One thing that we noticed across the board as we tested this round of backpacking chairs is that as weight decreases, stability does too and not in a good way. Im old and cant sit on the ground anymore, nor can i carry a lot of weight. The fine mesh feels surprisingly sturdy and stable to sit on, though we did find that it collected pine sap very quickly in the testing process! JWatson These are great for riding bikes to the beach, since they are small and lightweight. The Flexlite Air Chair has a seat height of 11 which can be difficult to stand up from if youre not limber. Unlike many of the products we normally review, chairs have the unique privilege of being designed specifically for comfort. While not nearly as fancy as many of the larger camping chairs in this review, the Flexlite does include a small pocket near the left hip. REI Flexlite chairs have a range of weight capacity. Reviewed by Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie Review, Backpacking the Monadnock Sunapee Greenway A Trip Plan, Zpacks Zip-Around Sleeping Bag (10 Degree) Review, 10 Backpacking Gear Maintenance Tasks for April, 10 Best Freestanding Backpacking Tents of 2023, Nitecore 10000 mAh USB Power Bank (5.9 oz), Feathered Friends Flicker 40 Quilt Sleeping Bag. Why dont I have an Appetite on Backpacking Trips? Free Shipping and Returns. The back goes almost to my shoulders when lounging. But it just doesn't feel monstrously durable. 47 $44.99 $44.99. However, if the ground is soft, the legs sink into it and can cause the chair to tip over. I recently purchased the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair specifically for a 7-day whitewater rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.After testing it in sand, cobbled rock, hard-packed dirt, and then on a local swim beach, this is what we learned: . Something went wrong. This chair falls into a middle ground of seat height the front edge is about 17 inches from the ground (sinking several inches when sat in), and the middle rests around 10.5 inches from the ground. I am going to sell it before this spring hiking season. We have always used those big "bag chairs" that were a hit in the 2000's for camping seating. 1. eyesontheskydotcom 7 yr. ago. It consists of a frame made of sturdy shock-corded tent poles, and a sling type seat that attaches to the frame at four points with reinforced pockets. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. I am 6 ft 1 weigh 180 LB. Free shipping for many products! We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. I also purchased the Chair Buddies after reading Philips review and they work great. Gear Review: REI Co-Op Flexlite Chair Underquilt. Just sometimes. By Maggie Nichols and Trish Matheny. While ideal for cooking or packing in the parking lot, this chair wobbles on grass and sinks quickly in the sand. View the 532 reviews with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, Product Image of color Clematis Blue loading, 532 reviews with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Finally got to use my Flex Lite in the backcountry of the Sangres near Crestone, Colorado! While those taller, bigger "bag" chairs have some comfort (and cup holders! Reviewed by When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Though not the smallest packed portable camping chair, the Flex Lite was the second lightest in this review! While its overall size and shape makes the REI Flex Lite seem very similar to the rest of the ultralight camping chairs we reviewed, its design was significantly different (hint, look at the legs!). In the video I go over construction, weight on my scale, and construction.Check it out @ REI - http://bit.ly/2P04x4V------------------------------------------------------------------------- MY FAVORITE GEAR - Garmin InReach Mini: https://geni.us/inreachTrekology 2.0 Pillow: https://geni.us/TrekologyPillowREI Flash 55 Pack: https://geni.us/Flash55Enlightened Equipment Enigma Quilt: https://geni.us/enigmadownGarmin Fenix Watch: https://geni.us/FenixWatchLanshan 1 Tent: https://geni.us/Lanshan1Pro------------------------------------------------------------------------CONNECT WITH ME!Website: https://justinoutdoors.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinoutdoorsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinoutdoors------------------------------------------------------------------------This video description includes affiliate links. You might consider bringing it to your next backyard bonfire or barbecue. Privacy Policy. The sales rep at the store said it improved stability, and they had added some more colors. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. Good camping/hiking chair. It was tempting as our camping party was 3, and I had let my kids take the $100 chairs, while I suffered in the old beach chair as we sat around the fire. Features. | updated Nov 12, 2020. 10oz., it's unlikely to make the cut for an ultralight backpacker or PCT thru hiker, it is the second lightest portable camping chair we tested and has a decently high level of comfort. The REI Flex Lite chair is a great addition to a bike touring setup. Though it wasn't the easiest chair to set up and put away, it did get high marks from our testers as the second lightest chair in this review. The model we tested is pictured last. With the ability to toss them in a backpack, or attach them for an overnight backpacking trip, they couldn't be more convenient. +52 Skydiving, Paragliding & Hang Gliding Equipment, Xiaomi Mi Portable Electric Air Pump Compressor 1S Digital Tyre Inflator Car, Mens Suspenders Adjustable Clip On Long Strong Wedding Party Womens Sz 100 Cms, Bosch 3.6 V Cordless Compact Hedge Shrub & Grass Shear Garden Kit Isio 3, Bosch 18 V 3Pc Cordless Kit: Circular Saw, Recip Saw, Multi Tool 1 x 4Ah Battery, EVA Foam Floor Mat Heavy Duty Interlocking Gym Exercise Baby Kids Puzzle Playmat, 5500+ SOLD! We discovered these chairs just as the first version was being phased out, and this new version was hitting the shelves. Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. Through regular use, the poles do bow slightly, but nothing that our testers felt was too much or felt significantly unstable. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Despite this difference, I feel that the Chair Zero is more stable and has less play in its pole structure than the Flexlite Air. It weighs a hair less, costs less, and, IMO, is pretty dang great. Keeping you warm from underneath shouldn't be reserved just f. I am swiftly falling in love with this chair. I was comfortable and my butt was off the ground. Because of the longer back poles, we found it harder to grasp all the folded up poles at once, as they kept getting in each other's way by sticking awkwardly beyond the plastic joints. I would definitely recommend this camp chair. We had two major complaints about the comfort of the Flexlite - the stability was, well, not very stable and it sank farther into the sand than any of the other portable camping chairs we tested. Copyright 2007-2023, SectionHiker.com and Fells Press LLC. A helpful community that aims to help users make informed decisions about camping gear including sleeping systems, clothing, cooksets, and packs. and to show off our stuff! Of course, this is mere projection, extrapolation, and unsupported prediction. This is a decently comfortable chair for short backcountry missions, The lightweight design and mesh back panel of the. Save Big on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40% Off. We also reviewed a product recently called Chair Buddies that clip over the leg-ends and help prevent sinking quite effectively. I enjoy birding and photography. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. The REI Flex Lite camp chair is the best portable chair I've ever used.Link to chair: https://www.rei.com/s/peak-dealsBecome A Wranglerstar Member For Exclus. The REI Flexlite Chair is lightweight & comfortable. But after a few tries, the whole thing slips together with ease. and our I took my chair on one 4 day/3 night backpacking trip and fell over backwards twice when sitting down into the chair. Our experts test thousands of products each year. In addition to being lighter than all the other portable chairs, with the exception of the Helinox Chair Zero, and cheaper than the rest of the big outdoor brand portable chairs, right off the bat, the Flexlite had a lot going for it. Sets up easily . I guess the ultralights will find this accessory an apostasy, but it is such a civilized comfort! The REI Flexlite Air has a packed size of 5 x 16 and weighs in at 1 lb. There is NO customer service or even an email. Not to mention the fabric and stitching. Im 62 215 lbs. I have older camp stool 3 OZ heavier made by Trecolgy. We can't say we'd recommend plopping down onto this chair, though it seems sturdy enough to take it if you do. Take a look around! Click for Details. We find the Flexlite to have less practical applications than some of its closest competitors, but we still agree that it makes for a decent backpacking chair. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Add to cart$69.95. little backpacking chairs. We picked up a second one a year later, and REI shifted the geometry slightlythe older one is wider, the newer one deeperboth are comfortable and the alteration actually suits me better while the older model suits my wife better. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Similar chairs save weight with more expensive materials, or by having only two legs. To make up for this slight increase in packed size, this competitor is lighter than the Helinox Chair One. Also, the middle pole that connects the two halves of the chair's support system runs front to back, rather than side-to-side. The only complaint I have is that the rubber feet on the ends of the legs are a little small. Additionally, because of the pole design, your weight is concentrated on the back two poles rather than being more evenly spread between all four poles. These chairs are not cheap, and there are NO resources for replacement parts. The entire package is about the size of a 1L . No other experience with Flexlite chairs. Lucky for us, we found a rock to hang out on until it was time to crawl into the tent. Although I prefer the Helinox chair, I think the design of the REI one will fill better my needs. Affiliate links help support the channel at no extra cost to you! While there are some comparable chairs on the market, the price on the REI Flex Lite Chair is definitely a winning factor. The newsletter sign-up system is currently down for maintenance. Add to Wish List. View All Outerwear, Clothing, and Accessories , Top 25 View cart for details. The free rotation around the middle axis presents a challenge to the user, both in connecting the seat and setting the poles on the ground in the correct orientation. Our testing team added "stability" as a category as there were truly some chairs we were afraid to sit in for fear of tipping over! This is my review of the REI Flexlite Air ultralight chair. A luxury item, we still can't deny the importance of a quality place to rest weary bones after a long day in the mountains, and this chair is a crowd favorite amongst our testers. . While Ive accentuated their differences in this review, theyre much more subtle than meets the eye unless you used both products as extensively as I have. And the same caveat holds for the fabric portions of the chair. It may not be as light as some chairs and stools out there, but the ability to lean back after a long day of hiking is luscious. So does setting the chair on a piece of cardboard from what I understand, although its less practical to carry on a backpacking trip. As far as the Flexlite goes, we only enjoyed this chair until we put it on an uneven surface. The drawback of that light weight, is that these things will blow away if you sneeze at them - we make sure to put something in them when we stand up, or just tip them over and they move less. 2001-2023 Trailspace. ), these chairs are still quite comfortable. If weight matters most, you might want to instead take a gander at the Helinox Chair Zero or our backpacking chair review. The REI Flex Lite chairs are kind of surprising. The Flexlite sits 10 inches off the ground, which is nicer than the short seat of other models in our review. Mesh side pocket is handy for a book, flashlight or phone. We buy all the products ourselves. I purchased this chair 3 years ago and its the luxury item that I carry on every outing. It's light and compact. We are grateful for your support of our site in this way. Philip Werner March 10, 2022 Gear Reviews. It didn't take long to realize that some kind of sitting device should exist for backpacking. They take less than five minutes to put together, take apart, and pack back up. Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "afb1cb7a88234c42838b3f4f5c5f72c8" );document.getElementById("je705695a8").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); BACKCOUNTRY.COM: Take 15% Off. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Overall, I love this chair, and will take it with me on every tour. Love the REI flexlite. Less expensive than the Helinox models, but more than the cheap camping chairs you can find on Amazon (like the Moon Lence Ultralight and Onepack Ultralight), our reviewers felt that you get what you pay for with the Flexlite - comfort, durability, and portability. I have owned this chair for two years and I am happy with it. For both its size and hardiness, the REI Co-op Flexlite camp chair has become a co-op favorite. The lightweight design of the Flexlite makes it easy to bring to the beach. Camp Chairs, In seated position, knees are above waist. Comfort. They are great, comfortable and heavy, huge. Between the pole design, and the significant amount of fine mesh used to make the majority of the seat, the Flexlite stood out to our testers. I've had the chair for several months and used it approximately 20 days so far. It took a year to cut a pound of other stuff from my pack to make room for the chair. Trailspace's community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top camp chairs. Source: bought it new But, that is a lot to spend on a chair, so Ill let it wait for another day. . This also made rolling the poles up in the seat a bit more challenging, though the light mesh helped to make the overall role smaller. Perfect for the backcountry or the neighborhood cookout! Why do Waterproof/Breathable Rain Jackets Wet Out? Enjoy! I dont think its as good a product as the slightly heavier Helinox Chair Zero (see our full review) but it is a very close second and less expensive. REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair Replacement Seat. REI's Flexlite Air Chair is a decent option, especially for folks who want to save a few dollars. We put camping chairs to the test from Helinox, Yeti, ALPS Mountaineering, REI, and more to find the most comfortable options. It is durable, and easy to pack into a small package. Got feedback? While at 1lb. for the original Flexlite) Updated seat eliminates tension zones and provides comfort for a wider range of bodies; updated pole pockets utilize pull loops and larger openings for an easier setup. 300 lb rated. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Source: bought it new How Much Should a Backpacking Tent Weigh? June 7, 2013. This is what we learned: REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair Review Weighing in at just a single pound, the new REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair is an ultralight wonder. The entire package is about the size of a 1L Smartwater bottle and it can easily fit horizontally or vertically in most multi-day backpacks. Its dead simple to set up or pack away. But once you get the hang of it, this chair goes up in under a minute. Is there something comparable w/a lower price? Price Paid: $60, Reviewed by It's also cheaper than the price tag on the name brand design these chairs are copied from. 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