Since our latest trip to the moor (see the beautiful
South Penquite Farm), where the sightly damp evening ground and it's lack of decent back support prevailed, I have been on the hunt for a super-lightweight, travel chair. As always, I have been looking at comfort-to-weight ratio, practicality, style and design innovation.
Hailed by Outside Magazine as an “amazing, useful, gravity-defying gadget that will revolutionize your life!", the
Alite Monarch 'Butterfly' Camp Chair really does seem to stand out - quite literally, it seems, as you have to half 'stand' (rather precariously) to stop the chair from tipping over backwards.
According the the Alite Design website, the Monarch is described as "Super-light, super-portable, super-comfy, and with only two legs you can rock in it! Weighing in at 18 oz., the Monarch Butterfly Chair is light enough to take along backpacking trips or summer concerts yet versatile enough for home use. The chair packs down to the size of a very large burrito (San Francisco style)."
Priced at $59.99 it isn't exactly cheap - but it does have a high style rating - just look at it - what a beautiful contraption. Problem is, it seems that Alite are only currently able to deliver to USA and Canada. I am hoping they'll ship me one over for the full trial and test. Check out the
ActiveGear Review from YouTube.
Another option might be the
GCI Trail-Sling (below), but at 30oz - almost double the weight of the Alite Monarch Butterfly Camp Chair - it needs to have some pretty nifty features. Packed down, this bad boy measures in at 3" x 17" - pretty impressive for the extra comfort features, such as the padded headrest.
Thanks to it's innovative sling-design, shock-cord construction and lightweight, yet durable aluminium frame with nylon fittings, the Trail-Sling can handle up to 275 lbs without a problem, although only 8" off the ground, making it rather cumbersome to hop in and out. Despite this, Jason Mitchell's review at FeedTheHabit claims that, "once situated, it’s hard to find a better seat in the outdoors."
However, there is an alternative. Why not double up one of your existing bits of kit to make a chair - your stove? Nope. Origami your map? Hmmn, nope. Try your sleeping mat! Do you have a
Therm-a-Rest, or similar self-inflating mattress? Well, why not look into the Therm-a-Rest
Trekker Chair which provides the essential comfort of a chair in a modular form. Easy to pack and designed to be removed when not in use, the Trekker Chair could be the answer. Set-up is fast and easy, making it the best combination of comfort, durability and lightweight in a chair kit. [www.cascadedesigns.com].
Simply double up and slide your existing sleeping mat into the lightweight (10oz) sleeves and adjust for maximum comfort. Nice work Therm-a-Rest! If you have ever suffered a stiff back from too much sitting cross legged on the floor then this chair is a must. [www.facewest.co.uk]
The only drawback I can see is not being completely off the ground (I am assured that the sleeves protect the mat on most surfaces). However, at £24.99 and distributed throughout the UK (and indeed the rest of the World), these conversion kits get my vote. I'll be purchasing one in the next few days and will let you know how I get on.
UPDATE: Therm-a-Rest now make an even lighter version of this conversion kit. It is called the Compack Chair - check it out
here.
