Folding camping chairs
A folding camping chair is the standard answer for most campers: it sits properly, folds flat and goes in a bag. The fold style decides how it packs, how stable it is and how long the fabric lasts.
Common fold styles
Quad fold: the frame folds in on all four sides into a slim bundle. It is the usual shape for sale as a camping chair, packs neatly and is simple to open. Director's chair: an X-frame with a canvas or fabric seat and back, usually with arms. It is stable and wide and packs flat but not small. Roll-up or slatted: some chairs roll up from a slatted base and have a very different pack shape. Tripod and three-leg stools: compact, covered on the stool page.
Where folding chairs wear out
The weak points are the joints that move every time you fold the chair and the places where fabric is stitched to the frame. Open and close a chair a few times at home: the movement should be smooth and there should be no sharp edges at pinch points. Keep fingers clear of the hinges while it closes.
Stability on rough ground
A wide stance with feet that do not sink is better on soft ground. Small feet can sink into sand and grass; some chairs have larger foot pads, and you can add flat feet to a chair that lacks them. If you often sit on a slope or by a river, stability matters more than packing size.
Pack size and carry
A bag with a shoulder strap makes a chair easy to carry from the car to the site. Check that it folds back into the bag without a fight: a chair that is a struggle to repack tends to stay out, and a chair left out is exposed to sun and rain.
Care
Let a wet chair dry fully before you pack it, wipe off sand and mud, and store it indoors. Ultraviolet light weakens fabric over time, so a chair that lives in the sun will not last as long as one that is folded away.