I am getting it. Now and again, it’s not easy to justify packing a camp chair on a backpacking shuttle. It kind of feels like a luxurious merchandise we would possibly now not have area for, opting for to sit down uncomfortably on a slanting log, awkward boulder, or within the dust hunched over our camp range. However this present day, it turns into more uncomplicated and more uncomplicated to justify when a chair just like the REI Co-op Flexlite Air ($100) packs down to nearly not anything — and will most effective upload a pound extra weight.
The Flexlite Air is the smallest and lightest addition to the REI tenting chair quiver and is a superb selection for ultralight backpackers and leisure campers alike. At a mid-range value level, this at ease seat is insanely gentle, weighing an insignificant 16 oz. For that weight, it’s not easy to make an excuse to not carry it alongside on each and every backpacking shuttle.
I measured this chair in opposition to a number of different most sensible contenders in our general evaluation of backpacking chairs, conserving the Flexlite as much as rigorous trying out requirements and trying out it over the process a number of months and thru other seasons.
This chair got here out on tenting journeys to the Alabama Hills in Southern California and automatically were given dragged out to yard hangouts, and I had more than a few pals of various heights and weights sit and provides their two cents. The stories have been unanimous: that is the most productive seat in camp.
In brief: The REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair is impossibly gentle, making it the very best spouse for backpacking journeys the place you wish to have to take pleasure in some further convenience however don’t wish to upload an excessive amount of further weight. At an inexpensive value, it’s a perfect selection for area of interest ultralight backpackers and informal campers alike.
The Flexlite Air Chair lately enjoys the Best possible General designation in our Best possible Backpacking Chairs Purchaser’s Information — take a look at the lineup to look how the Flexlite measures up in opposition to the remainder of the marketplace.
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Weight
16 oz.. -
Seat top
11″ -
Weight restrict
250 lbs. -
Packed measurement
5″ x 16” -
Fabrics
Ripstop nylon and aluminum
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Light-weight at simply 1 pound -
Fast and simple setup -
Aluminum poles are robust and seat securely -
11″ seat top is ready absolute best for kicking again or sitting at a desk -
Inexpensive pricing
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Slim legs make it really feel relatively risky -
Again strengthen is not the most productive available in the market
REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair: Evaluation
First Impressions
The primary time I treated it, I used to be severely inspired that it’s essential purchase a chair this ultralight at a fairly inexpensive value. The legs at the REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair are reasonably skinny and, due to this fact, don’t encourage the maximum self assurance of the entire chairs I’ve ever examined, however that is the trade-off for the burden.
Feeling gentle as a feather instantly out of the bag, the 16 oz of the Flexlite Air is lighter than maximum choices available in the market — together with the base-model Flexlite Chair it’s cousins with.
This camp chair’s two-leg aluminum body design makes setup simple, too. The joints pop simply into position within the plastic hubs when coaxed, and the seat top of eleven inches permits you to sit down up with ease with out feeling too low to the bottom. The material stretches simply over the body, and the seat is at ease proper out of the gate.
When the time involves roll out, the Flexlite folds down briefly and simply into an incorporated, light-weight stuff sack. There’s no combat to squeeze the fabrics again into the stuff sack, which is very much preferred, and when packed, the chair is in regards to the measurement of a Nalgene bottle — absolute best for sliding into the bottle pocket in your pack.
Flexlite Air Has Were given Your Again
The Flexlite Air consists of 2 portions — a collapsible aluminum body and a sling of ripstop nylon material. Whilst different designs go for mesh of their seats for breathability, the Flexlite Air assists in keeping it easy with a unmarried panel of light-weight nylon.
This now not most effective reduces frustrating seam traces, however it additionally assists in keeping issues more potent by means of lowering the choice of failure issues. The seat itself is at ease and supportive, and that 11” seat top moves a excellent steadiness between being low sufficient to the bottom to relax, however prime sufficient to sit down up at a small desk and play card video games.
Whilst another chairs have deep, scooped seats, the Flexlite Air is a little more taut, permitting you to sit down up straighter. The again strengthen is enough, regardless that now not noteworthy, with a 22-inch overall top.
After all, the Flexlite Air’s convenience is not anything to write down house about, however for an insignificant 1-pound weight, it’s lots at ease sufficient! Whilst you believe that even backless camp stools weigh extra, you get a good suggestion of the worth of the commerce right here.
REI made up our minds to head with an strange body design with the Flexlite sequence — the aluminum body has 4 small legs hooked up by means of a strut that runs entrance to again as a substitute of facet to facet like different chair designs. This would possibly paintings higher if the legs have been decrease and extra aside. And whilst it’s a bit of tippier than another chairs I’ve examined, it nonetheless has a company grip on terra firma.
Inevitable rocking motions when attaining ahead for every other marshmallow or leaning over to stir up your Jetboil may end up in an risky feeling because the chair teeters together with your weight with out counterbalance the help of the tall again. After a night of sitting within the chair, you learn how to expect it, and by means of the top of the evening, I had no problems kicking again.
As nearly a trade-off, this design opens up a distinct more or less steadiness, and that’s when you lean your weight backward to appear up the celebrities. With much less likelihood of toppling over on your light-weight chair, shall we watch the evening roll by means of, in contrast to another extra upright chairs.
The Measurement of a Nalgene and a Handful of Oz.
I already knew the Flexlite Air would take the cake on this class, however the measurement and weight for the associated fee level of this chair are no doubt price repeating. An insignificant 1 pound, even ultralight backpackers would have problem discovering a explanation why to show their noses up at this precious piece of substances.
Folded up, its dimensions are 5 x 16 inches, and its legs are much less cumbersome than different chairs I’ve examined, making it a pleasing, small package deal. Its stuff sack provides a couple of extra grams of weight however could also be one thing a diehard UL’er may just depart at the back of in the event that they so make a selection.
Even if it is without doubt one of the lightest precise chairs to be had, it doesn’t skimp on measurement, keeping up the similar basic dimensions as different backpacking chairs. It shaves weight in its small aluminum body and minimalist ripstop nylon material whilst nonetheless having a 250-pound weight capability. The Helinox Chair 0 is a detailed competitor right here, however even it’s 2 oz heavier — regardless that it does game a relatively upper weight capability of 265 kilos.
Ease of Setup
Like maximum vintage backpacking chairs available on the market as of late, the Flexlite Air is a breeze to arrange. The aluminum body consists of joints that fold away for garage and fasten to one another simply. Simply spread the legs, that are all already hooked up by the use of an inner wire, and snap them into position.
Whilst the joints in this explicit chair aren’t reasonably as clean as another fashions, which nearly snap into position themselves, the Flexlite remains to be a no brainer to arrange, taking a complete of 30 seconds and completing with stretching the nylon seat over the legs.
Room for Enhancements
Our greatest gripe with this chair most certainly lies with the vertical orientation of the middle pole within the body as a substitute of the extra not unusual horizontal one — equivalent to noticed at the NEMO Moonlite Camp Chair. This simply provides an already gentle and prone-to-wobble chair an added feeling of lack of confidence, which might simply be solved by means of a slight design adjustment.
I would really like to look a model of this chair that sits even decrease to the bottom, shaving off much more oz and turning into extra solid within the procedure.
REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair: Conclusion
For those who’re on the lookout for a top quality backpacking chair that is without doubt one of the lightest of the sunshine, at ease, and simple to pack, then the Flexlite Air Chair from REI Co-op is an incredible selection, in our guide. Beating out different ultralight manufacturers in weight and worth, this flexible pick out will slip into your backpack just about imperceptibly.
I do know some die-hard backpackers who in most cases go for sitting within the dust over sporting anything else further, however even they couldn’t deny that this chair used to be a very good selection throughout.
The body design is a singular one, and also you’ll wish to give it a whirl a couple of times to be sure that it’s best for you. Happily, REI has this stuff popping out of its ears in storefronts national, and a excellent check will have to most effective take a second or two. For many backpackers, then again, I’d say it’s a non-issue, and for sure so when you are taking every other have a look at the burden.
Carried at the outdoor of a backpacking pack, this chair is true at house and is going a ways towards making your camp really feel that means while you put down stakes. Luxurious pieces like backpacking chairs will have to be thought to be sparsely, however in terms of whether or not the Flexlite Air is worthwhile or now not, the solution is a powerful sure.