The best beach chairs (Australia – 2023 Guide)

From Sydney’s Bondi Beach and Norman Beach at Wilsons Promontory to Cable Beach in Broome and Exmouth’s Turquoise Bay, Australians flock to the coast at every opportunity. Unsurprisingly, there’s a massive Australian market for beach gear, which makes choosing the best beach chair overwhelming. 

This comprehensive guide will help narrow down the choices, increasing the chances that you’ll end up with a chair you love.

Whether you’re heading to the beach for swimming, relaxation, SUP, kayaking or beach volleyball, you’re going to need a comfy beach chair. At the very least, you’ll want some chill time between sun-soaked beach activities. There’s nothing quite like relaxing in comfort while you have a snack (or a beer) and watch the waves.

The best beach chairs for Australian beach lovers

The Bushwalking Blog has scoured the sand and sea to crème de la crème of beach chairs. We’ve compared all the features you could possibly be looking for to narrow them down, making your decision much more straightforward.

Buying Guide

In case you’re still unsure which beach chair will best suit your needs, read on for our guide to what you should be looking at when weighing up the best beach chairs on the market.

Durability

Your beach chair will be exposed to the elements, so it’s important to choose one that’s built to last. Look for chairs made of high-quality materials – frames built to withstand repeated force and weather-resistant fabrics. The joints should be well-constructed and able to withstand the user’s weight. Choose one that’s strong enough to support you or anyone who might end up sitting on it. You should also keep in mind how easy the materials will be to clean and whether any special cleaning products will be required.

Portability

Portability is a key consideration since you’re obviously going to want to carry your beach chair around. A carry strap is always a handy extra. Even better if you can find a chair with an included carry case, which will have the added benefit of keeping your chair protected from the elements.

Some beach chairs can be bulky to carry around and take up a lot of storage space when not in use. Make sure you’re looking at lightweight, portable beach chairs that pack down nice and small, making them easy to carry to and from the beach and store when you get them home.

Additional Features

Beach chairs are available with various additional features that can enhance your experience. Consider whether you want a beach chair with a built-in cup holder, table, or storage pockets. Some beach chairs even come with a built-in cooler, which can conveniently keep drinks and snacks cold.

Best Beach Chairs for Camping in Australia

• Best Beach Chair: Caribee Balmoral Reclining Beach Chair
• Best Low Beach Chair: Coleman Low Sling Quad Beach Chair
• Best Reclining Beach Chair: Oztent Malamoo Coolangatta Beach Chair
• Best Beach Mat: Oztent Malamoo Manly Deluxe Beach Chair
• Best Kid’s Beach Chair: Dune 4WD Kid’s Directors Chair with Side Table
• Best Backpack Beach Chair: Helinox Ground Chair
• Best Cheap Beach Chair: Oztent Malamoo Byron Beach Chair

Best Beach Chair: Caribee Balmoral Reclining Beach Chair

It’s fair to say that judging the best beach chair is far too subjective, but we’ve done our best to narrow down the chair that strikes the best balance of all the points in our buying guide below.

The aluminium frame makes for a lightweight beach chair, but don’t let that fool you – it’s packed with high-impact ABS fittings for added strength. It’s rated to hold 100 kilograms.

Comfort-wise, the chair’s seat is strong enough to stay sag-free in the long term. The arms sit at the perfect height and are free of sharp angles. The headrest might seem like a gimmick, but it adds significantly to the chair’s comfort level. To top it all off, it has five different reclining positions. Personally, if I’m relaxing at the beach, I need the option to lay back and chill.

The Caribee Balmoral Reclining Beach Chair also wins big in the convenience category – it folds flat, making it easy to store in the back of your vehicle, and it only ways 3.1 kilograms.

Lay back and read a book, nap, or sit up and people-watch while you snack away the swimming hunger. This chair has you covered.
 

Pros:

• Comfortable.
• Supportive, especially for those with back issues.
• Strikes the perfect balance of comfort, portability and durability.

Cons:

• A carry handle or bag would add to its appeal.

Best Low Beach Chair: Coleman Low Sling Quad Beach Chair

Get ready to lounge in luxury with the Coleman Low Sling Quad Beach Chair. Its padded armrests add an extra layer of comfort while you kick back and stretch out, with a refreshing beverage always close at hand, thanks to the mesh drink holder. It’s made from durable powder-coated steel and 600D Polyester and is rated to hold 113 kilograms and

Bring this one to the beach, and home again is a breeze thanks to its compact quad-fold design and included carry bag. You’ll enjoy every beach trip, relaxing under the shade of your shelter with Coleman’s Low Sling Quad in tow.

Since beach shelters are such a popular accessory for Aussie beachgoers, many beach chairs on the market feature a low-slung design. This means that the above best overall beach chair is also low, but we couldn’t include it twice, so the Coleman Low Sling Quad has taken its place.

Pros:

• Handy carry bag with shoulder strap.
• Durable powder-coated steel design.
• Compact, easy fold-up design.
• Padded armrests.
• Drink holder (also good for hiding your keys while you swim).

Cons:

• Some owners have complained that it’s heavy for its size (but the majority of quality beach chairs on the market are close to the same weight).

Best Reclining Beach Chair: Oztent Malamoo Coolangatta Beach Chair

The Malamoo Coolangatta Beach Chair from Oztent is the perfect recliner for those hot summer days at the beach. The 600D polyester fabric and 19mm powder-coated steel frame are tough and durable, holding up to 115kg. But what sets this chair apart is the mesh back panel that keeps you cool and comfortable as you lounge. 

With a mesh cup holder for your drink, EVA foam padded armrests for ultimate relaxation, and an easy-to-carry shoulder strap bag, you’ll be all set for a perfect day at the beach. 

It’s worth noting that this isn’t an adjustable recliner like the above best overall chair, but we reckon Oztent have found the perfect reclining angle anyway. 

Pros:

• Breathable mesh back.
• Built tough and rated to hold slightly more weight than other chairs.
• Compact quad-fold design.
• Handy carry bag with shoulder strap.

Cons:

• Some people might prefer an adjustable recline angle.

Best Beach Mat: Oztent Malamoo Manly Deluxe Beach Chair

Obviously, a beach mat isn’t what you’d traditionally think of as a beach chair, but most mats currently on the market feature a built-in backrest. We felt that this made Oztent’s Malamoo Manly Deluxe worthy of inclusion in our best beach chairs guide.

With its full-length leg mat and adjustable, powder-coated steel A-frame backrest, the Malamoo Manly Deluxe is perfect for spreading out and soaking up some rays. You won’t have to worry about where to put your valuables while you swim. This chair comes with a large, zippered back pocket and a convenient side pocket to store your car keys, phone, and sunscreen, keeping your essentials close at hand.

When the sun hits the horizon, fold it up and sling the included carry strap over your shoulder as you trudge your sandy self back to the car.

Pros:

• Lying down position with adjustable back support, meaning you can still watch the people and the waves go by.
• In-built carry strap.
• Lightweight.
• 1cm thick padded mat.
• 2 Year warranty.

Cons:

• Obviously, some people would prefer to sit than lie down, but no other negative points to speak of.

Best Kid’s Beach Chair: Dune 4WD Kid’s Directors Chair with Side Table

We were very disappointed when we looked at products marketed as kid’s beach chairs. Kid’s beach chairs seem to typically be small, cheap camping chairs, which aren’t built to last and won’t be stable in the sand. If you’re determined for the little ones to have a low-slung, stable beach chair like you’re buying for yourself, you might be best buying them an adult beach chair.

The Dune 4WD Kid’s Directors Chair is made with a heavy-duty alloy frame and is rated to hold 100 kilograms. The design of its legs will mean that, although it sits a little higher than a standard beach chair, it remains stable in the sand. Your kids will love the side table with cup holder, where they can keep snacks and a drink while running around. As crucial as it is to choose your child’s beach chair carefully, we know they’ll never stay sitting down for very long at the beach.

Pros:

• Stable and durable design.
• Side table with cup holder.
• Breathable mesh back.

Cons:

• Sits a bit higher than a standard beach chair.

Best Backpack Beach Chair: Helinox Ground Chair

Helinox are known for their high-quality, compact and lightweight backpacking accessories, like the Chair Zero and Table One, which we’ve previously reviewed. The Ground Chair stands out in their current range for use in the sand.

Whether you don’t want to lug around a big heavy chair because you’re walking or cycling to the beach or you’re planning a multi-day coastal hiking adventure, the Helinox Ground Chair is the perfect chair to stuff in your backpack.

This chair is a game-changer when it comes to weight versus comfort. Weighing only 640g, it’s incredibly lightweight but still sturdy, with a frame made from strong 7H72M alloy that can hold up to 120kg.

Setting it up is a breeze, with each section of the frame linked together with shock cord, and it sits nice and low so that you can recline in comfort. When you’re ready to move on, it packs down to its handy stuff sack, which is about the size of a water bottle.

Even better, where other beach chairs only come with a one or two-year warranty, Helinox has you covered for five years. That’s how tough they make these chairs.

Pros:

• Small and lightweight (about the size of a water bottle when packed up).
• Easy to set up and pack down.
• Built to last.
• Five year warranty.

Cons:

• Nothing to speak of. It does everything it claims to do extremely well.

Best Cheap Beach Chair: Oztent Malamoo Byron Beach Chair

For a comfortable and convenient beach chair that won’t break the bank, it’s hard to go past Oztent’s Malamoo Byron Beach Chair.

This chair is made from rugged 600D Polyester and features a robust and lightweight 19mm powder-coated steel frame, which can support up to 115kg. With its 11cm seat height, you’ll be able to spread your legs out and relax. The frame folds flat for easy transport and storage, making this the perfect solution for a comfortable seat on a budget.

Pros:

• Budget price point.
• Durable 19mm powder-coated steel frame and 600D Polyester.

Cons:

• No drink holder or pockets.
• Doesn’t come with a carry strap or bag.

Disclaimer: The above links are affiliate links, meaning I will be given a percentage of all purchases. This doesn’t mean you pay anything extra and doesn’t influence the opinions I have presented in this article in any way.

Got yourself a great beach chair? Which model did you buy? If you have any stories, updates or corrections, please let us know by commenting below.