Lightweight "chair" kit

In the Lite Gear section there is a post on chair kits for Thermarest-type mattresses.

I posted that what we need are the plans to make the lightest conversion kit possible. Others seemed to agree. It could include the following materials:

>netting or very light ripstop fabric (but sufficiently strong)

>light webbing (say 1/2") and adjusting buckles. Or, heck, even Triptease cord W/ TarpTent style line tensioners. It could work.

>light Spectra or Dyneema fabric (on bottom only) to prevent punctures.

>2 carbon fiber stiffener rods (source?)

Anyone want to tackle this & come up with a pattern (for 20" wide pads) and a list of materials? PLEASE?

Eric

I suggest a Wiki .... we can all chime in and work it together.

Carbon fiber rod is available from most kite material suppliers.

1/2 inch webbing is available from Thru-hiker.com but I would look at using paracord and a friction hitch.

I nominate 300winmag.

Johnny,

As a retired senior citizen I FAR too busy to take on this project. What with my hectic shufleboard league schedule, ballroom dancing, vacationing, backpacking, skiing, doing Sierra Club work and taste-testing microbrews I'm nearly exhausted at the end of the week.

And then there is my vacation schedule. First I have a 6 month vacation then I have to turn around and begin ANOTHER 6 month vacation. WHEW!

Yers, Eric

And here I've been looking FORWARD to retirement!?!?!? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I had no idea about the demanding schedule retirement entails. Obviously I should just continue working forever at this darned day job...
but then again maybe not <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> We feel your pain, 300wm! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Here is a concept (with sort directions which I will not prove it works)
Use caps instead of full fabric. Take a 13 (maybe more) inch by 22(23?), half inch hem on both 22 inch sides. Fold in half so the 22 inch sides match up, sew along the short sides. Add your 3/4 webbing to the very ends of the short (6inch, maybe more), reinforce. Turn right side out (hopefully your webbing and buckles will be facing out) Take a peice of 1.5 inch gros grain of the appropriate length (???) and sew to the outside, center edge of the 22 inch wide peice. To use, fold thermarest in half, put caps on ends.
Someone try this before posting to another site please . It may work, it may not.
TB

I have rigged by pack as my backrest in the past with some strapping and treking poles. I wasn't satisfied enough to use it much but plan to have another go it later this year.

Eric, you live a hard life. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I made one using silnylon fabric and aluminum tent pole sections and 5/8" webbing. 5/8" is the smallest ladderloc buckle I have found, and grosgrain ribbon tends to slip in a ladderloc in my experience. Mine weighs about 6 oz. I take it snow camping but not in the summer because I like the fact that the Cascade designs chair (10 oz) offers some protection for my ultralight thermarest. Sitting on rocks and pine needles is a little risky with just the silnylon prtecting my precious nighttime comfort. I could make another with mostly silnylon, and add some oxford just on the bottom, but the littel difference in weight just doesn't seem worth the work. Mostly I don't take either one in the summer anyway - I can usually find someplace fairly comfortable to sit. Snow camping is different - I really appreciate being able to sit comfotably in the tent.

Sorry about the late reply. My excuse is I just re-visited this thread after backpacking Mt. Moriah in eastern Nevada, Great hike.

Anyway, I like several of the ideas:
1. using "caps" of light nylon instead of a full cover on the back side OR the "caps" that are connected to the bottom (seat) piece by a slim, curved piece down the middle & widens out to the bottom piece. (Can ya picture that?)
2. using carbon fiber rods from a kite store
3. maybe an alternative "pack-as-a-backrest" would be the UL path, W/ adjustable nylon straps from the pack to the pad. (sound of gears turning in head)

In any case I insist on a full under-seat cover to protect the pad from punctures. (Yeah, I know, "Good luck on the puncture thing.")

It ain't that I haven't made my own Thermarest chair cover years ago but I made a FULLY covered 3/4 length mattress cover from a too-heavy polyester fabric.

Thanks very much guys. If I get this underway successfully I'll attatch pics of it and measurements.

Eric

Eric, I'll be waiting for your plans and pics. Since I don't like sitting on the ground or on a rock (kinda makes the bum numb) I stood around or squated alot on my last trip. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />