antokelly

hi ,just woundering how many of you take lightweight camping stools or chairs with you on tour ,i was looking for one that folds up small weighs nothing and is super strong .is there such a stool out there please let me know .i find it very hard to sit down with my legs tucked under me for any amount of time .

vik 

I don't take anything to sit on when bike touring, but we do take a couple of the stools above when we are car camping along with some bigger camp chairs. They work okay and aren't huge.

X-LinkedRider

I didn't even bring a seat of any kind. i was always able to find a log, rock, or mound of dirt that was just perfect. Plus, I had my hammock But I would recommend one of those foam buckle up chairs that can be rolled up as apposed to anything with a frame. It just makes it easier to pack in the long run.

raybo

I used to rely on the picnic tables at campgrounds for sitting. But, no back support after a long day in the saddle made me get the thermarest chair:



I makes a huge difference. You can also sit inside your tent and then unwrap it and go to sleep.

I don't tour without it, anymore.

Ray

X-LinkedRider

Exactly what i was talking about. These are perfect because they double as your sleeping pad. I still wake up hugging roots whenever sleeping outdoors anyways, but they at least help you get to sleep.

julk

I take an exped downmat and seat kit for use in the tent, but I also take a couple of things cycle camping to sit on outside the tent which I haven't seen mentioned yet.

A garden foam kneeling pad makes a comfy seat and insulates you from the cold wet ground whilst cooking outside the tent. Cost is very low, weight is very low and it makes a good pad to put between your tent and bike rack to prevent any damage to the tent whilst cycling.

A lightweight folding outdoor chair (3 legged stool) by Haglofs. This is one of my luxuries, but it is a good height to sit on whilst cooking and the base is designed not to sink into sandy, muddy or snowy camp sites. Mine was borrowed by a neighbour who went charity trecking in the Sahara and came back with a glowing report of how the stool enabled her to sit in comfort on soft sand and be able to stand up again. Sitting on the sandy ground was no good to her as she could not stand up again on her own after having a knee replacement earlier in the year.

I hope this helps.

HardyWeinberg

You can sit on an oyster bucket pannier:

https://www.cobbworks.com/index.htm

staehpj1

I never really wish for a chair enough to carry one. Most places I have camped I can find adequate places to sit.

For lunch stops I have once in a while sat on a stuffed sleeping bag or pad and leaned against a sign post or guard rail, but more often, if in a place with no more formal seating, I just sit on a rock, the ground, a guard rail, or a log.

xcapekey

I bring a stool! A little folding Ikea folding tripod chair ($6) and it is worth it for me. Nothing sucks more than having to sit in the dirt on a hot day to eat or change a flat. For ME, it's worth the weight. I've been to sites with no picnic table or suitable rocks, so the chair was invaluable then when I was dog tired.

In the photo, it is that orange thing sticking out.

antokelly

wow some great replys thanks ,i'll pass on the finding a soft rock thank you very much i rather be sure so having my own stool or chair makes sense.think i'll check out that thermerest looks good but might be out of my price range the akiea looks good enough well it's cheap ,julk great stool but a again to expensive ,

Bekologist

I've toured with a Crazy Creek 'Cradle Lounger' that is a spitting copy of the venerable Slinglight- most comfortable camp chair you will ever sit in.... on sale on for 25 bucks on line at crazy creek. I used a slinglight extensively in the 80's and 90's, just bought this new version from Crazy Creek last year, and two more on sale....

I schlepped one over the North Cascades on a wet and chilly tour last fall, really came in handy in the cold autumn evenings to have a cozy & comfy chair.
these chairs rock:

https://crazycreek.com/product/specials/66/

leave the headrest at home and it still is the most comfortable chair... about 18 ounces, strap it on top of the panniers in back.

Cave

I take a bit of aluminused bubble wrap to have something dry. I get jealous of those with thermarest chairs, they're quite comfortable, but I have the ultralight thermarest and worry too much about punctures or getting it wet.

jwa

Similarly, I use an 18" x 18" piece of closed cell foam - cut from the cheap kind of sleeping pad. Weighs next to nothing, wraps around stuff sack carrying your sleeping bag, makes most ground feel like soft rocks, keeps you butt dry on dew-damp mornings.

wheel

You're the one hauling it.

A couple of tours got my reality check. no couch..
now I don't even bring a stove. I still have my oatmeal n sugar n raisins in the morning and ramon noodles for dinner.

jwbnyc

GCI Outdoor Trail-sling Ultralight.

https://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/...0&CS_010=64550

staehpj1

The best idea I have heard is combining that with a 3/4 length sleeping pad. At night it serves as the other 1/4 of your sleeping pad. That way you are carrying nothing extra. I have never done that though, but I would if I had a 3/4 length pad. Probably won't run out and buy one either since mine are still fairly new.

I have carried a 18X18 piece of 10 mil polyethylene sheet to sit on when backpacking. It worked out well. It would fit fine in a jersey pocket and always be handy. If touring somewhere that it was likely to be damp a lot of the time I might do this on tour, but I haven't yet.

mijome07

I thought about buying a few of these.

jwa

And of course, energetic yet weight-conscious tourists might just make their own.

Well, you could....

antokelly

jwa your jocking wright ,as the man said ,if i could i would but i cant so i wont.no i'll just buy one thank you very much but a good try anyway.

Sealord3

I tour with a light weight foldable chair. After hours on the saddle a picnic bench does not do the job. Let me tell you a story that will emphasise my point.

Five or so years ago I self toured the Bike Centenial 10 day loop from Kalaspel to Waterton, Pitcher Creek and Fernie and back with three other riders one of whom was my wife. My three friends all carried the foldable canvas plastic chairs that set directly on the ground. At first I was the subject of good natured kidding-"the old man who needed a chair." After three days I noticed a change, when I arose and left my chair someone else placed their butt in it almost immediatly. A few days later folks were indignant when I asked them to get our of my chair. My wife outright refused to move! Did anyone offer to haul the chair------nope.

I still carry a chair--and if we meet don't ask.

TomT

antokelly

great story tomt, and of course your correct people will always tell you ,nah you dont need that then you find there the first to use it, and as you said try getting it back without starting world war three.

staehpj1

I think that the fact that they probably still don't carry a chair must make some kind of point. I am not knocking anyone for carrying one, but I wouldn't myself unless they got the weight down to a few ounces. The lack of one for a whole summer was no hardship at all.

That someone would poach off of yours does not mean that they would consider it worth carrying one them self. That you can't get them out of it says that you are a pushover. If I carried one over a few mountain passes and someone wouldn't get out of it I would dump their ass onto the ground.

antokelly

yeah but it would be his wife's ass he would have to dump on the ground emmm dont think i would chance that one .

patclem

I second the gardening pad. They're closed cell foam, cheap, super light and really make a picnic bench feel good. In cold weather, it keeps the cold ground (or whatever you're sitting on) from soaking the heat out of your butt. You can cut them down slightly to fit in a pannier if you have to. Great for backpacking too. You can hang them on the outside of your pack, along with your Crocs.

mijome07

Finally ordered a couple of camping stools from Cabela's. They are sturdy, comfortable and super cheap. Only $8 kind-of-cheap.