BY Nick Bulanda
Published February 7, 2021
Camping Chairs vs Beach Chairs: What’s the Difference?
For many people, camping trips and time spent at the beach go hand in hand. If you live in the right area, it could be incredibly easy to pick out a camping site near a lake, river or even the ocean. It may seem just as simple to pack along a camping chair and assume it’ll do fine at the beach, but we’re here to tell you about some important differences when it comes to camping chairs vs beach chairs. Check out today’s blog and we think you’ll come out the other side more informed about your next adventure.
The bottom line is that while some camping chairs might do okay at the beach and vice versa, the two categories require some key design differences that allow them to perform best in their ideal environment. In other words, camping chairs are best used on solid ground like grass, dirt or cement. Beach chairs are instead are meant to sit securely on sand, stones and other uneven ground. If you’re lucky, and know what you’re shopping for, it is possible to find some chairs that suit both needs well. By the end of today’s brief blog, you should know exactly what you need to shop for the best overall chair for your trip!
The Traits of a Good Beach Chair
The primary key to feeling comfortable at the beach is a chair with strong stability in the sand. Many camping chairs feature feet that won’t be able to find secure balance in shifting sand terrain. However, beach chairs are designed for just this such thing. Most beach chairs you find will have legs and feet that dig down into the sand and stay stable. Others will feature front and rear bars that do pretty much the same thing but in a different way. These bars will descend down into the sand over time, making the chair more difficult to fall or be knocked over, especially with someone sitting in it. Many beach chairs also feature a low-to-the-ground design that makes them less likely to tip over.
Along with stability, a good beach chair will offer maximum comfort. That means that the chair should have plenty of padding, and maybe even recline at a relaxing angle for you. Not all beach chairs are going to offer the same level of quality, so it’s up to you to seek out the right chair for your needs. If you want a chair that allows you to lay all the way back and soak in the sun, you’ll surely be able to find one. If you’re looking for something that offers good upright back support, you should have the opportunity to track one of those down as well! It all just depends on what exactly you need.
Why to Avoid Bringing a Camping Chair to the Beach
As opposed to beach chairs, camping chairs are designed to be used on solid and stable ground. This means that these chairs often have different priorities, as their main goal isn’t to stay up straight on sand. If you try to take a standard camping chair like the one pictured above to a day at the beach, you won’t be completely out of luck. However, you’ll likely be dealing with an uneven and uncomfortable chair the entire time.
A good camping chair has its focus on providing ample support and stability when you’re at the campsite. Many feature quad leg chair designs that are excellent for staying upright on grass and dirt. Additionally, these chairs are higher off the ground, which many people don’t want at the beach. While a camping chair is a great idea for the time you spend at your campground, it just doesn’t quite get the same job done as well on sand.
However, there are some benefits camping chairs offer than many beach chairs don’t. Often you will find a camping chair equipped with one or two cup holders, as well as a small cooler bag. That can come in handy, and it’s something we wish was found on more beach chairs. All the same, though, it shouldn’t be too hard to bring along a small cooler to keep nearby, maybe even with a cup holder up top.
Choosing Camping Chairs vs Beach Chairs
At the end of the day, it’s up to you which chair(s) you want to bring along. If you have enough room in your budget, and room in your vehicle, we truly believe you’ll be well-suited with two different types of chairs. However, we understand that both money and packing space can sometimes be tight. There are chairs out there that can adequately serve you both at the campsite and on the beach.
Keep an eye out for a chair that specifically advertises itself as a camping and beach chairs. You’ll want to find something that has stable legs and feet so they can keep you upright on solid earth, but also is able to sink into the stand and stay up. There are some good options out there, and we feel confident that the right one could completely revolutionize your camping trip comfort.
Please feel free to continue browsing our website for more advice on camping! If you have any chair suggestions of your own, or have thoughts on the topic, make sure to leave a comment for us down below! We’re all about making our community grow, and we can only do it with your help. Goodbye for now, and have a great time on your next camping and beach adventure!
