Whether you’re carrying a lot to the beach or hauling your children and their buddies, the best beach chair is important to consider. They are the key to kicking back and relaxing. But they can also be the key to bringing everything you need, even if it’s the kitchen sink. So sit back, soak up the sun, and enjoy the view as you lounge in one of the best beach chairs.
While you are soaking up the sun, be careful. We are all aware of those pesky seagulls that we can’t shoo away. Turns out there is a rhyme to their reason. In reality, gulls such as the herring gull are more intelligent than we give them credit for, particularly in terms of their social skills. These birds can pay attention to the behavior of others and use the information they gather to inform their own foraging choices. Research has already shown that urban herring gulls adapt their foraging behavior to human activity patterns, increase their attention towards a person in possession of food, and that they prefer food that has been touched by a person compared to food that has not.
If you need a break from these “gulls,” leave your food and take a relaxing stroll along the beach. Researchers with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) studied the benefits of different environments on mood and found that short walks near water are especially helpful in lifting a person’s mood. In other words, the best way to combat the blues is to spend time in blue spaces — near a beach, lake, river, or even some fountains. For the study, 59 participants were asked to spend 20 minutes a day doing certain relaxation activities over the course of three weeks. “We saw a significant improvement in the participants’ well-being and mood immediately after they went for a walk in the blue space, compared with walking in an urban environment or resting,” says study coordinator Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, in a media release. Hey, you don’t have to ask us twice to take a stroll by the water.
There is something on our list for everyone, from people with kids to complete loungers. Rest assured, each option will make your trip to the beach easier and more relaxing. StudyFinds researched five of the best beach chairs that will be a breeze to bring to the beach. Did we miss your favorite? Please share it with us in the comments below.
The List: Best Beach Chairs, According to Experts
1. Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair
Tommy Bahama’s Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair has a little bit of everything. It has five positions and a wider-than-usual seat for a roomy experience, making it perfect for larger frames. Forbes tells us more, “A foldable bar at the top helps support your head if you decide to lay back in the sand. It also has backpack straps for easy carrying.”
One thing reviewers note is the Tommy Bahama chair does not have a built-in cooler. It does, however, have an insulated storage pouch that can hold a drink or some other small items. “This Tommy Bahama style is lightweight and, according to testers, has comfortable straps as well. The chair, which felt solid and stable, features a handle at the top which helps with transport. While carrying the backpack one tester noted that you can feel the bars of the chair on your back while you’re wearing it, however it’s light enough to not feel overly burdensome,” states Better Homes & Gardens.
Tommy Bahama is not lacking in convenient accessories. It also offers an attached pillow and a bar where you can hang your towel. “Bottom line: The Tommy Bahama Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair is a seat above the rest. For comfort and convenience, it can’t be beaten. It’s compact and easy to carry and boasts features like a cooler pouch for cold beverages, a cup holder, and more,” offers Tripsaavy.
2. Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair
The Homevative Folding Chair has a pocket and beverage holder on one side, allowing you to have a hands-free beach experience once you settle in the sand. “A nice feature: The five-position chair has a fold-down support leg to help cradle your head when you recline all the way back. Padded, adjustable backpack straps also make it easy to carry, while a cooler pouch keeps your drinks at that just-right temperature,” says Forbes.
If the warm summer breeze starts to lull you to sleep, you can opt to lie completely flat using the rear towel bar as a support under your back “This beach chair has a 19-inch seating width and supports up to 250 pounds, so it’s accommodating for most adults. The fabric is also easy to clean with mild soap and water. The chair’s arms can be pushed back for a more reclined position, or you can pull them forward again for an upright position. A safety hinge also locks this chair when it’s fully open,” offers The Spruce.
The Homevative Beach Chair is easy to collapse once it’s time to head home and the kids are getting loopy from too much sun. “This chair has parents praising the small size and sturdiness; many said their kids were proud to be able to carry their own chair,” offers US News.
3. Ostrich Sport 3 N 1 Beach Chair
What sets the Ostrich Beach Chair apart from others is that it has face and arm holes so you can tan on your back or stomach. “This chair allows you to recline completely flat to lay face down, 12 inches off the sand and includes a padded face hole for comfort. When sitting upright, the chair has a five-point system to adjust the amount of recline, as well as a footrest with three adjustable positions. It is made with a rustproof aluminum frame, and the chair has a cup holder and carry strap” explains US News.
With all of the luxurious accessories, the Ostrich Sport is for those who don’t mind spending a pretty penny. Travel & Leisure is a fan, “Overall, this recliner has given us hours on end of supremely comfortable beach lounging. And with all of these upgraded accessories, the chair was surprisingly easy to carry with the padded cross-body strap.”
With the Ostrich, it’s important to keep in mind that the length of the footrest isn’t adjustable, so for taller people, it’s likely to be more like a calf rest. “Part of what makes this beach chair one of the best beach chairs is that in addition to wide armrests, it also features a footrest and an adjustable back pillow for added comfort. Testers were able to open the chair and footrest easily—it was slightly more challenging folding it back up, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a smooth process,” offers Better Homes & Gardens.
4. Baby Delight Go With Me Chair
We can’t forget about the kiddos. Especially when we repeatedly noticed the Baby Delight Go chair on most lists. “This kids-focused chair is suitable for children from three months old up to 75 pounds. It features a five-point harness system to keep your kiddo secure. And the chair converts into three different settings to grow with your child, so you should be able to use it for years,” says Tripsaavy.
A bonus to the Baby Delight Go is that it can easily serve as a travel chair or even an at-home chair in addition to taking it to the beach. “Babies outgrow their gear quickly, so we love that this portable chair will last from three months to 75 pounds. The five-point removable harness keeps your baby secure and comfortable as she sits upright. As your baby grows, a flap on the seat can detach to reveal two leg holes perfect for letting your little one stand with support. The chair can then be used through toddler and big-kid ages either with or without the snack tray and canopy,” states HGTV.
Talk about convenience, when you’re ready to pack up, the chair, canopy, and snack tray all fit snugly into the included carry bag so you’re ready to go in seconds. “The chair includes a removable five-point harness and a mesh storage pouch that can also act as a protective netting for your child’s feet if they’re standing. Our tester raved about the snack tray feature that kept their kid secured in the portable chair while eating lunch for 30 minutes,” boasts Travel & Leisure.
5. Mac Sports Beach Day Foldable Chaise Lounge Chair
If you’re heading to the beach with a big crew, the Mac Sports Chair will make life easier with its wagon pull feature. The Spruce tells us more, “If you’re toting toys and other accessories to the beach, check out the MacSports Beach Day Foldable Lounge Chair with Integrated Wagon Pull. This easy-to-fold lounger-turned-wagon is a great way to carry all your beach essentials and a chair at once. We loaded this chair cart down with a cooler, umbrella, and four other chairs and it was light as a feather on the street and only slightly more cumbersome when rolling across the sand. The wheels’ wide tread made pulling this design much easier.”
It’s nice to have a drink when you’re basking in the sun, but keep in mind that the Mac chair doesn’t have a cup holder to keep the bottom of your bottle clean from sand. “The chair adjusts to four different positions, so you can choose which is best for you. Once it’s opened into a chair, our tester appreciated the comfort of having their legs elevated above the sand. The build seems sturdy enough to last for a few years,” says Better Homes & Gardens.
Perfect for vacations, the oversize plastic wheels can conquer both boardwalks and sand. “Strategist contributing writer Margaret Eby transformed her beachgoing experience with this combination utility cart and beach chair. She explained that it is sturdy and easy to maneuver, and once she steered it to her preferred destination, she set up her blanket and unload the cooler, beach tent, towel, and overstuffed tote,” explains The Strategist.
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Sources:
- Forbes
- Real Simple
- Better Homes & Gardens
- Tripsaavy
- The Spruce
- The Strategist
- NY Times
- US News.
- HGTV
- Travel & Leisure
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.