During camping trips, the evenings can get a little chilly, so if you want to stay warm while enjoying the outdoors, you may want to consider buying a heated folding camp chair.
But what is a heated folding camp chair? How do they work? Which features should you be looking for, and how can you tell if they will be durable? We’ll answer all those questions and more, and give you our top 5 recommendations for heated folding camp chairs.
The bottom line up front: we like the KingCamp Folding Heated Camping Chair. It has 3 heat settings, it’s comfortable and supportive for your back, and it has insulated pockets to keep your drinks cool in the armrests.
We also like:
- POP Design The Hot Seat – a super-durable, comfortable chair
- – a comfortable, padded chair
We’ll be looking at:
- How our top 5 heated folding camp chairs compare to each other
- What a heated folding camp chair actually is
- Which features you should look for
- Our top 5 recommendations, including their key features, pros, and cons
- Some frequently asked questions
- Our favorite, and why we like it so much
Keep reading to find out why we think heated folding camp chairs are a camping essential!
Table of Contents
- Best Heated Folding Camp Chairs Compared
- What is a Heated Folding Camp Chair?
- What to Look for in a Heated Folding Camp Chair
- Top 5 Best Heated Folding Camp Chairs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- To Sum Up …
Best Heated Folding Camp Chairs Compared
What is a Heated Folding Camp Chair?
A heated folding camp chair is the ideal solution to chilly evenings around the campfire. They look like regular camping chairs, but they have a heating element inside them, usually powered by a removable battery pack. This means the seat and back area are nice and warm as you sit in the chair.
Heated Folding Camp Chairs are ideal for cold-weather camping when you need all the warmth you can get! You can check out Active’s tips on staying warm when camping in the winter for more ideas.
What to Look for in a Heated Folding Camp Chair
Before we give you our recommendations, let’s go over which features you should look out for in a heated folding camp chair:
Heating Element and Settings
Some heated folding camp chairs only have a heating element in the actual seat area of the chair, whereas others heat up in the back too. If you’re looking for maximum warmth, it’s best to choose one that has heat elements in both areas.
Some have multiple heat settings (usually low, medium, or high). These should be easy to adjust using color-coded buttons, so you can quickly switch it up if you get too hot or too cold.
Battery
Heated folding camp chairs are generally powered by a battery pack. These battery packs (usually USB battery packs) can be removed and charged. Some even have multiple USB ports, so, for example, you can charge your phone and use the heating part of the chair at the same time.
Not all chairs provide a battery pack and you’ll need to purchase your own. In this case, we’d recommend something like the Solar Power Bank. Most battery packs take around 7, or so, hours to fully charge. How long it lasts is dependent on how powerful the device is, and what you are using it with.
Safety Features
It’s always important to look at safety features. Most camping chairs are designed to have large, stable feet, to prevent any possibility of falling over.
You may also see an automatic temperature shut-off point, which means if the chair reaches a maximum temperature, it will immediately switch itself off. This is helpful in case you accidentally leave your chair switched on.
Comfort
It goes without saying that a chair has to be comfortable if you’re going to be using it for long periods of time. Some chairs come with extra padding that is removable (like cushions) and easily rearranged if needed. Others come with adjustable armrests or can recline into different positions, which is ideal for additional comfort.
Dimensions
It’s worth looking at the dimensions of the chair, particularly the dimensions when folded. If you’re tight on space in your vehicle, it’s a good idea to make sure the chair won’t be too bulky to fit alongside your tent, cooler, and all the other equipment you need to bring.
Some heated folding camp chairs can be pretty heavy, at least compared to regular camping chairs. It’s a good idea to look at the weight to see if you can handle carrying it around, especially if you struggle with lifting heavy objects.
Pockets
Some camping chairs have a significant amount of small storage pockets. This is ideal for holding any important items, such as your phone, keys, flashlight, or water bottle. Most come with a large pocket to keep the battery pack safely off the ground, too.
Durability
You can get a better idea of the product’s durability by looking at the materials used to manufacture it. Ideally, the chair should be made from a strong steel frame and reinforced waterproof material (like nylon or polyester).
Extra Features
Some heated folding camp chairs have extra features, such as insulated pockets in the armrests to keep your drinks cold, so they essentially act like a mini cooler.
Top 5 Best Heated Folding Camp Chairs
In this section we’ll outline our top 5 recommendations for heated folding camp chairs. We’ll give you all the key features, what we like about them, and what we think could be improved.
KingCamp Folding Heated Camping Chair – Most Supportive
Key Features
- Back Style: Solid Back
- Color: Grey and Black
- No. of Temperature Settings: 3
- Max. Weight Recommendation: 353 pounds (161 kilograms)
- Size Folded: 38.2 x 8.7 x 7.9 inches (97 x 22.1 x 20.1 centimeters)
- Size Unfolded: 24.4 X 23.6 X 41.3 inches (61.97 x 59.9 x 104.9 centimeters)
- Weight: 11.3 pounds (5.1 kilograms)
The KingCamp Folding Heated Camping Chair is a super comfortable and supportive chair. It’s oversized and perfect for lounging, with a maximum weight recommendation of 353 pounds (161 kilograms). It collapses into a carry bag easily, however, it is large, which may make it less convenient to carry around even when folded down.
It has 3 temperature settings, as well as a ‘quick warm’ feature, which means it readily increases the temperature and doesn’t take long to get you warm. The heat spreads evenly in the back and seat area, meaning you won’t have any cold spots. It fits any USB battery pack (we’d recommend the Solar Power Bank).
It also has some neat extra features, like a cooler bag built into the armrests. It’s the perfect size for a can, keeping your drink nice and cold without impacting the warmth of the actual chair.
It’s a super-comfortable, supportive chair. It’s lumbar and back support is excellent, and just feels great to sit in. It also has adjustable armrests, so you can move them around depending on your height.
It’s made from high-quality materials, including strong, thick steel, and premium soft fabric with reinforced seams.
It also has some good safety features. It has wide and sturdy feet, meaning you won’t have to worry about the chair wobbling over. Plus it has an “overheat switch-off” feature, where it will automatically switch itself off if the temperature reaches a certain point.
Pros
- Very comfortable and supportive
- 3 temperature settings and ‘quick warm’ feature
- Great safety features
- Includes cooler in armrests
Cons
- Quite large so may be awkward to carry around
FirstE Heated Camping Chair – Best Value
Key Features
- Back Style: Solid Back
- Color: Grey
- No. of Temperature Settings: 1
- Max. Weight Recommendation: 330 pounds (149.7 kilograms)
- Size Folded: 9.8 x 9.8 x 36.2 inches (24.9 x 24.9 x 24.9 centimeters)
- Size Unfolded: 22.4 x 22.4 x 36.2 inches (56.9 x 56.9 x 91.9 centimeters)
- Weight: 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms)
The FirstE Heated Camping Chair is a great value, heated folding chair. It’s quite large, which means it suits people of different sizes, however that does mean it’s large to carry around even when folded into the carry case it’s accompanied with.
It has just 1 temperature setting, and the heating is in the seat area only (not the back). It works using any USB-powered battery pack (like the IXNINE Portable Solar USB Charger. The seat heats up pretty quickly.
It doesn’t come with many additional features, but it does have pockets to stash items like your water bottle, torch, and other items you want to keep nearby.
It’s a notably comfortable chair, with an excellent amount of padding in the back, with soft fabric and padding in the armrests.
The chair is made from good, strong materials. The frame is thick and durable, and the fabric is waterproof and tough.
It has strong, wide feet to stop the chair from wobbling over. It doesn’t have any other safety features like automatic shut-off at certain temperatures.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Good value
- Heats up quickly
- Useful storage pockets
- Durable materials
Cons
- Large, so may be bulky to carry around
- Doesn’t have any extra features including extra safety features
KINGS TREK Camping Chair with Removable Cushion – Most Versatile
Key Features
- Back Style: Solid Back
- Color: Grey or Black
- No. of Temperature Settings: 3
- Max. Weight Recommendation: 350 pounds (158.8 kilograms)
- Size Folded: 8 x 8 x 41 inches (20.3 x 20.3 x 104.1 centimeters)
- Size Unfolded: 21.7 x 22.3 x 40.1 inches (55.1 x 56.6 x 101.9 centimeters)
- Weight: 16.9 pounds (7.7 kilograms)
The is a great camping chair with a removable cushion in the back, making it versatile depending on your preferences. It’s comfortable, but quite heavy to carry around when folded.
It has 3 temperature settings with color-coded indicators; blue, for the coolest temperature; white, for medium heat; as well as red for the highest heat. It uses a USB battery, which comes included with the chair. The seat heats up quickly in the back and seat area.
It has pockets for smaller items, a cup holder for your tumbler or water bottle, and a quick-access storage pocket for your battery pack. The seat has 2 USB ports on the power bank, allowing you to charge your phone and heat the chair at the same time.
It’s comfortable to sit in, and the removable cushion means you can have less padding if you prefer.
It’s made from tough, reinforced, breathable mesh, so you won’t have to worry about the fabric wearing away. The frame is nice and thick too.
It has an automatic shut-off point if the temperature gets too hot, which is a useful safety feature.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Has removable cushion
- 3 color-coded heat settings
- Automatic shutoff once it reaches a certain temperature
- Comes with a battery pack included
Cons
- Quite heavy to carry
POP Design The Hot Seat – Most Durable
Key Features
- Back Style: Solid Back
- Color: Grey
- No. of Temperature Settings: 3
- Max. Weight Recommendation: 300 pounds (136.07 kilograms)
- Size Folded: 8 x 8 x 37.5 inches (20.3 x 20.3 x 95.3 centimeters)
- Size Unfolded: 33 x 21.5 x 39 inches (83.8 x 54.6 x 99.1 centimeters)
- Weight: 11 pounds (4.9 kilograms)
The POP Design The Hot Seat is a good-quality camping chair that should last for a long time. It’s comfortable, and not too heavy to carry around.
It has 3 temperature settings with a color-coded indicator: blue for low, green for medium, red for high. It uses a USB battery pack which isn’t included, we’d recommend something like the Solar Power Bank. The seat heats up impressively fast in the seating area, but doesn’t heat up in the back.
It has lots of small pockets around the sides and at the front. The seat has a heater control pocket too for easy access to change the settings.
It’s quite comfortable, with high-density foam padding to give you additional back support. It has extra-large armrests too and comes with 3 reclining positions that are easy to adjust.
The chair has a strong frame, made from powder-coated steel tubing, and it uses a super-strong polyester fabric.
Pros
- Comfortable
- 3 reclining positions
- 3 color-coded heat options
- Lots of storage pockets
- Very durable
Cons
- Doesn’t have automatic shut-off
4Tek Heated Chair – Good All-Rounder
Key Features
- Back Style: Solid Back
- Color: Black and grey
- No. of Temperature Settings: 3
- Max. Weight Recommendation: 275 pounds (124.7 kilograms)
- Size Folded: Not stated
- Size Unfolded: 41 x 9 x 8 inches (104.1 x 22.9 x 20.3 centimeters)
- Weight: 13.8 pounds (6.3 kilograms)
The 4Tek Heated Chair is a good all-rounder. It’s comfortable, easy to use, and comes with a battery pack included. The downside is that it is quite heavy to carry around.
It has 3 temperature settings, and it heats up the seat and back area evenly and quickly. It comes with a USB battery pack, which you can use to charge your devices if you don’t need to use the heating feature. The seat also has insulated cooler pockets in the armrests to store 4 cans, which is incredibly convenient and useful.
It doesn’t provide a significant amount of storage pockets, but it does have mesh pockets to store small items or drinks.
The chair is comfortable and has good back support, however, the amount of cushioning provided is less than some of the others on this list. It’s not adjustable, so that’s something to keep in mind too.
The frame is made from strong steel and the fabric is durable and waterproof, so it should last for a long time.
It doesn’t have a shut-off when it reaches a certain temperature, but the feet are sturdy to stop the chair from tipping over.
Pros
- 3 temperature settings
- Comes with insulated cooler pockets
- Has battery pack included
- Good back support
Cons
- Doesn’t have automatic shut-off
- Doesn’t have a lot of storage pockets
- Isn’t adjustable
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you go, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about heated folding camp chairs:
Are heated folding camp chairs safe?
Yes, they’re quite safe! Heated folding camp chairs create a warm space for you to sit if you don’t have access to a campfire, or would prefer to maintain a safe distance from the campaire, for example. Though, it’s always worth double-checking that you’ve switched it off after use.
What can I use a heated folding camp chair for?
You can use a heated folding camp chair for many things to help you stay warm. For example: it’s a great addition to your porch or patio at home on colder days; there’s the option to take it to parades or carnivals at night; you can even take it to sports games to help keep you warm on long winter days!
If you want more tips on keeping warm in a tent, Eureka has a useful guide on just this subject.
Are heated folding camp chairs good for your back?
The short answer is: they can be. The heated element can be helpful if you need support for your back, in terms of muscle aches. The main thing to consider is your posture within the chair itself and where you need the most support.
Spine Health has some tips on how to support your back every day, including how you can position yourself correctly within a chair to maintain good posture. You can also check out Spine Universe’s tips for camping when you have back pain for more information.
How can I dispose of a used battery from a heated camping chair?
If the battery in your chair wears out, you’ll have to dispose of it safely. The Environmental Protection Agency has more information on how to recycle different types of batteries.
To Sum Up …
We hope this has helped you to find the best heated folding camp chair. If we had to pick one favorite, we’d go for the KingCamp Folding Heated Camping Chair. It has 3 heat settings with an automatic shut-off if it gets too hot, it’s also comfortable and supportive.
Plus, it has insulated pockets to keep your drinks cool in the armrests, which is a nice touch that may make your camping experience a little more convenient.
If you want something tough and durable, go for the POP Design The Hot Seat, we love the waterproof fabric and powder-coated steel frame.
Or, if you’d like something with a little more versatility, you may like the . It has a removable cushion, making the ideal choice if there will be a continuous turnover of people using it.
If this has helped, please feel free to share it with your fellow camping enthusiasts. We’d also love to hear your thoughts. How do you keep warm on cold camping trips? Leave us some tips in the comments!