{"id":15393,"date":"2026-07-07T10:29:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=15393"},"modified":"2026-07-07T10:29:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:29:17","slug":"is-the-175-chair-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=15393","title":{"rendered":"Is the $175 Chair Worth It?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>After testing it for a year, it\u2019s worth every penny of its $175 price tag.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\"> (Photo: Outside Editors)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published July 7, 2026 04:17AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>I\u2019ve spent enough summers at the Jersey Shore to know that most beach chairs have a surprisingly short life expectancy. The fabric stretches out. The hinges get sticky. The frame rusts. And no matter how light and comfy it seems in the store, it\u2019s almost <i>always <\/i>a pain in the ass to carry to and from the beach.<\/p>\n<p>As a bona fide beach bum, I\u2019ve become irrationally picky about my seating arrangements. Maybe that\u2019s why my expectations were so low when I was offered the chance to test <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dicks-sporting-goods.ryvx.net\/c\/2850304\/315573\/4835?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickssportinggoods.com%2Fp%2Fshibumi-beach-chair-25lldushbmbchchrxrec%2F25lldushbmbchchrxrec\">Shibumi\u2019s beach chair<\/a> alongside the brand\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dicks-sporting-goods.ryvx.net\/c\/2850304\/315573\/4835?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickssportinggoods.com%2Fp%2Fshibumi-shade-classic-bundle-25lldushbmshdclssrec%2F25lldushbmshdclssrec\">famous wind-powered shade<\/a>. In fact, I almost passed. The last thing I wanted was another bulky chair cluttering my garage before inevitably joining the graveyard of rusted-out gear that accumulates after years of coastal living. Besides, how different could a beach chair really be?<\/p>\n<p>Turns out, quite different. After a year of testing, I am now a Shibumi chair evangelist.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><\/p>\n<section id=\"\" class=\"content-card rounded-xl px-base-loose pt-base-loose pb-loose shadow-sm shadow-black\/10\">\n<h2><strong>Shibumi Chair<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2746215\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Most Comfortable Beach Chair: Shibumi Chair\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1351\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2746215\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Shibumi_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Shibumi_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\">(Photo: Courtesy Shibumi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Pros<\/b><br \/>+ Exceptionally comfortable suspended seat design<br \/>+ Four recline positions that adjust smoothly<br \/>+ Lightweight with comfortable padded backpack straps<br \/>+ Durable construction that holds up to salt and sand<br \/>+ Thoughtful extras, including a phone sleeve and cup holder<\/p>\n<p><b>Cons<\/b><br \/>\u2013 Expensive compared to most beach chairs<br \/>\u2013 Seat height (12\u201d) may feel low for some users<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Who It\u2019s For<\/i><\/b><i>: Frequent beachgoers willing to pay more for comfort, durability, and thoughtful design.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><\/section>\n<h2><strong>A Backpack Chair You\u2019ll Actually Want to Carry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The first thing that surprised me about the Shibumi Chair was how easy it is to carry. At eight pounds, it\u2019s certainly not the lightest beach chair on the market (that distinction goes to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/backcountry.tnu8.net\/c\/2850304\/358742\/5311?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.backcountry.com%2Fhelinox-beach-chair-re\">Helinox\u2019s beach chair<\/a>, which weighs just over 3.5 pounds when assembled but doesn\u2019t have the reclining prowess of other popular models). That said, it <i>feels<\/i> noticeably lighter thanks to the padded neoprene backpack straps. Unlike the stiff webbing straps found on most other chairs I\u2019ve tested, these stretch and move with your shoulders instead of digging into them. And since they\u2019re adjustable, they don\u2019t awkwardly pull in the frame too close to your body like other backpack chairs do, so you can walk without feeling like you\u2019re strapped down.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s just to-and-from the shoreline\u2014the Shibumi Chair is incredibly comfortable when you get settled in the sand, too.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2746710\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Shibumi folding beach chair at the lake with tester sitting on the recliner\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1350\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2746710\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-3_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-3_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\">The Shibumi Chair features a suspended mesh seat for max breathability and comfort. (Photo: Francesca Krempa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Smooth Reclining That Stands Up Salt, Sand, and More<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dicks-sporting-goods.ryvx.net\/c\/2850304\/315573\/4835?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickssportinggoods.com%2Fp%2Fshibumi-beach-chair-25lldushbmbchchrxrec%2F25lldushbmbchchrxrec\">Shibumi Chair\u2019s<\/a> star feature is its suspended mesh seat design, which promises support without the pressure points. As someone with chronic back pain from scoliosis, I was skeptical. Most beach chairs eventually reveal some unforgiving support bar pressing into your lower back or shoulder blades, but the Shibumi somehow avoids that entirely. Whether I\u2019m reading, watching the waves, or spending hours chatting with friends, I never find myself constantly shifting positions trying to get comfortable. I can spend an entire afternoon in it without my back complaining\u2014a rarity for me.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2746709\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Folded up Shibumi beach chair leaning against a tree for easy transport\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1350\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2746709\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-2_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-2_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\">The Shibumi beach chair folds and includes backpack straps for transporting to and from the beach or park. (Photo: Francesca Krempa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The four recline positions deserve credit, too. Plenty of beach chairs offer multiple settings, but after a season or two, the mechanisms inevitably become sticky or difficult to adjust. That\u2019s not the case here. Despite spending much of the past year outdoors at the Jersey Shore, my chair\u2019s recline settings still move as smoothly as they did on day one. No rust. No sticking. No lopsided settings. Frankly, it\u2019s a miracle.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2746707\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Back view of Shibumi beach chair with mesh back\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1350\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2746707\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-5_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-5_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\">Shibumi beach chair reclines into four positions between a relaxed position or sitting up straight. (Photo: Francesca Krempa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Low to the Ground, High in Price<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some caveats: At 12 inches off the ground, I assumed getting in and out of the chair would be awkward (I\u2019m 5-foot-9, so that\u2019s <i>down there<\/i>). But I\u2019ve found it to be perfectly comfortable. It sits low enough to feel like a proper seat without requiring a deep squat every time you stand up. That said, taller beachgoers or anyone with mobility concerns may want to look into <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0FW17WXKK?tag=outsideonlinedotcom-20\">Shibumi\u2019s Tall Chair version<\/a>, which stands 17 inches off the ground.<\/p>\n<p>And then there\u2019s the price. At $175, the chair costs <i>significantly<\/i> more than most beach chairs. For occasional beachgoers who only make a few trips to the shore each summer, that number is steep. But after more than a year of testing, I think the value becomes much clearer for beach bums like me. Rather than replacing a cheaper chair every few seasons, you\u2019re buying something that\u2019s designed to last (and not tick you off when you\u2019re trying to pack up for the day.)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2746711\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Close-up view of pocket of Shibumi beach chair that holds phone, keys and more\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1350\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2746711\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-4_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-4_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\">A side pocket fits a cell phone, keys, and other items you need to store on the beach. (Photo: Francesca Krempa )<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>So, Should You Actually Buy the Shibumi Chair?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Would I spend $175 of my own money on a beach chair? Before testing the Shibumi Chair, absolutely not. But after a year of using it, carrying it, and sitting in it through countless beach days, the answer is yes. It has survived conditions that have destroyed other chairs I\u2019ve owned, and I genuinely love using it. In fact, my mom\u2014who notoriously complains about every beach chair being \u201cimpossible\u201d to close and makes my siblings and I do it for her when we pack up for the day\u2014and I fight over who gets to use it when we go to the beach together. That\u2019s about the highest praise a chair can get.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2746708\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1350\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2746708\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-1_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Shibumi-1_h.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\">The Shibumi chair is easy to transport thanks to backpack straps built into the frame. (Photo: Francesca Krempa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- --><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/water-sports-gear\/shibumi-beach-chair-review\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After testing it for a year, it\u2019s worth every penny of its $175 price tag. (Photo: Outside Editors) Published July 7, 2026 04:17AM I\u2019ve spent enough summers at the Jersey Shore to know that most beach chairs have a surprisingly short life expectancy. The fabric stretches out. The hinges get sticky. The frame rusts. And<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}