Zero Gravity Chair

What makes a zero gravity chair different

A regular reclining camp chair drops only the backrest. The seat stays put, your feet stay on the ground, and you end up lying back with your legs hanging.

A zero gravity chair moves the seat, back and leg rest together. The fabric hangs in one long sling from a pair of side frames. When you lean back, the whole sling pivots and the leg end comes up with it. A lock on the side frame holds it there.

That's the trick. It isn't a fancier backrest. It's a different geometry, and it's why the chair looks like a lawn chaise that folds in half.

The table on this page lists chairs their maker or listing describes as zero gravity recliners. Its columns are the frame, the stated rating, what the chair weighs, how high and wide the seat is, back height and folded size, plus recline positions and cup holders when the maker or the listing states them (values from the listing are marked; weight is the maker's alone). Many makers describe the recline as lockable at any angle instead of giving a count, so that column often shows a dash. A dash means neither the maker nor the listing states it, not zero.

Where the zero gravity name comes from

NASA studied how the human body settles when gravity stops pushing on it. Its first look came from photos of crew relaxing aboard Skylab, America's first space station. The body fell into a consistent shape: joints partly bent, arms floating up, nothing held straight.

NASA calls this the neutral body posture. A 2013 NASA Spinoff article shows the posture built from measurements of 12 people aboard Skylab. In that drawing, the angle between trunk and thighs is 128 degrees, give or take 7, and the knee is bent to 133 degrees, give or take 8. A later Space Shuttle study found there's a range of neutral postures from person to person, not one exact pose.

NASA used the work to design workstations and tools for spacecraft. Its own image article says the study has informed seat designs from airplanes to office chairs, and the Spinoff article covers a carmaker that used it as a benchmark for a driver's seat.

The folding chair on your porch borrows the name and the general shape. It's a steel recliner with bungee cords, not flight hardware. (I've sat in one plenty. I have not achieved orbit.)

What to look at in a zero gravity chair

These are the specs that separate one zero gravity chair from the next, in the order I'd check them.

Make sure the lock holds anywhere you stop

The lock is the heart of the chair. One maker describes a dual fingertip locking system: you lean back to the angle you want and lock it, and it holds at any point instead of at fixed notches. That's why many listings give no position count.

Here's what to look for on the spec sheet and in the photos:

• A lock on both sides: the maker above calls its system dual for a reason; check you get two
• A lock you can reach seated: near the armrest, not under the seat
• A smooth recline: the chair should move with your weight, not in jerks

Lock both sides every time before you settle in. A zero gravity chair that's only locked on one side is a recliner with a mind of its own.

Read the weight rating on the spec sheet, not the headline

Here the rating covers the frame, the pivots and the bungee suspension all at once. Read it in the specifications block and compare it with the headline.

Here's why. One maker's standard zero gravity chair lists 300 lb in both places. The same maker's oversized version lists 350 lb in its specifications, while that page's description still says it supports up to 300 lb. Both are on the maker's own page. When two numbers disagree, plan around the lower one.

Give yourself a margin as well. The camp chair guide I keep coming back to wants 50 to 100 lb between your weight and the tag, since the tag assumes nobody is flopping in or leaning.

Check seat height before you check padding

Zero gravity chairs sit low. One maker lists seat-to-floor height at 14.5 inches on both its standard and oversized chairs. That's the bottom of the usual range; one chair maker's guide treats anything from 14 to 17 inches as a low lounging seat.

Low is comfortable going down and work coming up. A 1996 Clinical Biomechanics study of standing up from progressively lower seats found people had to swing their upper body forward faster as the seat dropped. With a zero gravity chair, you also have to bring the chair upright first. If getting out of low chairs is already a chore, this matters more than the headrest.

Measure seat width against your shoulders and your coat

Seat width is the room between the side frames. One maker lists 20.5 inches for its standard chair, and its oversized chair is built wider. Because the side frames run the full length of the chair, a narrow seat squeezes at the hips and the shoulders, not just one spot.

At a November deer camp, add the coat. A seat that fits in a T-shirt in August can feel like a canoe in a parka.

Count chair weight and folded length before you count features

Zero gravity chairs are heavy for camp furniture. One maker lists its standard chair at 22 lb and its oversized chair at 25 lb. That's more than twice what a light bag-style quad chair weighs, going by another maker's numbers.

They fold flat but long. That maker's chairs fold to about 6 inches thick and 38.6 inches long. They slide behind a truck seat or lie flat in a bed. They don't go in a carry bag, and they don't go in a pack.

Frame and fabric: powder-coated steel and a bungee sling

Most outdoor zero gravity chairs pair a tubular steel frame with a woven outdoor fabric. One maker uses a powder-coated steel frame with a rust-protective coating, and a 600 g textilene sling held to the frame by a double bungee system.

The bungee cords are the suspension. They let the sling give a little as you shift. They're also a wear item, so check them at the start of each season along with the joints.

Headrest and extras

Most chairs add a padded pillow that slides along the back frame. One maker says it works as a headrest or as lumbar support, depending on where you slide it. Side trays, cup holders and sunshades show up on some models. They're tiebreakers. The lock, the rating and the seat height decide the chair.

Which zero gravity chair style fits you

Standard zero gravity chair

The baseline: steel frame, textilene sling, slide-along pillow, lock on both sides. Choose it for a porch, a backyard, a campground site or a ballfield sideline.

Oversized zero gravity chair

A wider seat and usually a higher weight rating on a bigger frame. Choose it if a standard seat pinches at the hips or shoulders, or if you need more rating headroom. Expect a few more pounds to carry. For more on ratings, see the heavy-duty camping chair page.

Padded zero gravity chair

A cushion over or in place of the mesh sling. Warmer on a cool evening and slower to dry after rain. For cushions on regular camp chairs, see the padded camping chair page.

Zero gravity chairs with trays or shades

Clip-on cup trays and sunshades add convenience and a little weight. A shade also catches wind, so lower it when the gusts pick up.

When a reclining chair or a cot is the better buy

If you want to lean back without lifting your legs, a reclining camping chair is lighter and packs into a bag. If you want to lie flat and sleep, buy a camping cot. I've slept in a zero gravity chair by accident. A cot is where you do it on purpose.

Setting up a zero gravity chair

1. Unfold it on the flattest, firmest spot you have. Gravel and packed dirt beat soft grass.
2. Check that both locks are open and the frame is fully spread.
3. Sit down with the chair upright, feet on the ground.
4. Lean back slowly to the angle you want, then lock both sides.
5. To get up, release both locks, let the chair come upright, and stand.

Keep the legs clear of tent stakes, roots and rocks. Soft, lumpy ground loads the legs and joints unevenly, a chair maker warns, even when you're under the rating.

Care and storage

Zero gravity chairs live outside more than most camp chairs, so the care matters more. A chair maker's care guide covers the basics: get the grit out of the pivots, scrub the sling with dish soap, hose it off, and never fold it wet. Store it dry, off concrete, and hung or standing so nothing heavy bends the frame. Lubricate the pivots once a season.

Add two zero gravity checks to that seasonal list: look at every bungee cord for fraying or lost stretch, and work both locks to make sure they still grip.

Safety: locks, joints and fingers

Zero gravity chairs have long pivoting frames with pinch points at every joint. In 2021 the CPSC announced a recall of about 31,000 oversized antigravity chairs that could break or collapse when weight was applied, posing a fall hazard. Stop using any chair with a bent frame, a cracked joint or a lock that slips, keep children's hands away from the pivots, and check cpsc.gov for recalls on any chair you own.

Who should skip a zero gravity chair

Skip it if you carry your chair more than a short walk. My one opinion on this page: a zero gravity chair is a chair you drive to, not one you carry. The reason is the scale. One maker lists its chairs at 22 and 25 lb, roughly two or three quad chairs' worth.

Skip it if low seats are already hard for you to get out of, and look at a high back camping chair with a taller seat instead. And skip it for a hunting blind. It's a long, low, shiny steel frame that doesn't swivel and doesn't sit up straight to draw a bow. The hunting chair page covers the right seat for that.

For everybody else, it's the best seat in camp for the hour after lunch. Don't bother asking me about it after lunch. I'll be asleep.