“I’ve been through the gambit of store-bought collapsible chairs to bring along on my canoe trips and none of them have really grabbed me, until I came up with this one. I ran across a photo of a two-piece chair similar to this in a book about ancient Vikings and was inspired to modernize it.

I played around with the shape and dimensions and came up with this comfy model. On a recent canoe trip with five seasoned campers, this wooden camping chair was by far the camp favorite. The two large holes at the ends provide a nice spot to hold the chair pieces while carrying.”

by David Radtke
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124 Responses to “Carry-Along Wooden Camping Chair”

    • Customer Service

      Hello Alejandro. Can you please give some more detail on what exactly you are looking for?
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      Sarah
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

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  1. SIMON

    Piles of grief with this design, looked so attractive but the wood selection for the outer rails is critical. There is a huge amount of shear force carried on these members. I had failure after failure until I finally used ash. Unfortunately the average weight of a modern day well fed male is edging up around 200 lbs which is about the design limit of the chair. I added some steel banding to cover where the slot is, a bit of overkill with the ash but frustration got to me in the end

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  2. SUSAN

    I’ve been looking for a good pattern for one of these chairs for years. Looking forward to making a couple for camping this Spring.

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    • Customer Service

      Hello Sue,

      Make sure you’re logged into your Premium paid membership in order to download the plans!
      Once you’re logged in, you’ll see at the top right, a red button that says “Download Plans”.

      Thank you!

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    • Customer Service

      Hello Peet!

      Make sure you’re logged into your Premium membership in order to download the plans!
      Once you’re logged in, you’ll see at the top right, a red button that says “Download Plans”.

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      Jessica
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

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    • Customer Service

      Hello Mick!

      To see the plans, please make sure you’re logged into your Premium membership! They are located at the top right where it says “Download Plans”.

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      Jessica
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

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  3. VIC

    OK, you said there were 6 plans. All I can find is ONE. How in the world to I find the other 5???

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    • Customer Service

      Hello Vic!

      Each video has it’s own plan once you click on the desired video.

      Thank you!

      Jessica
      Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

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  4. Shawna Mathison

    I think this looks great! I’m in Heritage Carpentry school but with COVID 19 going on; our classes have been cancelled and I’m really missing my Joinery class so I’m doing projects of my own at home! I think this will be perfect for my list and my partner and I will enjoy them here in Canada! Thanks for letting me be a member!

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    • Customer Service

      Hi Chris. I have signed you up for the Newsletter, Enjoy! Let us know if you have any questions.
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      Jean-Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

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  5. Pat McGuire

    Is it practical and/or feasible to build one with the seat not so low to the ground? Older people in my family have a problem getting up from chairs that are too low.

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    • Customer Service

      Hi Pat. You could raise the intersection of pieces to be a bit higher, but I would be careful as this could potentially make it tippy. Honestly, I would probably not suggest building this chair for an older person who might have challenges getting in and out of it. Probably worth using a more comfortable chair for them.
      Thanks
      Paul-Woodworkers Guild of America

      Reply
  6. Benjamin

    This looks great. I like the “carry hole ” idea. I think the next time I build some I am going to incorporate them in mine.,,thanks for sharing the idea. These are fun projects to make with/for kids; let them paint them as they will.

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  7. Michael

    Looks like a fun project would be a good one for my small shop (7×13) and my grandson would love it for our backyard fires.

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    • Customer Service

      Dear Rick,

      Thank you for contacting us. I show you are a Premium Member with us. You have access to all our Premium videos and content on our website when logged into your account. You also have additional Video Downloads located in your Downloads icon. Please login to your Premium Membership with your username and password you created to access your benefits.

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      Taylar
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  8. spanthegulf

    This is AWESOME! I raise dairy goats… I often need to sit with a doe during kidding, but unless I remove the chair every time I leave (which gets a bit tedious) both the goats and the dogs tend to nibble on the folding canvas chairs I have put in the “maternity ward”. I can’t tell you how many chairs we go thru each year! This plan is a game changer! When I’m not using it, I can simply hang it on a hook above eye level of the four-legged thrill seekers. Thanks for sharing this!!!

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  9. Mark Ragnar

    The angle of the chair looks nice for sitting. Many of the chairs that I have seen like this look more like an “X” and far too reclined to be comfortable. Would you have changed the setting angle after using it and setting in it for a while?

    Reply
  10. Thomas

    David S. has a problem with it being too low to the ground and bad knees. Has anyone tried making one with the seat higher off the ground? I would like to make one but I have bad knees also.

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    • Customer Service

      Hi Luis. I am sorry you are having trouble downloading the plans. In order to download the plans you will need to be logged in to your membership with your username and password. If you are still not able to view the bonus materials. Please try hard refreshing the page or using a different browser. If this does not work for you please give our customer service team a call at 1-855-253-0822 and they can assist you with viewing downloading the plans.
      Thanks
      Jean-WWGOA Video Membership

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  11. wall

    why do I need to provide all kinds of info which by the way was provided for the reciept of the newsletter to simply find out what ” the different typpes of memberships” apparently cost ? particularly after you imply that I can watch it without obligation. TURNS ME OFF to WGOA rather than endear me.

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    • Customer Service

      Hello Wall,

      Our weekly e-newsletter features free videos and articles from experts in woodworking. Check out the link below for our free videos. We do offer a premium membership for those who want access to our full library. Sorry if there was some confusion! Thanks!
      https://www.wwgoa.com/vtag/free/

      Thanks,
      Becky WWGOA Video Membership

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  12. David Streator

    This chair looks low to the ground. I have bad knees. If I sat in it I wouldn’t be able to get up.

    Reply
  13. Bob Buchanan

    Curiosity? This looks like a very good beginner project. What would be the estimated work time for this type of project? Also, I think some nice seat and back cushions made by my wife would mate up perfectly with this design. Thanks WWGOA!

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    • Customer Service

      Hi Bob. It depends completely on your skills and tool set, so it is impossible to speculate accurately how long it will take someone. It is a nice design and should move along reasonably well for a woodworker with basic to intermediate skills.
      Thanks
      Paul-WWGOA

      Reply
  14. Brian Connell

    Looking fofr a copy of the plans for the Carry-Along Wooden Camping Chair

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    • Customer Service

      Hello Brian,

      The plans are available through our site for Premium Members.

      We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first year membership.

      Thanks
      Becky WWGOA Video Membership

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      • keith elms

        Becky, I tried the link but no good:
        “The requested URL was not found on this server.”

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        • Customer Service

          Hello Keith!

          Thank you for your response. Please make sure you’re logged into your membership in order to view the content.

          Thank you!

          Jessica
          Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

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  15. Jerry

    I would really like to build this Carry-Along Wooden Camping Chair! This would be for my personal use. I am not experienced in wood working so this would be my 1st attempt.
    Regards,
    Jerry

    Reply
  16. Jeffrey

    I’m thinking about building them with a surfboard look. The seat back tapering to a point and the seat tapering slightly to represent a squash tail. May paint it to give a surfboard look.

    Reply
  17. Don Lichtenstein

    Looks good I’d like to try it. Because I don’t type my comet are usually short.

    Reply
    • WWGOA Team

      Unfortunately we do not currently have a plan for a drafting table, but it is a great suggestion and we will keep it in mind

      Reply
    • WWGOA Team

      Hi, Paul! This is a Premium video. Please make sure you’re logged in with your username and password so you may view the PDF attachment.

      Reply
    • Doug Milgram

      With all I’ve read here not sure I like your attitude. Think I will hold off joining.
      Take care,
      Doug

      Reply
  18. David Radtke

    I’ve had a guy who weighed about 275 pounds use one of the glue-up type chairs made from maple and the chair held up well. Another good wood to use would be white oak. I haven’t tested the chair to it’s breaking point, but it seems solid for most users.

    Reply
    • George Vondriska

      From David….. I’ve had a guy who weighed about 275 pounds use one of the glue-up type chairs made from maple and the chair held up well. Another good wood to use would be white oak. I haven’t tested the chair to it’s breaking point, but it seems solid for most users.

      Reply
  19. Rex

    I have been looking for ideas of some kind of seat that I can use at the Wolftrap Theater on the grass slope. They dont allow folding chairs and the angles of slope would’n’t allow it anyway. This is perfect and I can’t wait to get into the shop and build it. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  20. John Hoeing

    This is an excellent design! Any thought as to adding carrying straps to throw it on your back for easy toting whilst hiking? The simplicity is genius.

    Reply
  21. Guest

    James Groover. I’m sure the author has seen things that are done differently than he does but I think resorting to violence because of it would seem a bit unreasonable. Perhaps you’d like to share how YOU make Bog Chairs. I, for one, would love to see how YOU do it and perhaps, peacefully, learn a thing or two in the process.

    Reply
  22. James Groover

    I’m Appalled! i build Bog Chairs, the old fashioned way. Then I see this and it makes me want to throw a mallet at someone.

    Reply
    • Brad

      Hi James. I’m sure the author has seen things that are done differently than he does but I think resorting to violence because of it would seem a bit unreasonable. Perhaps you’d like to share how YOU make Bog Chairs. I, for one, would love to see how YOU do it and perhaps, peacefully, learn a thing or two in the process.

      Reply
    • Rick A McQuay

      You seem very angry about a chair. Looking at your comment history, you seem very angry about a lot of things.

      Reply
      • Andrew Braithwaite

        Nothing wrong with being angry. As long as it’s only words, it’s a great way of venting.

        Reply
  23. georgeadair

    We built a version of this for our scout troop years ago. I like the material used for this version, it looks much nicer and not as rough. I still use mine when I go hunting because it is flat when not in use and sits on the front of my quad until needed.

    Reply
    • Richard Downs

      Wondering what size of wood is being used for the wooden camping chair?and is it strong enough for adults

      Reply
      • Customer Service

        Dear Richard,

        Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-

        You’ll find everything you need, including materials specifications, in the plan. Yes, it’s definitely strong enough for an adult.

        We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first-year membership.
        https://go.wwgoa.com/c17608

        Paul
        Woodworkers Guild of America

        Reply