suburbanbeat

We all know the feeling - that desperate desire to sit and relax after a long day in the saddle. I camp a lot while on bike tours, and like the idea of having an actual chair to plop down in at the end of the day. Usually, my only option is to lay down or sit on the ground.

My questions for you - do you bring a lightweight chair with you on tour? If so, what do you use, and why? The REI Flex Lite gets great reviews, but I'd be interested in hearing a bike tourer's perspective. If you don't, why not?

I'm willing to make this my one "creature comfort" that I bring with me on long trips!

mm718

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aeZ_pIpgEY

staehpj1

Different strokes, but I have never really wished for a chair on backpacking trips or bike tours.

bikemig 

That's almost 2 pounds of extra weight. I don't think so.

seeker333

The older style thermarest pad chairs worked great, used by backpackers for >20 years. Very comfy, lightest chair option, packs small, unbreakable.

https://www.bz2-img.com/images_custom...58462_full.jpg

I have no experience with the newer "stools" for NeoAir pads, but they look less comfortable, like you could never relax for fear you'd fall off.

https://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-...-kits/category

prathmann

Don't take one either backpacking or bike camping since there are usually suitable logs or rocks to sit on when camped somewhere without a picnic table. But I do frequently use one of the CrazyCreek chairs or equivalent holder for a Thermarest pad when kayak camping since then we're frequently camped on a beach with no suitable chair substitutes.

robow

A friend of mine often carries the Alite Monarch chair at 1.3 lbs and I enjoy parking my butt in it when he's not using it. Takes a little time to get the "hang" of it but it's pretty comfortable.

Darth Lefty 

I took a little tripod chair from REI on a motorcycle trip about 5 years ago... hauled it across the country and only unfolded it once to use as a towel rack.

fietsbob

I brought a Crazy Creek chair , used it open and flat as ground insulation as Often as snapped together to form its Back Support .

MMACH 5

I bought one of those small tripod stools from REI, several years back. I disassembled it in order to make it shorter/lighter. It went with me on one weekend trip and I barely used it, so it just has backyard duty now.

irwin7638

I use the picnic tables at commercial sites or whatever stump or fallen tree is available elsewhere.

Marc

tedder

I have a Alite Mayfly chair. It's comfier and lighter than the REI chair, though it's a little fussier to set up. I'm okay with the fussiness when cycle camping.

I like it when I'm going on a "relaxing" trip- in other words, I want to hang around the campsite and read.

Brennan

Crazy Creek Hex chair. I use it for touring, backpacking, and random day trips.

Rob_E

I have what I think is a previous version of the REI Flex Lite. I have taken it on trips that involve a fair amount of camp time or to music festivals. It's handy and light but still takes up significant pannier space if you can't strap it to the top of a rack. I probably wouldn't take it if I weren't spending significant amount of time at camp, however many of my trips involve at least as much camping as riding. In addition to bulk, disadvantage is that the feet sink into soft ground. I lost one foot that way, but I think the newer design makes that unlikely. You still might sink, but I think the feet would remain attached.

I now now have a similar chair that is a rocking chair. I figure it won't sink in soft ground, but I haven't tested it yet. It's much heavier and bulkier. I've only used it around town, but if it could be incorporated into my load, and if I'd expect to have time enough to use it, I'd take it, but not on an extended tour. Music festivals and trips that are more camping than riding. On longer trips that might include some lounging at camp, I'd consider my lighter chair. On trips that didn't include the occasional day loafing at camp, I'd leave both behind.

urbanescapee

I have the REI flex light and use it primarily for car camping. I have taken it backpacking only once as it is still quite bulky/heavy for backpacking. For cycle touring I find it would be more suitable though I haven't carried it along on my bike yet. Now I have resolved that, ounce per ounce, a hammock is far more comfortable at the end of a long hard day of cycling or backpacking. You can sit in it. You can lay in it. You can sleep in it (though I still sleep in a tent). It's awesome and the better quality ones (ENO for example) pack up to about the size of a grapefruit. You can lighten them further by removing the included steel carabiners and getting lighter climbing ones or just use rope.

Aerohip

I have a Helinox chair. And it was the best thing ever on my Tour last Summer. It's one thing I would never leave home without....

veganbikes

The Helinox chairs are quite comfortable but I tend to just sit in my hammock but maybe if I did more tent camping I might consider it. Though I have generally found places to sit down where I go.

andrewclaus

I've never needed an extra chair. My Z-rest pad and a nearby tree or even clump of grass (see my friend in attached photo) have always served me very well.

robert schlatte

I used my yearly credit and bought an REI flexlite for exactly the reasons you suggest. When it came time to packing, however, I ultimately decided against bringing as I really could not justify the additional weight.

mantelclock

I use my panniers for a chair and a table. No extra weight or space required.

cyccommute 

It would depend on the chair. The Big Agnes Helinox chair weighs in at a pretty svelte 1.4 lbs and the Alite Mayfly weighs in at 1.25 lb. Both are pretty low to the ground and can be...um...challenging and undignified to get into and out of but they are comfy. I have the Mayfly and it's a nice little package. I probably wouldn't carry it on a bicycle tour but it's nice for my wife to sit in while I fish on hikes.

bikemig 

Yeah, I have a buddy of mine who takes one touring; he really likes being able to sit down comfortably after a long day in the saddle.

I wouldn't pack the extra weight but I can see why someone might want to. Sometimes a little luxury is a good thing on a tour.

seeker333

9.5 ounces is less weight than a can of pop.