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Author	Message Text
mgraber	03/29/2025 01:53PM   I'm not a stool guy, I need back support these days. I like Helinox products, as they are the strongest and lightest I have found due to their DAC poles. I use the Helinox Chair Zero Large, as it is almost identical dimensions as the chair one (an inch wider I think) and much larger than the chair zero, but only weighs 1# 6oz with bag. It also has the 320# rating of the chair one instead of 265 like chair zero and zero highback. VERY comfy. Have had unreliable results with off brand chairs. I like the chair2 and sunset chair when I want to get really comfy, but at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 # you are getting in to heavy as a brick territory. No stools for me.
arnesr	03/22/2025 04:14PM   I take this chair on every trip. Sets up instantly and weighs next to nothing.
Moonpath	03/22/2025 09:26AM   I am wondering if people still like using the basic foldable camp stool? I still have a couple of these from coleman. I do see that Piragis sells a Cliff Jacobson model. I find the small Helix foldable chairs too fragile and not all that comfortable, plus they tend to sink in dirt. And they are very expensive. My steel camp stool does not weigh too much and is very sturdy and can take a beating. I used to have one made of aluminum that even had a backrest. That was nice. So does anyone else still use these simple folding stools or has everyone now gone to the lightweight folding chair?
Pinetree	03/23/2025 08:25AM   A good old rock, stump or log will do.
RetiredDave	03/23/2025 05:00PM   Moonpath: "Pinetree: "A good old rock, stump or log will do." I agree, but sitting on them for any length of time gets my bony rear sore. " Also, they'd be hell to portage.
scottiebaldwin	03/23/2025 09:44PM   You’ll have to pry my Helinox Chair One and Helinox Sunset Chair from my cold, dead hands.
WhitePine1	03/24/2025 08:09AM   Related but not a chair- we started bringing those foam gardening kneeling pads- just 1-2. Super light, make a log a bit more comfortable, and great to use when kneeling in front of the fire to get it started and feeding wood in. Cheap, light and easy.
4keys	04/16/2025 08:40PM   Not a stool person. Can’t sit on the ground, log, or rock anymore. Need back support. Helinox chair one is too low for me, but is ok for my husband. I have the helinox camp chair, which I don’t think they make anymore.
firedancer	03/24/2025 07:17PM   I use the Helios zero but also have the Grand trunk 360 stool. It's a game changer while cooking.
buz	03/24/2025 02:21PM   I bought these roll a chairs a long time ago and they are still really nice. little bulky, but they fit perfectly on the side of packs. What i really like about them is you can add your canoe seat to them and they get really comfy. not sure if they are made anymore.
Moonpath	03/23/2025 08:47AM   alpinebrule: "I have used one like the Cliff J. model would give is a 7-8 on the comfort scale. I did cut off the storage bag that hangs below the seat to cut the wait. Not knowing your travel style, we have taken aluminum lawn chairs in years past and they were a 10 on the comfort scale. Kept packs up off the bottom of the canoe but were a pain to portage. Now a folding user more for the compactness for portaging than anything else but one with a higher back, I want/need the support." I am curious, what type of aluminum chair? I am sure they would be more comfortable. Are you talking about the old style, light weight aluminum chairs we used to use for outdoor BBQS?
alpinebrule	03/22/2025 03:01PM   I have used one like the Cliff J. model would give is a 7-8 on the comfort scale. I did cut off the storage bag that hangs below the seat to cut the wait. Not knowing your travel style, we have taken aluminum lawn chairs in years past and they were a 10 on the comfort scale. Kept packs up off the bottom of the canoe but were a pain to portage. Now a folding user more for the compactness for portaging than anything else but one with a higher back, I want/need the support.
Moonpath	03/23/2025 08:45AM   arnesr: " I take this chair on every trip. Sets up instantly and weighs next to nothing. " The chair in your picture looks like one I used to have. Used it for years before the nylon tore and it became unsafe
Moonpath	03/24/2025 08:24AM   In looking at current camp chairs, I saw where REI now sells a "Yeti" brand camp chair for $300. If it did not weigh in at 15 lbs it might be worth looking at.
A1t2o	04/08/2025 10:40AM   HowardSprague: "Another fan of the Camp Time Roll a Chair here. i also have the Roll a Stool, which is very light and packable. But the backrest on the Roll a Chair is worth the extra ounces. i also like that it sits up higher than the Helinox-style chairs, so it’s a lot easier to get up. i even find the Crazy Creek type seats to be easier to get out of than the Helinox, - even though/or because of - being on the ground." If my biggest issue with a chair is how to get out of it, I think I'm sitting pretty good.
Ahahn366	04/08/2025 12:40PM   Pinetree: "A good old rock, stump or log will do." I used to have a nice sitting rock, but it got to be a bit much to portage.......
rick00001967	03/23/2025 08:14AM   we use the Trekology chairs from amazon. they may not be what you need but we love them. fairly light. super quick and easy to set up / take down. and they dont take up too much room in the pac. we bought a 2 pac of them for 80 bucks. we also have aluminum framed seats for the canoe for trip with minimum portages. they are made by Woods. we got them 50% off. they work great in the boat but could also be used as a camp seat if you dont mind being on the ground. they are not terribly heavy but are obviously fairly large and awkward to carry if portaging. i have seen many people using basic canoe seats around camp. some have no frame and are very light. canoe seat|%20SEM_LIA_NAT_REV%20-%20Camping_SP%3ESH&utm_term=4584345040974104&utm_content=Camping%20Furniture%20(333)#store=34
Moonpath	03/23/2025 08:46AM   Pinetree: "A good old rock, stump or log will do." I agree, but sitting on them for any length of time gets my bony rear sore.
lundojam	03/23/2025 10:58AM   I've used stumps, the chair-in-a-bag type of lawn chair, sit-on-the-ground Crazy Creeks, old-time aluminum, and the Helinox Sunset. 1. Sunset; the high back lets you lean your head back and put your feet up. Nice. 2. Old time; keeps packs out of the water in the canoe, not great for trips with multiple portages. 3. Bag chairs. Too heavy, hard to get up. 4. Crazy Creek. Meh. They do have a use in the canoe. 5. Stumps. Fine for young people.
rick00001967	03/23/2025 10:10AM   Pinetree: "A good old rock, stump or log will do." unfortunately for those of us with lower back issues, it is almost a requirement to have somewhere comfy to sit after a day of paddling. in addition to the folding chair i have, i also picked up one of those milk crate type, folding, foam pads last summer. all the ones i had previously seen were upwards of 100 bucks (no idea why) but one of our local hardware chains stared carrying some less expensive options. i got one for about 25. i was not sure how many uses i would find for this but quickly found it helpful to put on the ground when getting in / out of the tent, standing on it to change socks / shoes (especially if the ground is wet), adding it under my sleep pad for extra insulation from the ground on colder trips, and it can also be used as a pad when sitting on a log or rock. it can also be used for kneeling on, in the canoe, or having it under your butt while kneeling if you find the canoe seat is either too high or maybe just too uncomfortable on your butt. it is nice that it folds in a few places (i think it has like 6 or 7 folding sections) so you can almost make a little chain out of it when leaning against a tree, rock, or log. it is also nice to be able to comfortably lay down on a paddling break when on shore. it is bulky of course, but weighs next to nothing. so i have just been strapping it to the top of my dry pac.
rick00001967	03/23/2025 01:46PM   "I agree about the back issue. I prefer a comfy chai. Another option is the foldable kind that fits into a sack you can carry on your shoulder. I have used these for a while and they are OK, but not overly comfortable." the trekology ones i mentioned are the ones that have the folding frame and the frame and seat material all go in a bag. we find ours to be quite comfy. maybe not to the level of a cushy, reclining, hi end deck chair with a neck rest etc lol but fine for camping. but you are right about the legs sinking into the sand. i dont usually find this to be a problem though. but you can get the same chairs with the added attachable material to add to the legs that helps with the sinking issue.
Moonpath	03/23/2025 11:58AM   rick00001967: "Pinetree: "A good old rock, stump or log will do." unfortunately for those of us with lower back issues, it is almost a requirement to have somewhere comfy to sit after a day of paddling. in addition to the folding chair i have, i also picked up one of those milk crate type, folding, foam pads last summer. all the ones i had previously seen were upwards of 100 bucks (no idea why) but one of our local hardware chains stared carrying some less expensive options. i got one for about 25. i was not sure how many uses i would find for this but quickly found it helpful to put on the ground when getting in / out of the tent, standing on it to change socks / shoes (especially if the ground is wet), adding it under my sleep pad for extra insulation from the ground on colder trips, and it can also be used as a pad when sitting on a log or rock. it can also be used for kneeling on, in the canoe, or having it under your butt while kneeling if you find the canoe seat is either too high or maybe just too uncomfortable on your butt. it is nice that it folds in a few places (i think it has like 6 or 7 folding sections) so you can almost make a little chain out of it when leaning against a tree, rock, or log. it is also nice to be able to comfortably lay down on a paddling break when on shore. I agree about the back issue. I prefer a comfy chai. Another option is the foldable kind that fits into a sack you can carry on your shoulder. I have used these for a while and they are OK, but not overly comfortable. it is bulky of course, but weighs next to nothing. so i have just been strapping it to the top of my dry pac. "
alpinebrule	03/23/2025 02:28PM   Moonpath: "alpinebrule: "I have used one like the Cliff J. model would give is a 7-8 on the comfort scale. I did cut off the storage bag that hangs below the seat to cut the wait. Not knowing your travel style, we have taken aluminum lawn chairs in years past and they were a 10 on the comfort scale. Kept packs up off the bottom of the canoe but were a pain to portage. Now a folding user more for the compactness for portaging than anything else but one with a higher back, I want/need the support." I am curious, what type of aluminum chair? I am sure they would be more comfortable. Are you talking about the old style, light weight aluminum chairs we used to use for outdoor BBQS? " Yep, you have to scrounge to find them anymore but can be done, Re-webbing then is easy and cheap. Another advantage is they tend to have arms as well.
plmn	03/25/2025 11:38AM   buz: " I bought these roll a chairs a long time ago and they are still really nice. little bulky, but they fit perfectly on the side of packs. What i really like about them is you can add your canoe seat to them and they get really comfy. not sure if they are made anymore." I bought another Roll-a-Chair last year. They aren't as comfy or compact as the Helinox-style ones but they are tall, light, and quick and easy to deploy. Made in USA. They work great for outdoor kid events, my wife always keeps hers in her car. They will always have a place in my gear closet. I also have a Helinox Chair One, some sort of Trekology that is a Helinox One clone, and a Big Agnes Big Six. If I'm only taking one it's usually the Trekology because it sits just a bit higher than the real Helinox, is less bulky than the Roll-a-Chairs, and is quite a bit lighter than the Big Six.
HowardSprague	03/28/2025 08:30PM   Another fan of the Camp Time Roll a Chair here. i also have the Roll a Stool, which is very light and packable. But the backrest on the Roll a Chair is worth the extra ounces. i also like that it sits up higher than the Helinox-style chairs, so it’s a lot easier to get up. i even find the Crazy Creek type seats to be easier to get out of than the Helinox, - even though/or because of - being on the ground.
bottomtothetap	03/30/2025 04:32PM   HowardSprague: "Another fan of the Camp Time Roll a Chair here. i also have the Roll a Stool, which is very light and packable. But the backrest on the Roll a Chair is worth the extra ounces. i also like that it sits up higher than the Helinox-style chairs, so it’s a lot easier to get up. i even find the Crazy Creek type seats to be easier to get out of than the Helinox, - even though/or because of - being on the ground." Agree that the Helinox chair (and the knockoffs, one of which I have) sit too low to the ground for good comfort. I'll steal a line from another member of this website that I saw a few years ago: "I feel like I have to file a flight plan before attempting to manuever out and up from one of these chairs."