A backpacking chair is definitely not one of the 10 essentials. But it’s a luxury item that can make the camping portion of a backpacking trip much more enjoyable and relaxed. If you like to sit around a campfire to socialize at night or read outdoors while sitting upright, bringing a lightweight trail chair along can really enhance a backpacking trip. With trail weights between 1 and 2 pounds, the added weight of carrying a backpacking chair isn’t that onerous, especially if it’s offset by using other lightweight backpacking gear.
| Make / Model | Weight | Seat Height | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helinox Chair Zero Chair | 17 oz | 11.5" | 265 lbs |
| REI Flexlite Air Chair | 16 oz | 11" | 250 lbs |
| NEMO Moonlite Chair | 30 oz | 10.5" | 300 lbs |
| Helinox Ground Chair | 23 oz | 4" | 265 lbs |
| Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair | 28 oz | 15" | 276 lbs |
| REI Trail Stool | 18 oz | 15" | 200 lbs |
| Therm-a-Rest Trekking Chair Kit | 10-13 oz | 4" | 300 lbs |
| NEMO Chipper Foam Seat | 5.6 oz | 1" | Unlimited |
| REI Inflatable Sit Pad | 4.4 oz | 1.5" | 200 lbs |
| Bearvault BV500 Bear Canister | Nothing extra | 12.7" | Grizzly Bear |
Here are the top 10 backpacking trail chairs we recommend.
1. Helinox Chair Zero
2. REI Flexlite Air Chair
Available from:
REI
3. NEMO Moonlite Reclining Chair
4. Helinox Ground Chair
The Helinox Ground Chair has a square base that spreads the load more evenly than feet, meaning it is not as likely to sink into the ground. Setup is fast and easy with shock-corded poles and intuitive seat attachments. Its supportive 500-denier polyester seat features breathable monofilament mesh side panels to keep you comfortable in hot environments. The only thing missing is an ottoman to prop your feet on.
5. Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair
6. REI Trail Stool
Available from:
REI
7. Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit
Available from:
Therm-a-Rest | Amazon
8. NEMO Chipper Closed-Cell Foam Seat
9. REI Co-op Sit Pad
Available from:
REI
10. Bearvault BV500 Bear Canister
How to Choose a Backpacking Trail Chair
There are several types of trail chairs available today: sling-style chairs with collapsing and shock-corded aluminum legs, stools, chair kits that incorporate a sleeping pad, closed-cell foam sit pads, and inflatable seat cushions.
Price
The cost of a backpacking chair can vary widely depending on the type of chair you want. Upright chairs with backs and shock-corded poles are usually the most expensive, while the price drops the closer you get to the ground with sit pads or sleeping pad chair kits. In addition to price, we’d encourage you to consider warranties and return policies as well. For example, Helinox offers a 5-year warranty on all of their chairs, including the Helinox Chair Zero and the Helinox Ground Chair, which we think speaks volumes about the quality of their product. Purchases made of REI products or through REI also have a 1 year money-back guarantee, which is helpful if you find that the chair you choose doesn’t stack up.
Chair Weight
While chair weight is important, you need to balance it against the weight capacity of the chair to ensure it can hold your body weight, seat height, and packability. For example, the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is probably the best chair for big and tall backpackers, but it is significantly heavier than the Helinox Chair Zero or the REI Flexlite Air Chair.
Weight Capacity
When choosing a trail chair, make sure it can support your body weight or the weight of the people who will be using it. You don’t want to break the chair or hurt yourself by having it collapse under you. The NEMO Moonlite Reclining Chair is the strongest upright chair listed below with an extra-thick frame followed by the Big Agnes Skyline UL. Both are suitable for tall and big backpackers.
Seat Height
Trail chairs that are low to the ground like the Helinox Ground Chair can be very difficult to get up from. We generally aim for chairs that have a seat height of 10″. Much lower and you’ll want to add deep squats to your weekday workouts to get in shape to get up from your trail chair. But this is one of those things that varies from individual to individual. If you don’t mind crawling in the dirt, a low chair or sit pad may be perfectly suitable for you.
Seat Width
Seat width is another dimension of comfort that is important to consider because you want a chair that is going to be big enough for your butt. Stools like the REI Trail Stool are a good option if you don’t like having your derriere squeezed from sides by a seat, as are sit pads like the NEMO Chipper or the REI Sit Pad.
Back Support
If back support is a priority, you’re going to want to get a chair like the NEMO Moonlite Reclining Chair which has an adjustable back angle or the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair which is more upright than other chairs.
Chair Feet
Most trail chairs will sink in soil, sand, or soft ground which can be pretty annoying because it makes it much harder to stand up and get out of your chair. When comparing chairs, look for ones with wide feet or accessories that prevent sinking. These can add cost and weight to the chair to make it usable in the field that offset the chair’s weight. For example, the Helinox Chair Zero has an added accessory groundsheet that prevents the chair from sinking in soft soil and sand. It costs and weighs extra though. The NEMO Moonlite and the REI Trail Stool have wider feet than other chairs, but they can still sink into the ground in certain cases. Our favorite accessory is a product called Chair Buddies (see our review), make in the UK, which attach to chair legs and prevent sinking. They’re only compatible with the Helinox Chair Zero and the REI Flexlite Chair though.
Packability
Since you have to carry a backpacking chair, you should give some consideration to how you pack it and how much extra volume it will take. Do you want to have the chair accessible for use during the day without unpacking your backpack or just in camp? If you pack it in your pack, how much extra volume will it consume? These are all useful considerations when choosing a backpacking chair.
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You did forget the Gossamer gear sit pad. Beats all the chairs in weight and doubles as a back pad. You did include a bear can. Just saying. :o)
I was under the impression that they’d phased it out.
The original sits pads are gone – no longer made. You really need a gossamer gear pack to use the other ones they have now.
Have you had the chance to try out the On-ground sling-like chair (Qwikback?) by Litesmith? I like my REI Flexlite (& would like some chair buddies for it), but the Litesmith is interesting & very light.
Nope. Looks fragile.
Thanks for this needed review!
I bought two REI FLRXLITE Air chairs for car camping. I’m tired of dragging around big, heavy collapsible canvas chairs so I got these gems. So far they are great, if a bit low for long term comfort. However drink holders as founding the arms of heavy collapsible chairs are unnecessary as the ground is within easy reach with these “backpacking” chairs. Set yer drink on th ground and you are good to go.
Phil, you finally pushed me over the edge! I ordered a Helinox Chair Zero! I figure if I have a tent only weighing in at 1 lb. I can justify this!
Exactly. That’s the same justification I use! And so much more civilized for afternoon Britannic tea.
The Trekology YIZI LITE 750g Hiking Backpacking Chair is worth a look at on amazon for $40 if you can’t bring yourself to shell out the $’s for a chair zero or flexlite. It sits a bit close to the ground but is comfortable, actually comes in at 750G with the stuff sack and can be packed inside your pack horizontally. I picked one of the up for weekend trips.
I own, use and love the Helinox zero and certainly feel it’s worth the extra 17 oz. Of course the down side is sitting around the campfire you’re the only one with a chair and feel bad for everyone else who’s got to figure out how to deal with wet of frozen ground and their back issues. Anyway as usual in the backpacking experience we move on. Now with graduating to the bear canister (how will I cope with not having to find that special tree limb?) I’ve removed the Helinox from my pack since the canister can double up as a chair or at least a stool or even my hammock that is now replacing the tent (at least on the AT). Of course the Helinox zero has that ability to offer a back rest which is priceless, yet you won’t always need or use that backrest as it will throw you back comfortably but not effectively to do other things well like cooking.
Not sure if they would make the cut for a “backpacking” chair, but my Marchway chairs (both high-back and standard) which I purchased on Amazon for a fraction of what the Helinox chair costs are doing the trick for me on my backpacking trips (standard) and canoe-camping trips (high-back).
What about the ol’ Crazy Creek? Mine weighs in at 15.75 ounces and requires no assembly–I just pull it out of the mesh pocket on the back of my pack and take a seat. For a rest or viewpoint, I don’t think I’d fish out a chair that required assembly.
It’s got great back support and I also use it as part of the underpad for my air mattress (it’s made of closed-cell foam).
Finally, thanks to the handles, you can use it as a back-country briefcase/tote bag.
Crazy Creeks rock!
I considered all of the chair options and went with the Dutchware Hammock chair in Cloud 71 fabric. The suspension weighs more than the chair, but my setup is 8-9 oz. Needs trees, but that’s not an issue for me generally. Very comfortable, adjustable, highly breathable especially in Cloud 71, no ground instability issues. After setting up and adjusting a few times, it takes 2-3 minutes from it’s built-in pocket to relaxing in it. The chair packs down to the size of an orange as does the suspension. Cost including suspension puts it in the middle of the price range for chair options, some people already have a hammock suspension or 3, possibly reducing the cost further.
I’m not so sure about the REI Trail Stool. I was sitting on one on a hike once and one foot started sinking into the ground. I found myself slowly tipping over backward and there was nothing I could do about it but brace for the fall.
Most chair feet sink into the ground.
2 work-arounds for sinking chair feet. Remove the stock feet and insert into “practice” hollow plastic golf balls — or — Print some wide bottom feet with a 3D printer. There are a lot of patterns out there.
I bought the Ground chair years ago to combat that sinking feeling, but, yes, it is low. I was headed to Philmont in NM and knew the ground was hard, so I picked up Chair Zero and it performed like a champ. Both chairs use the same sling, so I swap the Chair Zero sling (which is much lighter) into both frames and
save some ounces. Ground Chair frame with Chair Zero sling is 18.66 oz.
A couple notes of possible interest:
1. Grand Trunk has just purchased the defunct Alite chair company (which closed for some reason in 2018). I still enjoy my Alite Monarch chair (20 oz). You have to use a slight amount of balance to sit in them, but they usually do not sink into the ground, and can be used as a recliner when you stretch your feet out on the ground. Grand Trunk told me they do not have any Alite inventory but plan to begin making more in the near future. Perhaps the Alite’s popularity was eclipsed by the REI and Helinox chairs, which are more chairlike.
2. Hillsound of British Columbia is a small company that makes crampons, gaiters, and stools. The stools are 14″ and 17″, and use telescoping legs so they fold up into a bundle the size of a water bottle. They weigh 12 and 14 oz. I have not used one yet but the reviews at Moosejaw are quite favorable.