Like a good beach umbrella, a beach chair is a must for kicking back on the shoreline. But there’s a huge difference between grabbing any old beach lounger on and buying one that’s been expressly designed to optimize your experience. After all, the best beach chairs can make all the difference between spending your time on the shore squirming and reclining in comfort.
Of course, not everyone needs or wants the same thing in a beach chair. You might need one that’s higher off the ground to accommodate long legs—or perhaps you just want a little extra support as you dig your legs into the sand. Features like cup holders, backpack carrying straps and integrated coolers are nice, but might not qualify for your must-have list. Naturally, there’s your budget to consider, too—some beach chairs can cost $100 or more, and not everyone is comfortable spending that much on something that’s going to get caked in sand on a regular basis.
To pick the best of the best, we looked at the top-selling chairs at a handful of retailers, but just because it sells well, that doesn’t mean it’s worth the money. We narrowed things down by features, comfort, ratings and overall value for the money. The result? One of these chairs will help you make your next trip to the beach a sandy affair to remember.
- Best Lightweight Beach Chair: Tommy Bahama Deluxe Backpack Cooler Chair
- Best Heavy Duty Beach Chair: Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair
- Best Tall Beach Chair: Rio Beach Extended Height Beach Chair
- Best Beach Chair With Canopy: GCI Outdoor Waterside Sunshade Backpack Beach Chair
- Best Compact Beach Chair: Rio Brands Wave 1-Position Folding Sand Chair
- Best Beach Chair On Amazon: Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair
Best Lightweight Beach Chair
Plenty of Bells And Whistles That’s Easy to Tote Over Dunes
- Weight: 7.8 pounds
- Materials: aluminum, polyester and plastic
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Tommy Bahama’s Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair has a little of everything, all in a surprisingly lightweight package. The chair has five positions and a wider-than-usual seat for a roomy experience, making it perfect for larger frames. A foldable bar at the top helps support your head if you decide to lay back in the sand. It also has backpack straps for easy carrying. “I am in love with this chair!” a happy customer said. “It's amazing, comfortable, lightweight. I'm going to buy all my friends one for their birthdays.”
One thing to keep in mind: Despite the misleading name, the chair does not have a built-in cooler, at least not if by “cooler” you’re thinking of something that can hold a six-pack of Pepsi cans. But it does have an insulated storage pouch that can hold a drink or some other small items that you want to give refuge from the hot summer sun.
Best Heavy Duty Chair
It Won’t Tip Over, Even in High Winds
- Weight: 13.3 pounds
- Materials: metal, FlexGrid fabric and plastic
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
The Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair isn’t the most lightweight chair you can buy, but it’s possible to carry it over a dune along with other beach gear without feeling like your arm is going to fall off. Moreover, toting it is a lot easier thanks to the included carry bag. Once you arrive at your spot, just pull out your seat, unfold it and you’re good to go. Packing up is equally simple thanks to its packaway frame.
Yeti’s chair is incredibly sturdy—a beach breeze is no match for it—and offers superior support thanks to its robust FlexGrid fabric. This seat also has a moveable cupholder, so you can position your beverage on whichever side you prefer. Reviewers give this chair props for sturdiness and comfort. “You can't go wrong with a chair made by Yeti,” one fan said. “I was tired of buying other chairs all the time. This chair is the best investment I have made. Yes, it is a little pricey but worth it.”
Best Tall Beach Chair
A High Chair That’s Designed To Accommodate Longer Legs
- Weight: 9 pounds
- Materials: aluminum, polyester and wood
- Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Randy Newman never wrote a song about tall people, but they need beach chairs, too. That’s where Rio’s Hi-Boy chair comes in. The chair sits 17 inches off the ground to accommodate longer legs and even has a higher-than-usual backrest for longer torsos, not to mention a pillow-like headrest. It has four reclining positions and safe-adjust feature built into the wooden armrests to prevent you from pinching your fingers.
A small side zippered pouch can hold essentials like your cell phone, and there’s a built-in cup holder as well. And you can carry the chair on your back thanks to integrated backpack carrying straps. Says one reviewer: “Being from the shore, I wanted a higher beach chair that didn't look out of place. This chair is easy to carry and the adjustable pillow fits perfectly at my neck.”
Best Beach Chair With Canopy
An Adjustable Shade, So You’re Never Stuck In The Sun
- Weight: 9.7 pounds
- Materials: mesh, aluminum, polyester
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
A built-in umbrella can be a game changer for people who crave being in the shade, and GCI’s Sunshade Backpack Chair delivers. The chair’s integrated shade features UPF 50 fabric and a large, adjustable bowed shape. You’ll never get caught in direct sunlight because you can move the shade to keep it between you and the sun.
The four-position chair has a mesh backrest to help keep you cool and a good-sized pocket to stash a towel and book. The chair also has backpack straps and additional strap to secure the chair for ease of carrying. Just one heads up: It takes a little experimentation to figure out the straps. That said, reviewers generally call this chair very comfortable, with one reviewer in particular noting that “the shade is excellent and can be moved around how you want.”
Best Compact Beach Chair
An Unfussy, Ultra-Portable Chair You Can Use Anywhere
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Materials: polyester and steel
- Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, no-frills beach chair that still does the job, this is it. Rio’s Beach Wave chair has one position, but it’s a comfortable one. It’s angled at a semi-reclined position that doesn’t feel like you’re too far back or too upright. The chair sits low to the ground, allowing you to easily sink your toes in the sand. It’s also lightweight (just five pounds) and, despite its petite frame, is surprisingly sturdy.
There are no special carrying straps, but it’s easy enough to hook an arm through the chair’s base to carry it. “Love this chair,” a five-star fan said. “Have been looking for an inexpensive light weight beach chair and finally found it.” Perhaps more than most other beach chairs, though, one of this chair’s biggest selling points is the ease with which you can bring this chair on all sorts of non-beach adventures, like outdoor concerts and picnics in the park. You’ll always be so low to the ground that you’ll never be a nuisance to people behind you.
Best Beach Chair On Amazon
A Comfortable Cooler Chair At A Low Amazon Price
- Weight: 8 pounds
- Materials: polyester and aluminum
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Homevative’s backpack beach chair has a little of all the things you need when you’re lounging in the sand. The chair has a pocket and beverage holder on one side, allowing you to have a hands-free beach experience once you settle in the sand. A nice feature: The five-position chair has a fold-down support leg to help cradle your head when you recline all the way back. Padded, adjustable backpack straps also make it easy to carry, while a cooler pouch keeps your drinks at that just-right temperature.
“After many attempts at finding a chair that I and my family can sit on for more than three hours without pain, this chair delivers, and has all the compartments to make an easy walk from car to beach,” one reviewer said. “The entire chair is thoughtfully designed, lightweight and functional.”
