Super-Size Your Comfort: Is the 2023 KingCamp Director's Folding Chair Still a Top Pick For Larger Campers?
"A heavy duty, reasonably lightweight and comfortable chair for the larger camper, or their unruly children. If you have space, these are suitable for long term use and cope well with weights up to 170 kgs."
Hello, fellow outdoor enthusiasts, Geoff K. here. Let me set the scene for you - there’s nothing I love more than waking up to the great outdoors, a sight I’ve enjoyed countless times in my four-decade-long affair with camping across the European continents. My faithful canine companion, Jess, likely sees more campfires than most dogs dream of. We both share a fondness for the rustle of the sleeping bag over the stiffness of roofed accommodations.
Over these adventurous years, I’ve learnt that while the wild serenity and grandeur are irreplaceable, a little comfort goes a long way. And that's what brings us closer to today's hero - the KingCamp Directors Chair. Now, I've rested my back on quite a few in my time, but I wanted to give this folding, oversize camping chair a whirl.
So, shall we delve into the nitty-gritty and see whether this chair is merely a place to park your behind or if it's indeed an investment in outdoor comfort? Join Jess and I, as we unpack my experience lounging around in the KingCamp Directors Chair. Buckle up, folks; it's time to dive deep into the world of comfy seating, marshmallows not included.
Features
Side Table: This director chair includes a side table with a cup holder for managing beverages and food items, potentially enhancing the camping experience. It also has side storage bags for small items.
Frame Stability: Possessing a sturdy steel frame, the camping chair can accommodate up to 396 lbs, allowing users of substantial weight to utilize it with assurance. It has a big seat with a height 17.72 and a width of 20.87.
Foldability: The director chair is designed to set and fold within seconds, easing usage and storage. The packed measurements are 32.6x5.5x19.6, with a weight of only 9.7lbs, facilitating easy transportation via a handle.
Seat and Armrest Comfort: This garden director's chair boasts a padded seat, back support, and armrest for maximum comfort during camping.
Multipurpose Use: This camping chair lends itself to versatility; suitable for camping, hiking, BBQ, festivals, and can also be use in gardens, picnics, beaches, both indoors and outdoors.
Max Weight 180 kgs Weight 4.4 kgs Material Alloy Steel & Polyester Folded Dimensions 83x14x50 cm Unfolded Dimensions 63D x 50W x 83H cm
Highlights
As a person who enjoys camping, I appreciate equipment that adjusts to cater to my comfort and size. The 'KingCamp Directors Chair' checks these boxes with its robust steel frame supporting up to 396 lbs, making it a reliable choice for plus-sized individuals. The chair is designed to fold quickly and fits conveniently into my camping gear with its packed size of only 32.6x5.5x19.6. The stability of the chair, combined with the comfortable padded seat, back support, and armrests, has vastly improved my camping experience.
The chair is thoughtfully designed with additional features that cater to a camper's varied needs. The side table with a cup holder is a simple but useful feature, adding convenience during meals and coffee breaks. The added side storage bags have provided a handy solution for stowing away small items. These features are put together in a package that weighs a mere 9.7lbs, light enough to carry two at once, a plus for those tooled-up trips in my van.
Larger van-lifers will appreciate the capacity of this chair to accommodate their unique needs while ensuring comfort and facilitating an enjoyable camping or outdoor experience. Users will appreciate the product's high quality and sturdiness, and the company's customer service has been praised highly, which reassures potential buyers. Despite some initial concerns, the chair still proved to be a trustworthy travel companion and a suitable outdoor seating option when public options are limited or non-existent. These positive aspects of the 'KingCamp Directors Chair' certainly make it a recommendable product.
Is this the best Camping Chair for you?
Check out our full roundup: Best Camping Chairs for the larger Camper
Concerns
Despite the chair's robust frame and wide seat, I found it to be less comfortable than expected. The canvas material doesn't have much give, making it hard to sit on for extended periods. My lower back started to ache after a short while, and I found myself needing a cushion for added comfort. The chair's extra width, while useful for accommodating larger outer layers, seemed unnecessary for someone of average build. Additionally, the side pockets, while handy in theory, proved to be more of a nuisance when packing up.
Another downside was the noticeable sagging of the fabric after just a few uses. Even though I'm well within the chair's weight limit, the seat felt less firm each time I used it. This was disappointing, especially considering the chair's relatively high price point. Furthermore, the chair arrived without a case or cover, which would have been useful for storage and transportation. Lastly, a hole appeared in the fabric where it meets the frame after some use, which seemed to be a manufacturing defect. Despite these issues, the company's customer service was commendable, offering a partial refund when contacted about the problems.
Should You Buy?
After considering the overall experience of using the 'KingCamp Directors Chairs Folding Oversize Camping Chairs for Adults', the positives far outweigh the negatives. Its robustness, practicality and thoughtful features, like the side table and storage bags, offer a great deal of comfort and convenience for larger campers, in particular.
Yes, the chair had a few drawbacks. The canvas material was rigid, lessening the comfort over long periods of sitting, and the extra width of the seat wasn't necessary for average-sized individuals. There were durability issues as well with the fabric, which sagged noticeably after a few uses. Yet, these issues were partially mitigated by the company's supportive customer service, and considering the chair's overall functionality, they don't drastically impact its utility.
The 'KingCamp Directors Chair' is robust, lightweight, and comfortable; it's built with a larger or heavier user in mind but has a functionality that will be appealing to any frequent camper. While some may find its price point a bit steep considering the minor drawbacks, its durability, weight capacity, and smart design features ensure it offers bang for the buck.
As an enthusiast in the field, my advice to potential buyers would be thus: look beyond the minor imperfections. Based on its overall performance, the benefits it brings to your camping or outdoor experience make it a worthy investment. Given my experience, I would stand by recommending the 'KingCamp Directors Chair' as an excellent addition to your camping setup.
(Price When Reviewed: £55.00)
Rating
Co-founder of Destiny River, with over forty years of experience camping throughout Europe, I'm happier sleeping under canvas than sleeping under a roof! I hope to inspire others to appreciate and protect the remarkable landscapes that our planet has to offer.
More posts by Geoff K.Alternatives Products for you to consider:
| # | Image | Name | Summary | Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Trespass Folding Deck Chair Padded Camping Garden Fishing Steel Frame | Not strickly a traditional camping chair, but comfortable, trivial to fold and attractive. If you have the space you will avoid most of the usual disadvantages of smaller camping chairs. | See Our Review | |
| 2 |
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Overmont Oversized Camping Folding Chair with Side Pocket & Carry Bag | More comfortable than a standard chair, nice looking, but some durability concerns linger. | See Our Review |
Perfectly Sized
The KingCamp Directors Chairs, which are oversized and designed for adults, are super easy to fold up and come with a convenient carry handle. They may be a tad bit on the heavier side, but the overall quality and utility make them totally worth the investment.
Big and simple to unfold
The product, 'KingCamp Directors Chairs Folding Oversize Camping Chairs for Adults' showed up as expected. Simplicity in itself to unfold or fold. It's unfortunate it don't came with a case or cover.
Definitely Re-purchase Worthy
Decent Chair, Outstanding Customer Service
Although I weigh 185lb, which is significantly less than the advertised 330lb capacity for this 'KingCamp Directors Chair,' I started having some reservations after using it for a few days. Initially, it came across as sturdy, but I've noticed the fabric sagging already despite using it barely twice for a few hours. It struck me as becoming less firm than when I first used it. While it's commonplace for fabrics to stretch over time, just two days of use for this to happen is quite surprising.
I've since started using a cushion on the chair, which has improved its comfort level, albeit slightly. In retrospect, I should have gone for a model with a higher back, more support, and a proper webbing sprung seat and back. As a garden chair, it's not quite up to par for me, though it's compact nature makes it suitable for travel.
Update: I was contacted by their customer service team who have offered me a partial refund, which I gladly
Works well, but lacked comfert
These 'KingCamp Directors Chairs Folding Oversize Camping Chairs for Adults' didn't quite meet my expectations in terms of comfort, yet they still bring value. One thing that did catch me off guard is how they are wide and sturdy - true to the product description. For those of average build, they may not be necessary, but the fact that they are priced lower than the usual KingCamp chairs is a plus. I absolutely commend the quality and the addition of a practical table. However, they are not the best for prolonged sitting, as the firm canvas leads to some lower back discomfort and they can feel quite rigid. Personally, I struggle with bucket-style seats so these serve me well. For those who often wear heavier outdoor clothing, the extra width is a bonus. Although they come with pockets, I personally don't use these as they can be tedious to empty when packing. Lastly, there might be a little learning curve in terms of folding the chair due to its ingenious tension-based design. But
Extremely comfortbale
Extremely comfortabale chairs.
Impressive KingCamp Chair with Excellent Service
We got the KingCamp Directors Chair in a timely manner and it's really nice and cosy. Regretfully, after a bit of usage, we spotted a tear in the material of the chair where it connects with the frame, a defect that presumably was there initially. When reaching out to the firm about this issue, we experienced superb customer servive and can't praise them enough.
Sturdy for larger men, yet light to cary
My husband and I were on the hunt for camping chairs suitable for the summer season. Since he's a tall, well-built package standing at 6ft 2 and weighing around 120kg, he needed a very robust chair. The typical camping chairs always seemed too weak for him to feel at ease. On the contrary, I'm five feet two and desired something easy for me to lift and tote around. Also, being a self-confessed coffee-lover, it's necessary for the chair to have a foldout table. Amazingly, this chair fits all our unusual prerequisites perfectly!
These chairs prove remarkably sturdy even for larger individuals. They are also light enough that I can manage to carry two simultaneously. The extra pockets included are a superb feature. Folding the chairs in and out is simple - just place one side on the ground and the other facing up, then push the chair seat out.
Further impressed with the product, we bought an additional set for his grandparents. This way
Durable & Comfy KingCamp Oversized Chairs
We're pretty thrilled with our purchase of the 'KingCamp Directors Chairs Folding Oversize Camping Chairs for Adults.' The construction of this chair is impressively sturdy, not quite as light as some similar models we've previously own, but it's undoubtedly still quite portable. It's an incredibly cozy chair plus features such as the folding tables is far superior in design compared to similar ones.
Excellent Quality Chair
My buddy owns a pair of these 'KingCamp Directors Chairs Folding Oversize Camping Chairs for Adults' and I found them to be excellent due to their upright sitting arrangement, which is quite beneficial for my spine. The delivery was super fast and the product arrived without any damage. Highly suggest.