Best Camping Chairs for UK Campsites and Festivals 2026

Do You Need a Camping Chair?

For car camping and base camps — absolutely. Sitting on the ground gets old fast, especially on damp UK ground. For backpacking, a chair is a luxury, but ultralight options like the Helinox Chair Zero (490g) make it a reasonable one.

The question isn't really whether you need a chair — it's how much weight you're willing to carry for the comfort. After a long day on the hills, sitting in a proper chair with a hot drink changes the entire camp experience. We've carried the Helinox Chair Zero on multi-day trips and never once regretted the 490g.

Top 5 Camping Chairs

1. Helinox Chair Zero — ~£120 (Best Ultralight)

490g, packs to the size of a water bottle, surprisingly comfortable. The gold standard for weight-conscious campers. Not cheap, but nothing else combines this comfort-to-weight ratio. The aluminium frame is strong enough for up to 120kg.

Pros: Incredibly light, packs tiny, genuinely comfortable for the size Cons: Expensive, low to ground, sinks into soft ground

2. Vango Malibu — ~£30 (Best Car Camping)

Classic folding chair with padded armrests and drink holder. Comfortable for hours. Heavy (3.5kg) but that's irrelevant when the car's nearby. The Malibu is the chair you see on every UK campsite for a reason — it works, it's cheap, and it's comfortable.

Pros: Very comfortable, armrests, cup holder, cheap Cons: Heavy, bulky, not for backpacking

3. Decathlon Low Chair MH500 — ~£30 (Best Value)

A packable low chair at a Decathlon price. 900g, folds into a small bag, and comfortably supports up to 110kg. Remarkable value for a chair you could realistically carry while backpacking.

Pros: Great price, lightweight enough for some backpacking, comfortable low position Cons: Low seating position not for everyone, no armrests

4. Alpkit Vagabond — ~£55

Helinox-style design at a lower price. 600g, packs small, decent comfort. Alpkit's answer to expensive ultralight chairs — not quite as refined as the Helinox but significantly cheaper.

Pros: Lighter than Decathlon, cheaper than Helinox, good build quality Cons: Not as refined as Helinox, seat fabric stretches over time

5. Robens Discover — ~£60 (Best Recliner)

High-back design with adjustable recline. Comfortable for long evenings at camp. Heavy (3kg) but car camping luxury at its finest.

Pros: Reclining back, very comfortable, sturdy Cons: Heavy, bulky, expensive for a camp chair

Quick Comparison

Chair Accessories Worth Considering

• Ground sheet/feet pads for the Helinox and similar chairs — stops them sinking into soft ground (£10-15)
• Insulated seat cover for cold-weather camping — makes a huge difference in autumn and winter (£15-25)
• Side table — pairs brilliantly with any camping chair for hot drinks and snacks (£15-30)

The "Sit Pad" Alternative

If even 490g is too much for your pack, consider a simple foam sit pad (Thermarest Z Seat, ~£20, 60g). It insulates you from cold, wet ground and weighs almost nothing. Not a chair, but a dramatic improvement over sitting directly on the ground.