Camp Chairs and Tables: What Earns Its Space in the Car
By Trailbound Editors · Published · Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Table of Contents
Quick Verdict
Buy one chair per person that packs small enough to actually go in the car, and a table only if you cook and eat outside the tent. The failure point on cheap chairs is the joint between the leg and the frame, not the fabric. Weight matters far less than packed length, because the limit is usually the boot, not your back.
Camp furniture is the gear most often bought badly, because it is cheap enough to buy on impulse and bulky enough that a bad choice follows you around for years.
Chairs: packed size beats weight
The question is not how light a chair is but whether it fits in the car once the bags are in. A chair that packs to 90 cm will not go in a small boot at all; one that packs to 40 cm will, and nobody notices the extra kilogram.
Check three things in the shop: the joint where the leg meets the frame, the width of the seat, and whether the cup holder is a real pocket or a token recess. The joint is what breaks.
Tables: height decides the use
Most roll-top tables sold as camping tables are around 40 cm high. That is a cooking surface, not a dining table, and you will notice the difference the first time you eat a meal hunched over.
If you want to sit at the table, look for something close to 60–70 cm with legs that lock. If you only need somewhere to put a stove and a chopping board, the low table is lighter and cheaper.
What to skip
- Giant six-person picnic tables. They are excellent for one trip a year and a nuisance the rest of the time.
- Chairs with a canopy. The shade is small, the frame catches wind, and the folded package is much bigger.
- Anything with a fabric hinge. It is the first part to wear through.
Setting up so nothing breaks
Put chairs on flat ground and do not drop into them — most failures happen on the day someone flops down. Wipe and dry the frames before storing them, and store furniture flat rather than leaning on one leg. Gear stored wet and folded is gear that smells of mildew by the next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the tiny backpacking chairs worth it?
For sitting on a rock, yes. For an evening around a table, no — they sit low and are awkward to eat from. If you want one chair for everything, pick a mid-weight folding chair rather than the lightest one made.
What should I check before buying a table?
Packed length, then height. A table you can eat at is around 60–70 cm high; most roll-top tables are lower and are really cooking surfaces. Check that it fits in the car lengthways before anything else.
Does aluminium or steel last longer?
Steel frames usually survive more abuse and weigh more. Aluminium is fine if the joints are well made, which is why cheap aluminium chairs fail at the joint rather than the tube.
