BEST Warm Weather Camping Chair For Your Next Adventure

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Looking For The Best Warm Weather Camping Chair?

It was time to get new camping chairs. The last ones were great, but they lost their ability to easily collapse so we could stuff them into their bags. Rust, sand, dirt and debris had taken their toll on the many hinge points of our chairs. Rinsing and lubing the joints helped a bit, but the hinges finally gave out after years of use. Time to go shopping.

Heading To REI

It was a few days before our next van adventure so there wasn’t time to order the ones we had before. I like REI for their great camping products and amazing return policy. I did consider browsing various other stores, but I felt confident REI would have a good selection. And a selection they had!

I walked into REI and was immediately greeted with a huge number of chairs all set out for customers to sit in. This was very different from other big box stores where you have to take each chair out to try it and then put it back as to not block the aisles.

So Many Choices

Camping chairs, how can they feel so different? How many ways are there to wrap nylon or canvas material around an aluminum or wood frame? Well, I’ll tell you, a lot. At REI the chairs were all circled around a big tent display. There must have been close to 20 different chairs. It appeared I had my work cut out for me. I thought, how hard could this be? Well to give you an idea, I probably sat in most of the chairs 3 to 4 times each. Some were obviously not for me. Some folded flat, others were just too big for our van storage area, and yes, some just didn’t have the esthetics I wanted. So how did I end up choosing the REI SKYWARD CHAIR?

Chair Construction

This chair caught my attention from the moment I sat in it, and it wasn’t just the great colors. The quality of the frame stood out when compared to other chairs. The metal tubing had a substantial feel and the pivot points glided easily when folding and unfolding.

The material was sturdy and built to last. The light and breathable mesh in the back and seat is reinforced with black ribbons of nylon. The arm rests are wide and supportive with the same mesh under the elbow area.

There are two pockets to hold various items you might have with you. One on the right arm rest designed to hold beverages of various sizes. The only thing I didn’t like about this design was that when I put a standard soft drink can in it, it did not hold it securely. For larger containers it worked great. The second pocket, which hangs off the front end of the left armrest is great. It has a drawstring to secure items. It works well for things like phones, sunscreen, wallets or snacks. While it could hold that same soft drink can more securely, it tips forward and could pour some liquid out when you’re can is full. What about its compact-ability?

Pros

We love the blue and orange colors.
The frame construction is solid.
The fabric material is substantial and made to last.
The mesh areas are great for breathability on those warm summer days.
The seat back angles just slightly to the rear for a relaxing position.
It folds up quickly and smoothly.
The bag is very well constructed with multiple handle options.
It stores well in the back of our van.

Cons

We wish the cup holder was designed to hold a regular sized soda or beer can more securely.

Our Conclusion

This is another, in a long line of great REI camping products. We would definitely buy this chair again, but based on the quality, I would say we won’t be in the market to buy for quite a few seasons.

If you have any questions or comments about this product, please submit them in the comments section below.

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