After a long day on the trail with a heavy pack, the simple luxury of a proper seat cannot be overstated. A good camping stool provides a clean, dry, and stable place to rest weary legs, cook a meal, or simply enjoy the view without compromising your commitment to lightweight travel. The right choice balances minimal weight and packed size with durability and comfort, turning any spot into a comfortable basecamp.
From ultra-minimalist perches to more supportive chairs, the market offers a solution for every backpacker’s priority. This roundup examines ten of the best options, highlighting key features like weight capacity, frame design, and portability to help you find the perfect stool for your next outdoor adventure.
Our Top Picks for Backpacking Stools
- Travel Chair Slacker Tripod Chair
- Opliy Camping Stool with Carry Bag
- Deer’s Life Square Portable Collapsible Stool
- ALPS OutdoorZ Tri-Leg Stool
- Helinox Chair One Original Camping Chair
- Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit
- Big Agnes Skyline UL Ultralight Chair
- GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair
- MARCHWAY Ultralight Folding Camping Chair
- REI Co-op Flexlite Air
Travel Chair Slacker Tripod Chair
For a classic, no-fuss tripod stool, the Travel Chair Slacker is a reliable choice. Its simple three-leg design with oversized duck feet provides improved stability on soft ground, a common challenge with traditional stools. The adjustable carry strap and hook-and-loop closure make it exceptionally easy to attach to your pack or carry by hand.
Weighing just 1.9 pounds and collapsing to a slim 2.75 by 24-inch profile, it fits neatly alongside your gear. The seat uses a combination of nail head and ripstop polyester fabric, offering a good balance of durability and comfort for a quick rest during hiking, fishing, or camping breaks.
Opliy Camping Stool
The Opliy Camping Stool stands out for its impressive combination of low weight and high weight capacity. At only 1.3 pounds, it is one of the lightest options available, yet it supports up to 320 pounds. This makes it a strong candidate for backpackers who need to minimize every ounce without sacrificing strength.
Its compact square-fold design measures 16.5 by 5.5 inches when packed, saving considerable space in a pack or vehicle. Constructed from 600D double oxford cloth and steel pipe, this stool is built for frequent use on camping trips, beach outings, or even in the garden.
Deer’s Life Square Portable Collapsible Stool
The Deer’s Life stool features a unique telescoping, square-shaped seat design. This geometry provides a larger sitting area compared to traditional round stools, which can increase comfort during longer rests. The patented fish-scale structure on the legs is designed to create a tighter, more secure link when extended.
This design contributes to its notable weight capacity, which is officially rated for 485 pounds. The retractable mechanism allows it to collapse into a very slim and portable cylinder, making it easy to stow in a backpack side pocket or carry with its integrated handle.
ALPS OutdoorZ Tri-Leg Stool
Built with rugged conditions in mind, the ALPS OutdoorZ Tri-Leg Stool incorporates an extra center support system within its powder-coated steel frame. This reinforcement boosts stability and load-bearing performance, making it a dependable choice for hunters and anglers who often use gear in uneven terrain.
The 600D polyester seat fabric is tough and abrasion-resistant, capable of handling extended use. For transport, it features an integrated webbing carry strap and includes a compact carry bag, folding down to a manageable 23 by 3.5-inch package.
Helinox Chair One Original
The Helinox Chair One is a benchmark in the lightweight camping chair category. Its frame is constructed from a proprietary aluminum alloy that provides exceptional strength for its weight, supporting up to 320 pounds while the entire chair weighs just 2.1 pounds. It packs down smaller than many water bottles.
This chair offers a significant step up in comfort and support from a simple stool, with a breathable, UV-resistant rip-stop polyester seat and backrest. The removable seat is machine washable, and the chair assembles quickly with shock-corded poles for easy setup at camp.
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit
The Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit is a clever and versatile system that converts your existing sleeping pad into a comfortable chair. This approach saves weight and space, as you are utilizing gear you already carry. The kit consists of a fabric chair frame with elastic sleeves that fit most self-inflating pads and NeoAir mattresses.
Setup is quick, and the resulting chair provides excellent back support and insulation from the ground. When not in use, the chair kit packs down very small, making it an ideal choice for ultralight backpackers and minimalist campers looking to add comfort without adding bulk.
Big Agnes Skyline UL Ultralight Chair
For those who prioritize cutting-edge ultralight design, the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is a top contender. Weighing just over one pound, it uses a patented hub-less frame made entirely of aircraft aluminum, eliminating the plastic hubs that can be a weak point in other chairs. This design increases strength and reduces weight.
The chair features pre-bent poles that create a deeper, wider seat for improved comfort. The fully shock-corded, color-coded poles make assembly intuitive and tool-free. It represents a premium option for backpackers seeking maximum comfort with minimum weight penalty.
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker
The GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker is for the backpacker or car camper who values relaxation above all. Its patented Spring-Action Rocking Technology allows for a gentle rocking motion on virtually any surface, from packed dirt to a grassy lawn. This feature provides a unique and comfortable way to unwind at the campsite.
Beyond the rocking function, it includes practical comforts like a built-in beverage holder in the armrest and a breathable mesh back. With a sturdy steel frame supporting 250 pounds, it offers a more substantial and feature-rich seating experience for basecamp-style trips.
MARCHWAY Ultralight Folding Camping Chair
The MARCHWAY chair emphasizes stability through its solid square base and four-stand-alone leg design. This structure disperses weight effectively and provides a balanced feel, reducing the chance of tipping. Weighing 2.3 pounds and packing into a compact carrying bag, it remains highly portable for backpacking use.
Constructed from ripstop polyester and aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, it supports up to 300 pounds. The ergonomic seat offers a slight recline for comfortable lounging, and the breathable fabric helps keep you cool during warm weather outings.
REI Co-op Flexlite Air
While a specific image and ASIN are not provided, the REI Co-op Flexlite Air is renowned in the backpacking community as one of the lightest full-featured chairs on the market. It is designed for the serious ultralight enthusiast who is unwilling to compromise on a supportive seat and backrest.
It uses high-strength aluminum poles and a minimalist yet durable fabric to achieve an exceptionally low weight, often around one pound. Like other top-tier models, it sets up quickly and packs into a very small stuff sack, representing the pinnacle of weight-saving chair technology for long-distance trails.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Camping Stools for Backpacking
Picking the right camping stool for backpacking isn’t just about finding a place to sit. It’s a careful balance between comfort and the weight you’re willing to carry. I’ve learned the hard way that a stool that’s perfect for car camping is a nightmare in a backpack. So, let’s talk about what actually matters when you’re looking for a seat to take on the trail.
First, and most critical, is weight and packed size. Every ounce counts in your pack. I look for stools under 2 pounds, and ideally closer to 1 pound. The way it packs down is just as important. A long, awkward shape is a deal-breaker; it needs to fit neatly alongside my tent pole or slide into a pack’s water bottle sleeve. Compactness is king.
Next, consider the weight capacity and stability. Check the manufacturer’s rating. I always look for a stool rated for at least 250 pounds to ensure a margin of safety on uneven ground. The leg design is a huge factor here. Three-legged stools are lighter and handle uneven terrain well, while four-legged designs often feel more solid and stable on flat surfaces, but can wobble if one leg is on a rock.
Material and durability come next. The seat fabric should be a tough, ripstop nylon or polyester. The frame is usually aluminum for a good strength-to-weight ratio, though some ultra-light options use carbon fiber or specialized plastics. Check that all the joints and hinges feel robust—these are the high-stress points.
Finally, think about height and comfort. A low stool, around 10 inches high, is super stable and great for sitting around a low campfire. A taller stool, say 15-20 inches, is easier to get in and out of and feels more like a chair. Some seats are simple fabric slings, while others have a bit of padding or a wider seat. There’s no right answer here, but your backside will thank you for considering it. By weighing these factors—packability, strength, and comfort—you can find one of the best camping stools for backpacking that won’t become a regret in your pack.
FAQ
Are backpacking stools worth the weight?
This is the big question. For me, it’s a personal trade-off. After a long day of hiking, having a dedicated, clean, and dry seat off the ground is a massive luxury. It keeps you more comfortable, warmer, and cleaner than a log or a rock. If you value comfort at camp and are willing to dedicate roughly one pound of pack weight to it, then absolutely, it’s worth it. It’s one of those items that turns a survival trip into an enjoyable experience.
How do I stop my stool from sinking into soft ground?
Sinking stools are a real problem on sand, mud, or loose soil. The easiest fix is to look for models that come with or allow you to attach larger, wider foot caps. These distribute your weight over a larger area. If your stool doesn’t have them, you can get creative. I’ve used flat rocks, sections of bark, or even my camp cup lids as makeshift foot pads. Placing your stool on a more solid spot, like near a tree root or on a flat rock, is always the first move.
Can I use a backpacking stool for anything else?
You bet. I use mine all the time. It becomes a side table next to my tent, a stand for my water bottle or camp stove to keep dirt out, and even a makeshift step to reach something in my pack hung from a tree. Some folks even use the stuff sack as a dry bag for small items. Its utility goes way beyond just sitting, which helps justify its place in my pack.
What’s the main difference between a three-leg and four-leg design?
Three-legged stools are generally lighter and pack smaller. Their big advantage is that they never wobble on uneven ground because three points always make a stable plane. Four-legged stools can feel more chair-like and solid on perfectly flat surfaces, but if one leg is off the ground, they rock. For the variable terrain of backpacking, I personally lean towards the reliability of a three-leg design.
How do I clean and maintain my camping stool?
It’s pretty simple. For the fabric seat, I just wipe it down with a damp cloth or give it a shake to remove dirt and debris. If it’s really grimy, a mild soap and water solution works. Make sure it’s completely dry before packing it away long-term to prevent mildew. For the frame, especially if it’s aluminum, check for any dirt or grit in the joints and wipe it clean. This prevents premature wear and ensures smooth opening and closing.