ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Camping Chair Review

Bottom Line

The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong is not only an Editor’s Pick – it’s number one on our best camping chairs guide. It checks every box we look for in a quality camping chair, and it’s been Senior Content Editor Ian Krammer’s go-to for years. He’s used this model for camping, roadtrips, festivals, barbecues, and beyond.

The King Kong is a beast of a value. It has an industry-leading 800-pound weight limit and outstanding durability thanks to a powder-coated steel frame and reinforced joints. We appreciate the thick, quilted polyester fabric is not only cushioned, but insulated, making it a great choice on cold nights. This thing’s comfy, too: a wide seat and back work for every body shape and size, and adjustable armrests give it a customized feel. Measuring 19 inches tall, the King Kong is easy to get into and out of. Plus, it boasts 3 large, useful pockets and two cupholders.

However, much like King Kong himself, this chair’s heavy and bulky. We find it’s a bit of a chore to fit into a full trunk or a small gear room. The carrying case can be worn as a backpack, but we find the top entrance awkward to use. The thick fabric makes it feel warm on hot, humid summer days, and cupholders are too narrow for big containers. But, this model still takes our top spot. For a very reasonable price, the King Kong is comfy, practical, and easy to use – and a staple in our car camping kits.

Comfort

The King Kong is comfortable to lounge in for hours at a time. Tester Ian Krammer loves the quilted polyester seat – it’s cushioned and insulated, perfect for cooler summer nights and shoulder seasons. It’s also the chair we reach for to block the wind and stay just a bit warmer around the fire. We find the seat is fairly firm and doesn’t sag over time, and has plenty of lumbar and back support, but it’s cushy enough for hours of lounging at camp. The armrests adjust up and down for a customizable experience no matter how tall or short you are.

The King Kong is aptly named – it’s so large that it works for every body type. The seat measures 2+ feet wide and 2+ feet deep and 19-inches tall, making it comfortable for most people to sit and stand up. This huge size also means lots of lounging options – Ian often sits cross-legged, slouched, and sideways.

But, the King Kong isn’t the most breathable chair. On summer nights in the Utah deser, nights stayed above 60°F, and Ian felt warm and clammy in the King Kong. Compared to camping chairs with mesh backs and thinner materials, it doesn’t offer much airflow or cooling effect when you’re already overheated. That said, breathability is a minor issue – the King Kong earns top marks in this metric as one of the comfiest chairs we’ve tested.

Durability

When it comes to durability, the King Kong leads the pack. Ian’s put this chair through the wringer from rough Utah desert car camping trips, to concerts in the park, to 9+ months in his backyard. So far, our nonstop testing finds the King Kong continues to perform aesthetically and functionally as well as the day we got it.

With a jaw-dropping 800-pound weight capacity, this chair can handle the toughest conditions. ALPS Mountaineering uses corrosion-resistant powder-coated steel for the frame, and reinforced joints offer long-term strength. We find the polyester fabric is stain and abrasion-resistant, and strong stitching keeps material from separating or breaking down. The King Kong’s components are also built to last, including reinforced cupholders, wide plastic feet, and strong pockets.

But all this strength makes the King Kong heavier and bulkier than most. It’s less portable than lighter chairs, which can make it a task to carry for longer distances. Also, the quilted fabric doesn’t have a UV Treatment, although we’ve only noticed minimal fading so far.

Also, the King Kong’s cushy fabric dries very slowly after wet weather. Ian left this chair outside during rainstorms and dewy nights and it soaked all the way through, and took 3 and 4 hours to dry. If there’s rain in the forecast, consider stashing the chair in your vehicle or tent vestibule before it gets wet.

Portability

This is the only area where the King Kong underwhelms – if you’re looking for a portable chair, it may miss the mark. At 13 pounds and 3+ feet long, this model’s one of the heavier and bulkier options we’ve tested. It’s a bit tricky to maneuver into tight spaces as a result. If you’re limited on trunk and storage space, the King Kong is a bit awkward. It’s also big enough that it can feel like overkill on shorter and more casual outings where a smaller, lighter chair may be a better choice. 

The other downside when it comes to portability? It’s carrying case. The bag is sturdy, but its narrow opening at one end makes packing the chair a bit of a struggle. We appreciate the case has two nylon straps for wearing like a backpack, so our hands were freed up to carry other things. But, it’s uncomfortable without padding on the straps, so we don’t recommend wearing it too long. 

Ease of Use

The King Kong is a classic one-step camping chair design that’s user–friendly and fast to deploy. It unfolds in ten seconds, with a sturdy frame that locks into place for a stable, comfy sitdown. The adjustable armrests are easy to fine-tune and it’s wide design accommodates all sorts of sitting positions. We also like that the King Kong is easy to get into and out of, mostly thanks to its tall seat height.

If you’re the kind of camper who doesn’t like getting up, the King Kong has all the pockets you could need. There’s one huge pocket on each armrest big enough for a tablet, phone, and snacks. There’s a wide, shallow mesh pocket on the back of the chair, behind the head, for storing bulkier items like gloves, a hat, or even a jacket. Two cupholders fit most mugs and bottles. This model has all the storage we need for several hours around the fire.

But, it’s not perfect. The armrest cup holders are average, and not big enough for large bottles or mugs like a Nalgene. Also, the storage pockets are convenient, but need a divider to keep smaller items from shifting around. However, these aren’t dealbreakers – when it comes to a user-friendly chair, the King Kong is tough to beat.

Should You Buy The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong?

The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong is a great choice if you want a durable, comfy, and strong camping chair. With an 800-pound weight limit, tall height, and wide, quilted polyester seat, it’s super durable and accommodates all body types. The adjustable armrests and thick, insulated fabric are comfy for hours of lounging. Car campers, hunters, and fishers will love the multiple storage pockets. The King Kong’s powder-coated steel frame and reinforced joints make it reliable for years of rough use in any conditions. This model is near the top of our camping chairs list because it punches way above its class in most metrics, but without the high price tag.

However, the King Kong isn’t the most lightweight or portable. It’s a bit cumbersome to carry over distances, and is often overkill for shorter trips. It takes up a meaningful amount of trunk and storage space, too. The quilted fabric is not very breathable and can feel warm in hot weather, so it’s not the best for sunny, sweaty summer outings. Additionally, the armrest cup holders, won’t fit your big coffee cups or water bottles. Still, though, this chair is one of our favorites for year round camping, barbecues, concerts in the park, and more – and we’re confident you’ll feel the same.

What Other Camping Chairs Should You Consider?

Did the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong catch your eye? See how this chair compares to our other top picks on our list of the best camping chairs. And don’t overlook these excellent alternatives:

YETI Trailhead Review: The YETI Trailhead is also super durable and boasts a very high weight limit. It’s a more breathable, premium option that’s not only comfier, but also much easier to carry. The downside is it’s heavier, bulkier, and even more expensive.

Kijaro Dual Lock Review: The Kijaro Dual Lock shares the King Kong’s tall seat height, user-friendly setup, and very reasonable price point. It’s also lighter and more supportive, although not as durable or comfortable.

REI Campwell Chair Review: The REI Campwell Chair is a lighter, more traditional camping chair, but it’s similarly affordable and easy to set up. When you need a simple, affordable option without the weight or bulk, this one is a good choice.