Does anyone have any recommendations for a lightweight camp chair? The reason I ask is more for my dad, who is my normal trail buddy. He's the first to admit he is not getting any younger and when we get to camp, it is a lot less rough on him to sit in a chair (even a backless one) than to sit on the ground like I do.

HikerMatt-

If you camp in the East, you probably have trees available. Have your dad try a hammock, such as a Hennessy Hammock. He will sleep better off of the ground and won't have the stiff morning crawl out of a tent. During the day, fold the hammock in half, and sit in it like a giant sling chair. Be sure to keep the mosquito net behind you, not under you when you sit.

CamperMom

I usually bring a tripod type of camp stool along so that I don't have to sit in mud or dust around camp. I have something called a PackSeat which I bought at REI. It probably is not the lightest available, but it is sturdy. I was able to cut about an inch off of each leg, grind off the burs and put the plastic end piece back on, thus saving a few grams.
I have taken on some strenuous week long trips and have had to kick non-chair bringers out of my chair.

Edit/update: In looking at the REI website it looks like they no longer have the PackSeat, but they have their own branded "Trail Stool" <http://www.rei.com/product/765283> which is similar, but looks improved. It weighs in at 18 oz.

It's not so much the sleeping that he has trouble with, it's after the long hike, his is tired and sitting on the ground is not really appealing. Neither one of us are big fans of hammocks. I'm really only looking for something to keep him off the ground. I did a bit of searching on Google and found a tripod chair sort of like Greenandtan was talking about. It is a bit on the heavier side, but with as light as I pack anymore, I have the weight to spare, and I would be willing to carry it for my dad's comfort, or even take a few things from him to make his weight even out.

Both of us are getting a ton of new gear over the winter now that we have taken our last trip for the year, so I am going to work on getting him a lighter weight pack than his Kelty he currently uses so that his legs don't take so much of a beating. Being as he is 54 and I am 26, I can take more punishment right now on the trail than he can.

What kind of sleeping pad does he use?

Although I don't take it on every trip, I do take a Thermarest Trekker 20 chair to use with my Prolite 4 pad quite often (I'm 58, and I can relate to what you're saying about your dad.) It doesn't get me up off the ground, but it's light, soft, supportive, and, on cold ground, warm. It gives my back a great rest while I'm cooking and sitting around, and I find that a relaxed back means I sleep much better. The fact that my legs are stretched out on the ground doesn't matter; if it's cold, I put my empty Vapor Trail pack, with its thick back pad, under my legs. (If your dad uses a full-length pad, they make another version that you can simply leave the pad in, even while you sleep. It also extends the pad under your legs when you use it as a chair.)

Mine weighs 12 ounces - not extremely light, but not overly burdensome, either.

The thermarest chairs work well if you use a thermarest. Since I use a down airmattress I also carry a crazy creek chair which weighs 21 ounces, BUT - Longhair - after laughing at me for taking it on our trip, suffered greatly without a chair and claims he will be getting one soon.

In the winter I carry one of those folding z rest foam jobs. I use it under my down airmattress and I use it to make a luxery chair in the snow. Just pack the snow on a slight hill, carve out an easy chair, line it with the foam and sit down hard once to do final shaping.

Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

>> hennesy hammock...

> we don't like the idea of

Well, before you discount it utterly, back up a bit. The Hennesey is probably not the best choice for a hammock you want to *sit* in. because you can't take the bugnet off (yes you can fold it over and la la la) However, you have a couple of options you might want to consider even if you aren't going to sleep in it. Search back a bit in this forum, or google for "risk's test hammock" - it'll cost you about 15 dollars to make, with no sewing, and will make a very nice chair to lounge in for very little weight. (basically a piece of nylon fabric, with an overhand knot in each end and a rope below the knots.) you can rig that at the right height and sit crosswise in it very nicely. You might also consider if you're just sitting in it a variety of the string hammocks (mayan hammock etc.) that you can find and buy cheep, hammocks make awesome chairs, even if you don't sleep in them.

I use my cheap netless hammock -- weighs a pound, sets up in a minute, and I have it with me anyway. However, this is what I've seen others recommend. Pricey but they swear by it.

I've been looking at the light three-legged stools, not so much for backpacking but for canoe trips where I care much less about weight. I'm only 45 but there are days when a stool would be a welcome treat in camp. For a short backpacking trip the weight of the stool may not be prohibitive.

I have the same problem as your father and I use a folding stool from Ranger Joe's Link. It isn't light (about 2 lbs) but it folds nicely to pack, takes up little room and is fairly comfortable. I looked at a lot of chairs and this is the best I have found.

Blessings...Vark

May I suggest a Sling-light . Very comfortable and reasonably light at 22oz. with the headrest. I would recommend adding a small bit of blue foam pad to keep you from sliding in it as you get out. I also use the pad as a sit pad during rest stops and to put at the entrance to the tent. I won’t leave home without it.

The Sling-light looks nice, but my concern is finding space in one of the packs. How small does it fold up?

I have a flat, relaxed, leisurely 4 day trip coming up so I ordered one of these bad boys. Never used one but on paper (pixels?) it looks comfortable. It's heavier than the chair above but a lot less expensive and more compact. We'll see.......

Usually a hammock is my camp chair but this trip will be almost treeless.

Somewhere I have one of these http://www.nadachair.com/ but I've never taken it camping. I also haven't used it in years, but I DO recall it being very comfortable

It seems that the design could be built into a pack, or you could maybe carry a strap to add to a pack to make a similar device.

Or you could just buy their lightest model.

I would also suggest a hammock to use as a seat if you're hiking in a wooded area. The Byer weighs in at 11 ounces, and for the weight and cost you won't find anything as comfortable. Setting up is a breeze once you do it a couple times.

http://www.byerofmaine.com/amazonas-traveller.htm

Of course if you really don't like hammocks, there are other options. If you hike in a area with active bears, a bear cannister also doubles as a fantastic seat. Not as light, but serves double-duty in keeping your food safe.

And for folding stools, Byer also makes a very packable stool that weight in at 21 ounces...

http://www.byerofmaine.com/s-trilite-xl.htm

Hope this helps!

Trailrunner
my girlfriend bought one of those last year. She hates to sit on the ground, and it does keep you up, but you have to balance on it the whole time. Tell us how you like it. Hey do you have one of those wrist GPS jobs?
I wonder if I can ski at night with it on my wrist.
Jim

Hmmmm......maybe that's why it's on sale and out of production LOL!!!

My "wrist GPS job" is a Garmin 101. Love it. I use it for running, kayaking and on my bike too. I chose it over other models because the AAA cells can be replaced in the field. That makes it good for multi day trips. But it does occasionally lose its lock in deep canyons/heavy tree cover. My new Vista HcX acquires and locks amazingly well.....but I can't wear it on my wrist.

The 101 has a fairly feeble back light and I don't think it can be set for constant on. But it shows up fine in a headlamp.

How about the Big Agnes Cyclone? Only 6 ounces!

http://www.basegear.com/big-agnes-cyclone-chair.html

BF

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

You strap a Slinglight to the back of your pack; it folds up flat, not into a tube.

I'll throw a vote in for the Thermarest chair. I don't often use a chair, but when I do that's the one I use. As others have said you do need to be using a Thremarest pad to use this chair. A closed cell foam pad will also work ok in it.

The most comfortable chair I have used is my Bearikade bear canister. This solution is both heavy and expensive (if being carried just to function as a chair), but does double as an awesome food storage receptacle. I use mine only where canisters are required, but if I were to consider carrying a chair that weighs 1 1/2 lbs like others suggested then this is a viable option at right around 2 lbs as it would double as a place to store food. Heck, depending on your food storage system (mine weighs about 7 oz for a dry bag, cord and mini caribiner) using a canister might even have you bereaking even as far as weight is concerned over carrying a stool of some sort as you wouldn't need to carry the bear bagging paraphernalia.

Good luck with that GCI sling chair. I had one about three years ago that didn't last one outing before it twisted and fell to pieces. To add insult to injury I still had to carry it out! Be sure you use it very gently on perfectly flat ground.

I found several chairs listed on Campmor.com. I haven't tried any personally. I use a hammock so it isn't necessary and I use a sit pad during the day.
I would definitely recommend one with a back. I know several "older" backpackers that have done 10 day trips at Philmont Scout ranch and they take a stool with a back as their one luxury item.

Edit -
I found this one on Campmor on one of their hot deals for $9.97. Might be worth a try.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___64457

Another option I just thought of would be a 5 gallon plastic bucket (if it will fit in you pack). Just stuff all your stuff inside it. When you get to camp and have everything set up, then you would use your bucket at a stool. Kinda hokey, but it might work. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Same concept as a bear keg.

Tango

I have the Sling Light chair. I am 55 now and I can get out of it. 21 oz. with the head rest and added, short length parachute cord. Expensive, but the lightest out there if you want a chair. After sitting for half an hour or more, you have to get up, your butt gets sore. I use the straps on my pack to strap it on. I had to add a cord to the chair so I can run the strap on my Golite pack thru it to hold the top on and another strap goes thru the tubing at the bottom so the chair is secured and doesn't move. The head rest rests in the folded up chair and stays put unless you fall over. A lady I know on another forum, has had hers for quite a few years now. Beats resting on the ground against a log or tree and has less pitch.

Yep that is what you do. That and the guitar are the only things on the outside of my pack.

I discovered that a piece of closed cell foam in the chair makes it more comfortable and it keeps you from slipping when you go to get out of it. The pad gets triple duty as a sit pad during the day and an entry to my tent at night. I am very pleased with this set up.