Rio Classic Beach Chair Reviewed in 2025

Rating

Outoria Score: 4.6/5
Quality: 4.7/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Price/Quality: 4.7/5

Laid Back & Breezy

Upon first inspection, the Rio Classic Beach Chair hit all the usual marks. Smart design features like a cup holder, towel rack, carry strap, and a 5-position adjustable recline – Check. Lightweight portability – Yep. Hearty, durable materials – Check.

In addition to meeting the standard everywhere they needed to, they also added some really nice details that set them apart. For one, we loved the wooden armrests. We feel this elevates the aesthetics of this product, as well as giving it a tangible degree of luxury.

We also appreciated that the seat back fully reclines to a flat position, giving you some semblance of a chaise lounge feel without the price tag or pain of transport.

We feel Rio took a very conventional design and managed to elevate it a bit, and we were quite impressed with the overall quality, performance, and value of this product. It’s quite the little chair.

Rio Classic Beach Chair Material

Designed to withstand frequent use, the 600 denier Polyester Fabric used on the Rio Classic Beach Chair offers strength and durability. Between the strong, weather-resistant fabric and the sturdy aluminum frame, the chair is made with quality materials, easily supporting up to 250 lbs.

The wooden armrests offer comfortable functionality as well as something a little different design-wise. Most beach chairs on our list feature plastic or metal armrests, like the GCI Outdoor Beach Chair or even the Tommy Bahama Beach Chair, so the wood details help to set the Rio apart with a little taste of beachy luxury.

That being said, wood can be temperamental to maintain, so while the wood has been treated and sealed in production, it is still important that the chair is cared for and stored indoors, out of direct sunlight, to ensure the longevity of this product.

While we were very pleased by the materials used for the majority of this product, we did find that much of the connecting hardware is made from plastic. Some customer reviews found this to feel like cutting corners, but we feel what you may lose in durability, you gain a bit in lightweight portability.

Rio Classic Beach Chair Size & Weight

The Rio Classic Beach Chair offers a compact and portable seat for the beach with dimensions of 32” x 25” x 23” when upright. When sitting up straight or reclined to any degree, this beach chair provides plenty of space and adjustability for a comfortable and supportive sitting experience.

When folded, this Rio Beach Chair shrinks to a mere 29 inches tall, 25 inches wide, and a remarkably slim 4.5 inches in depth, making it incredibly easy to transport and store. The ease of portability is further highlighted by the handy adjustable carry strap and the lightweight design – weighing in at just 10 pounds.

The seat height is comfortable for most at 8.58 inches, not too low or too high. The seat back is about 25”, which is about average for a beach chair. For taller folks looking for something a bit higher and more supportive or for anyone seeking a higher seat level, we highly recommend checking out the Rio Extended Height Beach chair.

Rio Classic Beach Chair Performance

When talking about the performance of a beach chair, we think the number one consideration should be comfort since this piece of furniture only exists to aid in relaxation.

The Rio Classic Beach Chair has five reclining positions to help us find the most comfortable angle to soak up the sun. The materials are nonabrasive to the skin, and we found them to meet our standards for comfort. The only thing we found ourselves missing was a bit of neck or head support – not a deal breaker, but a headrest would have been nice.

The easy-to-adjust hinges are designed for safe, simple, and smooth transitions but sometimes can give you a little trouble locking into place. This small issue can worsen if the chair is not taken care of and stored properly.

These adjustment features can become more difficult to use over time due to corrosion and exposure to the elements, so be sure to thoroughly dry it off after every use before storing.

Much like the high back chair also featured in our list from Rio, although the frame and fabric materials are hearty and durable, all the connective parts are made from plastic and don’t offer the same longevity. That being said, there is a benefit in using lighter-weight materials, and thankfully this chair is on the portable end of the spectrum, making it a seemingly fair trade.

Weighing in at just 10 pounds, it may not be as lightweight as the Lawn Chair USA, but the Rio Beach chair features a padded carry strap, making it easy to transport to and from the beach. Even when walking a bit farther to remote spots or secluded beaches, this chair won’t be too much trouble to bring along.

Rio Classic Beach Chair Value

The Rio Classic Beach Chair, ringing in at $56.98, offers solid overall value for beachgoers. While the chair isn’t perfect, it’s a solid choice across the board.

This chair lands in the mid to high price range alongside options like the Lawn Chair USA or the GCI Outdoor Beach Chair. Between its quality materials, durability, versatility, and thoughtful features, this chair is certainly worth what you pay for it.

An Instant Classic

The Rio Classic Beach Chair will not be winning any awards for its ingenuity or innovation, but frankly, it is a darn good, classic beach chair. The Rio chair provides just about everything you would expect and need and does it well, with quality and function at the forefront of the design. We recommend this beach chair as the classic beach chair.