Kijaro Dual Lock Review
The Kijaro Dual Lock ($55) stands out from other folding camp chairs thanks to its clever locking mechanism, which clicks securely into place for extra security—great for uneven ground or campsites that kids and dogs might be romping through. Its roomy seat, slight recline, and functional storage all add comfort and utility, especially at this price. But it’s not without compromise: The cupholders and seat material feel fragile, and the narrow feet struggle in soft terrain.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Weight
9 lb. 8 oz.
Dimensions (W/D/H)
35.5 x 26 x 37 in.
Seat Height
20 in.
Weight Capacity
300 lb.
Pros
Cons
Kijaro Dual Lock
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Camping Chairs.
The Kijaro Dual Lock hits a nice middle ground between upright support and casual lounging. I appreciated the slight recline while I was gazing at the clouds, and didn’t find it too slouched when I needed to sit up and read. The seat has a firm feel overall—it’s much more structured than a light, packable model like the Helinox Chair One (re), but not stiff like a hard bench. I didn’t experience any hot spots or feel awkward seams, and the fixed armrests were supportive without sagging.
I’m 5-foot-10, and I found that the Kijaro Dual Lock’s 22-inch-wide seat gave me room to shift and spread out without bumping the frame, and the 23-inch-tall back supported just above my shoulders. The 20-inch seat height felt okay for me—I could plant the balls of my feet, but my heels hovered slightly. (Shorter campers may not touch the ground at all.) Compared to the Kelty Lowdown, this chair felt more supportive and allowed more freedom of movement. And while the Alps Mountaineering King Kong has better padding, I preferred the Dual Lock’s back angle and more breathable mesh.
A stable build is the Dual Lock’s claim to fame, thanks to its clever locking mechanism and A-frame design. This chair has a lock under its left armrest that you engage while either setting it up or packing it away; it allows the frame to remain fully expanded (eliminating slack) while you sit, as well as provides an insurance policy if the chair gets bumped hard. The lock also makes storage easy, as it keeps the chair fully folded up and makes it easier to stuff into its carry bag. (If you don’t feel like packing it away, there’s a shoulder strap attached directly to the frame for hands-free transportation.) I found that the design kept the Dual Lock from collapsing unexpectedly, a reassuring thought when I shifted hard or leaned back to crack my back.
That said, the narrow feet don’t play well with soft sand or loose dirt. At Point Mugu State Park on the California coast, I noticed the legs sinking slightly into soft dirt, which made the chair feel less stable than the King Kong or the double-wide Kelty Low Loveseat. Both of those camping chairs have wider frames and sit lower to the ground, giving them a more stable base by design. Compared to the Chair One (re), though, the Dual Lock felt far more secure and less prone to swaying.
The Dual Lock held up well in testing, but its materials didn’t inspire much long-term confidence. Its ripstop polyester seat and backpanel look solid on paper, but felt thin in hand, and I had to be careful with the mesh cupholders, which seemed especially delicate. I didn’t have issues during testing, but I still worried I might tear something if I got careless.
By contrast, the King Kong and the Low Loveseat both use heavy-duty, 600-denier polyester and have sturdier frames, making them more reassuring for heavy use. Even the Chair One (re), despite its smaller footprint, feels more premium and better constructed. That said, the Dual Lock’s frame felt strong, its locking system worked smoothly, and nothing failed during use at the beach, on my balcony, or during a weekend at the beach. It’s more durable than bargain chairs from Amazon or Coleman, but it doesn’t reach the level of higher-end models.
Opening and closing the Kijaro Dual Lock involves one extra step compared to classic foldable camp chairs, but it’s still a fast and intuitive process. You press a tab under the armrest to unlock it, push the arms down until the lock clicks, and it’s ready to sit. Packing it up was just as easy; just do everything in reverse. The lock adds a few seconds but gives me peace of mind that the chair will stay shut, especially when I throw it in the car or stash it in the garage.
I liked that the chair is compact when folded, which made sliding it into the carry sack much easier than the floppier King Kong. The shoulder strap on the bag is basic, but the integrated strap on the chair itself is perfect for quick moves across a park or between tailgate spots. Compared to the more complex assembly of the Chair One (re) and rocking models like the Nemo Stargaze, this seat is blissfully simple.
At 9.5 pounds and 35.5 inches long, the Dual Lock is on the heavy and bulky side for a single folding chair. It’s longer than anything else I tested, which made it a tight fit in my Subaru Crosstrek if I didn’t fold the seats down. Still, it’s manageable for car camping, and I appreciated that it didn’t fight me during packing like some camping chairs that want to pop open when you least expect it.
This isn’t the chair I’d bring to a festival with a long walk from the car, but it’s fine for decks, backyards, and drive-in campgrounds. It’s not quite as compact as the REI Co-op Campwell or lighter Helinox models, but it’s easier to manage than the 15-pound Low Loveseat or even the King Kong. The carry case does the job, and the locking frame makes transport a little smoother than most.
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Longevity
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Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
Amrests, Cupholders, & Pockets
The Dual Lock has a fairly generous feature set for a budget chair. There’s a cupholder on each armrest (they’re standard-sized, so don’t expect them to fit your wide Hydro Flask), and a hanging side organizer with two mesh sleeves and a zippered pocket behind them. I was able to stash my phone, wallet, and a paperback there, and appreciated the added storage, especially since many chairs at this price don’t offer anything like it.
Locking Mechanism
This chair’s star feature, of course, is the locking mechanism under the left armrest. It’s easy to use, keeps the chair rigid when open, and prevents flopping when closed. It doesn’t transform the experience entirely, but it adds polish and makes the chair easier to transport and more reassuring to sit in.
REI Co-op Campwell Chair ($60): Budget-Friendly, but Sans Lock
For another affordable camp chair with a slight recline, look to the Campwell. It features a high backrest, as well as a more manageable 15-inch seat height and wider feet that make it more stable on soft surfaces. Still, like the Dual Lock, we had some concerns about its construction—namely, its creaky joints and a mesh-heavy body that’s prone to stretching. The Campwell also lacks a locking mechanism, but in turn is easier to open and close. In addition, it’s over a pound lighter, yet it maintains the same 300-pound weight capacity, and it trades the Dual Lock’s hanging panel for a less versatile cinchable pocket. Overall, these chairs share more similarities than differences, but the Dual Lock’s security, fuller feature set, and $5 price advantage make it our pick. For more, read our review of the Campwell Chair.
GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker ($85): More Recline, Plus Rocking
If you like the Dual Lock’s reclined silhouette but want extra comfort, the Kickback Rocker adds a spring-action rocking mechanism for an even more relaxing vibe. You won’t have to worry about a wobbly base, either: Its horizontal ground bars and support struts keep you steady on all kinds of terrain, including soft sand, in which the Dual Lock tends to sink. That said, the Kickback is over a pound heavier, supports 50 pounds less weight, and has one fewer cupholder and a smaller hanging pocket. And while the Kickback can rock, the Dual Lock is the only chair that will stay secure when fully folded or open (though the Kickback includes a closure strap to keep it secure when packed). Still, for just $30 more, the Kickback gives you a fully capable rocking chair, which makes it a smarter investment for those prioritizing comfort. For more, read our Kickback Rocker review.
You may not have thought you needed extra security in your camp chair setup, but the Dual Lock is here to provide it anyway. Its frame locks into place to hold it either open or closed, and while we would prefer a bit more structural integrity, its feel and features make for a comfy seat.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Like many REI-branded products, don’t expect the Campwell to blow you away with its top-of-the-line build or fancy features. However, we came away impressed with how comfortable, stable, and easy it is to use, especially given its accessible price point.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
What’s even more impressive than the Kickback’s smooth and easy rocking motion is how affordable this chair is. We have some misgivings about its seat, but it’s a quality chair that you can relax in for hours—provided you don’t have to carry it very far.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Is the Kijaro Dual Lock for You?
If you’re building your camping kit while sticking to a budget and want a chair that gives you more than just the basics, the Kijaro Dual Lock deserves your attention. It’s wide, reasonably stable, and wonderfully secure (both open and closed), and it has great organization for its price. While short users may find the high seat awkward, and premium comfort-seekers will want to look elsewhere, it’s a great pick for car campers, sideline supporters, or anyone who wants an affordable upgrade from flimsy folding chairs.
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