10 of the best beach chairs of 2024 that are comfy, durable and easy to carry

Not surprisingly, given the quality of its goods (not to mention its name), Tommy Bahama has become a sought-after brand for all things beach-going, including chairs. This pair feature a small cooler pocket on their back for keeping drinks cold, a second pocket for stashing your beach towel, a towel bar for hanging it when its wet and a cup holder and pocket on the arm rest. Oh, and they also adjust to lay completely flat or at a slight incline. 

"Favorite beach chairs!" said one Amazon shopper. "Won’t buy anything else after using these! We’re customers for LIFE! You can’t beat the quality and they hold up so well against the sand, sunshine and salt water. Worth every single penny!"

Behold, a throne-like seat from which to survey your aquatic realm! Okay, maybe you just hate lowering yourself into and wrenching yourself out of a chair that sits mere inches above the sand. In any event, we love that this one adjusts to seven different reclining positions, all of which will be like a vacation for your lower back.

It also has a nice shade you can deploy when you've had too much sun; an adjustable mesh cupholder and pocket on the side; a squishy head pillow; and a strap to carry it when you're ready to head home. Get it in this fun stripe design or plain navy.

One TB fan raved: "I held the chair and it unfolded easily for me. The shade has a secret pocket. The various reclining levels are easy to use. And I like the bags on the side. It is a bit heavier than my other chair, but this one sits firmly, which I need."

One thing we love about getting a massage? That padded hole in the table that you can stick your face through while you lie on your stomach — no need strain your neck cocking it to one side! Similar to that, the tri-fold Ostrich Chair has a face hole and arm slots that make it incredibly comfortable to lie on your stomach at the beach. You can easily read a book or watch a show while tanning your back(side). Want to flip over? There’s an attached pillow you can flip over to cover the face hole and support the back of your head. Pretty genius, eh?

“I love the fact that it has the hole for your face to breathe while laying on your stomach,” one said this sun worshipper. “I even put a drink below me with a straw for easy access to some ice water. My boyfriend wants me to buy another. It was easy to fold up, light and easy to carry, and it’s pretty durable.”

We love a long-back chair! This one has a padded head pillow and adjusts to four reclining positions. Plus, it has a large pouch on the back to stash your towel, beach read, snacks and more. The real highlights are on the armrests though: One has a sturdy cup holder, the other a slot for holding your phone upright so you can scroll through social media or your Spotify playlist with ease.

"Very well made, sturdy and good-looking. Perfect height, a little taller than most beach chairs but not too tall," wrote this Goldilocks on the brand's website.

If you're looking for a simple, lightweight option under $50, you've found it. While low to the ground, this 21-inch-deep seat is comfortable enough for all-day idling, digging your toes into the sand and listening to the waves crash and ebb. As for frills, it has a mesh cupholder on one side and big pocket on the back for stashing a few essentials.

More than 4,500 Amazon shoppers have rated it five out of five stars. One said: "This is the lightest beach chair I have ever owned. ... The color is pretty and I find it comfortable enough. I will definitely buy this again because it is great for me... It isn't the chair for those who like to fling the seat back and take a snooze. But I would prefer to sit upright and read, and this chair allows me to do that just fine."

This beach chair doubles as a backpack, and not just because it has straps to carry it like one. It has a large bag attached to the back for stashing your towels, sunscreen and anything else you might need for a day in the sun. It also has three reclining positions, a cup holder and and an insulated pocket on the armrest.  

"Exceeded my expectations when I took it to the beach," said one five-star fan at Amazon. "Top pocket holds two full-size beach towels, sunscreen and Kindle with a little wiggle room to spare. Small cooler pocket held my cold water bottle and a snack. It was the only thing I needed, and all carried easily as a backpack."

If you're traveling over high sand dunes to get near the water, this may be the chaise for you. In addition to its heavy-duty wheels, it converts into a wagon with a handle so you can use it to carry all of your items — towels, snacks, drinks, sand toys and more — then unfold it to lie out in the sun. The lounger reclines into four comfy positions and supports your legs, so you can finally relax once you get to your favorite spot. 

"Very functional," said one Amazon shopper. "I love this cart-and chair-combination. You can place a beach bag, a small cooler, another beach chair and umbrella, etc. [inside]. Walk down the street to the beach, and then it becomes a beach chair. It's made my life much easier. Highly recommended."

Why bring a chair and an umbrella to the beach when you can do it all in one with this nifty seat? This Sport-Brella keeps your head and upper body out of the sun, thanks to its extending shade. However, it prioritizes comfort too, with three reclining positions and an adjustable footrest so you can literally kick back. It also has a built-in bottle opener, cup holder and insulated pocket to keep drinks cold.

"I bought this chair over a year ago and decided I needed to write a review. This is the best bag chair I’ve ever purchased!" said one fan. "It’s very comfortable, has a great umbrella that actually works, and lots of pockets to put drinks, your phone, a book, etc. The umbrella doesn’t hold up well in the wind, but I wouldn’t expect it to. This is my second year of camping with it, and I highly recommend!"

Now, this is our idea of a summer crush! — four matching chairs for about $54 a pop. And they come loaded — five reclining positions (and they lie flat!), a comfy pillow and a breathable backrest. The armrests have cupholders, and there's a storage bag attached on the back to stash your stuff. 

"This chair met all of the main criteria for a true beach chair: sturdy, comfortable and soft," trumpeted one Target shopper.

If there's one brand whose name evokes reclining and relaxing, it's Margaritaville. This is its backpack chair, which you can carry like, well, you know. But as simple as it may look, it also lays flat so you can take a well-deserved nap on the beach, and features a cupholder, small insulated pouch on the back and comes with a cushy pillow for your head — all in the brand's pretty tropical print.