Best for Outdoors: Summer Infant Pop and Sit Portable Booster

We tested some of the latest portable high chairs on the market and realized the best bets are the ones that keep it simple: simple to set up, fold up and carry. We also looked for how easy it was to clean, plus safety and stability.

There are several options for portable travel high chairs—plastic booster seats for indoors, nylon booster seats for outdoors, and hook-on chairs for restaurants.

The best portable high chair for outdoor adventures should have water resistant nylon fabric and feature a quick set up and fold. We think Summer’s Pop and Sit portable booster is the best travel high chair for picnics, camping or other outdoor adventures. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Easy to fold. We could quickly set up and fold this chair.

• Dishwasher safe tray.

• Feet design provides stability. Tip overs are a major source of high chair injuries; we think this portable high chair is well designed to be stable in our testing.

• Affordable and lightweight. Plus it has a travel bag.

What Needs Work

• Buckle can be hard to unlock. We know this is a safety feature, but it shouldn’t be too hard!

• Nylon fabric can be hard to clean.

• Harness attached to seat bite. Oddly, the harness for this seat is attached where the back of the seat meets the bottom—which makes it somewhat awkward to strap a child in.

Best Hook-On Style: Inglesina Fast Table Chair

When it comes to traveling with a baby, meal time can be a challenge—does the Airbnb have a high chair? What if the high chair at the restaurant is unbelievably grimy? The answer: the Inglesina Fast Table Chair, a good solution for babies that are over six months of age or can sit up unassisted—this hook-on chair clips to most types of restaurant tables. Our testers loved how easy it is to use. Here’s an overview:

What We Liked

• Quick install. A twist-tight knob makes installation quick, according to our parent testers. When time to leave, it quickly collapses and packs away in an included carry bag.

• Lightweight. At just 4 lbs., the Fast Table chair is easy to pack in a bag or stroller basket.

• Storage pocket at back.

What’s Needs Work

• Tray is an extra accessory. That’s a bummer, as this thing is already expensive as is!

• Gap between chair and table. Yes, there is a small gap between the chair and a table—and, of course, this is where baby’s food will end up. Unfortunately, this is a problem with most hook-on chairs.

• 3-point harness. We prefer five-point harnesses—these are harder for a squirmy baby to escape from. Extra care must be taken to make sure older babies don’t try to Houdini themselves out of this chair’s harness.

• Must disassemble to wash cover. The Fast Table Chair’s cover can be machine washed on gentle—but you must dissemble the chair to do this. It would be nice if this portable high chair solution was easier to clean.

• Doesn’t work with all tables. 

Best Double Duty: Hiccapop Omniboost Travel Booster Seat with Tray

We liked this portable high chair’s double use: you can use it as a booster seat outdoors. Or you can use it indoors and strap it to a chair with the included harness straps. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easier-to-use harness. In our testing, we thought it was easier to use the harness since it is attached to the back of the seat. 

• Removable cover is machine washable.

• Nylon seat material is outdoor friendly.

• Lightweight and easy to set up and fold.

• Swivel out tray was a hit in our testing.

What Needs Work

• Tray latch can break—and then it doesn’t stay locked in place.

Best For Travel: Fisher-Price Healthy Care Booster Seat

Finally, how about boosters designed for indoor use, like grandma’s house or other road trips? In this category, we though the Fisher-Price Healthy Care booster was the best bet.

Fisher Price has a winner here: we liked the snap-off feeding tray that can go into the dishwasher, easy fold and shoulder strap for road trips plus three different height settings. When your child gets older, the tray removes so the seat becomes a basic booster.

The only caveat: the back does not recline, so your baby must be able to sit up on his own to use it safely. (No biggie for most older babies, but we know some folks consider these boosters as high-chair replacements—not a good idea unless your child can sit upright).

Here’s an overview:

What We Liked

• Dishwasher safe tray.

• Seat back removes for extra use. For toddlers who just need a booster, the seat back removes—so this portable high chair has a second use. The chair is rated for use up to 50 lbs.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• No pad. This is both a pro and con—on one hand, the hard plastic can be uncomfortable after a long while. On the other hand, pads can be a pain to clean.

• No seat recline. Your baby must be able to sit up unassisted to use this chair.

• Only adds a small boost. And when we say small, we mean small: about 3″ or so. If you have a short or younger child, this portable high chair may not provide enough of a boost to reach a kitchen table.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing baby gear, including portable high chairs, since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward safety, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Baby Bargains is your independent and unbiased source for expert baby gear reviews.