At a 4WD camp you’re not carrying your chair far, so it can be heavy if it’s comfortable. The Dune 4WD Nomad II is a padded steel recliner with eight back positions and a headrest, made for long evenings at camp.
We’ve used it at bush campgrounds for meals, a coffee by the fire and the odd afternoon nap.
What’s in the box
A black and grey folding recliner on a powder-coated tubular steel frame, with a padded seat and back, a padded headrest with the Dune 4WD logo, an eight-position recline adjuster on the arm and a carry handle. It’s rated to 120 kg.
What we like
- Sturdy tubular steel frame
- 8-position reclining function
- Neoprene padded headrest
- Anti-roll foot support
- Carry handle for portability
What we don’t
- Heavy at 6.5 kg
- Fabric stains easily
- Minor wobble on uneven ground
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Material | Tubular steel frameNeoprene paddingPolyester fabric |
| Colour | Black and grey |
| Weight | 6.5 kg |
| Max load | 120 kg |
| Size set up | 60 × 95 × 110 cm |
| Packed size | 102 × 59 × 10.5 cm |
| Recline | 8 positions |
| Features | Anti-roll foot supportPadded seat and backCarry handle |
Comfort and the recline
This is the reason to buy it. The seat and back are fully padded, and the headrest supports your neck when you lean back. The adjuster on the arm moves the back through eight positions, from upright for eating to well back for stargazing or a nap, and each one locks firmly.
Frame and fabric
The powder-coated steel frame is solid and doesn’t flex, and the crossed legs give a wide base. The padded fabric wraps around the frame and wiped clean after a windy day, but light marks show up easily on the grey. On uneven ground it can wobble a little until you find a level spot, and on soft ground the feet sink in.
Size and weight
At 6.5 kg and 102 × 59 × 10.5 cm folded, it’s heavy and long. It folds flat rather than into a bag, so it slides in along the side of the cargo area, and the carry handle makes the walk from the car easy. It’s not a chair for carrying far.
How it compares with our other big camp chairsChair comparison
We’ve tested three other heavy, padded chairs for camp. The San Hima Recliner also reclines and takes 200 kg, the Wanderer Tourer Extreme Crusader has bungee suspension and padded arms, and the Spinifex Moon Chair is a round chair you sink into.
The Dune is the cheapest recliner of them with the most recline positions. Our camping chairs guide covers the lighter chairs too.
This one Dune Nomad II | High back San Hima Recliner | Moon Spinifex Moon Chair | Bungee Wanderer Crusader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headrest | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Type | Recliner | Recliner | Moon chair | Armchair |
| Back | 8 positions | Adjustable | Fixed | Fixed |
| Max load | 120 kg | 200 kg | 120 kg | 200 kg |
| Weight | 6.5 kg | 7.2 kg | 7 kg | 6.38 kg |
| Price paid | $80 | $100 | $80 | $125 |
| Our score | 8.1 | 8.4 | 7.5 | 8.1 |
Conclusion: Dune 4WD Nomad II Camp ChairConclusion
The Dune 4WD Nomad II is a comfortable, solid recliner for about $80. Eight recline positions, a padded seat, back and headrest, and a steel frame rated to 120 kg. It’s heavy at 6.5 kg, the grey fabric marks easily and it wobbles on uneven ground. Next to a camp table and a few camp lights, it turns a 4WD camp into a proper lounge.
A comfortable, solid recliner for about $80.
Eight recline positions, padding on the seat, back and headrest, and a steel frame rated to 120 kg turn a 4WD camp into a proper lounge. It's heavy at 6.5 kg, the grey fabric marks easily and it wobbles on uneven ground.
- Car campers
- 4WD tourers
- Caravanners
Yes, if comfort beats weight. An 8-position recline, a padded headrest and a sturdy steel frame are a lot of chair. It weighs 6.5 kg and the fabric stains easily.
