I bought the Marchway brand chair on Amazon. the Helinox chair is $150 at REI with weight showed at 1 lb 14 oz & packed weight at 2.2 lbs.. the marchway is 2.3 lb and was only $32. It works great and fits nicely in my pack
I was backpacking last month on the PCT and had to have a bear can. I hated the weight. But, next month I’ll be hiking the Trans Catalina Trail and I can’t wait to have the chair with me. Unless your pack is just too heavy, these are sure a nice luxury item that many will find is worth the extra weight.
There's the Ursack, which is a bear-proof (so they claim) bag, much lighter than a canister. So they might not get your food, but it might be pulverized.😄
I have never owned an Ursack, but the reviews on them I’ve seen have been horrible. The REI website reviews are particularly bad. Some places also require a canister, so he may not have had an option.
Great video! I got a similar chair, offbrand and 2 lbs. I did however get to try the Chair zero at an event I was as recently. And I got kinda put off the idea of upgrading when feeling how «unsturdy» the chair was when sitting in it. There was a lot of movement in the structure. (Im 6’4 and 220 lbs) The chair i have now is bulky and heavy, but its more stable. Not sure what im gonna end up with yet.
It takes a bit of getting used to compared to something like a camping chair, but it has been plenty sturdy enough for me over the last year. The only issue I have with it is sinking in soft ground, but that can be mitigated with proper site selection. I’m also not as tall as you lol
VERY NICE VIDEO WITH ALOT OF GOOD INFO HOPE OTHERS WILL SEE THIS AND THEY WILL SEE HOW USEFUL THIS CHAIR COULD BE HAVE A GREAT DAY ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS
I’ve seen a LOT of negative reviews on the REI chairs. Lots of reported failures apparently. I’ve never owned one myself so I can’t strongly comment but that’s just what I’ve read.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking could be an issue, it is 50% cheaper. Mine has been on probably 30 weekend trips and so far so good. I'm getting old, bones are painful so my hikes are shorter and camp time longer. I consider the chair a requirement.
I’m glad its worked for you, especially at the price. Like I said, I can’t pass judgment on it as I’ve never used it. The reviews I read did lead me to purchase the Helinox though. Hopefully yours gives you many more years of service haha
I have the Flexlite Air, the slightly heavier (1 lb) version, and I am somewhat light at 165+ lb plus clothing. I am respectful of sitting gently and arising the same. Have had zero issues except it sinks in sand and loose ground. I fashioned pads from Al can bottoms that should work. I paid $80 with the quarterly 20% off coupon.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking I have both and also the ground chair. The helinox are great but not as comfy for larger folks. The only reason I could think of not preferring the nemo is the extra weight, otherwise it’s far more comfortable (6’3, 220lbs).
@@zacharykennedy5752 You would hope it was more comfortable at 30 ounces. The folks I talked to that didn’t like it said it wasn’t really any more comfortable. If that was the case it wouldn’t make sense at 2x the weight and $20 more expensive. I haven’t used it, that’s just what I’ve heard from a handful of folks that had them and promptly sold them.
Interesting that the REI version runs the base structure 90* different from the Helinox. Wonder if there is any engineering reason of one or the other...
I think Helinox may have a copyright on the design but I’m not sure. It’s an obvious choice to run it the direction Helinox does so it makes you wonder why REI didn’t. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking - As an engineer, I think REI design has some advantages, with a longer distance fore-aft where Helinox long axis is left-right. You may be right about patents... Not sure one is "superior," but REI has 14" leg height, which I appreciate (may be why they have had issues mentioned by other commenters). I only weight 170 or so fully clothed, so I am pretty safe. I took Al can bottoms and attached them for sand. Very light, but I will explore more ideas that might be more compact. I like to tinker! I make really good, really light insulation for my pots, cup, and in-bag reconstituting!
Simple answer no but it’s everyone’s opinion. Personally I don’t mind paying a lot less to get a bit more weight. But to each their own 👍🏻 but I’ll agree a camp chair is vital lol
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking My sleeping pad collection is far worse than Goldilocks. I hope my latest…a Big Agnes works out ok. It is hard being a side sleeper.
Sara really likes the wide, insulated Nemo Tensor. I just bought an insulated thermarest for a trip I’ll have to use a tent for but I haven’t used it yet so can’t comment.
That’s what I thought initially. I was worried about the durability of UL gear but so far I haven’t damaged anything. You just have to treat the gear with respect and utilize a degree of common sense. Don’t drag your hammock and tarp through thorns etc. I don’t baby my gear and I’ve never destroyed anything.
I bought the Marchway brand chair on Amazon. the Helinox chair is $150 at REI with weight showed at 1 lb 14 oz & packed weight at 2.2 lbs.. the marchway is 2.3 lb and was only $32. It works great and fits nicely in my pack
Chair Zero is only 18 oz in the stuff sack, you probably looked at "packaged weight" which is the total weight of the shipment, box, wrapping etc.
I was backpacking last month on the PCT and had to have a bear can. I hated the weight. But, next month I’ll be hiking the Trans Catalina Trail and I can’t wait to have the chair with me. Unless your pack is just too heavy, these are sure a nice luxury item that many will find is worth the extra weight.
I was against the idea of a chair for so many years until I actually used one lol, never went back. It’s worth the weight, at least for me.
There's the Ursack, which is a bear-proof (so they claim) bag, much lighter than a canister. So they might not get your food, but it might be pulverized.😄
I have never owned an Ursack, but the reviews on them I’ve seen have been horrible. The REI website reviews are particularly bad. Some places also require a canister, so he may not have had an option.
Great video! I got a similar chair, offbrand and 2 lbs. I did however get to try the Chair zero at an event I was as recently. And I got kinda put off the idea of upgrading when feeling how «unsturdy» the chair was when sitting in it. There was a lot of movement in the structure. (Im 6’4 and 220 lbs)
The chair i have now is bulky and heavy, but its more stable. Not sure what im gonna end up with yet.
It takes a bit of getting used to compared to something like a camping chair, but it has been plenty sturdy enough for me over the last year. The only issue I have with it is sinking in soft ground, but that can be mitigated with proper site selection. I’m also not as tall as you lol
VERY NICE VIDEO WITH ALOT OF GOOD INFO HOPE OTHERS WILL SEE THIS AND THEY WILL SEE HOW USEFUL THIS CHAIR COULD BE HAVE A GREAT DAY ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Love my chair
Nailed it. I've got the REI version. The feather weight golf balls work well.
I’ve seen a LOT of negative reviews on the REI chairs. Lots of reported failures apparently. I’ve never owned one myself so I can’t strongly comment but that’s just what I’ve read.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking could be an issue, it is 50% cheaper. Mine has been on probably 30 weekend trips and so far so good. I'm getting old, bones are painful so my hikes are shorter and camp time longer. I consider the chair a requirement.
I’m glad its worked for you, especially at the price. Like I said, I can’t pass judgment on it as I’ve never used it. The reviews I read did lead me to purchase the Helinox though. Hopefully yours gives you many more years of service haha
I have the Flexlite Air, the slightly heavier (1 lb) version, and I am somewhat light at 165+ lb plus clothing. I am respectful of sitting gently and arising the same. Have had zero issues except it sinks in sand and loose ground. I fashioned pads from Al can bottoms that should work. I paid $80 with the quarterly 20% off coupon.
If you just put a small log between the legs it'll mitigate the sinking and make it a bit more stable.,
Makes sense, might have to try that. I generally just try to pick a better location for the chair if I can lol
Def getting this chair
Be careful it’s rated for 265 my man 😂
Get the nemo, thank me later
@@zacharykennedy5752 Haven’t met a single person that didn’t hate the Nemo lol
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking I have both and also the ground chair. The helinox are great but not as comfy for larger folks. The only reason I could think of not preferring the nemo is the extra weight, otherwise it’s far more comfortable (6’3, 220lbs).
@@zacharykennedy5752 You would hope it was more comfortable at 30 ounces. The folks I talked to that didn’t like it said it wasn’t really any more comfortable. If that was the case it wouldn’t make sense at 2x the weight and $20 more expensive. I haven’t used it, that’s just what I’ve heard from a handful of folks that had them and promptly sold them.
Interesting that the REI version runs the base structure 90* different from the Helinox. Wonder if there is any engineering reason of one or the other...
I think Helinox may have a copyright on the design but I’m not sure. It’s an obvious choice to run it the direction Helinox does so it makes you wonder why REI didn’t. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking - As an engineer, I think REI design has some advantages, with a longer distance fore-aft where Helinox long axis is left-right. You may be right about patents...
Not sure one is "superior," but REI has 14" leg height, which I appreciate (may be why they have had issues mentioned by other commenters). I only weight 170 or so fully clothed, so I am pretty safe. I took Al can bottoms and attached them for sand. Very light, but I will explore more ideas that might be more compact.
I like to tinker! I make really good, really light insulation for my pots, cup, and in-bag reconstituting!
I’m definitely no engineer, but my eyeballs told me the Helinox looks like a better design. I could just not know what I’m talking about lol
I had to man handle mine...must have gotten the difficult child one
Putting it together you mean? Sara and I both have one and ours can basically be put together with one hand. Maybe yours wasn’t sewn correctly?
I bought mine for $85, no tax and free shipping. Quick Google search.
Nothing on Google below $129 except fake knock offs. Moosejaw and REI ran a 20% off on it last year which is the cheapest I’ve ever seen at $105 or so
Simple answer no but it’s everyone’s opinion. Personally I don’t mind paying a lot less to get a bit more weight. But to each their own 👍🏻 but I’ll agree a camp chair is vital lol
Oh trust me, ultralight gear is expensive lol. I generally have 3k in gear on my back at any given time. Makes things way easier though.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking My sleeping pad collection is far worse than Goldilocks. I hope my latest…a Big Agnes works out ok. It is hard being a side sleeper.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking I’d be scared to break something lol
Sara really likes the wide, insulated Nemo Tensor. I just bought an insulated thermarest for a trip I’ll have to use a tent for but I haven’t used it yet so can’t comment.
That’s what I thought initially. I was worried about the durability of UL gear but so far I haven’t damaged anything. You just have to treat the gear with respect and utilize a degree of common sense. Don’t drag your hammock and tarp through thorns etc. I don’t baby my gear and I’ve never destroyed anything.