Best Outdoor Recliner Chairs

If you want an extra level of comfort and functionality in the camp or anywhere outdoor, check this selection of best outdoor recliner chairs, all very different and versatile designs, and products from reliable outdoor brands.

Most of the chairs are folding so they need no assembly, and even those that need a simple assembly are extraordinarily easy to use. There are a few that can be carried to some short distances, but they are all more or less just chairs for places with a car access.

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My selection of best camping recliner chairs

Below is my list of chairs ordered by weight from heavier to lighter:

 

As usual, my focus is on diversity, so I am trying to present a variety of designs, you will realize this from the list below.

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1. Outsunny Folding Zero Gravity Rocking Lounge Chair

This is a recliner chair with a locking mechanism underneath the armrests so you have several different positions. But the chair is full of great features and you will see it included also to my list of best rocking folding camping chairs. Note that the feet are designed so that you can raise them and the rockers will not touch the ground. But you easily fold the feet and it becomes a pleasant rocker.

From the name, you see also that it belongs to what is described as a zero gravity chair, which implies a design for deep relaxation. In the mentioned setup with the feet, you can use it as a standard zero gravity chair.  Although the chair is huge, the overall dimensions are (L x W x H) 47.25 x 26.5 x 40.25 inches (121 x 67 x 102 cm), this is a folding design so there is no assembly and it is very easy to use.

Typical for such zero-gravity chars is a footrest that works synchronously with its reclining backrest. When you recline the backrest, the footrest raises up. There is also an adjustable headrest with a pillow, and you have solid and ergonomic armrests. As you realize from the picture, there is a folding side table as well.

The frame is a steel with a powder-coated finish, and the fabric is what they call Textilene, a sort of weather-resistant polyester and PVC. It is thin and breathable, and this makes it suitable for warm weather conditions. When folded, the dimensions are 43.5 x 26 x 6 inches (110 x 66 x 15 cm). The chair weighs 22 lb (10 kg), and its capacity is 265 lb (120 kg).

What I like:

• An incredible combination of features.
• Unique feet and rocking rails design.
• Size.

What I dislike:

• Folded size.
• Weight.

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2. VINGLI Professional Fishing Chair

This impressive chair is reclining and you can set it so that the backrest becomes completely flat. In other words, you have 180 degrees recline.

I guess you realize from the picture that the seat is enormous, so just to know it measures 26 inches (66 cm). This is why I have added it also in my list of chairs with a wide seat. To continue with numbers, the weight capacity is 300 lb (136 kg) and the chair weighs 15 lb (6.8 kg). Now you understand why it is in this position here in the list. The packed size is 28 x 25 x 10 inches (72 x 65 x 26 cm).

The chair is nicely padded and the backrest is high, so you have a pleasantly padded headrest as well. The armrests are solid and this helps when you get in and out of the seat. Yet another useful feature is its pivoting feet and adjustable legs. The ground outdoor is rarely flat but with this you can nicely level the chair no matter where you use it.

The frame is high-quality corrosion-resistant steel. The fabric is 600D waterproof Oxford, you will want to know that it is removable and washable.

What I like:

• Legs adjustability.
• Reclining design.
• Size.
• Padding.
• Price.

What I dislike:

• Folded size.
• Weight.

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3. Kamp-Rite Chair with detachable footrest

This chair is one of those that fold in a thin but elongated tube, so the packed size is 38 x 7 x 7 inches (96 x 18 x 18 cm). This is partly due to the fact that you have soft armrests. As the name suggests, here you have a detachable footrest.

But the chair is here because of its reclining design. You have two poles that are equipped with sliders and connected to the back support bars, the chair reclines to around 130 degrees.

You have cup holders, storage pouches, a headrest, and a carry bag included. You will want to know that this is a very affordable chair, and this is one of the reasons for having it here in the list. The official capacity is 300 lb (136 kg) and it weighs 11 lb (5 kg). The frame is a powder-coated steel and the fabric is 600D polyester.

What I like:

• Price.
• Reclining design.
• Footrest.
• Versatility. You can use it without the footrest.

What I dislike:

• A bit long when packed.

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4. POP Design The Hot Seat Heated Portable Chair

On the first look, this POP Design The Hot Seat Heated Portable Chair may look like an ordinary folding chair, but this is a recliner with 3 different reclining positions, and it is full of great features. This includes 5 different pockets, solid armrests, padding, etc.

The chair also offers heating in the seat, and this is mentioned in its official name. There are wires in the seat and they connect with a battery (not included) in a side pocket. You can use any rechargeable USB battery. Note that there are batteries that can heat the seat for more than 7 hours.

The mentioned pockets include several of them hanging on the front under the seat, and small side pockets; they are visible in the picture. There is also a very large mesh pocket on the backside of the backrest.

The frame is powder-coated 0.5 inches (15 mm) steel tubing. The fabric is a strong 600D polyester and there is foam padding inside. They claim the seat fabric is waterproof, this is because of mentioned wires.

The chair weighs 11 lb (5 kg), its packed size in the carry bag is (L x D) 37.5 x 8 inches (95 x 20 cm), and the capacity is 300 lb (136 kg). Note also that the seat is 17.5 inches (44 cm) high. They give a 2-year warranty. I have included this chair in my list of best padded reclining camping chairs.

What I like:

• Versatility.
• Ease of use.
• Padding.

What I dislike:

• On the heavy side.

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5. Ostrich Deluxe Chair

In this chair you have a patented and unique design that offers multiple configurations. Together with its reclining mechanism for the backrest and for the footrest, and with the openings on the top backrest, it offers no less than 15 possible configurations. The footrest alone has 3 different positions. The chair can be completely flat and you can use it as a cot.

There are so many great features here, and they include wood armrests, a padding on the footrest, an adjustable and removable head support, storage elements, an adjustable lumbar pillow, etc. Note also that they offer it in 5 different colors.

There is a face cavity in the headrest, this can be used for ventilation and also to put the face on it when you put the chair in a completely flat position. This allows you to breathe normally.

You also have two cut-outs on the sides of the backrest. This is to pass your arms and to keep the book underneath the backrest when you are with the face in the mentioned cavity.

Note that the mentioned pleasant wood armrests also have a cut-out so that you can use it as a handle to carry the chair. There is a bottle holder and storage elements.

The frame is aluminum, and the capacity is 275 lb (125 kg) weight capacity. It weighs 10.19 lb (4.6 kg). The overall dimensions are (L x W x H) 60.76 x 28.93 x 39.73 inches (154 x 73 x 101 cm), the seat is 22 inches (56 cm) wide, and it is 12 inches (30 cm) above the ground. The folded size is 36 x 29.5 x 5.5 inches (91 x 75 x 14 cm). It is included also to my list of reclining camping chairs with a footrest.

What I like:

• Unique and useful features.
• Ease of use.
• Padding.
• Great colors.

What I dislike:

• Very expensive.
• Bulky.
• Complaints about durability.

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6. GCI Outdoor Wilderness Reclining Portable Backpack Chair

Here you have again a folding recliner camping chair with armrests made of wood. The word Backpack in the name implies that the chair is built with shoulder straps so you can carry it as a backpack. When folded, its size is 28.1 x 24.4 x 3.5 inches (71 x 62 x 9 cm).

It is here because of its reclining design, so you have 4 specific reclining positions, and the lowest position is at around 45 degrees from the vertical position. The locking mechanism for reclining is underneath its solid armrests.

You have a soft and adjustable pillow for the head. A cup holder is on the side, and there is also a large back pouch. The frame is powder-coated aluminum/steel. The fabric is PVC-backed polyester, and there is also a mesh area for ventilation on the backrest.

The capacity is 250 lb (113 kg). The width of the seat is around 19.1 in (49 cm), and the weight is 8.6 lb (3.9 kg). You have the manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty. It is included also in my list of best rated beach chairs.

What I like:

• Headrest.
• Wood armrests.
• Storage pouch.
• Backpack style system.

What I dislike:

• Bulky.
• Complaints about durability.

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7. NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxury Chair

Here you have a recliner of a very particular type. The chair was unique when it first appeared because this is a collapsible swinging chair that includes also reclining features. Nowadays, there are more chairs on the market built in the same swinging style, but the reclining mechanism of this chair still remains unique.

The chair comes with an adjustable headrest with Velcro tabs, and with solid padded armrests. As mentioned, this is a collapsible chair so it needs a simple assembly. Note that a carry bag is included.

The chair is very light, it weighs 6 lb 5 oz (2.86 kg) and its capacity is 300 lb (136 kg). The dimensions are (W x D x H) 25 x 36 x 45 inches (65 x 92 x 116 cm). The seat height is 12 inches (30 cm).

You have an aircraft-grade aluminum and the tubes are shock-corded. The feet are a thermo-rubber material that sticks to any surface. The fabric is a non-absorbent monofilament mesh. This chair is included also in my list of best collapsible camping chairs.

What I like:

• The packed size.
• The weight.
• Headrest.
• Solid armrests.
• Quality materials.
• Nemo Lifetime Warranty.

What I dislike:

• The price.

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Final thoughts

So this was my list of best outdoor recliner chairs, and I hope you realize how very different all these models are. Now, how to choose? Obviously, all of them have the reclining feature, but there are big differences with respect to this design. Some can become completely flat and they look like a cot, but some offer far smaller reclining angles. So this is the fact to bear in mind.

Almost all of them have plenty of extra features. So you have seen rocking chairs here, some have lots of storage elements, some can be carried backpack-style, and some fold to elongated but thin tubes.

There are big differences in the weight, by a factor of 3 or so. But I do not think this is a big deal, these are chairs for car camping in any case. Though the weight may be important if this is about elderly users.

The same holds for the seat height, some are very low. For elderly users, this may not be the best option, but in this case it is great to have solid armrests, and you have several such options here, some even with pleasant wood armrests.

The packed size may be an issue if your space in the car is limited. With respect to this, you have i) folding reclining chairs that fold thin but remain large in two dimensions, and ii) reclining folding and collapsible chairs that close like an umbrella and become narrow but long.

So it would be good to make your list of priorities, and then check which of the chairs fits best.

Editor’s Choice

I would put forward the chair shown below. The choice is not easy because the chairs are so different. But there are several reasons to point out this particular chair.

• It is very light, at least for the camping recliners chairs, so you can carry it attached to the pack or transport it on a bicycle.
• Its packed size is great.
• It has some really cool features. This is a swinging and sway chair as well.
• The reclining mechanism is completely different from any other chair in the list.

So this is the chair:

Please see more here:

If you need a bit more texts related to camping chairs, please see my separate texts where some other features are in focus. So see these chairs for heavy people, or chairs with extra-wide seats, or perhaps these best compact outdoor chairs.

Thank you for reading. There is a comment box below so let me know if you have questions or comments.