DIY 7 oz comfy ground chair

[Philip Tschersich]

I have been making Crazy Creek-style ground chairs for a while. It’s not hard to cut serious weight off the original. Here is the latest that is the culmination of my experience making and using these.

I used 200D Challenge Ultra. Strong, abrasion-resistant, very easy to sew. For the mesh bits (back vent, seat cushion pocket) I used 1.5 oz ripstop nylon mesh from RSBTR. It breathes like noseeum netting but is very strong and structurally stable. We will see how it holds up. I used old Easton tent poles for the stays. The chair weight is 7.15 oz and the accordion foam sit pad (optional) adds 2.15 oz. I would bring the foam pad for spring or fall trips.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Very Nice!

[Tim (Slowhike) Garner]

Nice work!

 

[Dustin V]

That looks very well done.

What diameter do you think the poles are? I wonder if swapping poles in my ground chair might shave significant weight.

[Monte Masterson]

[JG H]

Well done! If only I were young enough to go to ground again… lol

[Philip Tschersich]

Tent poles are almost always around 7 to 10 mm in diameter. The ones I used are 0.65 oz (19 g) at 8.8 mm in diameter and 15.5” (40 cm) long, each. If your chair uses heavy fiberglass rods, then switching might help. But this is only one minor component.

[Alex H]

I love this!  I have for years been using the Thermarest equivalent and have lamented about why they couldn’t make a durable one for under 10 oz.

[Sam Farrington]

That’s great that you could get the chair under 10 oz, especially with strong parts and materials.  The foldability to an easily carried tube shape is super.

It might add some comfort and ventilation under the seat by adding 4 short pegs, one at each corner.  The rear ones would be extensions of the back rest supports, but the slightly longer front ones would need a way to hold the front pegs steady.  A number of ways come to mind: for example, a flexed bent rod or narrow tube at the front might do it.

Regardless of the seat and back, many of the chairs use fabric.  There  are many types of strong meshes that not only provide ventilation, but keep rain water from collecting, not just behind the back, but also under the butt, which can be hard on the nethers underneath.  The challenge is to find a mesh material that is almost as strong as the ultra light fabrics, but also light in weight.  A drenched back and seat can become something awful.  But using a tent with an awning that protects against downpours helps a lot, especially if much of the chair back and seat can be slid back into the tent.

The above approaches may be a little heavier, but allow me to cook and have dinner out of the rain, especially if it is an intense downpour.

Hope some this is helpful.  My chair is somewhat heavier, but very sturdy and stable when sitting on it, especially in heavy rain and/or wind.  And it also fits into a canoe, solid or inflatable.  Then a WPB fabric designed to fit over the canoe rails and cinched around the waist and WPB parka and hat keep me dry when out there on the blowing rain, wind and lake water.

[todd]

Outstanding!

[Ronald Davis]

Nice work!

[Dan]

Bless you, Philip, it’s a lovely chair, but I don’t know how I would get back to my feet. I can just imagine myself tipping over to the side to get onto my hands and knees.  :-)

[Craig]

I’m suppose you’ve seen the lite smith qwickback chair ? https://www.litesmith.com/qwikback-ul-chair/
<p style=”text-align: center;”> if you are happy to sit on the ground on a mat like in the chair design shown this is an even lighter version (2.8oz). I’ve found mine is somewhat comfortable with the small pad under the bottom, provides some level of back support.</p>

[Author]

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