Best Camping Chairs for Big Guys (500 to 800 lb Rated)
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Most camp chairs are built for an average-size adult. If you're a big guy, you already know the feeling: the frame flexes when you sit down, the fabric sags until you're sitting on the front bar, and the armrests press into your hips. Some chairs don't survive the weekend.
The fix isn't a fancier chair. It's a chair with a high published weight rating, a steel frame and a seat wide enough for your hips. Below are three chairs whose makers rate them between 550 and 800 lb, plus two cots rated to 600 lb for when you want to sleep off the ground too.
What a weight rating actually tells you
A weight rating is the maker's number, and it's the first filter. But it helps to know what it does and doesn't promise.
- It's usually a static load. That means weight sitting still. Dropping into a chair, leaning back hard or shifting side to side puts more force on the frame than your body weight alone.
- More buffer is better. If you weigh 300 lb, a chair rated for 300 lb is working at its limit every time you sit. A chair rated for 600 or 800 lb has room to spare, and the frame and fabric should wear more slowly.
- A rating isn't a seat width. A high-capacity chair can still be narrow between the arms. Check the seat width on the listing against your hip measurement.
Every rating in this guide comes from the manufacturer or its Amazon listing. We haven't load-tested these chairs ourselves, and we don't make up ratings.
1. ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair: the highest rating here
ALPS Mountaineering rates the King Kong to 800 lb, the highest of any chair we've found for this guide. It uses a steel frame and 600D fabric, a heavier, denser weave than the thin fabric on many budget chairs.
The 800 lb rating is the point. For a guy in the 300 to 400 lb range, that's double the buffer, which matters on uneven ground or when you drop into it at the end of a long day. Steel and heavier fabric are what you'd want backing that number.
Things to check: stock was low when we looked, so the color you want may sell out. It's also a big chair, so check the folded size if you're packing a small trunk.
ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair
- Rated 800 lb
- Steel frame
- 600D fabric
Price on Amazon. Sizes and stock vary.
2. Coleman Big-N-Tall Camping Chair: best value
Coleman's listing rates the Big-N-Tall to 600 lb. It has a steel frame, a design Coleman describes as extra-roomy, a cup holder and side pocket, water-resistant fabric and what Coleman calls stable large feet.
600 lb is a big buffer for most guys, at a lower price than the King Kong. The large feet matter more than they sound. Small, narrow feet on a chair concentrate weight and sink into grass, sand and mud, and the chair tilts. Bigger feet spread the load.
Things to check: confirm the seat width against your hips, and pick a color that's sold by Amazon or Coleman.
Coleman Big-N-Tall Camping Chair
- Rated 600 lb
- Steel frame
- Large feet
Price on Amazon. Sizes and stock vary.
3. KingCamp Oversized Padded Chair: best for your back
KingCamp's oversized chair is rated to 550 lb on its listing. It's padded, has lumbar support, and comes with a cooler bag, cup holder and side pocket.
Big guys often carry more weight up front, which puts extra strain on the lower back in a sling-style chair that lets you sink in. Padding and lumbar support help keep you upright. If you sit for hours at ball games, fishing or around a fire, that matters more than an extra 250 lb of rating.
Things to check: 550 lb is still a large buffer, but it's the lowest rating of the three. Padding also takes longer to dry if it gets rained on.
KingCamp Oversized Padded Camping Chair
- Rated 550 lb
- Lumbar support
- Padded
Price on Amazon. Sizes and stock vary.
How the three chairs compare
| Chair | Maker's rating | Frame | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPS King Kong | 800 lb | Steel, 600D fabric | Most buffer above your weight |
| Coleman Big-N-Tall | 600 lb | Steel | Value, soft ground |
| KingCamp Oversized | 550 lb | Padded, lumbar support | Sitting for hours |
Bonus: cots rated to 600 lb
If the chair problem is familiar, the cot problem probably is too. Standard cots are often too short for tall guys and too narrow to roll over on. Two options with 600 lb ratings stood out.
Guide Gear XL Magnum Cot. Rated to 600 lb and about 84 by 39 inches according to the listing. At roughly 7 feet long, tall guys are less likely to hang off the end. It has fewer reviews than the other picks here, so there's less real-world feedback to go on.
Portal 42" Extra-Wide Cot. Rated to 600 lb and 42 inches wide, per the listing, and it comes with a pillow. The extra width is the selling point for broad-shouldered guys who sleep on their side.
Guide Gear XL Magnum Cot
- Rated 600 lb
- About 84 x 39 in
Fewer reviews than the other picks.
Check price on AmazonPrice on Amazon. Sizes and stock vary.
Portal 42" Extra-Wide Camping Cot
- Rated 600 lb
- 42 in wide
Price on Amazon. Sizes and stock vary.
What about hammocks?
Hammocks are a different story. The ENO DoubleNest is rated to 400 lb by ENO, and straps are sold separately with their own ratings. That's below the 500 lb bar for this guide, so we cover it on the camping page instead.
Tips for making any camp chair last
- Sit down, don't drop. Lower yourself with the armrests. It's the single biggest load spike a chair sees.
- Set it on level ground. A chair on a slope puts more stress on two legs instead of four.
- Dry it before storing. Damp fabric and padding break down faster and can mildew.
- Check the joints each season. Look for bent tubes, cracked plastic joints and frayed stitching where the seat meets the frame.
The bottom line
If you want the most margin, the ALPS King Kong at 800 lb is the pick. If you want a strong rating for less money, the Coleman Big-N-Tall at 600 lb is the value choice. If your back is the problem, the padded KingCamp Oversized at 550 lb is worth a look. And for overnight trips, add a 600 lb cot, the long Guide Gear or the wide Portal, so the whole camp setup fits you.
Not sure about sizing for the rest of your gear? See the fit guide, or browse all camping picks.