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Even those VIP tickets don’t mean much these days when it comes to securing a prime seat at a music festival. Sure, you get a separate entrance, maybe some form of shade, and — yes — better restrooms, but to really avoid getting crushed in the crowds (or get stuck standing for hours), it’s time to consider a collapsible chair.
Also known as folding chairs or camping chairs, these portable chairs let you easily add extra seating, whether you’re at a festival, barbecue, picnic, concert, sporting event or beach. They’re great for a campsite too, giving you a place to sit back and relax, without adding a lot of bulk to your carry.
The best collapsible chairs are wide enough to fit everyone from kids to adults, and we’ve found sturdy folding chairs that can support up to 300+ pounds of weight. The latest camping chairs come with a ton of useful add-ons, like cup holders, magazine holders and even stash pockets for your phone, sunglasses and other essentials. We’ve even found a folding chair with a built-in cooler, to keep drinks chilled for hours.
As the name suggests, these collapsible chairs fold down into portable packages that tuck away easily into a backpack or bag. Though the chairs are full-sized, their frames can be detached into smaller pieces when not in use — think of it like assembling a tent, only way less confusing, and way faster.
When buying a portable camping chair, look for water-resistant materials that can hold up to accidental spills or changing weather conditions. You also want to find chairs with strong, durable frames, that can support a ton of weight while staying firmly planted in the ground. All of our picks are engineered from tough, industrial-strength materials, like steel and aluminum.
A final thing to consider: where you’ll be taking the chair. Many music festivals now limit the type of gear you can bring into the event, so festival-goers will want to look for slimmer, more lightweight chairs that they can fold up and pack into their bags. Heading for a weekend at the cottage or a beach day? Pick wider chairs with deeper seats, so you can really sink in for a day of R&R.
