Kijaro Dual Lock Folding Chair Review

The Kijaro Dual Lock chair is a tall and supportive chair with a slight recline built-in. It has a locking mechanism that engages when it's pulled open or can be disengaged for packing up. It comes with a carry bag but also features a shoulder strap on the back of the chair. The Dual Lock also has two different-sized cup holders and a small side pocket for your phone and keys. Great features and slouch-free support at an affordable price make this chair one of our favorites.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Comfort is subjective, and what you're looking for out of a chair might be different from the next person. Our testers are divided about the comfort of the slouchy traditional models vs. the more firm, supportive models — this chair is definitely a great example of the latter. The Kijaro is positioned in a mostly upright but reasonably relaxed position that works well for closing your eyes and napping or relaxing and reading a book. While some of our testers didn't really like the less-forgiving feel of this chair, others appreciated the extra support. Overall, the taller seat height, spacious width, and supportive fabric armrests provide comfortable seating for a variety of body types.

In addition to excellent support, the Kijaro also has a ventilated back mesh panel. This feature makes long lounge sessions in the sun much more comfortable and breezy. However, there's no mesh panel to dry your bum, which is kind of a bummer (pun intended). And though you can physically force the armrests up or down, the slant of the back poles prevents them from resting at any spot other than all the way down to the joint, providing mostly flat, horizontal armrests.

Portability

One of our favorite features of the Kijaro is its shoulder strap attached to the back poles of the chair. This adjustable strap, unique among the models we tested, makes it easy to grab this chair and go without the added and sometimes annoying step of stuffing it into a narrow carry bag. The dual locking mechanism also holds the chair closed while you move, further negating the need for a bag. And finally, the average weight helps make it less of a burden to carry.

If you do decide to stuff this chair into its carry bag, it also comes with an adjustable strap. Our biggest complaint about the portability of this chair is how incredibly long it is. Measuring 45 inches when packed up, it's one of the longest chairs in our review, much longer than an average camping chair because of its unique pole setup. The pole that reaches the top of the back of the chair also extends all the way down to become the front leg. Folded up, the Kijaro is a very odd shape that's not conveniently packable in many car trunks and sometimes bumps into your surroundings as you carry it. Once you get used to it, though, it's really not so bad to cart around.

Quality

The seat of the Kijaro is constructed with 600 x 300D ripstop polyester and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. Throughout our testing period, we found no durability issues, nor signs of excess tension, within the taut construction of the seat and backrest. We noticed that instead of a large plastic joiner which is used to fasten most sports chair legs together, the Kijaro has several L-shaped brackets to connect the poles before reaching the actual feet that are narrow and plastic-coated. We didn't experience any issues with this odd setup but figured it was worth noting.

What sets this chair apart from the competition is the locking mechanism which holds the chair in place, thereby offering more lumbar support in an upright position. While we never experienced any issues with the locking mechanism failing, we could see how this would be a concern if you plan to use this chair extensively.

Ease of Use

Assembly is no problem with the Kijaro. The only challenge is finding the "lock/unlock" button that must be pressed before setting up the chair. Once you pull the legs of the chair apart and remember to push the button, the setup is complete. The overall assembly takes less than 5 seconds, barely longer than a non-locking chair. Each armrest has one mesh cup holder (one is slightly larger than the other), and there is one small zippered storage pouch located on the side of the chair and attached to the seat to keep a few essentials accessible. Unfortunately, the cup holders are a little small for many coffee mugs, but they do fit 12-ounce cans, and the larger one can hold a 20-ounce tumbler or a wide smartphone. The storage pouch is slim and has room for a small book, cell phone, keys, and a couple of snack bars.

When collapsing the Kijaro, the lock button must again be engaged to allow the chair to be folded up. Stuffing this long chair with unevenly folded feet back into its carry bag can also feel a bit like threading a giant awkward needle. And though the narrow feet don't collect sand like many others, they also don't hold the user on top of said sand very well. We found ourselves sinking a significant amount into any soft surface we tried to sit on and struggled more than usual to get a solid, level seat on loose sediment.

Should You Buy the Kijaro Dual Lock Folding Chair?

If you're sick of camping chairs that promote slouching and are on the hunt for a more supportive seat, the Kijaro is a solid choice for its comfort level, thanks to its long frame, high backrest, and easy setup. It's also easy to carry and works well for various outdoor activities.

What Other Camping Chairs Should You Consider?

The Kijaro Dual Lock is well-loved among folks who appreciate a supportive seat with solid clearance. If you're looking for another supportive option at a similar price, check out the GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro. If you're ready to invest in back support around the campfire for years to come, the Yeti Trailhead offers a more luxurious experience.