Coleman Big N Tall Camp Chair Review (Bought & Tested!)

Coleman Big N Tall Chair Review
You’ll find 11 different tests of the Coleman Big N Tall in this post.

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Quick Summary: If you’re looking for a spacious camping chair that offers a high weight capacity and excellent features at an affordable price, the Coleman Big N Tall Chair is one of the better picks out there.

Coleman Big N Tall V.S. the 20 Other Camp Chairs I Tested
7.5
Setup
8
Comfort
4
Breathability
8
Features
7.9
Quality
4
Weight
Overall Score 7.5 / 10

RELATED: The 21 Best Camping Chairs

Pros: Large seat size, high weight capacity, excellent features
Cons: Heavy and bulky, seat height sags slightly

I’ll link to my YouTube review here when it’s done (TBA)

Check out the Coleman Big N Tall:

1. Set Up

The entire setup is pretty straightforward. Here’s how:

  1. Undo the drawstring at the top of the chair, and release the cinch.
  2. Stand the carry bag up, and pull down on the bag to open it slightly.
  3. Grab opposite ends (backrest/armrest), pull them open, and lock the frame in place.

Setup time: ~11 seconds

The author is setting up the Coleman Big N Tall.
Pull the opposite ends of the chair

2. Pack Away

To pack away the chair, follow these steps:

  1. Grab 2 of the 4 corners (preferably opposite ends), and pull everything together into a bundle.
  2. Lay flat on the ground if not strong enough to lift it off the ground.
  3. Fit feet into the bag first, then fold the rest in.

Pack away time: ~44 seconds (including getting it back into the bag)

The author is packing the Coleman Big N Tall into the carry bag.
The top material is tight in the bag.

3. Unfolded Dimensions

As for the unfolded dimensions, here’s what I measured:

  • Width: 36in (91.5cm) from armrest to armrest
  • Length: 23.5in (59.7cm) from the back of the chair to the front of the seat
  • Height: 38in (96.2cm) from the ground to the top of the chair

4. Detailed Measurements

Now, if you want more detailed seat measurements, here is everything to know:

  • Total seat length: 23.75in (60.3cm)
  • Real seat length: 19.1in (48.5cm) 
  • Seat depth: 19.0in (48.3cm)
  • Front seat height: 18.6in (47.3cm)
  • Actual seat height: 15.2in (38.5cm)
  • Backrest height: 20in (50.8cm)
  • Recline angle: ~9 degrees
The author is sitting on the Coleman Big N Tall, showing the seat length.
The seat length at the front is actually less than the marketed specs after taking into account the two steel bars on the sides.
The author is sitting on the Coleman Big N Tall, showing the seat height.
The seat height sinks down by about 3.4in.
The backrest covers my entire back (I’m 5’3″), but not enough to give me a neck rest.

5. Armrests

One feature this chair has is armrests, and these are slightly padded:

  • Material: Same material as the rest of the chair
  • Adjustability: Not adjustable by design, but connections at the back can move (high angle doesn’t stay)
The armrest of the Coleman Big N Tall.
It’s not meant to be adjustable, but you can move it slightly.
It doesn’t stay at this high angle.
The author is sitting on the Coleman Big N Tall with the armrest connection positioned in the middle.
This is the stable position for the armrest connection.

6. Storage

As for storage options, this chair has several features:

Left Armrest

  • Cupholder: 3.9in (10cm) diameter, insulated, fits 1L Nalgene bottle or can
A regular can on the cup holder of the Coleman Big N tall.
There is an insulation layer inside the cupholder.
You can also fit a 1-liter Nalgene bottle here.

Right Armrest

Joined pockets with Velcro (undo to access)

  • Mesh Pocket7.75 x 4.5in (19.7 x 11.4cm) for sunnies/keys
  • Waterproof Phone Pocket6.75 x 3.5in (17.1 x 8.9cm), zippered, fits iPhone
The pockets of the Coleman Big N Tall.
It has a mesh pocket and a waterproof pocket that you can access by undoing the velcro.
Waterproof pocket of the Coleman Big N Tall.
You can put your phone in the waterproof pocket.
Mesh pocket of the Coleman Big N Tall.
The mesh pocket is a bit larger and you can put your sunnies here.

7. Drainage

Another cool feature this chair has is drainage:

  • Seat Drain: Small hole in the middle of the seat under the rubber Coleman logo (size of a hole punch
  • Cupholder Drain: Also has a small hole for liquid spillage
The drainage of the Coleman Big N Tall.
The drainage in the seat of the Coleman Big N Tall.
There is also another drainage in the cupholder.

The drainage helps to spill water, but it’s not 100% effective; some water remains.

8. Materials

As for materials, the build is sturdy with specific components:

  • Fabric: Polyester (thickly padded)
  • Poles: Steel (2.2cm / 0.87in thick), thicker than regular chairs
  • Rivets: Simple, typical of budget camping chairs, but held up well
  • Stitching: Loose threads found in several places (typical of Coleman gear), didn’t affect use
  • Origin: Made in China
Loose stitching on the Coleman Big N Tall.
Some loose threads in the fabric.
Loose stitching on the Coleman Big N Tall's drainage.
Also, loose threads in the drainage.

9. Stability

For stability, here’s what I noticed:

  • Feet: Definitely larger than most to prevent tipping
  • Structure: Typical X-pole structure throughout the entire chair
  • Stability Rating: Very stable due to heavy weight and wide feet

10. Portability

The carry bag has a shoulder strap (not padded, not adjustable) that works well enough:

  • Chair weight: 9.8lbs (4.4kg)
  • Bag weight: 0.2lbs (0.1kg)
  • Total weight: 10lbs (4.5kg)
  • Packed size: 38.1in x 8.3in x 7.3in (97cm x 21cm x 19cm)
The carry bag’s shoulder strap is non-adjustable.
The author is carrying the Coleman Big N Tall in the carry bag.
You can carry it on your shoulder.
Packed size comparison between the Coleman Big N Tall and the Coleman Sundome 2 Tent.
The packed size is about 60% longer than a 2-person Coleman Sundome tent.

11. Warranty

Coleman offers your typical 1-year warranty on this chair, which is standard for the brand but less comprehensive than lifetime options from other brands.

12. Pros & Cons

Now, what are the pros and cons, and would I recommend the Coleman Big N Tall?

The seat width may not be exactly 24in, as marketed, due to steel bars, but it is wider than most (19.1in usable).

Camp ChairSeat Width
(in)*
Seat Depth
(in)
Coleman Big N Tall19.119.0
Coleman Cooler Quad19.018.5
Coleman Broadband Mesh17.317.1
*This is the real seat width, after taking into account the steel bars by the side.

You can sit cross-legged with legs up on the chair.

Actual sit height is 15.2in, much higher than most camp chairs and almost as tall as a regular dining or office chair, great for getting out of low seats.

Camp ChairSeat Height
(in)
Coleman Big N Tall15.2
Coleman Cooler Quad13.5
Coleman Broadband Mesh11.0

The author is sitting on the Coleman Big N Tall.
It has a very generous seat height, coming in at slightly more than 15 inches.

Supports up to 600lbs. Thicker fabric and poles (0.87in) are not as prone to ripping or breaking compared to average chairs.

Camp ChairSeat Height
(in)
Seat Size
(in)
Coleman Big N Tall6000.87
Coleman Cooler Quad3250.63
Coleman Broadband Mesh2500.63

Includes adjustable armrest positions, storage pockets (mesh + waterproof phone), cupholder drain, seat drain, and padded armrests.

The price isn’t very high. It is more expensive than these other two Coleman chairs, but $70 is still a really good budget price for a good-quality camp chair.

Camp ChairMSRP* (USD)
Coleman Broadband Mesh$36
Coleman Cooler Quad$54
Coleman Big N Tall$70
MSRP = Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.
*All MSRP taken from the official Coleman website.

Packed size is large (38in) and heavy (10lbs total). Bigger seat, thicker poles, and fabric mean bulkier packing compared to budget options.

Camp ChairWeight
(lbs.)
Packed Volume (in3)
Coleman Big N Tall10.02,308
Coleman Cooler Quad8.21,444
Coleman Sundome 26.41,296
Coleman Broadband Mesh6.01,125

Overall Recommendation

The Coleman Big N Tall Chair is a great budget option for larger campers, offering a high weight capacity and great features at a relatively inexpensive price.

13. Bonus – MUST Read!

I know this because I tested the Coleman Big N Tall against 20 other camping chairs. Check out my Best Camping Chairs article to find out.

Or, check out the Coleman Big N Tall:

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