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Coleman Cooler Quad Review

This chair is cheap and offers a tiny attached cooler, but it's slouchy and rickety
coleman cooler quad camping chair review
Credit: Amazon
Price:  $35 List
Manufacturer:   Coleman
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 16, 2022
51
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#16 of 16
  • Comfort - 40% 4.0
  • Portability - 25% 6.0
  • Quality - 20% 3.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 9.0

Our Verdict

What makes this chair different from the ones sold at pretty much any sporting goods store in the summertime for less than half the cost? A little cooler in the armrest that holds four cans. And that's about it. It's not even our favorite model to feature a cooler in the armrest, nor is it the least expensive. The Coleman Cooler Quad is slouchy and uncomfortable, defeating the purpose of the taller "headrest" that does little for actually supporting your head. It's quite wobbly as well, giving us serious doubts about its durability. While it used to be alone in the crowd because of its cooler, it now has competition — and isn't winning.
REASONS TO BUY
Simple to use
Attached cooler storage
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Not vary durable
Difficult to fit in bag
Poles feel rickety
"headrest" difficult to use

Compare to Similar Products

 
coleman cooler quad camping chair review
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award 
Price Check Price at Amazon$120 List
$89.73 at REI
$50 List
$24.93 at REI
$70 List
$42.99 at Amazon
$45 List
Check Price at REI
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Pros Simple to use, attached cooler storage, inexpensiveFits just about anyone, comfortably padded seat, super robust, plenty of storage, simple to useComfortable, well-ventilated, stable, great storage, easy to use, good priceCarrying strap is built-in and easy to use, set-up is casual, exceptional support for your back, lightweightEasy to set up, tall angled back, supportive, high seat height, less expensive
Cons Not vary durable, difficult to fit in bag, poles feel rickety, "headrest" difficult to useFairly large and heavy, holds water, not breathableLow back height, slightly lower seat height, cup holder not ideal for thin beveragesFabric can get dirty easily, cup holders could be largerVery tall seat, limited pockets, no locking mechanism, long when packed
Bottom Line This chair is cheap and offers a tiny attached cooler, but it's slouchy and ricketyOur favorite among all contenders, this robust chair makes camp lounging a simple and comfortable affairIt's tough to complain about this versatile and portable chair, especially considering the priceTaking the slouch out of camping chairs, this highly supportive model is easy to get in and out ofA tall chair with a simple set up that's easy to use and less expensive to buy
Rating Categories Coleman Cooler Quad ALPS Mountaineering... REI Co-op Camp X Kijaro Dual Lock Fo... GCI Outdoor Comfort...
Comfort (40%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Portability (25%)
6.0
5.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Quality (20%)
3.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
Ease of Use (15%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
9.0
Specs Coleman Cooler Quad ALPS Mountaineering... REI Co-op Camp X Kijaro Dual Lock Fo... GCI Outdoor Comfort...
Weight 8.2 lbs 14.1 lbs 8.0 lbs 9.8 lbs 8.3 lbs
Weight Capacity 325 lbs 800 lbs 300 lbs 300 lbs 300 lbs
Folded Dimensions (length x width x height) 38" x 8" x 8" 39" x 8" x 8" 33" x 7" x 7" 45" x 7" x 7" 45" x 7" x 5"
Unfolded Dimensions (depth x width x height) 39" x 37" x 23" 24" x 37" x 38" 21" x 31" x 31" 25" x 35" x 37" 25" x 35" x 37"
Seat Height (middle) 14.0" 15" 11.5" 15" 15"
Features Built in 4-can cooler, side pocket, mesh cup holder, adjustable armrests 2 cup holders, 2 side pockets, storage pocket behind headrest, adjustable armrests 1 uniquely shaped cup holder, "stowable" armrest pouch, adjustable armrests 2 cup holders, side pocket, carrying strap Beverage holder, small sleeve pocket

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Coleman Cooler Quad is a fairly standard-sized folding sports chair. It comes with an over-the-shoulder carry bag and features a single cup holder, a side pocket, adjustable armrests, and a 4-can mini cooler.

Performance Comparison


coleman cooler quad camping chair review - good enough for an afternoon with grandpa.
Good enough for an afternoon with Grandpa.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Comfort


As far as comfort goes, this chair is a pretty average slouchy seat. It had some thickness, with at least a couple layers of fabric making up the body, but this doesn't help the integrity. The armrests are technically adjustable, though they are only attached through round discs, making it easy to accidentally push them down with your elbow during a routine readjustment. Coleman advertises this chair as having a headrest, which we think is a bit of a stretch. The back of the chair does go up behind where a head could theoretically be (based on height and posture). However, unless you hit the exact right position, the unsupported fabric does very little to hold your head up.

coleman cooler quad camping chair review - this "headrest" is suspiciously identical to the backrest...
This "headrest" is suspiciously identical to the backrest...
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Portability


The Cooler Quad is very average here too. It comes with a bag that has a shoulder strap to cart it around and weighs 8 pounds. The carry bag is rather thin, letting you feel whatever section of the chair rests upon your back or side. At least you probably won't be carrying it terribly far, and it's not awful over short stretches.

coleman cooler quad camping chair review - though adjustable, these armrests lack straps to keep them where you...
Though adjustable, these armrests lack straps to keep them where you want them to be.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Durability


We aren't particularly impressed by the durability of this chair either. Nothing broke during our testing, but we have some serious doubts about this chair's ability to last for years. The poles are quite thin, and despite having a steel frame, everything feels rather rickety. Ours also came with some sloppy seams, and the carry bag is very thin and fragile. Again, nothing broke on this chair during our few months of testing, but we are skeptical of its longevity.

coleman cooler quad camping chair review - fortunately, the chair seems to us more durable than the included...
Fortunately, the chair seems to us more durable than the included storage sack.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Ease of Use


By far, the best thing about this chair is how easy it is to set up — it just folds outwards like an accordion. The cooler is also easy to use, with a handy pull-on top that unzips both sides simultaneously. A small patch of velcro is all that's left between you and your cold beverages. However, this chair is tricky to fit back into its bag. The cooler in the armrest sticks out at an odd angle and resists being squeezed back into a sack that's barely large enough to hold it. Beyond the cooler, the Quad has a single mesh cup holder that's just barely wide enough to squeeze in an iPhone 8+ and a side seat pocket with one large pocket and two smaller mesh pockets to keep you organized.

coleman cooler quad camping chair review - though sometimes a handy feature to have, the armrest cooler makes...
Though sometimes a handy feature to have, the armrest cooler makes it tough to get the chair back into its carry bag.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Value


Though it's one of the least expensive chairs we tested, we're still not sure it's worth it. Lackluster performance and a cooler that's only moderately useful but surprisingly in the way make us feel like there are much better options out there, even if the chair and cooler have to be separate.

Conclusion


If you're after a novelty chair with an included cooler, you've found it. But if you want something comfortable enough to watch an all-day soccer tournament and durable enough to bring back every season, we don't think this one is a winner.

coleman cooler quad camping chair review - the overall profile of the coleman quad.
The overall profile of the Coleman Quad.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Maggie Nichols
 
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