Stumps, stools, boulders, and picnic tables are fine for sitting briefly outdoors. But if you want to kick back and stay comfy, the right camping chair can make all the difference. Setting up the Ozark Trail Camping Chair, like most traditional models of camp chair, is a simple pull out and extend which takes seconds. The frame felt robust and the legs sat securely on the ground to give stability, despite the small tree roots on our camp site.
Featuring a sturdy steel frame, waterproof 75-denier 190T taffeta tent covering and a full-coverage rainfly, the Tent cot is a great all-in-one solution for the utilitarian camper. The Outfitter is versatile as well and can be used as two single cots instead of a bunk bed if this suits your style more. The outfitter is also made from very strong 1,200-denier polyester and features a 2.2mm steel frame with rubber-dipped stabilizer bars to minimize noise. The Cabela’s Outfitter Bunk Bed by Disc-O-Bed is available for $349.99.
People who did like it tended to have smaller body types, so if you find that other camping chairs are too big for you, the Skyward might be a good fit. ozark trail chair Senior editor Kalee Thompson, who wrote a previous version of this guide, has been regularly using the Coleman chair she originally tested in 2016. The chair has held up to years of backyard hangs and camping trips, although the cooler pouch has deteriorated, and some parts of the fabric close to the frame have frayed. The steel frame is robust and well built, with a deep seat for relaxing in front of the campfire or for just watching the world go by in the back garden. Check your dimensions to make sure the cot is long and wide enough for your needs.
The association continues to maintain and expand the Ozark Trail. April 29th, 2006 was proclaimed “Ozark Trail Day” by Missouri’s governor, and in May 2008 a portion of the trail was designated a National Recreational Trail. In 2013 Missouri was named Best Trails State at the International Trails Symposium, due in part to the increasing popularity of the Ozark Trail.
After eight years of consistent use by senior editor Kalee Thompson’s two young boys, the REI Co-op Camp Chair is, she reports, faded and worn but still holding up. After years of intermittently using the Renetto chair, one staffer said it has held up great. This was especially reassuring for testers with knee or hip issues, who noted that they felt confident using the Dual Lock seat’s armrests to stand up and get out of it. Unbeatable deal if you’re looking to buy several chairs at once. It is best if you only have to carry it short distances. The Ozark Trail Association was founded in 2002, and has added more than 50 miles of trail to date, most constructed by volunteers.
We also don’t have suggestions for couch-style or loveseat chairs (we’d like to look at those someday, though). I’m a writer for Wirecutter covering outdoors and travel ozark trail wagon gear. I’ve lived in Southern California, Washington, and the home state of Vermont. I’ve camped throughout those regions and everywhere in between, toting gear to mountains, forests, beaches, and deserts. Wherever I go, a crucial piece of the camping setup is a stable, comfortable chair.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). There are also chairs that are hybrids between categories, such as the Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair, which comes highly rated and recommended. GCI Outdoor makes several rocking chairs, and we plan to try more of them to see if they’re any better than the Freestyle Rocker, which we weren’t enthusiastic about.