When you go to the beach, the first thing you need is a quality beach chair in order to sit in the sun and relax. As a kid we just put down a towel on the sand and sat on that. Now, lying on a towel doesn't sound so fun and I would rather be able to sit back on a comfortable lounge or beach chair and enjoy the serenity of the beach. If you are walking down to the beach you need beach chairs that are lightweight as well as perhaps having wheels to move them easily. Beach chairs have come a long way in the last decade or so and now you can get chairs with cupholders, those that recline, some have wheels, and several types have built in umbrellas to hide from the sun. Of course, the more features on a chair the likelihood of it becoming heavier. We went online to search for the best beach chairs in several different categories. Keep reading below to find out what we found and look over our general buying guide.
Beach chairs tend to be made from 1 of 2 materials - wood or aluminum. Aluminum may be lighter, but you may find it's less durable than wood over the long haul. When it comes to style, you can choose from folding beach chairs, chaise lounge chairs, and reclining beach chairs. Some seats are more padded than others while certain beach chairs offer cupholders or storage pockets making them more convenient. Footrests are not as common on beach chairs as you may think. We found only a few models that have footrests but those that bought them say they are the most comfortable to "kick back" on. Cupholders are a definite necessity on any beach or lounge chair (great for holding cold beverages). Another essential feature is that the chair be foldable. Folding beach chairs are much easier to transport around in your arm or in the car and they store much more compactly in your house or garage. If you are susceptible to the sun, then perhaps look into a beach chair that has a built in canopy or umbrella. Often the chairs will have brackets where the canopy or beach umbrella can attach on the chair. Looking to sleep in your chair? Get a reclining beach chair for this purpose. Upright beach chairs are great and most have a slight recline to them, but you can find chairs that recline you to an angle that is condusive to sleeping. Beach chairs that have storage areas either on the arms or behind the back are great for putting sunscreen, sunglasses, books, food, etc. I have found that many of the beach chairs sit a little low to the ground and some people actually have a hard time getting in and out of the chairs. Test them out in a store like Target or Wal-Mart to get a feel for their height levels. The newer backpack beach chairs actually fold all the way up and you can wear them like a backpack (that's convenience). Chaise lounge chairs are great when lying by a pool, but often they are too bulky to carry down a beach. If you are only a few feet from the sand, then consider a chaise beach chair, otherwise, avoid those for beach outings. Lastly, there are beach chairs with wheels that make transporting them around quite easy, although several reviews we found online say some of the wheels have a hard time turning in thick, loose sand. Owners said they ended up carrying the wheeled beach chair down the sand instead of walking with it behind them. In terms of materials, experts say if you plan on sunbathing in your chair, pick one that has fabric or canvas material on the seat instead of plastic or polypropylene which can become quite hot in the sun. Keep in mind that beach chairs are very versatile and can be used in your backyard, at baseball games, at the park, and around pools. The most popular brands are Rio, Debro, Foldaway, Outer Banks, and Wonder Wheels. Prices ranges from about $15 to $150. Most manufacturers makes beach chairs that fit kids (we found several at Target and Toys R Us). RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry all the leading brands and usually have the lowest prices on the Internet. You can browse their most popular beach chairs here.
Best Basic Beach Chair:
A great basic beach chair is the Sun 'n Sport Beach Chair ($25) listed on Beachchairs.com as a top seller. It's an upright beach chair is very little recline, but the sturdy steel frame and the mesh polyester fabric are comfortable for lounging around in the sun at the beach or in your yard. The chair is lightweight (7 lbs), had a High Boy seat height, and can handle up to 190 lbs. The drawbacks on this beach chair are the weight limitations and the fact there is no cupholder. If you want a basic chair, go with this one, otherwise see the ones below for more features.
Top Rated Folding Beach Chair:
Debro is a recognized name in beach chairs and the Debro Beach Chair ($39.95) listed on Beachstore.com has it all and it folds up nicely. You can layback flat on this chair with it's 5 position options. The arms are made with durable hardwood and the seated area is constructed of polyduck canvas material for comfort. The frame is extra wide and many owners mention the higher-backed design makes for a relaxing day at the beach. The chair rated for up to 240 lbs capacity and the overall chair weight is just 4.8 lbs. RECOMMENDED - We found the WearEver Hi-Back Deluxe Steel Backpack Chair which features 5 position recline, a nice place to put your drink, and it also have an adjustable headrest (removable as well).
Beach Chair w/ Umbrella:
We found several beach umbrella chairs where the umbrella is old separately and attaches to the chair. In some cases the umbrella is put into the sand which is not always the sturdiest way to go. We say avoid beach umbrellas that are meant to give you shade in your beach chair but go into the sand instead of attaching onto your chair. We all know that wind is a common element at the beach and no sense have your umbrella get swept down the beach and you have to chase it. The Backpack Beach Chair & UV Canopy ($55) is a great option if you have just 1 person to deal with at the beach and want some shade. First, the chair itself folds up nicely into a lightweight portable backpack. The UV canopy attaches to the chair and blocks 94% of the suns harmful rays. The chair itself features a cupholder and can handle up to 250 lbs. The look of the chair with the canopy is a little strange, but the overall umbrella effect is right on. RECOMMENDED - The Kelsyus Recline Backpack Beach Chair with UV Canopy is a great deal at only $40. Owners like the way the armrests convert to backpack straps so it's easy to carry around the beach and sand. It too blocks 94% of the harmful UV rays. The only drawback on these canopy models is that the wind can really wreak havoc on them.
Beach Chair with Wheels:
For the ultimate in transportability, the RIO Beach Cruiser ($70) will amaze you. Designed to be more than a beach chair, the Beach Cruiser will help carry the rest of your beach gear right on the seat as you pull it by the wheels. Owners say this chair is great for beaches as well as tailgating activities. The chair itself features 3 different positions, a padded seat and headrest, and a built in drink holder. There is also a storage pouch with multiple pockets for your personal items. Goes through all types of sand and rolls easily on flat surfaces. The dacron polyester material will dry fast and drain quickly. This beach chair is the perfect companion on the sand. See all the top selling RIO beach chairs here.
Backpack Beach Chair:
The WearEver Hi-Back Deluxe Steel Backpack Chair ($50) on Beachchairs.com is what we call a "best buy" product. The chair features 4 reclining positions and has a nice, padded headrest that is adjustable. The sling seat is made with durable polyester and has a storage pocket on the back. The frame is made with aluminum and the armrests with hardwood. There is a drink holder on the end of one arm. Owners say this backpack beach chair is easy to store, very comfortable, easy to clean, and lightweight. The fact that the chair is portable and folds up into a backpack makes for easy transportability. Overall reviews were very positive on this model and it comes highly recommended by avid beach goers.
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BUYING GUIDES
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is a great deal at only $40. Owners like the way the armrests convert to backpack straps so it's easy to carry around the beach and sand. It too blocks 94% of the harmful UV rays. The only drawback on these canopy models is that the wind can really wreak havoc on them.
($50) on Beachchairs.com is what we call a "best buy" product. The chair features 4 reclining positions and has a nice, padded headrest that is adjustable. The sling seat is made with durable polyester and has a storage pocket on the back. The frame is made with aluminum and the armrests with hardwood. There is a drink holder on the end of one arm. Owners say this backpack beach chair is easy to store, very comfortable, easy to clean, and lightweight. The fact that the chair is portable and folds up into a backpack makes for easy transportability. Overall reviews were very positive on this model and it comes highly recommended by avid beach goers.
