It barely misses being the lightest chair of its kind, yet it’s significantly more comfortable and stable than its lightweight counterparts. When sitting down in the Zero, we immediately noticed the back support provided by its shape and the stability of the legs that keep its wobble to a minimum for such a light chair. When it comes to buying furniture, saving money and high-quality furniture are two of the decision factors. Our kitchen and dining room furniture products are manufactured by trusted brand names such as Broyhill, Lane, Real Living and more. We carry complete dining room sets that can complement or update your existing design, as well as individual dining room and kitchen tables, and the dining room chairs to match.
Since this is a stool, there is no backrest, so reclining is off the table. However, our testers found themselves surprised at how comfortable they were sitting on this model. For an elevated sitting spot from which you can cook dinner, share a snack, or take in the sunset, we are stunned by how much we enjoy the Skyline UL Stool. The seat pocket isn’t as deep as some, so Ozark Trail Canopies we did find our legs feeling less supported and our bums sliding forward. You’ll find yourself sitting pretty low to the ground, so this may not be the chair for folks who have trouble getting up from a low crouch. However, for those of you wondering who the heck would bring a chair backpacking in the first place, we think this is the product that might change your mind.
And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Taco chairs like the Crazy Creek Hex Original 2.0 and Crazy Creek Original are harder to get in and out of since they sit on the ground and offer less support. Sit pads like the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat and Nemo Chipper are truly just a piece of foam that offers just a hint of padding and primarily keeps your butt from getting wet and dirty if you’re sitting on the ground. REI’s Flexlite Chair has been replaced by an entire flock of Flexlite chairs; the one that is the closest to replacing the original Flexlite in the lineup is the Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair. The design, size, and weight is nearly identical, but the nylon fabric has been replaced with polyester. We found the Coleman Kickback Breeze Chair to be a simple yet very comfortable seat, though women liked it more than men did (many of them judged it to be too snug).
We were impressed with the usability of Renetto’s signature design. The canopy quickly and easily transforms into a carrying case—just wrap it around the chair and snap it closed with two plastic buckles, and you can carry the whole thing on your back like an oblong backpack. We brought this chair to a dense Los Angeles neighborhood to watch Fourth of July fireworks. We got some admiring nods en route to the celebration—and we had one of the more comfy seats at the show. After six months of regularly using the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair, we think it’s the best choice for most people who are seeking an upright chair for car camping, tailgating, and outdoor gatherings.
We pay attention to each model’s comfort during an extended sit, how much work it is to set up and break them down, their sizes and weights, and how stable they feel on different surfaces. You’ll find this review helpful in narrowing down your options in a market full of excellent chairs. We also let two boys, ages 1 and 5, play with them and sit on them in the backyard for six months.
It just requires a quick twist and your body weight on the chair to set it up. Foam chairs are a bit trickier to differentiate in this category. Because you sit directly on the ground, models like the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat and Nemo Chipper generally offer consistent stability or are as stable as the ground beneath them. Our only comment about sit pads like these is that because they are so light, if you get up to grab something on a windy day, they’ll blow off of whatever surface you had them on. Looking first at tent-style chairs, some really stand out. The huge base and larger diameter poles of the Big Agnes Big Six, while heavy, significantly increase its stability.
However, this isn’t really a chair, per se — you are still basically sitting on the ground. If you find getting up off the ground difficult and uncomfortable, then this seat may not be suitable for you. But for those who want a dry, warm spot to park their rear without adding more than a couple of ounces to their packs, this one could be your ideal solution. Like most chairs of this type, the Coleman Oversized Quad comes with an over-the-shoulder carry bag.
We compared the depth of each tent-style chair, as some tipped us forward more than others. We prefer a deeper seat that lets us recline and relax, like the one found on our favorite model, the Big Agnes Skyline UL, and the luxurious Big Agnes Big Six. Comfort is decidedly lower in foam chairs — we noted that the PowerLounger curled our shoulders in and dug into our underarms the least.