Lightweight Backpacking Chair Kits

The Sea-to-Summit Air Chair Kit lets you repurpose your sleeping pad to create a comfy camp chair.

I’m not a minimalist and while I believe in the value of lightweight backpacking gear, there’s something to be said for bringing a few creature comforts along on my once in a while. There are times when you want to be like Andrew Skurka’s “ultimate hiker” and times when you want to be “ultimate camping hiker”, if you follow my drift.

While sitting on the ground builds character, it does get a bit old when the ground is cold and the nights are long, something I picked up this year from congenial hammockers who like to put out a guest chair so friends can stop by for a visit at group hangs. It’s also nice to have a chair when I camp alone, so I can sit up and read more comfortably, something I have trouble with when lying down.

Name	Weight (ounces)	Functionality	MSRP ($USD)
Big Agnes Big Easy Chair Kit 20"	14	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	44.95
Big Agnes Big Easy Chair Kit 25"	19.5	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	49.95
Big Agnes Cyclone SL Chair Kit	6	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	64.95
Crazy Creek Air Chair Compact	26	Inflatable, Included	79.95
Crazy Creek Air Chair Plus	45	Inflatable, Included	124.50
Crazy Creek HEX 2.0 Original Chair	21.9	No Pad Required	51.50
Crazy Creek HEX 2.0 Longback Chair	24.9	No Pad Required	59.00
Crazy Creek Original Chair	26	No Pad Required	48.50
Exped Chair Kit (Small)	18.3	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	60.00
Exped Chair Kit (Medium)	14.8	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	65.00
Exped Chair Kit (Medium-Wide)	16.2	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	70.00
Exped Chair Kit (Long-Wide)	16.6	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	70.00
EMS Mountain Chair	24	No Pad Required	35.00
Grand Trunk Collapsible Micro Stool	10	Not a Chair Kit, but Superlight as stools go	29.95
REI Trail Chair	23	No Pad Required	24.50
Sea to Summit Air Chair (Regular)	8	Requires Inflatable Sea-to-Summit Pad	49.95
Sea to Summit Air Chair (Large)	10	Requires Inflatable Sea-to-Summit Pad	59.95
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Jemba Seat Kit Deluxe	7	Requires Inflatable NeoAir Pad	49.95
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Jembe Seat Kit	3.7	Requires Inflatable NeoAir Pad	39.95
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit 20	9.5	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	34.95
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit 25"	13	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	49.95
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Lounge Kit 20"	16	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	49.95
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Lounge Kit 25"	24	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	59.95
Therm-a-Rest Compact Chair Kit 20"	7	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	49.95
Therm-a-Rest Compact Chair Kit 25"	9	Requires Inflatable Pad, Universal Compatibility	59.95

A Chair Kit Primer

There are two kinds of camping chairs available today: portable chairs which weigh between 1-3 pounds and are intended for car camping, and lightweight chair kits designed for backpacking that incorporate an inflatable sleeping pad to create a simple camp chair, so you can sit upright.

The Big Agnes Cyclone SL Chair kit weighs just 6 ounces and is universally compatible with other inflatable sleeping pads

Some old-school chair kits are still available, like those from Crazy Creek, that don’t require a sleeping pad, but they’re pretty heavy, weighing well over a pound. If you’re trying to keep your gear weight as low as possible and you already sleep with an inflatable sleeping pad, you’re best bet is to use one of the lightweight chair kits from Big Agnes or Therm-a-Rest listed above which weigh less than 8 ounces.

These chair kits work with 20″ and 25″ sleeping pads that have a mummy or rectangular shape, regardless of manufacturer in case you have an inflatable pad that’s not made by Big Agnes or Therm-a-Rest.

           

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