The Best Beach Chairs of 2024

The Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair ($90) is what many of us think of when we picture lounging on the beach. It’s a reliable classic, and for good reason. This chair has many enticing features including an adjustable pillow, padded shoulder straps, rubber carry handle, insulated storage pouch, cellphone holder, cupholder, and a folding towel bar. It truly is the perfect chair to unfold by the water and start relaxing.

This chair is super lightweight, making it easy to transport using its built-in backpack straps — even if you have a long walk to the beach. With the integrated insulated pouch, you can pack snacks, drinks, and pretty much everything else you need for a casual day at the beach without the need to carry an additional bag. The phone and drink holder also ensure that you keep both close at hand and out of the sand while you’re taking in the view.

On top of that, it’s simple to unfold and refold and can adjust to five reclining positions, including lying flat. The low seat height gives it a very relaxing position to stretch out your legs. This makes it ideal for reading, napping, or just taking in the views. The low height also makes it easy to sit beneath shorter umbrellas and shade canopies when you want to stay out of the sun.

If you know you’ll be carrying a backpack filled with other beach necessities, the Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair might be overkill since its extra features add some weight and bulk. For those who need a footrest or a full-length chair that supports their legs, this model may not suit you. Additionally, we found it to be a little fiddly when trying to get it to recline to the flattest position.

Regardless, the Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair is a timeless classic that we feel will meet the needs of most beachgoers. It’s light, easy to carry, folds down flat for transport, and has all the features we look for in a beach chair.

The Pacific Breeze Lounger 2-Pack ($83) is a uniquely designed alternative to your typical beach chair. It’s a three-section pad that sits directly on the ground with a support that props up the top like a chair back. If you like sitting on the sand but want more comfort and support than a beach towel, the Pacific Breeze Lounger is the way to go.

This beach chair is much lighter than most other models, weighing in at only 6 pounds. The whole package also folds down impressively small and backpack straps make it incredibly easy to carry from place to place — even if you have a long walk to the beach. Additionally, no instructions or help is needed to set up the Pacific Breeze Lounger. It simply folds back up when you’re done using it and doesn’t have any extra parts that need to be attached.

The Pacific Breeze Lounger includes a zippered pouch near the top that’s perfect for phones, books, snacks, sunscreen, or any other beach necessities. Its shape is ideal for those who love a good beach nap since the leg section stretches out completely, providing a more reclined position than the sharp right angle of a traditional beach chair. It’s also a great deal since the package comes with two chairs, so you and a friend or family member can lounge together.

The Pacific Breeze Lounger’s simple design does have some limitations. It does not have any armrests, so choose another model if that is a necessary part of your beach relaxation. Since there aren’t any armrests, it doesn’t have any cupholders either.

Additionally, sitting directly on the sand may not be ideal for some people, as it makes it a little harder to stand up and sit down than other models. Also, if you know you’ll be carrying a backpack with other gear, this chair won’t be easy to carry since it’s meant for your back.

Assuming those issues don’t bother you, the Pacific Breeze Lounger is a lightweight, simple beach chair that provides an ideal spot for relaxing on the beach. The fact that you get two chairs for the $83 price makes it one of the best values we’ve found.

The GCI Outdoor Backpack Beach Chair with Sunshade ($80) is pretty much the complete package when it comes to beach chairs. It offers every amenity under the sun (no pun intended) and is reasonably priced.

It’s an ideal option for those seeking a classic beach chair that shields their face and upper body from the sun without lugging around a separate beach umbrella or shade. If you are really hoping to soak up some Vitamin D, the sunshade is easy to collapse, and the chair can be used without it.

The GCI Outdoor chair is very similar in design to the Tommy Bahama. It’s incredibly easy to fold and unfold, and it has four positions of recline so you can choose your ideal level of lounging. On the back of the chair is a large storage pouch with a thick drawstring on the top to keep all of your belongings secure.

The pouch is larger than the storage on similar models, which is great if you’re planning to spend the whole day at the beach. Other features include a small cushion to rest the back of your head as well as a cupholder conveniently attached to an armrest. 

Like many other models, the GCI Outdoor Backpack Beach Chair comes with backpack straps, making it super easy to carry. This is an essential part of the chair since it is a little bit heavier than alternative options. It also folds down nice and flat, so it’s easy to stash in the trunk of your vehicle or squeeze into a beach wagon.

However, if you need to carry other gear on your back, it will likely be challenging to do so simultaneously. This chair is on the heavier and bulkier side since it has pretty much every feature you could hope for. Along with its weight and bulk, we found it slightly difficult to adjust. It also doesn’t feel like the sturdiest or most durable chair, but if you aren’t too hard on it, it should stand up to years of regular use. 

With its classic style and wealth of features, the GCI Outdoor Backpack Beach Chair With Sunshade is ideal for beachgoers who want to protect their faces from too much sun while still enjoying a relaxing day by the ocean.

For beachgoers who like to fully extend their legs and lean back on their beach chair, the Neso Beach Lounger ($100) might be for you. Unlike your classic beach chair, this model is a full-length lounge chair that lets you completely stretch out rather than remaining at a 90-degree angle with your feet in the sand.

The back is easily adjustable to whatever angle you need, whether that’s sitting upright or completely flat for taking a nap or getting a tan. Both the upper and lower sections are adjustable into five positions, so you have plenty of options.

When you’re done hanging out, the whole chair is simple to fold back up at the end of the day. It folds down pretty flat, plus it comes with an already attached nylon carry strap that makes the chair super portable, especially considering its length. You can just throw it over your shoulder and carry it like a duffel bag.

The Neso Lounger is made of rust-resistant aluminum, steel, and water-resistant polyester which seems to be durable enough to withstand many uses in windy or wet conditions. It also has a pocket on the back so you can stash your book, phone, or sunscreen and keep it out of the sand. While it doesn’t have a head pillow, the upper part of the frame is wrapped with a thin pad to keep your head from resting on metal.

While the Neso Beach Lounge is very easy to use and transport, it does have some potential downsides. The chair does not have any armrests or cupholders. Similarly, it does not have any cushioning beyond the flexibility of the fabric. Although the chair has an attached strap that makes it easy to carry on one shoulder, it isn’t the lightest, and carrying it for long distances may be a bit cumbersome.  

Beyond those minor qualms, the Neso Beach Lounger is a great option for those who want a portable beach chair for full maxing and relaxing. Sit up or lie all the way down, the choice is yours.

Leveraging their expertise in making some of the best camping chairs, tables, and cots on the market, Helinox has created one of the best beach chairs, too. The Helinox Beach Chair ($170-180) is a super lightweight and impressively portable option that’s great for everything including days at the beach, camping, or any outdoor excursion.

Weighing in at just over 3 pounds, it is super portable, especially when you store it in the pouch it comes with. You could easily stash it in a backpack and it won’t take up any space in your beach wagon.

The lightweight and small size also make it very reasonable to bring with you to those hike-in beach spots that are miles from the parking area. You could easily carry lots of other gear with you since you don’t have to carry the chair as a backpack, as you do with most other models. 

Setting up the Helinox Beach Chair is intuitive and we didn’t even need to look at the instructions to figure it out. It goes together in less than a minute and you’re ready to lounge. Stuff a towel or some clothes into the storage bag, and it doubles as a pillow for your head. A stretchy pocket on one side has space for small items like sunscreen or a phone.

The fabric feels durable and the chair is sturdy considering how light it is. We also like the mesh panels to keep a little air flowing around your body on hot days. It also seems like it will withstand salt and sand easily, and can be easily washed off with a hose when it gets dirty.

The main frustration we had with the Helinox Beach Chair was how tight the fit of the seat fabric was on the legs for the first few uses. It took some muscle to get it on. Additionally, there is nowhere to put your arms or hold your drink.

Even with those minor complaints, the Helinox Beach Chair is a fantastically light and portable option that’s as well suited to days at the beach as it is to sitting by a campfire roasting marshmallows. If you want a versatile and comfortable beach chair that’s easy to carry anywhere, you should give it a look.

The Mac Sports 2-in-1 Lounger and Cargo Cart ($150) is a great chair for a family beach day. It doubles as a lounge chair and a cargo cart that can hold up to 100 pounds, making it a nifty 2-in-1 solution for transporting your gear to the beach and relaxing once you’re there.

While it may look like a relatively standard beach chair, it has two large rubber wheels that make it easy to push or pull with a full load of beach gear. The leg portion folds up to create a relatively spacious cargo cart to haul a cooler, toys, towels, or whatever you bring to the beach. This way, you don’t have to carry a backpack on top of everything else.

The chair is pretty standard, offering three different recline angles, armrests, and a cushion to rest your head. Even though it has wheels and a cart, the whole thing is easy to assemble and folds right back up so it can fit back in your car after a day at the beach. It feels super sturdy and can probably hold a parent and child, depending on the weight.

The most obvious downside to the Mac Sports 2-in-1 Lounger and Cargo cart is its weight and bulk. At 19 pounds, it’s heavier than most, so it’s nice that it has wheels to roll it. The cargo cart feature may also be overkill a lot of the time if you aren’t hauling a bunch of gear down to the beach. Additionally, while the wheels are helpful, they don’t roll that well through super soft sand. It does, however, roll more smoothly over grass and firmer surfaces.

The Mac Sports 2-in-1 Lounger and Cargo Cart is a great option for a family or large group wanting to be prepared for a long day outdoors. Sure, you could buy a separate beach wagon, but you could kill two birds with one stone and get a cargo cart and lounge chair in one.

In addition to having a truly unforgettable name, the Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch ($39) is a super-comfortable alternative to a regular old beach chair. After spending a few minutes inflating it, the Chillbo can seat several people and provides the perfect place to relax. It’s meant for camping, going to the beach, or any outdoor space you like to unplug in. We could even see ourselves enjoying midday naps on it in the backyard when working from home.

One of the first things that stands out about the Chillbo Shwaggins is its weight — just 2.3 pounds — and small packed size. It’s even more impressive when you consider that it can seat several people or that you can completely lie down on it. It comes with a storage bag with a shoulder strap so you can easily carry it anywhere. This makes it a no-brainer to bring with you, no matter how far you need to walk to your favorite beach spot.

Since it’s a full body length, it’s amazing to fully recline in and fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. It sort of feels like you’re sitting on a blown-up cloud, and it’s great for anyone trying to soak up some extra sun at the beach. Another perk is the fact that you can lounge in it with several people if you’re on an outdoor excursion with the family or a group of friends.

The primary drawback of the Inflatable Couch is that it can be difficult to inflate at first. We went back to reread the instructions to make sure we were doing it right, and even then, it felt a bit silly running back and forth, trying to get the couch to inflate.

Inflating this couch could be somewhat problematic for someone with limited mobility. We felt that ours wasn’t completely airtight, either. After a while, the couch starts to deflate, and you may need to add more air.

Overall, the Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch is best for people who love to lie down fully or need seating for several people. It’s super light and easily portable, and it’s also very affordable at just $39. Plus, it’s available in a huge range of fun patterns to match your style.

The Kelty Low Loveseat Camp Chair ($140) is an excellent two-seater that is perfect for a couple to relax in just about any outdoor setting. While it isn’t specifically designed for use at the beach, it works just as well in that setting as it does car camping, at the park, watching your kids’ sporting events, or adding some seating in your backyard.

The Kelty Loveseat feels incredibly sturdy and well-made with quality materials. After removing from its original packaging, it is easily unfolded and ready to go — no instructions are necessary. It simply pops open and folds closed like a classic pop-up chair.

You can sit in it with another person (or your dog) and still have plenty of room for yourself. The quilted fabric and padded armrests are extremely comfortable and since the chair is relatively low and has a slight recline, you can really relax into it.

Since the chair is a loveseat, it fits two people while taking up less packing space in a vehicle than two separate camping chairs. It isn’t the lightest at 15.4 pounds, but when collapsed and wrapped for transport, it’s a reasonable size. The padded shoulder strap also makes it easy to carry for moderate distances. If you’re going farther, tossing the Kelty Loveseat in a good beach wagon will make moving it around even easier.

This chair would be a great purchase for a family or couple that’s always heading outdoors together. The cup holders are perfect for enjoying hot cocoa by the fire or a cold drink as you soak up the sun. It would be perfect for a night at the beach watching the sunset or enjoying a picnic with a group of friends. You can easily squish the chair back together to pack it away if you need to quickly clear your campground or protect it from overnight weather.

As a two-seater with a heavier weight and larger stored size, the Kelty Low Loveseat may not be the ideal beach chair all of the time. If you’re packing other equipment like towels, umbrellas, and coolers, it could be tough to carry without the assistance of a beach wagon.  

At the same time, the Kelty Low Loveseat Camp Chair might be the perfect addition to your beach or camp gear setup. This well-made option is a dependable and comfortable chair for lounging with your significant other, friends, or kids on any outdoor adventure.