ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Chair (ALPS #8140344)

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

SKU note: ALPS sells the King Kong by color variant. 8140344 = Salsa/Charcoal (verified via bookyourhunt.com). 8140375 = Deep Sea/Charcoal. Sherper's listing UPC/SKU 703438843446. A manufacturer-published "MSRP" page was not found in sources checked (2026-09-20) — see Pricing.

2026 lineup status

Current. The King Kong is ALPS Mountaineering's long-running oversized quad camp chair — the brand's flagship "big and tall" lounger. Sold continuously through 2026 with seasonal color refreshes. Retailer listings split into two descriptions: the classic spec sheet (38 W × 20 D × 38 H in, 18 in seat height, 12.5 lb, shoulder carry bag) and a newer-looking spec sheet at Camping World (TechMesh quilted center, backpack-style carry straps, 19 in seat height, 13 lb). These likely reflect a running revision and/or color-channel variation — documented as a conflict below, not silently merged.

2023–2026 lineage

• 2023–2024: Same core chair sold; colors rotate (Salsa, Deep Sea, Green, Khaki/Clay, charcoal variants). No documented structural redesign located.
• 2025–2026: Camping World's listing shows the TechMesh quilted center and backpack-strap carry bag — a visible refresh, year of introduction UNVERIFIED.
• No annual model-year scheme exists for this chair; ALPS does not version it by year.

Overview

An oversized steel-frame quad chair built for comfort over packability: wide seat, high back, armrests with dual cupholders, and side/back organizer pockets. Its calling card is the 800 lb weight rating — roughly double most oversized camp chairs — which makes it a base-camp/lounger favorite for larger campers. Trade-off is mass: ~12.5–13 lb, strictly a car-camping chair.

Key specs

Conflict note (2026-09-20): The 18-in vs 19-in seat height and 12.5-lb vs 13-lb figures come from concurrent retailer listings of the "same" chair. Treat as a running revision or per-color/channel packaging difference; the 800-lb rating is consistent everywhere. Do not present a single merged number.

Pricing (all USD, dated 2026-09-20)

In the box

Chair + carry bag (shoulder-strap or backpack-strap version depending on listing/color). No additional accessories documented.

Warranty

ALPS Mountaineering backs its gear with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects (corroborated by ALPS's 2026 EverDry Tote launch coverage citing the brand's lifetime warranty). Exact current warranty text for the King Kong specifically UNVERIFIED — confirm at alpsmountaineering.com before quoting terms.

Support & parts

ALPS customer service (New Haven, Missouri) handles parts/replacements; owner community generally reports good support. Replacement carry bags and fabric panels are occasionally available via customer service; not a published parts catalog.

Community verdict (evidence-based)

• Repeatedly chosen by larger/heavier campers specifically because of the 800-lb rating and genuinely roomy seat.
• Complaints center on weight/bulk (not a backpacking or walk-in chair) and the carry bag being undersized for the 13-lb chair.
• No numerical rating claims sourced; verdict is qualitative from retailer/review aggregations checked 2026-09-20.

Smart buy

Worth full price only if you need the 800-lb rating; otherwise Amazon's $64–$68 street price is the smart entry. Any color variant is the same chair — buy the cheapest current color.

Images

1. images/alps-mountaineering-king-kong-1.jpg (900×600) — Source: https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/prodimages/47362-DEFAULT-l.jpg (via https://www.vanceadvantage.com/products2.cfm/ID/75179)
2. images/alps-mountaineering-king-kong-2.jpg (500×602) — Source: https://campingfeed.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ALPS-Mountaineering-King-Kong.png (via https://campingfeed.com/best-camping-chairs/)
3. images/alps-mountaineering-king-kong-3.jpg (1303×1500) — Source: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0475/3847/1064/products/814IRZHAs-L._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1666972219 (via https://cdn.1bgs.sbs/products/8468845)
4. [research workspace] — Salsa red colorway product angle with ALPS logo (ramseyoutdooronline.shop; verified 2026-09-20)
5. [research workspace] — chair plus packed carry bag beside it, pack-size scale (bodegaaurrera.com.mx via Walmart CDN; verified 2026-09-20)

Verified: 2026-09-20. Prices in USD. Re-verify before purchase: manufacturer MSRP page, exact warranty text, and which seat-height/carry-bag revision ships with your color.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality

Research date: 2026-09-20.

The King Kong is the durability benchmark of the big-chair class. CleverHiker calls it "one of the longer lasting MODELS we've tested" after Utah desert car camping, concerts, and 9+ months in a backyard — "performs aesthetically and functionally as well as the day we got it." OutdoorGearLab overloaded it with five adults, exceeding the 800 lb rating, with no structural complaint. A Campsaver owner: "We have broken many chairs in just a couple of weeks… This chair means business."

Known wear points:

1. No UV treatment on the quilted fabric — CleverHiker notes minimal fading so far, but multi-season sun exposure will fade it; it's cosmetic, not structural.
2. Slow drying — the padded quilted fabric soaked through in rain and took 3–4 hours to dry. Stash it in the vehicle if rain threatens.
3. Minor cosmetic fraying where fabric rubs other surfaces (OutdoorGearLab) — cosmetic only.
4. Mesh cup holders are the one un-reinforced part — fine for cans, won't hold a Nalgene.

Weight spec conflict persists: OutdoorGearLab lists 14 lb; ALPS/dealers list 12.5–13 lb (per §4.5). Carry both with the flag. Warranty: OutdoorGearLab cites a "lifetime manufacturer's warranty" from ALPS Mountaineering — one of the strongest in the category on paper; owners report the company honors it, though documented claim stories are thin (UNVERIFIED depth).

Version history — year by year

• 2023: King Kong established: 800 lb capacity, 600D polyester, powder-coated steel, ~$79.99 MSRP.
• 2024: No documented redesign. Colorways rotate (khaki, charcoal, etc.).
• 2025: Possible refresh year — UNVERIFIED. No confirmed structural changes found in 2026 coverage; dealers still list the same core specs.
• 2026: Still $79.99 MSRP, street $64–90. Same 800 lb capacity, same steel-frame architecture.
• Net: Effectively unchanged for years. Buy any recent stock; the only thing to verify is that you're getting the full-size King Kong and not the smaller ALPS leisure chairs.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• vs YETI Trailhead Camp Chair (in catalog, /library/gear/camp-furniture/yeti-trailhead-camp-chair/): $79.99 vs $300, 800 lb vs 500 lb capacity. The King Kong is bigger, softer (quilted padding), and cheaper; the YETI is more structured and rigid. The $220 savings buys a lot of campsite beer. Big-and-tall buyers on a budget: this is the pick.
• vs Coleman Oversized Quad Chair (added this round, /library/gear/camp-furniture/coleman-oversized-quad-chair/): The direct big-box rival: the Coleman is lighter (9 lb), cheaper ($45–55), and has a cooler pouch, but 325 lb capacity vs 800 lb. Durability and capacity aren't close — the King Kong is the buy-it-for-decades chair.
• vs GCI Freestyle Rocker (in catalog, /library/gear/camp-furniture/gci-freestyle-rocker/): Similar price ($80), similar steel durability class. The GCI rocks; the King Kong swallows big users whole. Pick motion vs. maximum capacity.

Care & maintenance

• The quilted fabric holds water — shake it off and air-dry after rain; don't pack it wet or the padding stays damp.
• Powder-coated steel: dry before storage, touch up chips. The wide plastic feet are replaceable-wear items; check for cracking yearly.
• Spot-clean the 600D polyester; the lined storage pockets wipe clean (they're plastic-lined per OutdoorGearLab).
• The stiff carry bag needs "finagling" (OutdoorGearLab) — roll, don't stuff, and don't force the zippers.

Buying traps

• Weight figure chaos: 12.5 lb, 13 lb, and 14 lb all appear in reputable sources. Don't plan a carry around any single number.
• "King Kong" vs. smaller ALPS chairs: ALPS sells several chairs with similar names; verify 800 lb capacity and the quilted seat to confirm you have the King Kong.
• Cup-holder reality: mesh, small — cans and skinny bottles only. Not a defect, just the design.
• 2025–26 "refresh" rumors: UNVERIFIED. If a listing claims a new generation, ask what changed — likely just colorways.

Community Verdict (expanded)

Appending new sourced voices to the verdict above:

• CleverHiker: "one of the longer lasting MODELS we've tested" — the durability crown in their test fleet; dings only for slow drying and no UV treatment.
• OutdoorGearLab: the 5-adult overload test ("far exceeding the 800-pound weight limit") with zero issues — the most extreme durability anecdote in the category; "a great choice for those looking for a chair that will last many years."
• Campsaver (Anthony): the broken-chairs survivor story — "This chair means business… PRICELESS" — the big-user endorsement that sells this chair.
• REI reviewers: "sturdy, beautifully designed… worth every dollar" vs. the honest 4-star "it's heavy… wish cup holders were larger" — the fair summary.
• CampingGearReviews FAQ: "built for years of rugged use" — the consensus in one line.

Key Specs (gap fill)

Sources

• www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com — retrieval date not recorded
• www.vanceadvantage.com — retrieval date not recorded
• campingfeed.com — retrieval date not recorded
• campingfeed.com — retrieval date not recorded
• cdn.shopify.com — retrieval date not recorded
• cdn.1bgs.sbs — retrieval date not recorded