Camp chair

[pmac]

I'm considering a toting a lightweight chair that has some back support and gets me off the ground on a tour next summer.  The two that seem to be the most promising are the Alite monarch  and the slinglight. Both are very light, but a bit pricey.  The monarch folds down pretty small, but the 2 leg design seems a bit unusual.  Anybody ever use either one of these or something comparable?  If you have used either one, how is the durability?   

http://www.rei.com/product/792007/alite-monarch-butterfly-chair

http://www.slinglight.com/

[Joe B]

Duluth Trading has a 3 leg stool that is very comfy. It is however about 31oz as packed so it might not fit the bill. It is however exceptionally comfy..

[Tandem4Rider]

If you are concerned about comfrot sitting around after a day of riding - you're not riding far enough! 

Seriously, if that level of comfort is important to you, while the chair may cost more than you hoped of may otherwise have planned - it's a worthy investment.  I've not tried those products, so I can offer nothing useful for you.  One thing I pack along is a simple mesh hammock.  Weighs next to nothing, all you need are a couple well placed trees (usually available), and all the comfort you could hope for. 

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/CAMOmnifindQueryCmd?storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1&searchCategory=&ip_state=&ip_constrain=&ip_navtype=search&pageSize=24&currentPage=&ip_sortBy=&searchKeywords=hammock

[bogiesan]

You want to sit in that butterfly thing for about 15 minutes before thinking about getting one. It might work for you. Did not for me. It's an interesting balancing act that seemed like it would promote cramping in my legs after a long day of riding. However, that was only my initial reaction but I sat in it for a total of 8 minutes at our REI.

There is a tradeoff between wheight and comfort in camp chairs. I used an original Crazy Creek for about ten years of backpacking and another five of bike touring but I finally got a folding REI chair. I don't do self-contained bike trips so the weight doesn't bother me.
http://www.rei.com/product/765270/rei-camp-stowaway-chair

the Crazy Creek was delightful relaxation for the weight although getting in and out of it got more difficult as I got older, tighter and more tired. It could be placed on large rocks to get me off the ground. If weight matters, you can still consider that style. They work and are ultra-simple.
http://www.rei.com/product/812634/crazy-creek-the-original-chair

[DaveB]

Duluth Trading has a 3 leg stool that is very comfy. It is however about 31oz as packed so it might not fit the bill. It is however exceptionally comfy..

I had a very similar stool I bought from Campmor several years ago and found it disappointing.  The 3-leg design is unstable unless on a hard, leve surface and the lack of a backrest made it uncomfortable after a few minutes.   Highly unrecommended.

[pmac]

Thanks for the replies. 

Since I'm now old and slow, sitting on the ground or a log or in crazycreek chair doesn't have the same appeal it did years ago.  I'm not interested in a stool since there is no backrest.  A hammock doesn't fit the bill since I'm looking for a chair I can easily set up and move around, use by the tent, cooking, etc.  My concern about the Alite butterfly chair is the same one raised by bogiesan, even though the internet reviews have generally been pretty good.   I don't have a local REI store so I can't test one out which makes me a bit leary.  The Slinglight  doesn't fold down as small as I would like, but I might be able to strap it to a trailer.  On the plus side, both the Alite and the Slinglight are light enough to justify carrying, but pricey.    Hard to find something that really fits the bill.

If I get one I'll give y'all a report. 

[paddleboy17]

Back when I was kayaking, I bought a chair similar to the Crazy Creek from MEC:  http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/CampingChairs/PRD~5014-053/mec-senate-seat.jsp.
I never actually camped out of my kayak, but I did take this on a day trip to an island in Lake St Clair.  I might take this on an off road camping trip, but I have yet to take it on a tour.

This type of chair is comfortable, but you are on the ground.

It was fabulous for lunch on the beach of a small island.

[azbikerwa]

I've had very good luck with the Therma-rest Trekker chair.  You can insert a therma rest pad or partially inflated air mattress to get somewhat off the ground.  I've used it in the tent just set up empty on top of the sleeping bag so I could read in the evening and still have back support.  It takes a little finesse to get in empty but once in it works pretty well.  It weighs virtually nothing and takes up very little space.  just an option.