Another change of brand for camp chairs, Big Agnes Big-Six-Camp-Chair.
This was intended as a Copia purchase but they were not available. I have a habit of conversing with sales/customer/designer personel whenever I get the chance a member of the Big Agness team at Copia recognized/remembered me and my son. After a long talk handed over a 40% off personal card. So no more looking and desiring a new Helinox Sun-setter.

Here it's next to a first version REI Flex Lite. Closest market competition is a Helinox Sunset Chair. Very close in dimensions with higher seating position, large tube frame, cross bar at top. Improvement are bent tubes for slightly more upright seating, use of thru lower crossbar insert joints instead of hubs, split lower cross bar that allows use on uneven surfaces easier (the legs can twist).
Very sturdy the tube jointing is much more secure, grove indexed inserts that insert 2 inches deep into the next section. Very close in weight and packed size to the Sunset. Shipped weight on my scale 3 pounds 3 ounces.
My 2 Flexlite's will now go to my grandkids. And I will not be bothering other members to try out their chairs.

butthead

Looks nice...I gotta stop clicking on your posts :) either that or get an additional job.

T

That's looks really sweet. I bought a Helinox Sunset this winter. It's gonna be nice to hang in camp now.

Tim,
Not to bad for a retired factory worker and wife on a fixed income. But I do pinch and part with $$$ begrudgingly. Note 40% off (thanks to a history of representative schmoozing) applied to a single purchase and SOB (my son), bought 2, we share a pile-O-gear. The recent Crush lights cost me $3 after counting for REI, dividend.
The Big Six is enough different and I think better than the Sunset that I wanted to share the info.

I have been on the cusp of buying the Sunset for 2 years. Glad I procrastinated!

butthead

Thanks for the review. I have the Helinox Sunset and find it slightly narrow through the midsection (waist/torso). When I saw the Big Six Camp Chair I called a retailer to find out how it was different from the Sunset. They set up the Sunset and the Big Six side by side and said the Big Six is roomier in the midsection and the bucket seat but not as stable as the Sunset. I wonder why Big Agnes stopped carrying Helinox.

I have sat in and drooled over the Sunset since they released. I sure feel the Big Six is more solid and stable in direct comparison. Planted my wide portion in them both successively and repeatedly at Copia this year. Expressed disappointment I could not buy one with the BA rep and walked away with a much better deal.

butthead

I wouldn’t mind a larger chair, but the weight is what stops me. I just got the Flexlite Air with my dividend and it feels slightly more cramped than the regular Flexlite, but it should be fine. At 1lb it’s hard to argue.

butthead: " Planted my wide portion in them both successively and repeatedly at Copia this year. butthead"

So how did the fit compare? Specifically: (1) support under the thighs (some chairs are too short front to back), (1) head (Sunset back doesn't come anywhere near the head; bent back too far); (3) width in the waist. Thanks.

Fit me comfortably. sat in it watching TV Thursday more than an hour, feet on the floor. I'm 5ft 6in and 200+ pounds. Very short legs 28+ inch inseam.

Far as why BA dropped Helinox the rep. explained, in house parts and service, ability to make changes to design, BA life warranty over Helinox warranty.

butthead

Uh oh....another piece of gear for the clown car pack!
I like the absence of the plastic hub. It hasn't failed on me yet, but it's suspect.

Oh, come on Ken. Why don't you admit you won the Wisconsin Mega Millions a week or so ago, and the chair is just the first of many purchases.

Tomster

Good deals!

butthead: "I have a habit of conversing with sales/customer/designer personel whenever I get the chance.... "

Sales/customer/designer personnel should pay for the privilege of speaking with you at these events, Butthead.

Head support like that of the Sunset?

Dang, now I am looking at one...!

I couldn't pass up the REI dividends and the 20% coupon...

Frenchy19: "Dang, now I am looking at one...!"

So when you say your looking, why is your credit card out. Haha. Buy it... you’ll like it!

nctry: "

Frenchy19: "Dang, now I am looking at one...!"

So when you say your looking, why is your credit card out. Haha. Buy it... you’ll like it!"

I am going to exercise restraint this time; I can only sit in one chair at a time, and I have 4 already.

"I am going to exercise restraint this time; I can only sit in one chair at a time, and I have 4 already."

Mark;
How soon before grandkids arrive?? I always have that excuse.

Couple of answers for the headrest. Sitting normally the top bar is at tyhe crown of my melon (large and a torso length about 19 inches), and 2+ inches behind my head. Reclining needed to contact, the top bar is round and did not bother me, more tender craniums may need a pillow.

butthead

I don't have much need for a chair (yet), but I see a Gear Forum post by Butthead, and I read it!

I went with a rei flexlite. Got it on super sale for 35$ couldnt pass it up

Hey Ken,
Is the pack length 17" or 21"?
I've seen it listed on line for 17" and 21". Wondering which one is correct?
Thanks!
sb.

Not that I'm trying to dissuade anyone from the new chair, but I thought I'd pass this along.

Steep&Cheap currently has a couple of different colors of the Heliox Sunset Chair on sale for under $83.00 (and the "ground cloth" for it for less than $18.00).

dd

UPDATE: I see that the chair is now only available at this price in RED.

dentondoc: "Not that I'm trying to dissuade anyone from the new chair, but I thought I'd pass this along.


Steep&Cheap currently has a couple of different colors of the Heliox Sunset Chair on sale for under $83.00 (and the "ground cloth" for it for less than $18.00).


dd"

Great deal on a killer chair!

sleepnbag: "Hey Ken,
Is the pack length 17" or 21"?
I've seen it listed on line for 17" and 21". Wondering which one is correct?
Thanks!
sb."

Wrapped in it's carry/storage bag, 21 inches long and 5 inches in diameter.

butthead

dentondoc: "Not that I'm trying to dissuade anyone from the new chair, but I thought I'd pass this along. Steep&Cheap currently has a couple of different colors of the Heliox Sunset Chair on sale for under $83.00 (and the "ground cloth" for it for less than $18.00).
dd"

That price is a no brainer. Never seen before, never to be seen again. I wonder why it's that low??

butthead: "

sleepnbag: "Hey Ken,
Is the pack length 17" or 21"?
I've seen it listed on line for 17" and 21". Wondering which one is correct?
Thanks!
sb."

Wrapped in it's carry/storage bag, 21 inches long and 5 inches in diameter.


butthead"

Thanks!

LilyPond: "

dentondoc: "Not that I'm trying to dissuade anyone from the new chair, but I thought I'd pass this along. Steep&Cheap currently has a couple of different colors of the Heliox Sunset Chair on sale for under $83.00 (and the "ground cloth" for it for less than $18.00).
dd"

That price is a no brainer. Never seen before, never to be seen again. I wonder why it's that low?? "

My (Green) one arrived today. I've assembled it, sat in it and thus far, it appears to be perfect in every way.

I hadn't really realized that the bag that holds the components has a velcro pad that can attach to one of two pads on the back of the chair (one front, one rear). One pad is clearly so the bag can be used as a pillow (with stuffed with other items). The other pad might be useful for storing light items in the bag to keep them out of the way.

I'm guessing S&C is clearing inventory so they (Backcountry.com) can handle BA's new chair.

dd

dentondoc: "I'm guessing S&C is clearing inventory so they (Backcountry.com) can handle BA's new chair."

So Big Agnes is now a competitor of Helinox. I think that's healthy as Helinox products have gotten unreasonably expensive. I've always wondered about Helinox's distribution and marketing strategy. Since they're located in Korea, they have no direct contact with US customers. You can't call up Helinox and ask them the fine details of specs. I find I want to know those details when spending that much money. Calling Big Agnes never helped, because they only had the information that Helinox sent them, which was limited. It seemed like marketing and customer service were weak. The only way to get full information was (and is) to be lucky enough to find the chairs and cots at retail stores (difficult) or paddle shows and try them out.

Another problem with Helinox having no direct contact with US customers is that their early chairs were, I think, designed around the Korean body size. An awful lot of Americans would never be comfortable in the Chair One, and the Cot One was too heavy for most backpackers but unnecessarily low for most other campers. Direct customer feedback would have helped them solve those problems earlier.

Would anyone care to post a couple photos of you sitting in your Big Six Camp chair? One front and one side? That would answer a lot of questions, like where the front of the chair hits under the thighs, width in the torso area, and the head rest. Thanks!