Whether you’re heading out to your kid’s soccer match, or tailgating on game day, having a place to sit is essential at any sporting event. If you’re planning on staying for a while, you’ll want to be comfortable too.
There are plenty of portable folding chairs on the market, some are perfect for the beach, others are great for hiking, but which ones are the best for watching outdoor sports?
Other Articles in this series include Beach, Backpacking & Shaded Chairs
Here are the 6 Top Performing Sports Chairs
First, we’ll look through them, model by model, and help you understand what each option has to offer.
Coleman Large Quad Chair
Enjoy having a few cold drinks on hand? The Oversized Coleman Chair is just for you. It can hold a total of five cans. One in the cup holder, and four in the mini-cooler built right into the armrest. But the storage doesn’t stop at drinks. You’ve got a large pocket on the left side of the main cushion, which can be used to store sunscreen, hats, or any other personal items you can keep on hand.
Storage isn’t the only advantage to an oversize chair. You’re able to lounge it in quite comfortably, but still pack it up small enough that it will fit in the trunk of a small car. It’s made with a very high quality frame, enabling it to support up to 300 lbs.
Quick Shade MAX
Trying to beat the summer heat? No need to pack that massive beach umbrella around. The Quick Shade MAX has a huge sun canopy built right in. What stands out about this particular model is the size of the canopy. It’s got side skirts that improve coverage, and is adjustable to match the angle of the sun. Despite the size of the canopy, the entire chair only weighs 9 lbs, which is pretty impressive.
Aside from the shade, there are a few other key features that helped this chair make our list. The 600D polyester fabric is significantly stronger than what’s used on basic chairs, and there are two cup holders included. It can support weight up to 250 lbs, making it suitable for most people.
Kijaro Dual Lock
Like to show up in your team’s colors? The Kijaro Dual Lock Chair might be the one for you. This compact and stylish is built to an incredibly high standard, and comes in a variety of attractive colors. There are 10 different options available, ranging from the bright and vibrant to the more reserved muted colors.
If you’re going to be sitting for a long time, you’ll appreciate the additional postural support. Multiple types of fabric are stitched together to create additional support where it’s needed, and give a little extra flexibility in the high pressure areas. The mesh backing not only allows for improved airflow, but also offers just the right amount of stretch to help keep you comfortable. It supports up to 300 lbs of weight, which is a little more than most common chairs.
Picnic Time Portable Folding Sports Chair
This Picnic Time Director Style chair isn’t the most common design, nor is it the cheapest. But there are a few reasons why this might be the best option for you. For starters, the shape and arrangement of the support bars make it a lot stronger than most camp chairs. It feels very rigid, and doesn’t flex like many other chairs. You also sit higher off the ground, making it much more ergonomic for tall people.
But this isn’t your average director style chair. It comes complete with a fold out side table, and a ton of storage pockets on the side. If you’re the type that likes to come prepared, this chair will make it easier to do so.
Picnic Time Portable Ventura Reclining Stadium Seat
At larger sporting events, you don’t have the ability to bring your own chair. You’re stuck sitting in the stadium seats, which are often incredibly uncomfortable. This is where the Picnic Time Ventura Reclining Stadium Seat comes in. It fits on top of the existing chair, and makes drastic improvements to the comfort. The polyester covered cushions are incredibly soft, and easy to wash. When folded flat, it’s small enough to carry under your arm. But when it’s folded out, it covers every single part of the seat – even the arm rests!
The Ventura Reclining Stadium seat is one of the most-plush options on the market, and comes in six different eye catching styles. The only downside? Sports fans will constantly ask you where you got it!
Coleman Lightweight and Portable Stadium Seat
Sometimes, you just need a little extra padding to make your game more enjoyable. This Coleman Lightweight Stadium seat is the cheap and cheerful alternative to the Ventura. It’s one of the most inexpensive seats on our list, and is also one of the most compact. It sets up in a matter of seconds, and can be packed up and bundled together for easy portability.
With a mesh pocket in the back of the seat, you’ll have somewhere safe to keep your personal belongings. Given the low price, you might think that it’s poorly made. But Coleman is a well respected brand, and this seat will certainly last you a very long time.
How to Choose the Greatest Chair for Your Sporting Day Out
For some people, a chair is a chair. But there are a couple important factors you’d need to think about. The most important is where the chair is designed to be used. Stadium chairs like the Ventura and the Coleman Stadium Seat are designed to go on top of existing seating, and won’t work on their own. Meanwhile, chairs like the Coleman Oversized Quad Chair are best for lounging out on the grass where there is a lot of space.
Do You Need Some Storage?
Another thing to think about is the storage. Some models, such as the Picnic Time Directors Chair seem to have everything except the kitchen sink. You can store sunscreen, bottled water, the game program, and even your lunch on hand! Other options, like Coleman’s Quad Chair have a built in cooler. Knowing how much stuff you need to store, and what exactly that is, can help making your selection much easier.
How Portable Is The Fold Up Chair
You’ll also want to think about portability. Compact chairs like the Kijaro Dual Lock are very lightweight, and easy to carry. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time porting the chair around, getting a lightweight model will pay off in the long run.
In Conclusion
There are tons of options out there, but nobody can tell you exactly which one will be the best for you. If you see a feature you like, give it a shot! A chair doesn’t have to be perfect in every regard. Its’ those small bonus features that you’ll find make a purchase worthwhile.
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