Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting backpack chair?

went to cabelas the tuther day to pick up some scope rings. Wandered over to the camping department to check out the goodies and seen a helinox chair. The little short one is kinda low and hard to get into and out of, but the chair one model is like Goldilock's bed. It is 'juuuust riiight'.... I used it tonight to watch some antelope in the wheatfield and the height is great for using a spotter on my slik mini tripod. No need to take the big one. The seat is also low enough to use your knees to support both elbows for a shot from my shooting sticks. They are kinda pricey for what they are, but I had enough points built that it didn't cost me anything. I like this thing so much I'm going to take it elk hunting. Lounging/cooking/eating in the tipi just got luxurious. No more sitting my old, wrinkly white azz on the floor. And it'll be great to keep the very same afforementioned azz up outta the mud and snow. I'll gladly take the one pound hit in my pack.......

You ever tried a sling light? I wonder how they compare? My ass is white but it ain't wrinkly just yet. At least last time I looked about 20 years ago.....

nope, never even heard of those..... My milch stool just got retired.

googled the slinglite. with the crossbar under your legs. it looks like a torture device, if'n a guy wants to stretch out. talk about a circulation-cut -'er-off-er..... even without the highback, I made the right choice.

Yep, you made the right choice. They stopped making slinglights a few years ago. I guess there wasn't enough of a wrinkly white ass market.

Maybe those slinglites are good for keeping the bloodflow to your legs in your azz where it belongs. Wrinkles-be-gone due to higher blood pressures ironing out those pesky wrinkles.......

I looked up the helinox, hell I've got one, got it for Christmas.

It'll be a 2 lb hit to your pack though.

That's OK. I'll leave my clothes at home. The weight will even out..... somehow

Don't do that. Somebody'll think they saw sasquatch.

We've got a couple of the Helinox ground chairs. They are great. 1.5 lbs each, including the bag. I always throw it in the pack.

There is a technique for getting in/out of them. Put your hand or fist on the ground beside the chair and rotate/lower in. Getting up put your fist in the ground at the side, and rotate up and out.

Sounds sorta weird, but really easy and effective.

One other nice thing about the ground chair is that the base isn't really prone to sinking in soft ground.


The ground chair is low enough to use even in a small shelter. Here's a pic on a day hike with the wife, using the little Silvertip shelter to cook up a hot meal on a windy and chilly day.

Thanks for wearing clothes. No telling what kind of pics Don will come back with.

the Helinox ground chair isn't bad but their other ones remind me of the folding toilet seat that I always take on llama pack trips. Those little legs sink into the ground and roll you over backwards if you're not careful.

It's too bad that these are so blasted heavy. You wouldn't want to backpack one. I have 2 that I use on llama trips and they're very comfortable, not to mention being 1/3 the price of the ultalight chairs.

I bought a Helinox Chair One Large version. Helinox Chair One L Packed in 10 miles the chair is comfortable to sit in. Easy to get in and out of! The chair is very comfortable to sit in.

I have this, about 1.5 lbs, packs into 4.5"X15"

https://www.rei.com/product/877258/rei-co-op-flexlite-chair

Have a sportneer chair https://goo.gl/ifngch aluminium frame, very strong and very light to carry in a backpack

Weight
615 g / 1.36 lbs (without case)
640 g / 1.41 lbs (with case)

Dimensions
Chair Height: 50 cm / 19.7 in
Seat Height: 22 cm / 8.7 in
Seat Width: 52 cm / 20.5 in
Case: 30 cm W x 11 cm H / 11.8 in W x 4.3 in H

Capacity
120 kg / 265 lbs

But at $110.00 That will require some real need.
I do like it though.

I saw it priced at $44.99
http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/products/furniture/chairs/rendezvous

Thanks for the post Don.

Anyone use a chair kit with their Thermarest? Works good for me and is light in weight, but still want to check out one of these Helinox chairs.

Jason

The camp rocking chairs are great outdoors chairs because the ski/sled things they rock on keep them from sinking into soft ground.

Once you use one, it kinda makes chairs with "legs" seem silly. They're heavy though. The one I had gotten was something like over 2.5 lbs, kinda bulky, and no longer made (from an REI brand called Evrgrn). They should work well on snow and do work very well on sand and soft forest leaf litter.

I know Helinox makes a rocking chair version now also - dunno how much.

I took mine out on a canoe camping trip last year and use it all the time even at home, by the wood stove.

kinda like camping in the comfort of your living room.....

This is a stack of quotes. The 7 lb chair is $44.99. The 2 lb. ultralight chair in a following quote is $110.

Yes the Helinox is the ultealight 2 pounder for about $100

I was in Sportsmans Whs this morning. They had a Helinox One set up to try. Its quite comfortable but too narrow for a wide butt. For someone who's slim to medium, it would be very good. I'm in the medium range and it squeezed my hips a bit but I could sit in it for a long time. A wide guy would find it very uncomfortable. The one they had set up was camo. Why would anyone pay an extra $20 for camo in a chair?

I use the REI all of the time.

Has anyone seen or tried the Therm-a-Rest Treo Chair? REI has them for $75. 2lb 4 oz. They say the entire chair is contained in the folded legs. Supposedly it's a bit taller than most of the backpacking chairs so it's easier to get in and out of.

I tried that Treo at the store and it felt tippy.

Compared to other chairs, it has the smallest footprint/area in contact with the ground while at the same time it is taller. Small base + tall = tippy.

Also, the folding plastic legs that carry all your weight are held in place by three pins in contact with (I assume) plastic - dunno if there is a metal sleeve in there. I think it is a neat design but not an optimal one.

I would find it hard to trust plastic legs with that much leverage on them.
thanks

Sale on these right now - $45

https://promotions.kinja.com/kick-back-in-this-relaxing-foldable-chair-during-your-1803755230

They actually have those for $70 right now with 50% off. $35 plus shipping. I checked the shipping, $9 for 1, $11 for 2.

I glass and sit and watch areas the last hour of shooting light. I have gotten quite a few elk that way. I use an alite mayfly chair. Kind of expensive but great for keeping my butt off the ground.

Amazon has one called the MOON LENCE backpacking chair for about $35, depending on color. They have over 500 reviews averaging over 4 stars. Those that compare it to the Helinox say its a bit lighter construction but holds up well and costs far less. It's slightly heavier at 2 lb. The biggest issue in the Q&A was that the legs would sink in soft ground or sand. I think that will apply to any of them with legs instead of a crossbar.

Monarch Alite chairs work great for me.. pack small and light

I have one of the moon lance from amazon and it works well for me.

I use a stump or log.

Thanks, huntsman22, on your recommendation I bought the Helinox Chair One. I've used it this last week to glass for deer. It's the most comfortable backpack chair that I've ever used. I just wish it was a little higher, or maybe the beans a little lower this year . No real problem, I just try and find a slight rise. The legs do sink into the ground, a little. If you just rock back and forth a bit it evens out.

Which version do you have? If the Butterfly, how would it be for a stiff old fart to get in and out of?

The Chair Two is higher (and has a higher back), and the sunrise chair is higher yet (with a chair two back), kinda like a real chair......

but they both weigh more, and don't pack as small.

I have the moon lence and my buddy has the helinox zero. He sat in my chair this weekend and liked it a lot. Also the price is great on the moon lence. Yea the feet can sink in soft sand but so will the helinox. Great for sitting around camp and glassing.

Helinox chairs on sale at CampSaver for $54.97 with free shipping.

For that price, I went ahead and ordered another.

https://www.campsaver.com/helinox-chair-elite.html

I forgot all about this thread. I used the chair one a lot this fall, in elk camp, glassing and it works great in the camper shell on the truck, too.

After buying a chair one this fall, I purchased another for my wife. Then I bought the sunset chair too. It’s high back allows me to nap in it. Like mentioned before, it’s a little more bulky but fits me well. I like it.
I’m 5’10” and 160 lbs. fitment may vary with others.
Bought it from campsaver also.
Experticity is way cheaper but costs $50.00 to ship to my location.

I'm still liking the Helinox ground chair. Real comfy for glassing.

Bringing this thread back up to the top. I have back issues and this got me to thinking about a more comfortable way to sit while hunting. I went to the local REI and tried a couple of these light weight chairs. I liked the Alite Mayfly for comfort and the lack of pointed legs to sink into soft ground. Well, my wife was taking notes so Santa brought me one for Christmas. I love this thing so far. Everyone has been sitting in it while playing cards or watching TV. It weighs ~1.5 lbs and folds down very small. I may need to get a second one to actually take outside now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UW31M...9WZP4MT&colid=X51K51Y79JWU&psc=1

+1 for the Alite Mayfly. My dad has a different brand backpacking chair (I can't remember which) and he is trying to talk me into letting him use the Mayfly for his next trip.

+1 for the Helinox ground chair. It goes everywhere with me.

I just bought 2 of these Trekology chairs from Amazon for $50 each. They're a little taller than some and will hold 300 lb. I think they could actually hold that, unlike some I've seen. The $50 version includes what they call a sand cover which keeps it from sinking in soft stuff. You can get it without it for $40. It's a square mesh netlike thing that covers the ground under it. It only weighs a couple oz. The legs can extend 2" for a little extra height and to make it easier to get out of it.



A while back someone mentioned Thermarest's chair, the one with 3 plastic legs. I had a chance to sit in one. What a joke. You have to keep your legs under you to stay upright and roll out of it to you knees. The plastic legs are pretty poor.

I got a chance today to try out that Trekology chair while fishing. It was quite comfortable for the 2.5 hrs we were there. The adjustable legs have a big advantage. The lake banks were steep so I shortened the back legs and lengthened the front ones. That keeps the chair much more level.

FWIW, the fishing was pretty slow. I only had 2 bites in 2.5 hrs. However, each bite produced a 19" trout. I blame the chair.

Although not as nice as several of the others listed, I've had great success with this one turkey hunting and also at the beach...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mossy-Oak-Turkey-Thugs-Turkey-Hunting-Chair/48745220

I have a couple like that. They're way too heavy for backpacking, but they're very comfortable. I've used them on llama pack trips but they're kind of bulky, too.

Found them at Sam's Club For $19.99. Stays in my pack year round. Stout little chair. It's holding up fine under my 240 lbs.



iPhone 6 for size reference

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-...door-Activities-Camping-Orange/825579271

I wonder about that chair? Good price if it doesn't suck.

The heading says a set of 4 but the description and photos look more like 1 chair.

'Outdoor Folding Chair Set Of 4 OUTAD Ultralight Heavy Duty Folding Chair For Outdoor Activities/Camping(Orange)'

The way prices are dropping on all the new brands of these chairs, I wonder how many Helinox is selling at $100+

Yea I just figured it was a mistake. I ordered some and will comment on them when they get here. For what it's worth I used the Helinox chairs for close to a week in September. Not that I'm a chair expert but I have used the one these will be compared to.

Helinox and other chairs on sale here:

https://www.steepandcheap.com/camping-chairs

The Helinox has a couple things going for it vs the others listed

Time tested

Ultra light weight