Hiking Chair

One thing that bugs me on my overnight hikes is the fact that there is nowhere to sit comfortably at these wilderness camps, unless one considers a log to be comfortable. I know they make an accessory for a Thermarest that converts it into a chair of sorts, but I want something along the lines of a confessional folding chair. I don’t want to sit on the ground. I would like to be able to sit on the chair in my tent and read a book free from the numerous mosquitos and black flies we have in our country. Do they make such a chair that is comfortable and still light enough? Us older guys need a little comfort Thanks.

I am finally starting to lighten my load and now I am finding new ways to add weight back on

Howie

I'm also old, and have used one of the Thermarest chairs for years. I really like them - they're a good balance of light weight, function, comfort, and durability. If you don't want your legs on the ground, and if you use a full-length Thermarest, they make a "lounger" that covers the whole pad and never needs to be removed; it puts length out under your legs.

Try Campmor if you want an actual chair - they tend to carry stuff like that. I'm a little curious: what kind of tent are you carrying that would be tall enough and wide enough to sit in a chair? (One other consideration: will the chair legs abrade the tent floor?)

Thanks Glenn. I actually have not been using a tent but rather a syl nylon tarp set up as a lean-to. I rig up mosquito netting from the ridge line. I like not having a floor. It has its advantages. That said, I am considering buying a Scarp 2. It looks like that one has lots of room in it and I can order it with an all mesh interior. Its interior height is 45". I don't need a really tall chair. Perhaps a smaller children's version might work.

Howie

Interestingly, I am perfectly comfortable and relaxed (even at my relatively advanced age) sitting on the ground with a thin sit pad under me and with my back against a log, rock, tree or (during the day) my pack. I have never felt the need for a chair. In fact, I've tried a few camp chairs and didn't find them at all comfortable. YMMV, obviously!

I have done that, but then I have to fight the bugs. I want a chair that will work either inside a tent or outside when conditions are such. As kids we used to sit cross legged on the floor for hours but for me at least I just cannot do that anymore either. Too hard on my back.

My wife reads every night while laying in bed. Me, I cannot seem to do that comfortably for some reason.

Howie

I'm with you, OM. We use two little sheets of close-cell foam to sit on. They go on the outside of our packs (good use of those tiny bungee cords there!) and we pull them out all the time, both on the trail and in camp. We sit on them to eat, to pull on our boots, we use them for shielding the stove if it's really blowing, kneel on them to get into the tent, and I even use them as part of my pillow at night.

If the bugs are fierce, we'll put on our headnets...but the idea of a chair...inside a tent....

Wow. That's luxury. I'm not sure we would want to carry the extra weight, or find the actual chair comfortable. But I appreciate the investigative research! Tell us what you find out, Howie!

I am getting this one at 22 oz. I can swing that.

Chair

Looking good. I wonder how high it is when set up? Also, I hope it is strong, as my fat butt has broken a few similar looking stools.

Howie

They have a heavier one also at 2 lbs 2 oz.

X-large Chair

This might interest you:

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3664474

I saw it at EMS, but didn't get to try it out. It has two legs, and you sort of balance in it.

there are many variations on hammocks, as in small hanging chairs can be morphed from hammocks.
Jim

True. Although it would be hard to hang a hammock inside a tent.

Thanks Lucky. It looks like that Monarch chair will fit the bill.

Howie

I have a Slinglight chair with the headrest, weighs about what the stool weighs or an oz less. I can't sit on the ground on a pad with my back. I either need to lean against a tree or rock, but then my butt starts going numb. In the chair I'm just a little better and have a clean place to sit.

I just ordered the Alite Monarch chair. It is on sale but with shipping and stuff it cost $76.00. I can hardly wait for it to arrive and try it out.

Howie

I have the Monarch chair. Just be reminded that it is a two legged chair and does require some effort getting in/out of it. But I like it.

http://www.slinglight.com/ I carried this for years until I decided any chair was too heavy. Now I carry two sections of a z-rest and fold them the wrong direction for my tail end--and then lean back on my pack. This is nice year round for insulation and padding. At night the z-rest goes under my legs and feet as I have a very short pad. When cooking it is nice for my knees on rocky ground. It also makes an acceptable cozy for zip bags.

Friend has the Monarch. Its neat, little too expensive though. Light and packs small, however does bad in soft ground (loose gravel/rocks, mud) since all the weight is pretty much on 2 little ball-points. And yes getting out of them requires an art.

I just use a REI 3 legged stool whenever I feel the need for a seperate chair (i hammock). http://www.rei.com/product/765283

I do not always take it but I do have a slinglite----it is a real chair and weighs something like 22OZ----I have been finding myself taking on most trips-----once you are in it it is really nice----but it is pretty low so getting in and out takes effort especially if you are good and worn out

If you have to carry a bear canister (which I don't do unless I absolutely have to!), you do have a nice stool to sit on as well. I sure wouldn't carry a canister just to have something to sit on, though! But if you have to carry one, at least there's a second use for it.

Same with the 5 gallon buckets that are allowed on the ocean beaches of Olympic National Park in Washington, instead of a bear cannister.

I considered converting a 5 gallow bucket to a pack so I would always have a stool to sit on. One would still be carrying extra weight, however. Hate to mess with anything that affects my base weight.

I like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jura-cmCsA

Howie

got REI's labor day sale ad in the mail. just a headsup . has 30% off camp furniture. Makes the monarch and others a little more reasonable. sale starts friday

THATS not a knife. THIS is a knife!!

Very nice!

I don't know if anyone has said this but SlingLite is the brand it weighs a little under a pound i think. Folds flat and hooks easy to the back of your pack, first time I saw it I was a Philmont. I got to sit in it and man it was comfy.

I am back from the mountains. My wife and I built and tried out the bushcraft chair shown in the Youtube video. It worked great and was quite comfortable. In the meantime my Alite Monach chair that I ordered has just arrived. I haven’t field tested it yet, but trying it out in my living room it seems just fine. Nice and light and compact. It does take some getting used to as it is a two legged chair. A bit of a balancing act at first but it is quite comfortable. I am 5'11" tall and sitting on the Monarch my head is up to 39". That means that a guy could sit on the chair inside many of the tents on the market today.

Thanks to all who responded to my post.

Howie

Depending on the area you're in, I would recommend a hammock. I know I know, probably a moot point, and I'm not a hammock nut, but I find that since I can set it up in five minutes, my hammock can make a scenic reststop into a hour or two of lounging in comfort in the middle of the day.

Also, you can get good at finding a camp where your hammock setup is such that you can sit in it while chatting to your buddies, or even while your water is boiling, etc. Just my two cents (a light hammock can be cheap and weigh about as much as any non man-bushcraft chair option)

My too generous parents took me to REI for Christmas. Woot! I'd been looking for a camping chair and since they had given me a LOT of money (and I really didn't have many needs), I picked up the Alite Monarch. I'm taking it camping this weekend, but I've already spent a few hours in it around the house. I love it and think it is really comfortable (actually fell asleep in it with my feet propped up on something). I was a bit iffy on the price, but knowing how much I will use it (because of the comfort) I know that it is worth it. The other nice thing is that I can take it to outdoor shows/picnics and don't have to lug around the huge bulky "camping" chair.

I also bought one not long ago. I haven't tried it in a camping situation yet but it should work out just fine. I am thinking a guy could sit on it inside a tent on a rainy day. Congrats.

Howie

I like that Alite butterfly chair.. But with all the weight on those two "ballpoints," I'm wondering if you'd tear right through the floor of your tent if used inside. Still would be great at the campfire or under a tarp or around camp.

I wouldn't set it right on the tent floor. Perhaps just setting it on my jacket or something would work well.

Howie

I think maybe you can go to bought some "Pads", these pad are made by soft ruber, and can be a good sit when backpacking in the mountains, I don't know the exact name of it, who knows?


mysite- adventure tour China

I probably said this before, but as long as I have to carry a bear cannister, that doubles as a camp chair.

sk

I like a backrest. That is the beauty of the Monarch. Comfort with very little weight. But I can see how a bear cannister would work well for some.

Howie