The best beach chairs you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

• A beach chair is of the utmost importance in ensuring that you have a comfortable day at the beach or any outdoor event. The RIO Brands 5-Position Lay Flat Beach Chair is the best beach chair for most people because it’s affordable, comfortable, easy to transport, and can recline in five different positions.

When I was a kid, I thought beach chairs were for old people. When it was time to stake out my sand territory, I happily spread out my colorful, oversized beach towel and never thought twice about sitting up. As an adult, I would never spend a day on the beach without a chair. It’s absolutely necessary for comfort and for keeping my drink of choice upright and sand-free.

Of course, beach chairs have changed a lot since my childhood. Not only are there more lightweight options, but today’s chairs are packed with fun accessories like drink holders, insulated cooler pouches, pockets, attached umbrellas, and much more. In addition, many of them can be transported on your back or over your shoulder.

We've researched to find the best beach chairs you can buy. Our top picks range from simple chairs to special ones with built-in umbrellas or coolers. Regardless of your preference, here are some things to consider before you buy a beach chair.

The frame of the chair may be steel, aluminum, or wood. Meanwhile, the chair's seat may be made from marine-grade canvas, polyester, nylon, or cotton. For durability, you should aim for a denier strength (a measurement of fabric thickness and weight) between 420D-600D. Beach chairs typically support weights ranging from 225 to 400 pounds. Beach chairs can simply unfold into a sitting upright position or they may provide multiple reclining variations, including completely lying flat.

Some beach chairs fold in half vertically or horizontally, while others fold into three sections. If you plan on transporting the chair, you will want to select one that can be carried easily. Look for chairs with an attachable sling shoulder carry strap, a separate carry bag with strap, or backpack style carry straps.

These are the best beach chairs you can buy. Read on to see which one is best for you.

Although the RIO Brands 5-position Lay Flat Beach Chair is our top pick, for the reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair, the Sport-Brella Recliner Chair, the Picnic Time Beachcomber Portable Beach Mat, and the Coleman Oversized Quad Chair with Cooler.

The best beach chair overall

Rio

Why you'll love it: Affordable and easy to carry, the simple yet sturdy RIO Brands 5-Position Lay Flat Beach Chair will keep you comfortable all day long.

Founded in 1947, RIO Brands focuses on creating beautiful beach and backyard furniture. Made of durable 300-denier polyester and a lightweight, rust-proof aluminum frame, the RIO Brands 5-Position Lay Flat Beach Chair is built to last. It’s also built for comfort. Five positions, including a flat position ideal for tanning (or napping!) means you can adjust throughout the day. The armrests have a no-pinch feature.

The Rio 5 position is also easy to transport. It’s lightweight at 6 pounds, foldable, and comes with an adjustable padded shoulder strap for easy carrying.

There are more than 140 reviews on Amazon, most of which are very positive with an average of 4.1 out of 5 stars. On July 20, 2017, one buyer wrote, “Love this chair! Lightweight easy to carry and so comfortable! Even my pup loves it!”

Some buyers complain that it is difficult to get out of the chair, and many others add that they wish it came with a drink holder. If you want a drink holder, you should check out our other picks. The chair comes in more than 15 different colors and patterns, including single-color favorites like Pacific Blue and Turquoise, as well as stripes, and tropical themes.

Across the web, professional reviewers, including those at Beach Giraffe and Savant Magazine, consider Rio's chairs the best for beach goers.

Pros: Lightweight, affordable, sits close to the ground, durable fabric and frame, carrying strap, attractive designs

Cons: Some people say it is hard to get out of the chair

Buy the RIO Brands 5 position lay flat Beach chair on Amazon for $32.54 and up (price varies by color and pattern)

The best beach chair with a cooler

Tommy Bahama

Why you'll love it: The attractive and comfortable Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair is lightweight, easy to adjust, and holds everything from your phone to a six-pack of Coke.

Carry this lightweight chair on your back with comfortable padded straps? Check. Cooler? Yes. Cup holder? Of course. The 5-position Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair has all the features you could possibly want in a beach chair.

It allows you to lay flat and comes with a built-in adjustable pillow to ensure your comfort throughout the day. Two large storage compartments keep you organized. One is insulated to keep your food and drinks cool, too. The contour molded armrest has a hanging cup holder, as well as a smart phone compartment. A folding towel bar on the back of the chair allows you to easily dry your towels and wet clothes.

The chair's lightweight rust-proof aluminum frame is enhanced with durable 600-denier polyester and can hold up to 300 pounds. The chair’s back is made of canvas.

There are more than 1,480 buyer reviews on Amazon with an impressive average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Buyers love the comfort, convenience, and attractive aesthetics of the Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair.

On August 22, 2016, one verified buyer summed it up nicely: “This chair is perfect! It is super light to carry, yet extremely sturdy. It is comfortable and has lots of nice features. The non-insulated pocket on the back is quite useful for carrying sunscreen, cell phone and keys as it zippers closed so you don't have to worry about dropping your valuables as you walk. …. The insulated pocket is perfect to keep a few cold drinks or snacks in. It kept my drinks pretty cold even without the addition of ice. The reclining feature is easily adjusted, unlike others I've had in the past. Everyone in my family wanted this chair comfort and convenience."

Across the web, professional reviewers, including those at The Sweethome, My Wild Earth, and Beach Giraffe tout the many benefits of buying the Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair, as well as similar Tommy Bahama chairs.

Pros: Lightweight, 5-positions, zippered storage compartments, insulated cooler that can hold up to 7 12-oz cans, adjustable pillow, easy to carry

Cons: Some users claim that the fabric rips apart easily

Buy the Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair on Amazon for $46.97 and up (price varies by color and pattern)

The best reclining beach chair with an umbrella

Sport-Brella

Why you'll love it: The Sport-Brella Recliner Chair comes with a swiveling umbrella, as well as insulated cooler and drink pouches.

Sit up, lay back, or nap. You can get comfortable in three different positions with the Sport-Brella Recliner Chair. The chair's umbrella has a 50+ UPF rating to protect you from the sun and a metallic underside to deflect heat. The umbrella is versatile, too. Not only can you attach it to either side of your chair, but it swivels into three different positions to ensure you are always in the shade.

The chair has a built-in insulated pocket that holds up to four drinks, a cup holder, and a zippered storage pocket that has a built in a bottle opener. The lightweight stainless steel frame can support up to 250 pounds.

There are more than 1,070 buyer reviews on Amazon. Reviews are mostly positive with an average of 3.4 out of 5 stars. “It is extremely comfortable, easy to assemble and I was the only one with an umbrella that moves with the sun with a flick of a finger … Fantastic product!” wrote a verified user on August 26, 2017.

Some Amazon buyers wrote that they wished the umbrella was bigger and that it stood up to wind better, though.

Across the web, professional reviewers, including those at Savant Magazine and Best Cheap Reviews, name the Sport-Brella as a top beach chair pick.

Pros: Detachable footrest, ample storage, insulated storage, cup holder, detachable and adjustable umbrella, lightweight

Cons: Some users say the umbrella is flimsy

Buy the Sport-Brella Recliner Chair on Amazon for $59.99

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