What are the things that you’ll need to consider in choosing the best backpacking chair? With so many products in the market, it would be confusing to choose which one will best suit your needs.
Hiking and backpacking are some of the best outdoor activities that you can do over the weekend. Yet, you’ll need a comfortable chair to make sure that you have something to sit on after a long walk.
Tips For Choosing The Best Chair For Backpacking
Read on for a few tips to help you decide the right backpacking chair for your outdoor adventure.
Size and Height
Size does matter and some would like a big chair if they want more room. It all depends on your preference. A tall chair allows you to sit and stand with ease, while a low chair provides more stability as it is close to the ground.
Packability
If you want a bigger chair, you’ll need to make sure that it would fit in your backpack when packed. Innovation made it possible for backpacking chairs to fold to a small size. Besides, they won’t eat up too much space on your backpack and they’re easy to carry.
Weight
Weight is also an important factor to consider. This is an essential criterion when choosing the best chair for backpacking. Since you will be carrying the chair in your backpack, you’ll need to make sure that you choose a lightweight chair. You don’t want to carry extra weight on your back which might cause fatigue and stress.
Capacity
It is important to check the weight capacity of a chair to make sure it can support your weight.
Strength and Durability
You might think that a lightweight chair may compromise its strength and durability. This is not true. Manufacturers nowadays use quality materials on the seat frames of backpacking chairs. For instance, aluminum alloy is one of the materials used on seat frames. This type of material provides the greatest strength at a minimal weight.
Manufacturers also use canvas and ripstop polyester in the seat of the chair and carry sack. These are durable, tear-resistant materials.
Most backpacking chairs are also weather-resistant which makes them ideal for outdoor adventures. Some chair models are also fire-retardant and tear-resistant.
Design and Comfort
The design and comfort may vary on your preference and needs. For instance, backpackers would need a tough and durable chair. However, other outdoor enthusiasts would choose comfort over durability. You’ll want a backpacking chair that is easy to clean and maintain and resistant to harsh weather.
There are many chair designs to choose from such as foldable, stool, inflatable, and many more. Also, other designs will include, a two-legged, three-legged, glider, rocker, and classic style.
Stability
A stable chair will prevent you from falling over. You’ll need to consider the terrain where you’re going to use the chair. This will help you further decide on a more balanced and stable chair.
Ease of Use
A backpacking chair that is very easy to use and set up is crucial for your outdoor adventure. Don’t settle for a chair that is difficult to set up and pack. In case you need to pack your gear and move fast, you should be able to disassemble your chair fast as well.
Also, if you want to rest, you should be able to assemble the chair right away. Besides, the chair’s frame and pad design will give you an idea if it’s easy to use or not.
Price
The price of a product is always a common denominator for choosing which product is best.
The prices may vary on the type of material used, the brand, and the design of the chair. Extra features such as footrests and cup holders also affect the price of the chair. Most of the time, the price correlates with the quality of materials used.
It would be a good idea to compare products and prices first before buying a chair. Not all backpacking chairs have the same specs, that is why it is important to do a little research first. This will help you come up with the best brand that has the most reasonable price.
Best Backpacking Chair (2020)
Big Agnes Big Six
The Big Six is a tall and wide backpacking chair that offers excellent comfort. This chair is very easy to use and can pack into a small size that would fit inside your backpack. The wide base makes the chair very spacious. The pre-bent poles also provide perfect stability.
The frame consists of aluminum poles that make the Big Six ideal for backpacking. The hubless frame also consists of aluminum alloy. This is a tough and durable material that will support your weight. If you’re a big backpacker, you don’t need to worry about stability.
The Big Six also offers a deeper and wider seat that will provide the most comfort. The color-coded frame allows you to set up and disassemble the chair fast. The best part is that you don’t need any tools to assemble the Big Six.
The waterproof coating protects the Big Six from unpredictable weather conditions. The pad consists of high-tenacity Robic yarn and ripstop polyester. These materials make the Big Six very durable. Others may find this chair heavy, but it’s still an excellent backpacking chair.
Big Agnes Skyline UL
The Skyline UL is another excellent choice for a backpacking chair. Similar to the Big Six, it uses the same hubless pole design that provides comfort and stability. The perfect shape of the seat fabric and the seat depth will keep you relaxed while seated.
When it comes to ease of use, the Skyline is very easy to set up and pack. The color-coded poles will speed up the time of assembly so you don’t need to guess what goes where. The Skyline is also very lightweight and you won’t have any problems carrying it in your backpack.
The seat height is much lower as compared to the Big Six and you can get in and out of the chair without difficulty. But, tall backpackers may find the Skyline too low and may be uncomfortable. The ripstop polyester and ultralight nylon Robic yarn provide durability.
This chair is also weather-resistant, ultralight, and it packs small. It offers excellent back support since the height is not too low. The Skyline UL provides excellent comfort, durability, and stability. This makes it one of the best choices for a backpacking chair.
Sunyear Compact
The Sunyear Compact has an ergonomic design. The seat has a deep-seated design with a wide width that offers great comfort.
This chair is also lightweight and easy to carry around. It is also compact and could fit in any backpack. The poles also consist of aircraft-grade aluminum to keep the chair sturdy.
The ripstop nylon and the mesh side panels from the seat will keep you cool while seated. The hubs and poles are sturdy and provide stability. The skidproof rubber foot has a non-slip design that works well even on soft ground.
The chair is also easy to assemble and disassemble. The Sunyear Compact is very easy to use and is also durable and comfortable. This chair is less expensive when compared to other brands in the market. Despite the price, the Sunyear is still a great backpacking chair.
TravelChair Joey
The seat of the TravelChair Joey consists of thick canvas. It also comes with breathable mesh panels for ventilation. This chair is perfect for backpacking during the summer or on hot weather. There is no question when it comes to stability and it has a strong anodized aluminum frame. Also, It can hold a top weight capacity of 300 pounds.
The seat height is a bit high, but it allows you to get in and out of the chair without difficulty. The TravelChair Joey features an anti-sink foot that you can use on muddy or sandy surfaces.
The chair is easy to set up and disassemble. But, there is a little bit of guesswork when inserting the fabric. There are no clear indications on which side of the fabric should be facing up or down.
The TravelChair Joey offers comfort and stability. This is an excellent choice for a backpacking chair. It is small when packed and it is very easy to store in your backpack.
Therm-A-Rest Uno Chair
The Therm-A-Rest Uno chair has a unique design. It has a rounded base that provides excellent stability and comfort. The base consists of a hard plastic that functions as the base when assembled. Due to its unique construction, the plastic base also doubles as a table when inverted.
You can pack the chair completely inside the disc-shaped base. The plastic base also has an integrated carry handle for easy transport. It has a durable fabric that consists of a 300D ripstop polyester. The aluminum poles provide stability and durability. The affordable price and durability make this a good choice for backpacking.
Conclusion
In summary, some might consider a backpacking chair because it is affordable. Other people might also choose comfort over durability.
Choosing the best backpacking chair all comes down to your preference. It is also important to make your decision based on the activity that you’re going to use it for.
The best backpacking chair should be lightweight and easy to pack. It should also have a reliable and durable frame. You’ll also need to check if it can support your weight. These things will help you make an informed buying decision.
