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“Go camping!” they said.
“It’ll be relaxing!” they said.
I guess they didn’t foresee the situation where my Walmart “Camp Chair For Big Guys” had two of the legs bend right in half and the seat tear, dumping me on the ground.
While that day was a little bit painful and a whole heap of embarrassing, I figure it could have been worse.
I could have slid sideways into the fire, I could have had the sharp end of the broken chair frame stab through my leg, or I could have just been chairless for the rest of the week-long trip. Luckily, none of those things happened.
My wife’s grandpa (of all people) happened to have brought several extra chairs so I chose the sturdiest of the bunch and spent most of the rest day on my phone, looking for a big man camping chair that would be waiting for me when I got home. Sharing my search for the best camp chair for big guys seemed to be the natural evolution and so I decided to write this article. Let’s get into it!
If you’re in a hurry, here are my top 5 recommendations for big guy camp chairs:
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5 Problems With “Non-Heavy-Duty” Camp Chairs
If you’re here looking for a camping chair for big guys, you’ve already realized that the average (puny) camp chairs that you see everywhere aren’t going to cut it for you. They have issues. But just so everyone is on the same page, let’s talk about the failure points and main problems that heavy guys (and gals) have with camp chairs.
1. Low Weight Capacity
This is the most obvious of problems and probably the one that led you to this article. For most big and heavy people, a 250-pound capacity chair just isn’t going to cut it. A 250-pound capacity camp chair might work for a 250-pound guy but, given that a 250-pound guy can generate 400lbs of force when sitting down, the chair probably won’t last long. So we need a camp chair fully capable of supporting a 500lb person, meaning that we’ll need a chair with a capacity of several hundred pounds over that!
2. Narrow Seats
The office I work at just bought a whole bunch of high-capacity folding office chairs to keep us big guys happy. The only problem is, they are the same size as a normal folding chair! What is the purpose of them having a 1,000-pound capacity if I can only fit half of my butt on them?? A good camp chair will have ample space for a big and heavy person to sit.
3. No Heavy Duty Fabric
Often, it is the fabric (not the frame) that fails on camp chairs. A heavy-duty frame should be coupled with heavy-duty reinforced nylon covering if it’s going to last more than a season.
4. Hard To Get Out Of
Traditional camp chairs are difficult to get out of for two reasons: they are too low and they set you back too far. Any decent camp chair for heavy fellas will rectify this.
5. The Awful Uncomfortable “Leg Bar”
If you’re a heavy person that sinks into chairs, you’re probably familiar with the ever-present bar that hits you in the back of your leg right above your knee. If a camp chair is made of heavy-duty enough fabric this shouldn’t be a problem (because you won’t sag so far) but some of these chairs have figured out a way to bypass this issue altogether!
When I first started thinking about all the problems with traditional camp chairs I figured it would be a real endeavor to find one that solved every issue. Long story short, it wasn’t. There are some very smart outdoor gear manufacturers who understand the needs of fat people and have taken it upon themselves to make us chairs. So let’s look at my top recommendations and see which one I ultimately picked:
5 Best Plus Size Camp Chairs For Big & Heavy People
1. Alps King Kong: The Best Camp Chair for Big Guys
If you’re looking for a big man camp chair, Alps Mountaineering is a name that you will see again and again. They are makers of very well-designed outdoor gear and they have a particular knack for understanding the needs of heavy, big, and tall people.
This chair has a powder-coated steel frame that is durable, scratch-resistant, and (most importantly) will keep you from ending up on the ground. This chair’s massive 800-pound capacity is sufficient for all but the heaviest of users! While I doubt that anyone who weighs a full 800 pounds would actually fit in this chair, the extra capacity does take a load off my mind!
The steel frame and extra heavy polyester fabric mean that this chair isn’t dainty, weighing in at over 13 pounds, but if you are in the market for the highest capacity chair that is still comfortable then this is it!
So, is this the chair I bought?
Yes! And it says 800lbs capacity right on the bag. Win-win.
After all my research, this is the chair that struck the perfect balance between function, looks, and price. It solved every single one of the above issues…at least for me. People who are significantly heavier than me or have much larger legs report that the front bar can make it uncomfortable to sit in for long periods of time. There are a few fixes for this in Amazon Reviews but, since I’m nowhere near the chair’s weight limit, it hasn’t been an issue for me.
So if you want an amazing plus-size camp chair at a great price, this is the one you want! And the one I will buy again if my current one ever wears out!
2. Alpha Camp: Best Big Man Camping Chair for Heavy People
If you are looking for a larger and even more comfortable option, this chair from Alpha Camp is well worth checking out. It is one of the chairs in this review without that evil leg-hurting front bar and everyone that tries it loves it. The main gripe that most people have about this chair is that it’s so big! Remember, if you’re a big guy, don’t expect to carry your chair a couple of miles. It’s meant for relaxing!
This chair has a slightly lower capacity (a mere 450 pounds) but is known to be very sturdy and stable. And it goes without mentioning that it’s super wide! In fact, it’s the widest camp-style chair I was able to find when I was doing research for this article!
All things considered, this was my second choice for a heavy-duty camp chair and it only lost because of its lower weight limit. With that being said, it is probably the most popular chair in this review and has thousands of happy users. If you’re within the weight limit then this might be your winner!
3. Coleman Big-N-Tall – Budget Plus-Size Camp Chair
I haven’t actually sat in this chair but, if you’re thinking about avoiding a big man camp chair simply because of cost, this might be exactly what you need!
Coleman is a brand that is well known to anyone who has ever gone camping and their experience shows with this chair. Every review I’ve read is simply glowing that they can provide such a strong chair at such a great price. It has a 500-pound capacity, an extremely roomy 24″ wide seat, and no bar at the front that will hurt your legs.
If you need a bunch of seats for group camping or simply want to save some money, this is the seat you need!
4. Alps King Kong – Same Chair, But In Camo
For all intents and purposes, this is the same camping chair as our number #1 recommendation. They offer them under different listings on Amazon (this one is the camo “hunting version”) but that’s where the differences end.
So if you love the first chair but think it would be better in camo, you’re in luck.
5. Timber Ridge XXL – 600lb Capacity Director’s Camp Chair
When I was shopping for a heavy-duty folding chair, camping was my express purpose. Because of that, this chair didn’t appeal to me much at the time. Times have changed, however. People want heavy-duty folding chairs for a variety of purposes and this one strikes the perfect chord for relaxing in your backyard or toting to your kid’s soccer game.
In fact, once I became fully aware of that truth, I realized that a comfortable high-capacity chair such as this one would be perfect for my breaks at work! I have a heavy-duty office chair at home but, at work, I’m still sitting in the same crappy fake leather chair as everyone else!
So if you, like me, have found a use for a heavy-duty folding camp chair in a place where you’re concerned about its appearance, this director’s-style version is perfect. It has a 600-pound capacity, comfortable seating with no front bar, and ergonomic armrests! And if you have a plus-sized bottom you’ll love the 28″ wide seat!
Good looking, comfy, high capacity…what else is there?
Conclusion
As I mentioned above, I think that pretty much every person should invest in a high-capacity camp chair. After all, why wouldn’t you want one that is more sturdy, capable, and durable?
However, the main problem with 500lb capacity camping chairs is that they can feel like they weigh 500 pounds as well. So if you’re looking for a great resting spot while car camping, watching sports, or at a BBQ, get the big chair. Otherwise, you might want to opt for a wimpier version.
So if you’re a big and heavy person, get ordering! Get it ASAP so you can have it next time you need it!
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