Technique: How do you Sit on the Ground (Comfortably)?

[Delmar O’Donnell]

What is your preferred way to sit on the ground (with no chair)?

I tend to sit on my knees/ shins/ ankles, knees fully bent, but eventually my ankles get tired of my feet pointing almost straight back in this position. So then I'll shift weight either left or right, drop one hip on the ground, using both arms to support with my palms on the ground. (Think Disney's Pocahontas at the beginning of 'Just Around the River Bend,' except I haven't silky long hair to blow in the wind.) But I've never gotten good at sitting on the ground for long, and eventually revert to lying down or standing up.

I find the lotus position takes too much of the lumbar curve out of my back for long term comfort. This matches what my PT tells me, and that's to keep the curve in the lumbar region when sitting.

What's your solution to comfortable sitting on flat ground, sans chair, sans rock, sans log?

[Mole J]

I find any style of lotus position takes too much of the lumbar curve out of my back for long term comfort.
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That's because you aren't 'fit' enough structurally. (I wasn't either, but am now). Try Yoga or Pilates classes. It will help with all your hiking physio. The classses will teach you the awareness of bodily micro adjustments which are necessary(and take work initially) to strengthen your body to attain a simple sitting position (as practiced easily by non chair using peoples).

Practice at home each day for a time. Start by sitting on a height to support your current posture. Foam yoga blocks are good – start on say 3 then work down to nothing over time (a month or 6 depending on perseverence – nothing is free)

Hope this is useful

[Bill Law]

What's your solution to comfortable sitting on flat ground, sans chair, sans rock, sans log? Seems a very basic skill that I lack.

Keep walking until you get to a rock, a log, or a chair. I carry a tripod stool so I can stop sooner.

Sense to do likewise seems like a more basic skill. But such sense perhaps comes only with the old age that makes sitting on the ground less attractive.

[Delmar O’Donnell]

LOL good one Bill. Yeah, I take advantage of logs and rocks when they afford themselves. Some of my recent desert hiking has been pretty durn featureless as far as good sittables are concerned.

I doubt I'm your junior, age-wise. But since the UL ethos means less of everything, I assume it sanctions less common sense, too.

How much does your tripod stool weigh? [EDIT] No, no, I take that back. I'm not going to start carrying a stool; you are tempting me and you should not.

[Bob Gross]

A bear canister works great as a camp chair. Multi-purpose, and all that.

I'm not sure, but I think you could use it as a beer keg, as well.

–B.G.–

[Valerie E]

LOL, so THAT's what we should fill my husband's Bearikade Expedition with: Beer!!!

Nutritious, delicious, and hydrating! Hmmmmmmm, I wonder what that would weigh…there's always a fly in the ointment… ;^)

Delmar, I carry a chair sometimes, being frequently in the desert. Yup, extra weight, but it sure is nice at the end of a long day (with a little bourbon in hand)…

[Delmar O’Donnell]

Temptress! Get thee (and thy chair) behind me. I gotta enforce some discipline on myself at some point. No chair!

(At least, not until I give in, and start carrying one.)

Someone must have examined the art of successful ground-sitting?

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I either sit cross-legged or I sit with my legs open but out in front of me or I pull them up to my chest. The best is when I find the perfect rock to lean my back against.

[d k]

I think there was a thread on something like this a long while back…

http://www.instructables.com/id/Seatless-strap-chair/

[Bob Shaver]

I go light weight partly so I can carry a few extras, like a camp chair. I've been using this one for a year now, and my 64 year old bones think its worth a pound and a half.

Pics and review of this chair here:

http://backpackingtechnology.com/backpacking-trips/backpacking-chair-rei-flexlite-chair/

[Gary Dunckel]

The best is when I find the perfect tree to lean my back against, while sitting on my 17 oz. cuben stool (Yellowstone is mainly a lodgepole forest, and those small-diameter logs are only good for hobbits and small kids). Sooo….BYO stool, if I plan to spend 2+ nights at one spot.

[Marko Botsaris]

Delmar, not sure if you are looking for hardware or yoga, but if you have pad there are thingies you can buy or make that fold them into into a passable chair, such as:

http://www.basegear.com/thermarest-trekker-chair-kit-2012.html?gclid=CjkKEQjw5LWcBRCeh8uUlqqluN4BEiQAfr64cH5-zRXKTyze7Ns_eB713_rkzlcILEiIy-SK8RksogPw_wcB

So technically not actually a chair, and multi-use, so a loop hole?

[Alex H]

I rarely find a rock or log or tree in the best location to take in the view. I am of the Colin Fletcher recline with legs in the sleeping bag while cooking, reading,viewing, etc. school. The thermarest chair kit (6 to 10oz. depending on model)is worth every ounce to me, especially in the desert.

[Marko Botsaris]

Plus he has a great way of turning his external frame into a seat with his staff. Nick Gatel shows how here:

http://popupbackpacker.com/backpacking/trip-reports/a-nostalgic-hike-with-chuckawalla-bill/

I tried to do that after reading The Complete Walker III using trekking poles and a ULA pack – not so good.

[Delmar O’Donnell]

All these chair temptations. I can feel my resolve weakening, as the urge to sit becomes overwhelming.

> http://www.instructables.com/id/Seatless-strap-chair/

(Or for $38, the Vitra Chairless)

d k, you genius, thank you for this link. I have two 40" length 1" straps with fastex buckles, so I was able to try this by connecting them together. It appears you need at least 2 yards of webbing for this strap "chair" to go around knees and back. It really puts a lot of support right in the lumbar region where I need it. I sat happily on the ground a long time with this.

This strap "chair" also allows me to relocate quickly, which is important, since I often birdwatch while sitting. The interesting birds always show up behind you.

The two straps together are 2.4 oz, not bad. One can be worn as a belt. Coupled with my CC foam pack frame/sit pad (1.4 oz) this may make a comfy dual-use sitting rig. Not counting dual usage as belt and pack frame, this approach would add just 1.2 oz of extra carry to the pack for the single extra strap.

Very happy with all the suggestions so far. Thanks, BPL.

PS: Here's a photo of me with my new strap chair. Notice the large smile on my face.

[d k]

Happy to help! I like the idea of using the sit pad with it.

You look pretty happy in that picture ;-) Though maybe you should get out of the sun; you're looking older by the minute…

[Franco Darioli]

One way :

this is the ULA Circuit but should work with most packs.
The pack is upside down so that I can sit on the rolltop to keep the pack from sliding back. Easier again if your pack has a lid.
The pole tips are held in place by the pole loops.
(if you need you can dig a small "pocket" under the pole handles)
BTW, I have never done that in the bush , I just read the thread and thought that it can't be all that difficult , so i shoved something in my pack , collected the sticks and went outside and set it up.
Another 5 minutes I will never get back.
This is what I do in reality :

[Marko Botsaris]

Oh, nice! I have to re-try that.

I noticed if I put my bear can at the bottom of my Kalais the pack stands up by itself. Maybe when the can is more or less full I can use it (er, the pack) as a seat back, or maybe even rock back a bit.

[Bob Gross]

It depends on which way the bear canister goes into the pack. For some, the canister goes in with its axis vertical, and that would leave a flat place on the bottom. For some, the canister goes in with its axis horizontal (side to side). That leaves a long side on the bottom. For others, the axis is horizontal (front to back), and that also leaves a long side on the bottom. Because all bear canisters and all packs are different, you have to experiment to find out what works as a back rest.

–B.G.–

[Richard Cullip]

Delmar – I saw this comfy chair option over on High Sierra Topix Comfy Chair Option

[Valerie E]

OMG – I saw that guy in the backcountry at the bottom of the North Rim Grand Canyon in 2005! I couldn't believe it…

[Nick Gatel]

I thought we resolved this a while back :)

Even if you find a tree or rock there is no reason to lean against them… practice leaning forward

I suppose that if one is going to carry a chair, stool, air pump, knee pads, etc. then you might as well get one of these…

So you can do this…

Or this (ditch the shelter unless it is raining or snowing)…

Of course, when I get old, I might have to spring for a lawn chair.

[Marko Botsaris]

I liked the second to last picture from your blog Nick. Because your pack is mostly blocked from view, and green, it looks like you are advocating using a spiny yucca plant as a seat back. Very badass.

[Nick Gatel]

Well the spiny seat thought is deflating.

I thought it was some sort of mystical desert aureola.

[Delmar O’Donnell]

>I thought we resolved this a while back :)

Ya, Nick, I caught your last lecture on this same subject. I think you missed the part where your audience commented that some of us do not have the same sitting flexibility and options that you do. My PT'ist takes a dim view of any posture that reduces the lordosis in the lumbar region, and your "sitting forward" recommendation does exactly that–it takes a lot of the healthy curve out of the lower back. Sitting as you do in the top photo is not recommended for everyone, although we're impressed you can do it and be comfortable. Gotta SYOS (Sit Your Own Sit).

The pack-as-backrest is brilliant, gotta try that. And the bottom photo of the full-on chaise recliner is the ultimate. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm going to start carrying a rock about that size so I can make a similar camp setup.

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