Soak up the sun with these lightweight and comfortable beach chairs

Colleen Sullivan

Going to the beach may look a bit different this summer, but no matter what the experience holds, you'll likely need a good beach chair. However, there are dozens of styles to choose from, so searching for the best beach chair can get a bit overwhelming.

We put together a list of beach chairs to try this summer — and asked a few design experts to weigh in on the ones they love this season. From sand chairs to loungers, and high seats to beach mats, check out our great finds starting at just $15.

The best beach chairs

1. Rio Beach Big Kahuna Beach Chair

This beach chair is in it for the long haul. Made of rust-resistant aluminum and durable polyester fabric, it adjusts to five different back positions and comes with a side pouch, drink holder, towel bar and pillow.

2. Life is Good Beach Chair with Cooler

This chair comes with a happy message and lots of goodies: an adjustable headrest, an insulated cooler bag, two cup holders, a detachable pouch for jewelry and a cell phone and a shoulder strap to free up your hands. One more reason to love this chair: 10% of all sales go to the Life is Good Kids Foundation.

3. Coleman Beach Ground Mat

This mat is the perfect compromise between sitting on a beach blanket and sitting in a chair. The adjustable A-frame reclines, while the mesh fabric keeps your skin cool. Simply fold up the mat when the day is over and carry it on your shoulder using the straps. Bonus: There's an attachable cooler that can hold up to eight beverage cans!

4. Rio Gear Aluminum Lace-Up Backpack Chair

The lace-up suspension on this lightweight aluminum beach chair provides firm back support and a unique design, while sturdy plastic arms move the back into four different positions. The backpack-style chair comes with a cup holder, storage pouch and an adjustable pillow.

5. 4-Position Aluminum Backpack Reclining Beach Chair

Not too high, not too low — this beach chair sits at a comfortable 11 inches off the ground and adjusts easily to four positions. It comes with a cushioned pillow headrest, storage pouch and drink holder, and the backpack straps are padded, which is a nice touch if you have sunburned shoulders at the end of the day.

6. Hearth & Hand Travel Beach Lounge Mat

"My love for all things Target is well-documented and it's because of extremely cute things like this awesome beach chair. It's affordable, lightweight, and has a compartment to keep your things sand-free. Plus, it turns into a backpack for easy transport," celebrity design blogger Emily Henderson told TODAY of her affordable pick.

7. GCI Sunshade Eazy Chair

This beach chair literally has you covered with an adjustable canopy made with UPF 50+ fabric. (Ultraviolet protection factor indicates how effectively the fabric blocks the sun's rays, with 50 being the highest.) The chair's nylon and polyester mesh provides ventilation to keep your body cool, while the wide-mouth carrying bag makes packing up after a long day at the beach easy.

8. Tommy Bahama Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair

With a lightweight steel and aluminum frame, this chair is 2.5 inches wider than most traditional backpack chairs and comes with five reclining positions. It's loaded with accessories, including an insulated cooler pouch, cell phone holder, towel bar and adjustable pillow.

9. Serena and Lily Hyannis Beach Chair

This low-to-the-ground reclining wood chair includes a chic blue and white nautical striped canvas that's UV- and water-resistant. A pouch with a snap closure behind the headrest provides storage for keys, money and cell phones, while a woven shoulder strap makes it easy to haul.

10. Strongback Low G Recliner

If the thought of sitting for hours sends your back into spasms, this chair may be your ticket to a more comfortable day at the beach. The ergonomically-designed curved back and tilted seat supports your shoulders and aligns your spine. Plus, it comes with backpack-style shoulder straps, a beverage holder, and a three-year warranty.

11. Rio Classic 5-Position Lay Flat Beach Chair

"This is my go-to chair for the beach. It's extremely well made and light enough to carry a couple at a time (since I am a dad). I like to be as close to the sand as possible and this one is low to the ground and lays flat as well. This is the chair for me!" said John Colaneri, designer and co-star of "The Build Up" on EllenTube.

12. Mac Sports Beach Day Lounger

"The genius of this beach chair is that it doubles as a pull-cart wagon, with a large capacity mesh basket that sets up quickly. With the amount of stuff I lug through the sand, this is a must-have," said celebrity designer Sabrina Soto

13. Land's End Wooden Lounge Chair

Here's why you'll need to spend a little more for this beach chair: It's made of solid oak and the wood has been coated in a marine spar varnish, the fabric is a marine grade acrylic and the hardware is crafted using rust-repellent stainless steel. Plus, there are four reclining positions and 12 beautiful colors (from black to turquoise to pistachio) to choose from.

14. Rio Beach Bum Folding Beach Chair

"I love this beach chair — it has a drink holder and a storage pouch, which is perfect for my cell phone," said Chris Lambton, host of "Yard Crashers." "It's lightweight and has a carry strap so I can hold my son or daughter in one arm plus the chair and a bag of kids' toys!"

15. Ozark Trail Compact Folding Reclining Chair

This comfy chair was originally designed for camping trips, but the foam padded seating and rust-resistant steel frame screams, "Take me to the beach!" With amenities like a two-position recline and dual cup holders, this chair folds up easily when not in use and comes with a carrying bag.

16. Coleman Camping Portable Quad Chair

"I don't mess around when it comes to beach chairs. Once I'm off my feet I want to stay that way, so a chair with a built-in cooler and room for a few drinks and an ice pack is exactly what I need," said Scott McGillivray, designer and "Scott's House Call" host. "This one is also super comfortable, durable and folds up easily. I take it everywhere."

17. Mark & Graham x pbk Navy Rugby Stripe Beach Loungers

Designed for kids before they're too cool to sit in beach chairs, this navy and white striped lounger, is made with durable polyester fabric (simply spot clean any spills with a dry cloth) and can be easily folded and carried away using the attached shoulder strap.

18. Wild in Bloom Beach Chair

"Talk about a beautiful beach chair. It's handmade using a mix of wood and wicker — definitely a chair for the design lover," noted Henderson. "It folds up easily and comes with a canvas strap to make beach hopping extremely easy."

19. Rio Beach Hi-Boy Beach Chair

This multi-striped beach chair comes with an adjustable canopy made of a UPF 50+ fabric and has an extended backrest (a typical backrest height is about 20 to 25 inches; this one is 30). The body is made with durable polyester fabric and a lightweight, rust-proof aluminum frame.

20. Rio Highboy Beach Chair

It'll be easy for friends and family to spot you on the beach sitting in this bright turquoise "highboy" chair. The frame is lightweight, the sturdy polyester fabric is quick-drying and it comes with a storage pouch, drink holder, carrying handle and brackets that have been designed so they can't pinch your fingers.

21. Ostrich On Your Back Backpack Beach Chair

If you tend to beat up on your beach chairs, this one may be for you: It features an extra-wide steel frame that can hold up to 325 pounds and has a polyester fabric that's durable, fade-resistant and quick drying. It adjusts to five different tilting positions and comes with a pillow rest and cup holder. But what makes this beach chair unique? You can lie on your stomach and place your face and arms through the cut-out holes to read a book or nap.

22. Picnic Time Monaco Beach Chair

This classic-looking navy beach chair has it all! It features six reclining positions, is made with durable polyester fabric, and also has a cup holder, pillow and backpack straps.

For more summer recommendations, check out:

To discover more deals, shopping tips and budget-friendly product recommendations, download the new TODAY app and subscribe to our Stuff We Love newsletter!

This article was originally published on June 12, 2019, on TODAY.com.

Advertisement