Camping Seats and Sit Pads

Camping Seats and Sit Pads Buying Guide

A compact seat can make outdoor breaks more comfortable without adding the bulk of a full camping chair. This range is best suited to hikers, trampers, anglers, picnic users, and anyone who wants a cleaner, drier place to sit outdoors.

Which camping seat is best for your use?

Choose a foldable stool if you want to sit above the ground. This is the better option for fishing, sports sidelines, picnics, garden use, or camp areas where you may sit for longer. The foldable stool gives more height than a foam pad and includes a shoulder strap for carrying.

Choose a folding XPE foam seat pad if pack space and low weight matter most. These pads suit hiking, tramping, lunch stops, wet grass, cold ground, logs, rocks, and short camp breaks. They fold small, resist moisture, and help keep trousers cleaner.

Choose the small folding seat cushion if you want the lightest and most compact option. At around 30 g, it suits day walks, beach trips, parks, picnics, and emergency backup seating in a small pack.

Foam sit pad or foldable stool?

• For hiking and tramping: a foam sit pad is usually the easiest item to carry.
• For fishing: the foldable stool gives better seated height during longer sessions.
• For wet ground: XPE foam pads give a simple waterproof barrier.
• For cold ground: a textured foam pad adds light insulation during rest stops.
• For limited storage: folding pads pack flatter than a stool.

What size should you choose?

The larger folding foam seat pads suit most outdoor sitting needs because they give more coverage under your body. Smaller folding cushions save more space and weight, although they give less coverage. A foldable stool takes up more room, but it gives a more chair-like sitting position.

Best uses in New Zealand conditions

For damp tracks, frosty mornings, beach sand, grassy picnic areas, riverbanks, and campsite cooking areas, a seat pad helps keep clothing dry and cleaner. For fishing spots, roadside breaks, sports days, or car camping, a foldable stool is often more comfortable over longer periods.