With beach chairs, yes. Typically, you'll either be paying for the materials OR the features if you are going cheap, not usually both. And even so, sitting in the sun, being transported, and being put through some pretty extensive abuse, an inexpensive chair might not last very long. A beach chair is one of those items that if you save up and invest responsibly, you won't need to worry about buying a new one for years to come. Overall, if you are not willing to invest in the whole beach gear package at this moment, we would say that durability is more important.