6 Best Camping Chairs for Bad backs in 2023 – Experts Opinion

Camping is a fun activity to take a break from the busy routine of life and have a rest. During camping, a super comfortable camping chair is a must-have to ensure a relaxing time.

Not having a camping chair with all the right features may cause further restlessness and worsen the condition of bad backs.

For campers struggling with back pain, features like built-in lumbar support and proper internal cushioning are inevitable in their chair.

Various camping chairs are on the market, ranging from the most basic to luxury designs and features. And it takes a lot of effort to select the best model that suits your needs.

Because regular camping chairs usually lack those vital features that you need to have a high comfort chair, especially if you struggle with back pain.

To help you out in deciding which portable camping chair meets your requirements, after extensive research and testing different camping chairs, I, with our expert team, have compiled a list of the six best camping chairs for bad backs.

The article below highlights all the critical aspects and features of camping chairs. As a person struggling with back pain, I recommend the STRONGBACK Elite camping Chair for destructive pain issues. This chair offers ideal lumbar support and ergonomic design, offering maxim comfort.

Best Camping Chairs for Bad Backs

1 RTIC Big Bear Folding Chair

As the name suggests, this RTIC Big Bear Folding Chair has a generous amount of internal padding. This feature makes this chair super comfortable and provides ideal support for the back.

Especially people with back pain will find it helpful in relieving their spine. The armrests offered by this folding chair give a luxurious feeling to the users.

On the durability side, this chair can bear a weight capacity of more than 400 pounds and has a comprehensive durable framework.

This makes it the right fit for heavier people as well. Taller people will also find this chair practical as it comes with a height of 26 inches.

It also offers a built-in four-can cooler and a cup holder, adding to the user’s convenience. That said, depending on the type of back pain a person is struggling with, people who do not prefer lower seat heights might find the seat a bit uncomfortable.

Because the chair sinks when you sit on it, and getting up from the lower seat may worsen the pain. The frame is rust-free as it is made of powder-coated steel, making the chair suitable for outdoor use.

Furthermore, the chair has 600D polyester fabric that is highly water-resistant and elastic. The water-resistant property of the material enhances the durability of the chair. Especially this chair is suitable for the rainy season to have camped outside.

Also, there is no compromise on portability because the chair weighs only 17 pounds, which is easy to carry.

Another plus point of this model is that it is one of the most pocket-friendly options out there in the market. So people with bad backs can afford it even if the budget is restricted.

2 EVER ADVANCED Chair

It is one of the best durable and sturdy camping chairs for outdoor use. The fabric used is 600D canvas having PVC backing that makes it waterproof and long-lasting.

This means that you can wash the chair to maintain proper cleanliness without worrying about the quality of the chair getting negatively affected.

The EVER ADVANCED Chair is designed to have high functionality and convenience. It has a side table with a cup holder and storage pouches.

Like an ideal camping chair, it has a rust-free aluminum frame, making the chair easy to maintain. The frame is also lightweight, making the chair more portable as it weighs only 9.26 lbs.

The chair’s height is 37 inches. It is the ideal height for taller campers. The seat height allows proper alignment of legs, making it one of the best camping chairs for bad knees.

The seat width is 24 inches, and the chair supports weights up to 350 pounds, making it appropriate for the use of heavier people. The chair has a cross metal frame that, sometimes, might fatigue the user’s legs.

But this issue is only experienced by people with a bigger butt. This chair also has an armrest. The chair feet are molded rubber, enhancing stability and making the chair slip-resistant.

3 Coastal Outdoor Camping Chair

If you need an adjustable lumbar support chair for the back, then Coast rail Chair is one of the best camping chairs for bad backs. Adjustable lumbar support means adjusting the back support according to your height.

The chair also offers excellent padding and cushions to promote high comfort for bad backs. The seat pad designs are not very firm, and the stitching is also a bit loose, which might irritate some campers. But for people who prefer flexible foam paddings, this model is the right fit.

Let’s speak about its price; this model is quite affordable, so campers with restricted budgets can also consider getting it. 600D oxford polyester is used as the fabric, which is ideal for outdoor use as it makes the chair water-resistant and durable.

For keeping your beverages cool, the chair is well-equipped with a cooler bag and a cup holder for convenience.

The chair also has a storage organizer that comprises side pockets and a head storage bag. This camping chair is suitable for people of all sizes due to its 400 lbs. weight capacity and sturdy steel frame.

4 STRONGBACK Elite Chair

If lumbar support is the most critical feature you want in your camp chair, then you should go for this STRONGBACK Elite chair. It is designed ergonomically to offer you maximum back support like a best office chair, promoting the proper posture of your body.

Need to mention, mostly a poor posture cause back pain. Therefore, lumbar support is a great feature in this chair, to address the back problem.

The seat has plenty of cushioning, suitable for long hours of comfortable sitting. The seat is quite spacious and specifically designed for heavier and taller people.

So people preferring compact designs and having average weight and height might not choose this model. But for bigger people, this is one of the most substantial options.

The framework is quite supportive and made of powder-coated steel, preventing the chair from rusting and making it more long-lasting. In other words, STRONGBACK Elite Chair will last for many years.

Adequately, The 600D polyester fabric used in the chair is non-toxic and has excellent durability. This is because the fabric offers tear and wear resistance, allowing you to use the chair for an extensive time.

The folding mechanism of the chair is also pretty easy. It is a lightweight model and hence, highly portable. This is why it is one of the best folding chairs for outdoor use.

5 PELLIOT Portable Camping Chair

Are you somebody who gets irritated by sinking and sagging chairs? Also, it needs to mention that a sinking chair creates discomfort for sitting, which can lead to back pain. To address the sinking problem, try this ELLIOT Portable Camping chair.

Because this ergonomic chair has a firm and supportive seat, offering remarkable lumbar support back—the extra cushioning and internal padding help to relieve the spine and improve posture.

The chair is spacious enough for heavier and bigger campers having a weight capacity of 330 lbs. The material used as the fabric is polypropylene which is non-toxic and fade-resistant (more durable than other fabrics).

Besides this, polypropylene is easily washable as it dries quickly and is suitable for all temperature ranges.

The cup holder this chair comes with is a bit small, but the other storage organizers are great to compensate for it. For example, it has side pockets along with a beverage cooler.

The chair only weighs 7.28 lbs making it easy to carry during camping or hiking. Therefore, this model must be mentioned in our recommended list of best chairs with back support.

6 KingCamp Camping Chair

Our recommended KingCamp camp chair offers you exceptional lumbar support to relieve your spine and reduce back pain. It is designed to ensure proper back support and the correct body posture.

This camp chair has armrests and is equipped with a cup holder and a drink holder. A cooler bag with a capacity of 3 cans keeps your beverages cool.

The large head pocket offered by the chair allows you to conveniently store your blanket in it. The chair has been made with 600 x 300D oxford fabrics. And these outdoor fabrics have high durability.

This model has a high weight capacity; still, some overweight users claimed to have found it uncomfortable. The frame is made of alloy steel that offers high corrosion resistance. This property makes the chair long-lasting and ensures low maintenance.

As far as the chair’s portability is concerned, its lightweight (11.3 lbs) allows you to easily store and transport it, making it a great option.

What to look for in your camping chair – Buying Guide

Adequate Support

People struggling with back pain should opt for camping chairs that provide adequate support in the right places to maintain their correct posture and keep their spine in a straight line.

Although there are different types of back pain, most people suffer from lower back pain. That is why there is a diverse range of camping chairs in the market with in-built lumbar support that helps to promote good posture.

People with a bad back should also ensure that their camping chairs provide lumbar support. Usually, the support is in cushions, pillows, or extra internal padding.

Many camping chairs offer headrests that offer support to shoulder muscles and neck. Ergonomically designed camping chairs have armrests and footrests that promote a luxurious feeling.

Fabric

Since camping is an outdoor activity, the fabric of the camping chair must be washable without damage. Also, the fabric must be non-toxic to avoid harmful effects on health.

Therefore, It is best to select chairs made of canvas or some synthetic material such as nylon or polyester (certified by Oeko-Tex 100 standard) because all of these fabrics are non-toxic.

Another advantage of preferring these fabrics is that they are water resistant, which makes them great outdoor fabrics.

The material or fabric of the chair must not be overly flexible because that comes with a risk of promoting poor posture. Moreover, the fabric needs to be supportive so the chair does not sag when you sit on it.

Material of Frame

The material of frame must also be suitable for outdoor activity. Anti-corrosive metals such as aluminium can be used as the frame material. Powder-coated steel is also rust-resistant.

But it must be made sure that the frame is not too heavy. Otherwise, the chair will lack portability and become difficult to carry while camping.

Weight Capacity

The chair’s weight capacity must be according to your weight and size. Most camping chairs have power ranging from 220 pounds to 250 pounds.

This weight limit is enough for people with average weight. But there are a lot of options in the market for heavy people. Camping chairs with a weight limit of 300 lbs to 400 lbs are the right fit for heavy people.

Seat height and width

Make sure the seat width and height are suitable for you. Standard camping chairs have seat heights ranging from 15 inches to 18 inches. A person with an average size will find this seat height comfortable.

But for tall people, some chairs offer a seat height of 19 inches to 20 inches. The seat must also be wide enough for proper posture and body alignment.

Portability

Folding chairs are perfectly suitable in terms of portability during camping. They are easy to transport and can be stored conveniently.

Folding camping chairs can even be stored in your regular bags. The weight of the chair also affects portability. Thus, lightweight chairs are the priority.

Verdict

This is the most detailed and reliable comparison of the six best camping chairs for bad. It must have helped you in getting a better understanding of what each model has to offer.

If you do not have a tight budget, you should go for STRONGBACK Elite Chair, which has the most upgraded features and offers you maximum comfort and integrated back support.

However, suppose you want extra cushioning and a spacious design. In that case, the RTIC Big Bear Folding Chair is an excellent option as it has all the necessary features, shows good performance, and is cheaper.

Conclusion:

Although finding the best camping chairs for bad backs for every person is a challenging task. Because each person has different back problems, there are some important features you need to look for in a chair if you’ve back pain. 

And these include seat height, comfortable back, adjustable lumbar support, and armrests. And, of course, lightweight in design and highly durable in build. Luckily, this list of chairs has all of these features.