Chairs and tables that survive the sand

Camp furniture has a hard life in the UAE. It stands on soft sand, sits in the sun all day, and is folded and unfolded with sand in every joint. Sand, sun and heat speed up the wear. If you are replacing chairs this year, it helps to know why the old ones failed.

What sand does to furniture

• Sinking: thin legs push into soft sand. One leg goes deeper than the others, the chair tilts, and the frame is loaded in a way it was not built for.
• Grinding: fine sand gets into hinges and joints. Each time you fold the chair, it works like sandpaper on the moving parts.
• Sun: the fabric seat weakens in strong sun, and it often tears first where it is sewn to the frame.
• Tipping: a tall chair with a high seat is less stable on an uneven surface, especially when someone leans back.

Low and wide: steadier, not tip-proof

A lower seat puts your weight closer to the ground, which lowers the risk of tipping on uneven sand. It does not remove it: a wide base and firm ground matter just as much. A low seat also keeps you at the level of the fire and of people sitting on the ground in a majlis. The Lowdown Chair has a lower base, a slightly reclined back, a durable steel frame and 600D polyester fabric, and it packs into a roll-tote bag. The Low Loveseat is the same idea for two people, also on a steel frame. For a family, the Lowdown Couch seats three on a lower base.

A two- or three-seat piece has fewer legs per person than separate chairs, but each leg carries more weight. Whether it sinks less depends on your sand, so try it where you camp before you rely on it.

Chairs for long evenings

If you sit for hours, comfort matters as much as stability. The Deluxe Lounge Chair has three recline positions and adjustable armrests; armrests make it easier for older family members to sit down and stand up. The Essential Chair is a simpler classic with adjustable armrests and an insulated drink holder in the armrest.

If you camp with a dog, note that Kelty describes the carry bag of the Rad-Arondack Chair as doubling as a dog bed.

A table that keeps things off the sand

On sand, a table is less about eating and more about keeping cups, phones and food out of the sand. A small side table next to each pair of chairs is often more useful than one large table in the middle. The Rad-Arondack Table is a side table that Kelty describes as sturdy enough to trust with drinks.

If a table or chair keeps sinking, put a flat board under each leg, or a flat, stable stone that does not rock. It spreads the weight and reduces the tilt.

One night or a whole season

Furniture for a weekend trip and furniture for a winter camp that stands for months are two different choices. For a weekend, what matters is how small the chair packs and how fast it opens. For a season camp, what matters is the frame and the fabric, because the chair will be opened and folded dozens of times and will spend many hours in the sun. If you keep a plot for the whole winter, choose fewer, sturdier pieces with steel frames, and plan a dry, shaded place to keep them when you are away during the week. Our guide to winter camps in Al Ruwayyah covers what else such a camp needs.

How to set up on soft sand

• Choose the firmest, flattest patch you can find, and test it by pressing a chair down before you set up the whole camp.
• Press each chair down and twist it slightly before you sit, so the legs settle evenly.
• Use boards, or only flat and stable stones, under table legs.
• Place chairs out of the wind, behind the car or a shade wall, so blowing sand does not fill the seats.
• In a long camp, move chairs into the shade during the day so the fabric is not in full sun from morning to evening.

Habits that make furniture last

• Shake each chair upside down before folding it, so sand falls out of the joints.
• Do not force a stiff joint. Brush it clean, then fold.
• After a trip near the sea, rinse frames with fresh water and dry them.
• Dry fabric fully in the shade before storing.
• Store chairs in their bags, indoors, away from summer heat.
• Check feet, rivets and seams at the start of each season. A small tear near the frame tends to grow under load.