GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker Review (Bought & Tested!)
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Summary: If you’re looking for an easy-to-use rocker with decent lumbar support at a reasonable price point, the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker is a good pick. Is it the best GCI rocking chair though? No.
RELATED: The 21 Best Camping Chairs
I’ll link to my YouTube review here when it’s done (TBA)
Check out the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker:
1. Set Up
To set up this chair, follow these steps:
- Grab the yellow tab on the closure strap and release it from the loop on the chair.
- Stand the chair up on its feet.
- Locate the four corners of the chair (two armrests, two backrests).
- Grab opposite ends (one armrest, one backrest), pull it open until taut, and lock the frame in place.
Setup time: ~4 seconds
2. Pack Away
To pack away the chair, follow these steps:
- Grab two of the four corners (preferably opposite ends) and lift them off the ground.
- Pull everything together and lay the chair on the ground horizontally.
- Compress it down slightly to reduce bulk.
- Grab the yellow tab on the closure strap again, and slide the loop back over the peg to secure.
Pack away time: ~5 seconds (including securing the strap)
3. Unfolded Dimensions
As for the unfolded dimensions, here’s what I measured:
- Width: 32.5in (82.6cm) from armrest to armrest
- Length: 24.5in (62.2cm) from back of chair to front of seat
- Height: 32.5in (82.6cm) from ground to top of chair
4. Detailed Measurements
Now, if you want more detailed seat measurements, here is everything to know. The bucket-style shape affects how you sit in terms of height and depth.
- Total seat length: 20.9in (53.0cm)
- Real seat length: 17.75in (45.1cm)
- Seat depth: 16.25in (41.3cm)
- Front seat height: 18in (45.7cm)
- Actual seat height: 11.2in (28.5cm)
- Backrest height: 22.5in (57.2cm)
- Backrest width: 21.75in (55.2cm)
- Recline angle: 17 degrees
5. Storage
As for storage options, this chair has specific pockets:
- Right Armrest: Cupholder (3.2in diameter). Fits cans, bottles, and thinner thermoses, but does not fit a 1-liter Nalgene bottle.
- Left Armrest: Phone pocket (4 x 4in). Not big enough for much else, fits a phone perfectly.
6. Armrests
One feature this chair has is armrests, which offer basic comfort:
- Material: Same material as the rest of the chair (non-padded).
- Adjustability: Non-adjustable; connections at the back don’t budge.
- Comfort: Comfortable enough with no issues despite being non-padded.
7. Rocking Function
This chair features a spring-loaded rocking function with pistons at the back:
- Mechanism: The metal tube goes into the piston when sitting back, pushes out when rocking forward (spring-loaded).
- Stability: Doubles as a normal camp chair using two front legs; stable without tipping due to wide piston feet at the back.
You can only use the rocking function when your feet are on the ground. Cannot cross legs and keep rocking like a traditional rocker.
8. Materials & Quality
As for materials, the build quality is generally solid:
- Fabric: Ripstop polyester (no denier rating specified), feels relatively strong.
- Frame: Powder-coated steel with simple rivets.
- Pole Thickness: Front poles 0.71in thick; Back poles near spring mechanism 0.83–0.99in.
9. Portability
As for portability, the chair has a built-in carry strap attached directly to the frame:
- Chair Weight: 10.4lbs (4.7kg)
- Packed Size: 39.25 x 7.5 x 6.5in (100cm x 19cm x 17cm).
10. Warranty
GCI Outdoor provides your typical warranty coverage on this chair:
- Warranty Type: Lifetime warranty
- Coverage: Covers manufacturing defects and frame integrity over time (better than standard 1-year warranties).
11. Pros & Cons
Now, what are the pros and cons, and would I recommend the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker Chair?
Pro #1 – Easy Setup and Pack Away
I found setup and pack away to be super easy, coming in at just 4–5 seconds. This is because there was no annoying carry bag to grapple with compared to chairs like the GCI Pod Rocker, which takes 23+ seconds.
Pro #2 – Better Lumbar Support Than Most Chairs
The Kickback Rocker had a decently taut seat, giving you better lumbar support than most chairs. The seat slouch is 3.3 inches, whereas some other chairs can sag as badly as 5–7 inches (e.g., REI Camp Dreamer).
Pro #3 – Good Rocking Function
The rocking function is pretty ingenious with the piston-like spring-loaded mechanism at the back. It rocks smoothly, though only half-range motion, since the front legs stop at full range.
Pro #4 – Regular Chair Use
It doubles as a normal camp chair without any rocking by sitting near the front, which lifts the back slightly. Stability is good, and I never felt like tipping over.
Pro #5 – Inexpensive
The price isn’t high; it’s in the same price range as some Coleman chairs, so definitely not expensive.
Pro #6 – Lifetime Warranty
And it comes with a lifetime warranty, too.
Con #1 – Seat Sits Much Lower Than Marketed
The actual seat height of 11.2 inches sits a lot lower than the marketed height of 17 inches. If you have trouble getting out of low seats, this isn’t ideal compared to chairs like the Coleman Big N Tall.
Overall Recommendation
This Kickback Rocker is overall, a great chair. But because its seat height is much lower than I expected, it’s not the best rocking chair GCI Outdoor has to offer.
12. Bonus – MUST Read!
I know this because I tested the GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker against 20 other camping chairs. Check out my Best Camping Chairs article to find out.
Or, check out the Kickback Rocker:
