**If you are in a hurry I recommend the Alpha Camp as the best folding camping chair that includes a canopy for its completely adjustable canopy, detachable footrest, and built-in cooler pocket for drinks**
Summertime is the best time of year, but it can also be a bit hot and uncomfortable. If you’re looking for a way to stay cool while camping, then you should consider purchasing a folding chair with a canopy.
In this blog post, I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each type of folding chair with a canopy shade, as well as the top benefits of owning one. I’ll also provide some expert tips when looking for the best folding chair for your next camping trip.
How to Choose Your Folding Chair with Canopy
You’ll notice most of the chairs on this list have similar features. You’ll get protection from the sun and convenient features like cup holders and mesh pockets.
What you can’t see at first glance are the smaller details that distinguish one brand from another.
Below are the stripped-down essentials you need to look for before moving forward on your next canopy chair.
Size of Canopy Protection
It’s no secret you need your canopy to provide plenty of sun protection.
The size of your canopy protection is the most important factor when you’re going to the beach or heading camping during the summer.
You could just get a beach canopy to cover your entire party but if you need something portable, you still want good protection.
Basic canopies just provide a flat layer of protection that hangs over your chair. It should be enough to block most of the sun but there are better options.
What you really want is a canopy that has side walls that extend downward and give you even more protection from the sun.
While some canopies have small side walls, you’ll find some on this list that almost connects with your backrest.
Ease of Setup
Most of the options on this list are easy to store and unpack due to the construction of the frame.
All you need is to fold in the armrests to pack them up and then pull the armrests outward when you are ready to use your chair.
The canopy will be the most difficult part of the chair frame to set up and even that isn’t very hard.
Most canopies are folded behind the chair so all you need to do is loosen the locks and then fold the canopy up.
Other choices have adjustable canopies that you’ll need to spend a little more time fixing to get just right.
UPF Numbers
When you’re shopping through foldable chairs it’s worth checking out the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) numbers for the canopy itself.
A day at the beach can cause a lot of sun damage to your body and higher numbers will give you more protection from the harmful rays of the sun.
All the canopies on this list are UPF 50 and this is the standard for all canopies.
If a canopy offers a higher number, like UPF 75 or above, then you know you’re getting a great deal.
Portability of your Canopy Folding Chair
Not every folding beach chair is easy to carry around.
In fact, a majority of them don’t even have a carrying bag that you can use to easily transport and a chair weighs more when using a canopy.
However, a few options on this list use the canopy to double as a case, making them portable and easy to carry around.
Once the chair is folded, the canopy wraps around the chair and doubles as a case.
Depending on which one you choose, the chair may have attached handles that make it easier to carry wherever you want to go.
Don’t get me wrong, these chairs are nothing compared to a hot weather tent or setting up a full canopy, but some are more convenient than others.
Weight Capacity
Most chairs can hold at least 250 pounds and are durable enough to last a few years.
The chairs on this list max out at around 350 pounds so you don’t want to test any of them with a ton of gear or fit more than one person.
It’ll also matter what type of ground you’re on. Sand will be more forgiving than hard dirt and you can get away with more weight.
Additional Features
A good chair comes with additional features that don’t help protect against the sun or make it more portable, but make the comfortable chair more convenient.
A cup holder is pretty standard as well as a mesh pocket of some kind.
But, other unique features include an insulated pocket for drinks, rocking chair technology, adjustable canopies, and phone holders.
Best Overall: Sport-Brella Beach Chair with UPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella
With a three-position recliner, huge umbrella-style canopy, and footrest, no other chair with a canopy option is as good as the Sport-Brella Beach Chair.
Let’s start with the UPF protection itself. This canopy is huge.
If you could remove the canopy, you’d be able to use it as an umbrella it’s that big.
It’s also completely adjustable with a 3-way swivel so you can put it at the exact angle you need to protect yourself from the sun.
The chair itself is able to adjust to three different positions for extra lounging capabilities.
You could easily take that afternoon nap nestled up in the Sport-Brella.
To make it even comfier, it includes a detachable footrest to keep your feet elevated like you’re laying in your bed at home but in the outdoors.
I’m not trying to blow your mind to pieces, but the Brella even has an insulated pocket for storing up to four drinks.
Cold beverages, perfect sun protection, and a deep lounge camping chair? Yes, please.
The Sport-Brella, of course, comes with a convenient carrying bag for traveling that every piece fits inside of.
If you want a chair for sun protection that is also one of the comfiest for outdoor seating, the Sport Brella is it.
Best for Comfort: Best Choice Products Folding Zero Gravity Outdoor Recliner
If you are already trying to protect yourself from the sun then there’s a good chance you are looking for the ultimate comfort chair for the outdoors.
Say hello to the Best Choice Products Zero Gravity Recliner.
This shade canopy chair is similar to a lot of other zero gravity chairs on the market.
It has breathable fabric across the entire chair so make sure you stay cool while laying for hours.
There’s an attachable side table with slots for a phone, a book, and a beverage.
You’ll even get a removable headrest pillow that helps support your neck when you’re laying back.
The best feature is the lockable reclining system.
There’s one knob on each armrest that, when loosened, allows you to recline almost horizontally to give you the best ergonomic zero-gravity position.
What doesn’t come with other zero-gravity chairs is the sun-protecting canopy shade attached to the top.
You can even adjust the angle to match the direction the sun is hitting you.
While heavier than most portable chairs, the Best Choice Products is still the most comfortable option to bring on sunny days.
Best Double Canopy Chair: Safstar Double Camping Chair w/Shade Canopy
Couples and siblings won’t find a better outdoor canopy chair than the Safstar Double with Shade.
This giant two-seater folding chair comes with an equally large UPF 50 canopy that rests overtop both seats.
There’s even a very handy middle cooler bag that you can use to keep refreshments inside.
It has a pocket with insulation so you can throw cold drinks inside and they’ll stay chilled for a short period of time.
You will not find that type of feature attached to any other chair on this list.
Surprisingly, you’ll have no trouble folding up the double canopy chair to fit it inside its carrying bag.
Even though it’s large in size, it still has the convenience of a single-sized chair.
You’re also able to adjust the canopy depending on what angle the sun is hitting you from so you can truly have the type of experience you want on sunny days.
The obvious downside is that it will be heavier to carry but considering everything else you get, couples shouldn’t pass the Safstar Double Chair up.
Best Canopy Rocking Chair: GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker with SunShade Rocking Chair
Not all lightweight chairs with a canopy are made the same, and the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker proves that with its design.
Instead of the traditional outdoor chair design that includes a seat bottom and backrest, the GCI is actually a full-blown rocking chair.
The chair is called a sling-style seat and will rock back and forth with your movements due to the Spring Action Rocking Technology.
There’s also an overhanging SunShade canopy with a unique design that extends down on both sides for full sun protection.
A mesh pocket on the side can hold your phone and a beverage holder rests right next to it.
The only downsides to this innovative design are that it’s harder to set up than other chairs and weighs a few more pounds.
The weight won’t be a big deal since it comes with it’s own carrying bag.
Considering most chairs that are lightweight and easy to carry all look the same, there is something to be said about the creative difference in the Pod Rocker.
No matter what outdoor activities you plan on doing, the GCI SunShade canopy truly has something special that no other outdoor chair has.
Best for Control: Quik Shade MAX Canopy Chair
At first glance, the Quik Shade Max looks just like any other shade canopy.
It has a protected sun shade over the top, a mesh cup holder on one armrest, and is built durable with breathable polyester fabric.
What separates it from the others is the easily adjustable height mechanism.
The chair comes with height adjustments not just for lowering, but also for tilting the shade protector.
With the Quik Shade, you have full control over the angle of the canopy and can match it with the sun’s direction.
The cup holder on the armrest is pretty typical of a portable chair but the storage pocket is a nice touch.
When you’re enjoying nature you don’t want to be worrying about keeping track of your keys.
The Quik Shade canopy doesn’t have a separate carry case, instead, two attached handles that, when you fold the chair up, make it easier to carry.
For a canopy that provides full control over your shade protection, the Quik Shade Max Canopy Chair is a great option.
Best for Sun Protection: SwimWays Kelsyus Original Foldable Canopy Chair
The oversized and adjustable canopy from SwimWays is ideal for sunny weather.
While most canopies that attach to a chair cut off on the sides at just about the width of your armrests, this one overflows over each end.
Extra shade might not seem like much when looking at it but every inch of shade counts in hot weather.
The canopy also folds down behind the backrest so you have the option to leave the top open on cloudy days or get quick shade when the sun comes out.
Breathable mesh in the seat bottom and backrest helps air circulate in the areas that are affected most by heat when you sit.
It also has a large handle for easy transportation. Something you won’t get with all chairs that allow you to adjust the canopy.
The case is actually just the canopy top that is used when the chair becomes fully folded. It doesn’t seal fully so your chair also won’t be protected when traveling.
If you’re looking for max shade to protect you from the sun, the SwimWays Kelsyus offers extended coverage.
ALPHA CAMP Heavy Duty Canopy Lounge Chair
A large overhanging 50+ UPF canopy shields the Alpha Camp chair from harsh sun rays, protecting you during beach trips or sunny camping days.
There are a host of other features that make the Alpha Camp convenient to bring along on your trip.
A mesh phone pocket sits flush against the armchair so you don’t have to worry thinking you’ve lost it somewhere.
On the Alpha chair is a good cup holder built right into the other armchair and it holds drinks as big as 32 ounces.
The breathable mesh backrest and seat bottom help bring some ventilation to the areas on your body that usually gets clammy on long hot days.
The anti-rust hammer tone powder coating that is applied to the steel frame keeps it from rusting, which is useful for beach trips from salt water exposure.
Overall, the Alpha Camp makes a considerate and durable beach chair with canopy worth toting around to any outdoor event.
ALPHA CAMP Chairs with Shade Canopy
Alpha Camp makes sturdy and high-quality canopy chairs so it’s easy to see why there are two different kinds on this list.
What makes this one different is the canopy sidewall design.
Instead of a straight, flat wall line has an arch design that goes all the way around.
The feature is slightly annoying because the sides sway with the wind and end up taking an inch or two of shade away from your chair.
Otherwise, the chair is durable and can hold up to 350 pounds of weight.
Just like with the other Alpha, it comes with an anti-rust powder-coated steel to keep it dry and protected from water.
One of the other differences between the two Alphas on this list is that this one comes with two cup holders.
The other Alpha includes a phone holder and cup holder.
Alpha Camp produces portable outdoor chairs that are high-quality and last.
You can rely on this one to hold up over time for your camping and beach trips.
Kelsyus Original Foldable Canopy Chair
The Kelsyus is another multi-use design where you can raise and lower the canopy behind the backrest.
When the sun is out, you’ll have a canopy with extended side walls to give you more coverage.
But if you want control over when you get some sun, you can fold the canopy behind the back of the chair.
Like other foldable chairs on this list, the canopy doubles as a carrying bag.
Once the chair is folded, the canopy wraps around everything and you can use the handle to make it easy to transport.
Mesh fabric runs down the backrest and the seat bottom for more ventilation.
The fairly low 250-pound capacity puts it at the lower end of the weight capacity limits other chairs show.
All in all, the Kelsyus is good at a tailgate party, at the beach, and camping in sunny weather.
Folding Chair With Canopy FAQs
How do you fold a chair with a canopy?
Folding a chair with a canopy starts by lowering the canopy behind the backrest. Then, grab the two armrests with the backrest facing your stomach and pull them towards the middle of your stomach. The chair will collapse and the canopy will become your carry bag.
Is it easy to set up a chair with a canopy?
Canopy chairs are foldable and portable making them easy to set up. Once you take the chair out of its case, take the armrests and pull them apart. Then, you can fold out the canopy and adjust it to your desired shade angle.
How do you store a chair with a canopy?
The best way to store a canopy is also the best way to keep most of your outdoor gear: dry and in a dark place. Make sure to secure any straps or ties to keep the canopy safe and secure in storage. You should also avoid storing it in direct sunlight, as this can cause the fabric to fade over time.
Using the Best Folding Chair With Canopy
I recommend the Alpha Camp as your best choice for a folding chair that comes with a canopy. It has everything you need for an outdoor adventure like an insulated cooler for cold drinks, a completely adjustable canopy, and a footrest for when you get real loungy. If you want something that can protect you from any angle and still provides the best comfort, the Alpha is it.
