Zero gravity chairs are the more comfortable cousin of a camp chair. They’re not quite as portable or lightweight as a camp chair, but when you’re relaxing around the fire, a zero gravity chair feels almost like you’re floating. With locks and pillows, you can adjust the recline and support based on your size and personal comfort preferences. I wanted to try out the affordable Caravan Canopy Zero Gravity Chair to see if it could offer the comfort of more expensive models. In the end, it offered small-scale comfort that this short lady loved. The Caravan’s packaging was what I would call lacking. Only in that, there wasn’t a packing slip, plastic bag, or tag to be found on it. There’s nothing wrong with that except that the only identifiable information was the box label with my address on it. All I can say is, I hope you remember what you ordered to make sure you get the right chair, which I did, by the way. This chair folds down to 5 inches wide by 40 inches tall. Yes, that’s bigger than a camp chair, but it’s still small enough to slide into the garage for easy storage. You could also throw (or gently slide) it into a trailer or the back of a pickup truck for a day at the beach, park, or a camping trip. On to the most important part of any chair—comfort. Zero gravity chairs are a huge step up from a traditional camp chair. They’re sometimes a step up from some patio furniture and outdoor recliners, too, in my opinion. Zero gravity chairs, including this one, have a piece of fabric suspended on a frame via bungee cords. Those cords flex and give where you need them to, so people of different shapes and sizes can sit comfortably. You almost feel like you’re floating, hence the zero-gravity name. The Caravan feels amazing, even though it falls on the affordable end of the price scale. Confession—I tested this chair during the rainy season, so it became a living room accessory for a few weeks. No one in the family minded because it was so comfortable. My kids may or may not (definitely may) have fought to use it. If it didn’t make my living room look like a campsite, I would use it every day to lounge while reading a book. It’s that comfortable. Come summertime, my kids are going to have a hard time getting any time in this chair because mom is claiming it as her own! The chair frame is about one inch smaller than average, making it a perfect option for someone like me who’s only 5’5”. I didn’t feel like I was drowning in the chair, and my feet could touch the foot bar. In most chairs, I have to scoot forward for my feet to touch the ground, not with the Caravan. On the downside, it wasn’t a great fit, though not uncomfortable, for my 5’11” husband. However, the chair has a 300-pound weight limit, so while height-wise, you may find yourself dangling off the end, it can safely hold a good amount of weight. The Caravan also provides a good amount of adjustability. The neck pillow adjusts using a velcro strap, and I loved it. Various members of my family tried out the Caravan, and everyone could move the pillow around to a comfortable position based on their height and comfort preferences. You can also remove the pillow and use it as lumbar support. Using force and body weight, you can push the chair into a reclined position. That position is also adjustable. Anywhere along the way to a full recline, you can lock the chair in place using the fingertip locking system that’s on either armrest. The locks are stiff but not difficult to manage. My arms were a little short to reach them, but as long as you don’t have T-rex arms, you’ll probably be fine.
Is the Caravan Global Gravity Chair easy to fold?
Folding down the Caravan is easy peasy. It takes two hands but, as long as you’ve got the locking mechanism open, the chair easily glides into a compact position. However, once it’s folded, it’s not the easiest to carry. It only weighs 17.5 pounds, so it’s not because of weight. It’s because the chair pops open while you’re carrying it. If there’s anything missing from this chair, it’s a locking mechanism that holds the chair closed when folded.
Is the chair water-resistant?
Since this chair is meant for outdoor use, it’s made with a quick-dry seat material. It dries out quickly on its own in a dry environment, so as long as it can dry out, water isn’t an issue. However, like pretty much everything else, you shouldn’t leave it wet and folded for days because mold could start growing. However, water isn’t going to ruin the fabric or cause the coated frame to rust. The water resistance also makes the chair easy to clean. You can pretty much spray and wipe it down to remove most debris and stains.
Is the Caravan Canopy Zero Gravity Chair worth the price?
The Caravan is one of the more affordable zero gravity chairs on the market, retailing for around $92. Considering the comfort and ease of use, yes, it’s definitely worth the price. I would trade all of my camp chairs for more of these in a heartbeat.
Caravan Canopy Zero Gravity Chair vs. Frontgate Original Mesh Zero-Gravity Recliner
The Caravan and Frontgate zero gravity chairs are very similar in design, weight, and style. The differences lie in width (the Frontgate is slightly wider), pillow design (the Frontgate’s is awesome), and price (the Frontgate is not so cool here, it retails for around $229). The size makes the Frontgate Original Mesh Zero-Gravity Recliner a better option if you’re over 6 feet tall. The pillow is attached to the frame on a front track that lets you move it from the top for neck support to the bottom for lumbar support without removing it. The only other difference between the two is the price. The Frontgate costs more than twice the Caravan. While Frontgate’s attached pillow is awesome, the steep price difference isn’t worth it. I would for sure choose the Caravan if I was choosing between the two. The Frontgate feels a little more luxurious, but I would prefer to get two Caravans for every one Frontgate. The Caravan Canopy Zero Gravity Chair is comfortable, lightweight for a zero gravity chair, and includes great recline and pillow adjustability. The affordable price makes it a no-brainer.
