A Place to Sit: A Perspective on Ultralight Camp Chairs

[Erik Norseman]

I read this article sitting in my Nemo Moonlite! I find the moonlite elite pales in comparison comfort wise to the regular moonlite, and is noticeably less comfortable than the helinox chair zero. YMMV, but the moonlite elite seems like too much comfort is sacrificed for it to make sense. They changed the size and shape of the mesh chair back so it is really a different shape than the regular moonlite. The elite has a very shallow and narrow shape, making the rigid tops dig into my scapula a little and the shallow seat feels like youre perched on it vs. Lounging in it. Curious if anyone else feels differently? Living in Canada, I haven’t tried the REI chair but it looks great!

[Richard N]

I made a puttock strap. I found that it’s very dependent on friction: wearing a slick nylon puffy makes the whole apparatus fail as the strap slides down. Choice of strap material also matters at the buckle: lightweight strapping can roll or twist and pull through a buckle.

[jscott]

To my eyes, the Puttock Strap just looks…(self censorship here.)  But I haven’t used one, so take my eyeball only critique for what it is.

It looks confining. I’ll leave it at that. Doubtless the designers are experts in ergonomics and can explain why it works. Perhaps the Gear Sceptic will have a revelatory review. I love its low weight.

[Stephen Seeber]

Come on, Nemo.  Change your approach to weighing your product!

I have the Helinox Zero, the REI Flexlite. I use the REI Flexlite with golf whiffle balls to prevent sinking. I placed it in the Helinox bag, which weighs less than the REI bag.  The Flexlite, as used, weighs 17.5 ounces, including the bag and balls.

I find it reasonably comfortable. However, getting in and out of the chair requires great care to avoid tipping it, and that care often continues while sitting in the chair, especially on uneven ground.

I read Ryan’s article revision this morning and decided, at a claimed weight of 18 ounces for the Nemo Moonline Elite, I’d give it a try.

I brought it home and weighed it:

Here are the weights:

23.3 ounces: as purchased with cardboard information card.

22.4 ounces: card removed, weight of chair and base.

18.6 ounces: chair only, without base.

3.35 ounces: support base.

So, using the chair, as advertised with the base, the weight is 22.4 ounces—24% more than advertised.

I am pretty sure Nemo knows this.  This is a big bump up in weight from my Flexlite implementation.

I removed the golf whiffle balls from the from the Flexlite and put them on the Nemo.  Total weight: 19.5 ounces.

The Nemo is e more stable than the Flexlite or Helinox.  The base of the Flexlite is 9.25″ x 11.25″.  The base of the Nemo is  9.5″ x 15.5″.  Importantly, the upright chair supports  for the Nemo attach with a 5.125″ offset from the center, while the upright chair supports for the Flexlite are 1.38″ offset from the center.  The Nemo is dramatically more stable for left/right movement.  The flexibility of the mesh seat also seems to distribute fore-aft weight shifts so that the chair also seems to have better stability in those directions.

The photograph makes the structural differences clear.

In terms of comfort, after just trying it at home, I find it offers a little less support for my legs than the Flexlite.  However, that isn’t a deal breaker.  The Nemo chair is also far easier to get in and out of, thanks to improved stability and the adjustment straps that can double as hand rests while entering or leaving the chair.

So, I will lose the carry bag, add 2 ounces to my pack weight (and a bit more for a strap to replace the bag), and take the chair on the 4 Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells this week.

[Jerry Adams]

yeah, it’s annoying when manufacturers list the weight less than actual

thermarest has done that for years on the prolite.  They’ve had several versions that were each 1 or 2 ounces heavier than spec’d

yet I like the prolite

I think my uberlite also weighs 1 ounce heavier than spec

[Chad Lorenz]

The High Back version of the Chair Zero is superior for me: provides far more back support for a nominal weight penalty. When I can’t swing it weight wise, I just use a GG Thinlight.

[jscott]

“When I can’t swing it weight wise, I just use a GG Thinlight.”

As a buttpad? that’s hardcore! Granted, it’s better than sitting on dirt. I mentioned earlier in this thread that the GG thinlight has a tendency to pick up Ponderosa pine needles, etc. when laid out on dirt. I use mine to protect my air mattress from punctures. I also used my thinlight for a while as part of a sit outdoors system. I decided the risk wasn’t worth it. Rolled up it does provide some comfort! find a rock or tree trunk to lean back on, and Bob’s your uncle, as the Brits say.

 

[Chris FormyDuval]

I really liked the new Nemo…..until I started feeling corners really digging into my back. I’m glad I gave it more than 30 sec test. The reclining feature was really nice….just wish they hadn’t cut the weight to such an extreme, another oz or some other way to fix the corners and I’d be strongly considering it.

[Eric Kammerer]

For those that don’t need the seat back, Hillsound has their BTR Stools on sale. Three different size variants that are defined by the height, but the seat size also increases with the height. 13.2 to 17.4 oz (373-492 g).

[Paul Hatfield]

Thanks. I did not know about the Hillsound BTR Stool.

The GrandTrunk Compass 360 Swivel Stools are on sale also. (The GrandTrunk is cheaper, but somewhat heavier.)

Does someone make a similar stool with carbon fiber tubes?

[Sundance Key]

At 68, I’ve never considered a chair but skimmed this because I’m perpetually perplexed by how many backpackers carry them. I think of being able to get up and down off the ground, sit comfortably at ground level, and squat for a few minutes as natural, primal, basic human abilities — evidenced by elders in tribal and village cultures. I try to do core and back-strengthening stuff a couple times a week (from yoga, martial arts, and conventional exercises), get up and down from the floor 10 times, squat a few minutes, etc. So maybe that’s why I feel no need for a backpacking chair. I do carry a foam pad to sit and lounge on, and after cooking and eating often move to a spot where I can lean against a rock or tree. (The pad also serves for gear sorting, stretching mat, tent porch, leveling uneven ground for sleeping, wind block, extra insulation below or even laid across my core, and of course back-up in case my NeoAir springs a leak.)

[Haakon R]

Depending on the trip I bring a Helinox ground chair, a cheap copy of the Crazy Creek hex (that’s probably a fair bit heavier, just an educated guess as I don’t have any suitable means to weigh it) or just a foam pad.

I really like the Crazy Creek copy due to the versatility, quick setup and take down and affordable price, but it’s quite heavy and not very pack friendly, so I have often wondered if it would be possible to make/buy just a strap frame, similar to StS air chair kit, but maybe with a more rigid structure, made to work with a closed cell/foam pad?

I’ve never tried the StS air chair kit just because I fear it will put unnecessary wear on my inflatable pad, and I carry closed cell pads more often than inflatables, so it would make for a more versatile system as well. For all I know, the StS kit might even work with a closed cell pad, but I’ve never seen anyone use it like that, so I assume not.

[Bill Budney]

> Does someone make a similar stool with carbon fiber tubes?

A few months ago, Brian T described modifications that he made to Helinox Chair Zero and REI Flexlite Air chairs, which resulted in carbon tube conversion kits that he sold on eBay.

It might be worthwhile asking him whether he might do a stool version. The REI Flexlite Air Stool is pretty good stock (I like it more than the chair b/c it is taller and quicker to deploy/fold). If he made tubes and a hub for that then it could be remarkably light.

[JG H]

We switched from Helinox Chair Zero chairs to Big Agnes Skyline stools last year. We’re both in our 50s and we found the Chair Zero to be a little tough to get in and out of as we get older. The Skyline stool weighs only an ounce more, it’s very comfortable, and it’s noticeably easier getting in and out of it. As a plus, they tuck neatly inside the vestibules of our X Mid Pro 2+, without getting in the way, to create a shelf for more organized storage (and drier, too).

[Randy Martin]

I think you should include a hammock as a comparable option.  I have an ultralight hammock ENO SuperSub that together with their ultralight Helios straps is under a pound.  It sets up in 2 min and provides an incredible feet up positioning

[David D]

I agree.  I have a Helinox ground chair (don’t fit the chair zero), but it’s never been used.

My mesh hammock, 2 Kammock UL straps and 2 UL carbineers come in at 11oz, and is much more comfortable.  Feet up really seem to help with recovery

[DirtNap]

I have the Moonlite Elite and the wife has the Chair Zero. Both work great. The shoulder digging on the Moonlite is a little overblown. The reclining feature is nice but limited. I like that the hubs are all aluminum and very stout. The bottom connecting tube is nearly rectangular and that prevents the shifting I feel in the Chair Zero.

I also bought a carbon fiber chair on Ali that I like. About 22 oz all in and sits about 2 inches higher. Higher sitting position might be worth the extra 2 ounces.

These threads always have somebody claiming hammocks and those weird strap things should be considered. The title says “chair”. And you can’t cook from a hammock. Don’t get me wrong I love a hammock but they are two completely different tools.

[Megan W]

The title says “chair”. And you can’t cook from a hammock. Don’t get me wrong I love a hammock but they are two completely different tools.

 

And…no trees for hammocks where I walk 🙂. I’m taking a chair zero high back on my 4 day walk next weekend  – luxury!

 

[David D]

And you can’t cook from a hammock

String it so the hang is a few inches off the ground, sit on it sideways.  I cook this way all the time

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