beach or sitting at an outdoor concert, factors lượt thích the weight and size of the chair play a huge role in portability, even if the chair has backpack straps. Most outdoor concerts have chair height limitations of 12 inches off the ground, ví you’ll want đồ sộ cross kiểm tra the restrictions before heading out. If you know you have a longer walk đồ sộ the beach, opt for a chair that weighs closer đồ sộ 7 or 8 pounds or less. For those lucky enough đồ sộ reside in walking distance đồ sộ a beach or a short drive away, weight might be less important.
Frequently Asked Questions How vì thế I clean a beach chair?
Most beach chairs are made of synthetic fabric that should hold up well over time, but if you spill something on the chair, be sure đồ sộ wipe it off quickly đồ sộ prevent more cleaning in the future. You should always read the cleaning instructions first, but some light spot cleaning or hosing down the chair and letting it dry before folding it back up should generally vì thế the trick đồ sộ get sand or dirt out quickly. Can I fly with a beach chair?
Xem thêm: ombre locs Backpack beach chairs aren’t as compact as folding ones, but if the size and weight of the chair fits the airline restrictions, you should have no issues checking it in. You may want đồ sộ put it in a box or suitcase ví it doesn’t get damaged in transit, but most airlines shouldn’t have a problem as long as it’s within the size restrictions.
Travel + Leisure Commerce Writer Anna Popp reviews travel products and writes almost all of the team’s tested nội dung. She participates in nearly every travel test, including beach gear where she enjoys heading out đồ sộ Rockaway or Brighton Beach outside of Thủ đô New York City. Anna worked with our editors and sifted through thorough testing notes đồ sộ compile this list of the best backpack beach chairs.
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Other Backpack Beach Chairs We Liked
Our Testing Process
Tips for Buying a Backpack Beach Chair
Look for features lượt thích pockets and reclining positions
Consider where you’ll use the chair most
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