Advice we’d give to a friend

The Basics

How can I tell if a beach chair will be comfortable? - Think about whether you prefer a reclining chair or a more upright design. Make sure there’s enough space between the seat fabric and the metal frame to prevent discomfort from pressure points. Check that the seat depth and width suit your body size and consider added features like armrests, cup holders and storage pockets for extra convenience.

How much does portability matter in a beach chair? - If you’ve ever hauled gear to the shore, you know it’s very important. Look for for lightweight chairs with backpack-style straps or carry handles for easy transport.

How durable is it? - A well-built beach chair with a sturdy steel or aluminium frame (rust-treated for longevity) and high-denier fabric will stand the test of time. Look for these features when selecting a chair for lasting use.

Budget

Finding a good beach chair doesn’t have to break the bank. To help you compare options, we’ve split the market into three main price categories:

Under $75 - In this range, you’ll typically find basic, no-frills designs that usually don’t recline. There are still some sturdy and reliable options, though, if you’re happy with a simple chair.

$75 to $150 - This mid-range bracket includes reclining chairs, though they may not be as strong, along with chairs offering extra features. While there are decent choices here, if you want a long-lasting, high-quality recliner, we recommend investing a little more.

Over $150 - At this price point, you’ll get a premium reclining chair built to last, often with added comforts. That said, we generally advise against spending more than $200, as, beyond that, you’re unlikely to see much added value.

Purpose of Use

When selecting a beach chair, consider how you plan to use it. Will it be just for you, or will family members share it? Do you need to purchase several chairs? Think about whether you want to lounge in a reclined position or sit upright for reading. Also, consider if you typically bring many items to the beach that require storage space. These factors will help determine which style of chair best suits your needs and how basic or feature-rich your ideal design should be.

Considerations for Australian Conditions

Picking a beach chair for Australia isn't just about comfort; it's about surviving our unique backyard. Here’s the real talk we’d give a mate.

• Sun and UV Protection - Our sun is harsh, so a chair with a larger shade canopy or a detachable umbrella is great. Look for fabrics with a high UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating (it’s like sunscreen for your chair, stopping the material from degrading and giving you better protection).

• Sand, Salt and Rust-Proofing - Saltwater and sand are a metal frame’s worst enemy. Aluminium frames are naturally corrosion-resistant and a fantastic choice for beach use. If the chair has a steel frame, make sure it’s powder-coated or treated for rust resistance. A quick rinse with fresh water after each trip will massively extend its life.

• Stability in Wind - A gusty seabreeze can turn a luxury lounger into a dangerous kite. Look for chairs with wider legs or features like footrests that help anchor them in the sand. Some even have little sand pegs. A heavier chair can be a good thing here, but it’s a trade-off with portability.

• Heat and Fabric Comfort - Dark-coloured fabrics can get scorching hot to the touch, so lighter colours like beige, light blue, or grey are much more comfortable. Breathable mesh panels on the back and seat are also a huge plus, preventing that sticky, sweaty feeling on a hot day.

• Handling Aussie Terrain: Our beaches aren’t always perfectly flat either, so a chair with slightly wider, flat feet will stop it from sinking too deep into soft sand.

Safety Checklist

• Sun Smart is Non-Negotiable - A chair with a fancy canopy won't help if you fry underneath it. The sun's UV rays in Australia can be extreme even on cloudy days, so slip, slop, slap! Reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially after a swim.

• Secure Your Spot and Mind the Tides - That perfect, secluded spot might be a high-tide zone, so always set up your chair well above the high-tide line to avoid getting swept away by a rogue wave. Check the local tide times before you go. Also, be mindful of sudden wind gusts, and if it's getting windy, make sure your chair is stable or weigh it down with your gear bag.

• Check for Critters and Sharp Objects - Before you plonk your chair down, do a quick visual scan of the sand. You're looking for anything you don't want to sit on, like sharp shells, broken glass, or (in some northern areas) jellyfish that have washed up.

Pro Tip: It’s good practice to give the sand a quick brush off before packing your chair away to prevent sand and salt from grinding in the mechanisms.

Ratings By Category

Method

Through extensive market research, we've identified top-performing beach chairs across different categories from multiple retailers. Every chosen product begins with a baseline score of 50 points simply for making our selection. We then conduct hands-on field testing to evaluate each chair across five key criteria: Construction/Design, Setup/Pack Down, Portability, Comfort and Durability. Each category receives a score out of 10 based on our real-world assessments.

To ensure fair comparisons, we adjust scoring based on each factor's importance and natural variations; some categories may range from 1 to 10, while others might typically fall between 4 and 9, with occasional exceptions. Our goal is to give you the most realistic and useful evaluation possible.

If you're searching for Australia's best beach chair, our in-depth reviews aim to provide all the necessary details to help you make an informed decision. We believe thorough, honest assessments are what make great beach chair reviews and that's exactly what we strive to deliver.

Testing Methodology

All the beach chairs we review are tested hands-on, in real Australian conditions, such as in sand, salt and sun. Once we’ve decided which ones to review, each model goes through a setup and inspection phase, where we check its build quality, frame and joint integrity, fabric strength and how easy it is to unfold, set up and then pack away. We also take note of its weight, packed dimensions and carry size to confirm whether they match the manufacturer’s claims.

Then, we put the chairs through a series of performance trials. This includes testing comfort over long periods of sitting, its stability on soft sand and uneven surfaces, and how well features like adjustable recline, armrests and accessories like cup holders and shades perform in real use. We test them for different body types and uses, too, from reading a book to enjoying a beachside picnic, recreating a typical day at an Australian beach and how you may use it.

Finally, we check how durable and usable the chair is by repeatly opening and closing it, checking it over for wear from sand, saltwater and UV exposure, and testing how portable and easy it is to carry from the car park across the sand dunes. Scores across these areas are then weighted into our category ratings, so the overall ranking reflects not just specs on paper, but how the chair performs when you're carrying it from the car, sitting in it for hours and packing it away at the end of the day.

Want the full breakdown of our testing process? Click the drop-downs below to learn about our detailed methodology.

Afterword

We hope you enjoyed our reviews of the best lightweight hiking tents in Australia!

Really most of the hiking tents we reviewed were great and you don’t have to spend a bundle to get something that will be great for Australian conditions. If you would like us to review a product or have any feedback we’d love to hear from you, feel free to drop us a note.

If you do purchase and are out in your hiking tent in Australia please share some pics with us — we’d love to see you in action.