Rating

Durability: 6

Comfort: 5

Portability: 7

Features: 6

Setup/Packdown: 6

OVERALL: 6

Cool and comfortable.

We were fans of the KingCamp High Mesh Back Beach Folding Chair because, well, it says it all in the name. The high back means you have support up to your neck, and the mesh keeps you cool. It's a simple design and a good nexus of quality and price.

Comparison

Rank: #6

Open Size: High back, short

Packed Size: Long but light

Weight: Lightweight

Capacity: Fairly high

Pros: Comfortable, easy to set up and pack down, high back and headrest.

Cons: Doesn't recline, not the best quality (but about right for the price - unless you’re in Australia).

Verdict: A lower cost option that provides comfort, convenience and portability.

Skip ahead to First Impressions, Transportability, Sitting, or the Final Verdict, or check out how the KingCamp High Mesh Back Beach Folding Chair compares to others in our list of the Top Ten Beach Chairs.

Specs:

Open Size: 85 x 70 x 58cm

Packed Size: 77cm x 17cm x 18cm

Weight: 3.18kg

Capacity: 136kg

Approx Price: $245.34

The first thing we notice about this design is that it’s easy to set up and pack down. It’s a simple single step to open and close the chair, and while it doesn’t pack up as small as other chairs with a similar design, it has a much higher back which makes it more comfortable.

The 600 denier Oxford polyester the chair’s constructed from is solid, but the mesh appears a little flimsy and we’re worried about tear resistance where the mesh and thick polyester join. On our chair there was also a bit of a wobble in the frame, so not 100% sold on the quality of the construction.

As mentioned, the KingCamp chair is longer when packed down than other chairs of a similar design, owing to its higher back. The single shoulder strap on the bag was well-placed and we didn’t find this to be a particular issue, though at times it did swing around a bit while walking.

Other than that, the chair is pretty light for a chair of its size. It fits into the included bag well, and while it would’ve been great to have an alternative handle for hand carrying, the shoulder strap was usable and sturdy.

We’ve also got to mention the obvious - it doesn’t recline (no chairs of this cross-frame design do). We found it plenty comfortable enough to relax and read a book in, but if you’re wanting to recline you’ll obviously be better suited with something else.

With its high back, the KingCamp is comfortable to sit in, providing a rare headrest for a chair of this design. If we’re being picky we would’ve loved it to be a touch lower to the ground, and found the overlocking along the front edge of the seat tightened the fabric so that it dug slightly into the backs of our legs.

The mesh did serve to keep our backs cool on the hot day we were testing, and there are some nice features on the chair - the headrest is thin but comfortable, the armrests are fully padded along their whole length, and there’s a drink holder and front pocket hanging off the chair.

Then there’s the stability of the chair, which wasn’t what we would’ve liked. It rocked around a little bit if you wiggled while sitting, and there was the sense that some of the joins in the frame weren’t quite tight enough.

We really enjoyed relaxing in the KingCamp High Mesh Back Beach Folding Chair, and think for the size, weight and features of the chair, the price is about right (except for our Aussie readers - it’s ridiculously overpriced in Australia). We like the simplicity of this chair and think it’s a comfortable, versatile option no matter your needs.

Keen to see how the KingCamp chair compares? Head over to our list of Top Ten Beach Chairs.

Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.