Camping chairs with a side table
A chair with a side table or cup holder keeps a drink, a phone or a torch within reach and stops you balancing things on the ground. The convenience is real, and so is the extra weight and the extra thing to break.
The main layouts
Cup holder in the armrest: the simplest and the lightest, and good for a can or a bottle. Fold-out side table: a small tray that swings out from the arm or sits on a bracket. Table attached on a frame: a small shelf joined to the chair, sometimes between two chairs. Separate small table: not part of the chair, covered on the camping tables page.
What to check
Is the table big enough for a plate or only for a cup? Does it sit level on uneven ground? Does it wobble when you put a hot drink on it? Does it flip away when you stand? A hot drink on a tilting tray is the commonest accident, so check the lip and the lock.
Weight and pack size
A built-in table adds weight and can stop the chair folding flat. Check the packed size against the space you have. If you move your chair a lot, a lighter chair and a small separate table may be easier to carry.
When a separate table is better
If several people share one table, or if you need a surface for cooking, a separate folding table is more useful than a tray on each chair. Chairs with tables suit a person who sits alone and wants things at hand.
Left and right
Check which side the table or holder is on, and whether it can be swapped. A holder on the wrong side for your drinking hand is a small annoyance you will notice every time.