Quick Facts

• Distance: 106 miles (170km)
• Days Needed: 10-12 (average)
• Peak Elevation: 8,307 ft
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 35,000 feet (10,600m)
• Best Time to Hike: June 25 – September 15
• Permits: None
• Difficulty: Moderately Difficult
• Accommodations: Choice of campsites, rifugios (mountain huts/dorms), hotels, inns

Bottom Line

Sure, it’s a stretch to list the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad as a “backpacking chair.”  But we had to find a place to suggest this piece of gear because it comes in handy so often. DuskHiker staff use it all the time for snow camping, and every break to take the edge off of the cold, hard ground. We’ve used it in emergencies to keep our partners safer as we waited for an evac. So yes, it isn’t a backpacking chair, but it is worth considering having as part of your backpacking system.

This sit pad is so light, packable, and useful that we just couldn’t help ourselves. For the past decade, this foldable foam seat has been DuskHiker Founder Dave Collins’ go-to for backpacking trips ranging from the Sawtooths, Yosemite, and Banff to the Uintas, Wind River Range, and Mount St. Helens. 

Obviously, you’re not going to get back support from this simple sit pad. However, it won’t hog your packspace, softens up rocks and logs into better camp seats, and keeps your bottom off the ground during lunch breaks, rest stops, and summit selfies.  If you’re looking for a more traditional chair, check out our guide to the best backpacking chairs. However, if you’re looking for an ultralight seat for the backcountry, the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat is a good choice. 

How We Tested

It isn’t hard to test the z-seat. Just unfold (or not) and sit. So, we sat. We sat on the snow, on rocks, on sand, on dirt, and on logs. We packed it and unpacked it. We weighed it. Then we compared it to our other favorites. The Z-Seat is in a league of its own, but deserves a spot on our site. 

Comfort

The Therm-a-Rest Z-seat ranks high for weight, packability, stability, and ease of use – but not comfort.  

This featherweight seat won’t provide back support or dole out recliner-style comfort. However, its ¾ inch of closed cell foam takes the edge off the rocks and logs that serve as our campsite furniture.

Our pad provides a subtle yet appreciated comfort boost for sitting. We were happy to have it around a fire ring on stacked rock chairs at a backcountry tent pad. It also added a little insulation when our gear analyst sat on a snowy, trailside stump to slip on his winter traction devices as the trail got slick above the snowline in the Sandia Mountains. 

For nature photographers, it’s also a necessity. Rather than sitting in the snowmelt or letting pine needles poke, it’s a warmer, drier, and cushier photographer’s seat next to the tripod. The variety of use cases for the Z-Seat adds up. 

Overall, the Z-Seat’s comfort is a better match for breaks and other short sits. It’s a low-risk, low-reward backpacker seat that adds a little cushion and insulation – without adding weight.

Weight & Packability

Weight and packability are where the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat really shines. At 2 ounces, this sit pad is the lightest “chair” on our list – which is why many minimalists sing its praises and carry it into the backcountry.

The accordion-style Z-Seat also packs down small. You can clip it or strap it to the outside of your pack. However, this sit pad is small enough that you can also stash it inside your backpack if that’s how you want to roll. Its packed dimensions are smaller than the ten other backpacking chairs we weighed, measured, and packed on our escapes into New Mexico’s high desert mountains.

Stability

Technically speaking, the Z-Seat is also a top pick for stability. After all, your odds of falling off a 3.4-inch-thick sheet of foam are low. This sit pad kept our center of gravity low when we used it in the field. 

At the same time, the Therm-a-Rest doesn’t add any stability to a wobbly log or slanted rock slab, either. It’s still your body that supplies all your stability and balance if you perch the Z-seat on a rock for a lunch break or lean it against a tree for a cushioned backrest.

In the end, though, you’re not tipping over when you’re sitting on the Z-Seat, unless it’s the whiskey.

Ease of Use

Most backpacking chairs are intuitive to use. You simply piece together poles connected with shock cord, attach the seat, and take a seat – a process that normally takes a minute or less. The Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat is even easier. You unhook the bungee and unfold it – a process that takes five seconds or less.

The only question is which side of the Therm-a-Rest sit pad goes up or down? The silver side is more comfortable and reflects radiant heat, so you normally use the Z-Seat with the silver side up, especially in cool weather. However, you can reverse it in hot weather – turning the silver side down for a cooler seating surface. 

There’s also a downside to this simple foam pad – it blows away easily if you’re not careful. Gear analyst Jory Brass chased his Z-Seat down a snowy ravine when the wind caught it on the Sandia Crest Trail—and almost had the pad blow off a cliff at Embudito Canyon. Be careful using this sit pad on summits, saddles, and other windy spots where it’s nice to take a break – you may lose it.  

Again, ease of use is another category where this sit pad excels.

Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad?

The Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat isn’t much for cushion or support, but it keeps backpackers’ behinds drier, warmer, and more comfortable – and only weighs a couple of ounces. 

It’s a low-risk, low-reward seat cushion for thru-hikers and other gram counters who don’t want to carry a 1-2 pound backpacking chair. If you’re the type of backpacker who files down your toothbrush to save weight and space, you’ll probably like this highly packable sit pad for your rest stops, summit photos, and campsite meals. It’s our top pick for minimalists – and one of the cheapest seats on our list, too.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

If this sit pad isn’t quite what you want, you’ll find several alternatives in our full guide to the best backpacking chairs, such as these seats:

Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad Review: The other foam pad on our list, the Thinlight has a larger surface area to cushion both our butt and back.

REI Flexlite Air Chair Review: Of all the traditional, tent-style backpacking chairs in our guide, the Flexlite is the lightest, most packable option for backpackers. 

Helinox Chair Zero Review: Our top-ranked backpacking chair, the Chair Zero scores high across the board while weighing only 1 pound, 2 ounces.

Bottom Line

The Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad is an ultralight alternative for backpackers who’d never consider carrying a 1-2 pound chair into the wild.

It’s a sit pad, and it isn’t trying to be a true backpacking chair. But if you want just a bit of cush without taking up pack space/weight, this little magic carpet scored high for weight, packability, stability, and ease of use. 

Sure, it’s not the most comfortable seat in our guide to the best backpacking chairs. But it only weighs 2-3 ounces and offers a wide variety of use cases and versatility. Sit on it, sleep on it, keep your feet off the snow/dirt with it, stretch on it, etc. It lends itself to several uses for resourceful campers and backpackers. We like it not only as a low-maintenance camp seat and backrest but also as a yoga mat, dog bed, and inflatable sleeping pad protector. 

If you’re a minimalist on the hunt for a lightweight and versatile camp pad, the Thinlight should be high on your list.

How We Tested

We toted the Thinlight Pad into the New Mexico wilderness to test it alongside 10 other camp seats. We evaluated its comfort, weight, packability, stability, and ease of use in the field while comparing it to the competition.

Comfort

The goal of the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad is to make it easier for backpackers to sit on a rock, lean against a tree, or sprawl out on the ground. Its cushion is minimal – only ⅛ of an inch – which you can bump up to about ¾ of an inch by keeping the pad completely folded. That’s not enough to make a rock or log feel like a featherbed. But it will make those natural chairs – or the bare ground – a little more tolerable for a lunch break, nap at the saddle, or a few hands of Euchre around the campfire. 

When we tested the folded version of the Thinlight in the backcountry, it made a small contribution to comfort – not a big one. We use it folded as a sitting pad and unfolded as a backrest against a tree, log, or rock wall. It softens the rough edges of rocks, tree bark, and uneven ground, but we still feel everything through the thin foam. While it is less effective at cushioning our bodies, the pad provides a thin buffer between our butts and the dirt, sand, snow, and pine needles. Thus, its most significant plus is keeping us cleaner, warmer, and drier. 

Measuring 73.5 x 19 x .125 inches fully extended, the Thinlight is a viable sleeping surface. If you’re into yoga, naps, or stretching routines, that’s a potential comfort plus. However, the pad’s width wasn’t enough for our male tester, whose arms and broad shoulders hung over the edge of the pad. You won’t confuse the Thinlight with a true sleeping pad, comfort-wise. 

If comfort is your biggest concern, you should focus on heavier, scoop-style backpacking chairs. As its name suggests, the Thinlight prioritizes weight and packability over comfort.

Weight & Packability

Weighing just 2.7 ounces (rolled) or 3.3 ounces (folded), the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad is a minimalist option for the gram counters among us. You can save a pound or two of pack weight by picking the Thinlight over a true backpacking chair. The weight is negligible – and not noticeably heavier than competing sit pads. 

The Thinlight measures 73.5 x 19 x 0.125 inches, but it’s still highly packable. The easiest way to carry this pad is strapped to the top or bottom of your pack. However, we could also sneak it inside a medium-sized backpack.

In short, this is one of the lightest, most packable options in our guide to the best backpacking chairs.

Stability

Strictly speaking, the Thinlight Foam Pad is also the most stable “backpacking chair” we tested. If you “fall off” the thinlight, that’s a you problem, homie. It’s tough to tip over when you’re only an ⅛ inch off the ground unless you fall asleep sitting up.

At the same time, this thin strip of foam doesn’t add any stability to your body, either. So, in this instance, a high score for stability isn’t as relevant for this seat as it is for traditional backpacking chairs, where there’s more risk of losing your balance and tipping over.

Ease of Use

Strictly speaking, the Thinlight Foam Pad is also the most stable “backpacking chair” we tested. If you “fall off” the thinlight, it’s a you problem. It’s tough to tip over when you’re only an ⅛ inch off the ground unless you fall asleep sitting up.

At the same time, this thin strip of foam doesn’t add any stability to your body, either. So, in this instance, a high score for stability isn’t as relevant for this seat as it is for traditional backpacking chairs, where there’s more risk of losing your balance and tipping over.

Should You Buy the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad?

The Thinlight foam pad is a small investment that may yield big dividends for ultralight backpackers who don’t want to carry a true backpacking chair. Its weight, packability, and stability all stand out, and resourceful hikers can milk this foam pad for multiple uses, too. 

Just don’t expect to get much cushion or back support out of a pad this thin. Still, it only weighs 2-3 ounces and makes natural surfaces a little more hospitable at camp. We recommend the Gossamer Gear Thinlight for minimalists, backcountry yogis, and backpackers who want to protect and supplement their inflatable sleeping pads.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

To see our full slate of recommendations, please see our guide to the best backpacking chairs, including these promising alternatives: 

Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Review: The other ultralight sit pad we recommend, the Z-Seat is lighter, smaller, and slightly cushier than the Thinlight Foam Pad. 

REI Flexlite Air Chair Review: If you prefer a true backpacking chair to a sit pad, the Flexlite is the lightest, most packable scoop-style chair we tested. 

Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Review: For a slightly cushier foam chair with a backrest, the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 is a comfort upgrade to the Gossamer Gear Thinlight.

Bottom Line

The Moon Lence Portable Camp Chair ranks high on Amazon, but backpackers should weigh the pros and cons of this budget-oriented chair before buying it for their backcountry adventures.

The good news is that this portable chair is not only affordable but also the most comfortable chair we tested. We love its deep scoop seat and extended back rest, which gives our gear analyst the support he needs for his bad back. 

The bad news is that Moon Lence’s budget components make this portable chair heavier than we recommend for backpacking. Plus, our stability tests revealed possible durability issues, which may limit the Moon Lence Portable to level, frontcountry campsites. That’s why it didn’t rank higher on our guide to the best backpacking chairs.  

Overall, we find this cheap and comfortable chair a better fit for the campground and rafting trips, rather than the wilderness, due to its weight and “meh” performance on uneven terrain. That being said, backpackers who care more about comfort and price may be willing to overlook weight and durability concerns to buy this budget-friendly portable chair.

How We Tested

Gear analyst Jory Brass carried around 11 backpacking chairs throughout the backpacking season. He packed them into New Mexico’s high desert backcountry campsites to test their comfort, packability, stability, and ease of use. This review is based on these field tests, side-by-side comparisons, and testing notes from other DuskHiker gear analysts.

Comfort

Let’s start with the good news: The Moon Lence Portable ranked at the top for comfort, based on side-by-side comparisons in the field.

Rated to hold up to 400 pounds, this hybrid camping/backpacking chair features an oversized scoop seat. With this extra room, Gear Analyst Jory Brass felt that he sat in the chair – not on it, which was the case with some of the smaller chairs he tested. His broad shoulders fit comfortably inside the chair’s frame, and so did his thick lower body. This made for a more comfortable, relaxed sitting experience at the campsite. 

We also appreciate this seat’s sizable back rest, which provides better back support than other chairs we tested. Jory, for example, has chronic back problems, so he appreciates the Moon Lence Portable Chair’s support, especially when he sits down for more than an hour. It’s undoubtedly a support upgrade over ultralight backpacking chairs. 

In short, this chair’s price isn’t its only plus. Its comfort and back support give budget-oriented backpackers another reason to buy the Moon Lence Portable.

Weight & Packability

The downside of all that comfort and support is weight. The Moon Lence Portable chair weighs 2 pounds 2 ounces on our gear analyst’s kitchen scale. Technically, that’s heavier than DuskHiker’s cutoff weight for a backpacking chair. For us, this is more of a camping chair than a backpacking chair since few backpackers are willing to lug around an extra two pounds of pack weight. Thus, it’s fair that Moon Lence lists this portable chair as a Camping/Backpacking crossover. 

Despite the extra weight, the Portable’s packed size is pretty average. Its stuff sack dimensions are similar to other scoop-seat backpacking chairs we tested; however, the packed volume is greater, due to the chair’s bulky plastic hubs and cheaper seat fabric. If your backpack is full, you may struggle to stuff this chair into your pack’s expanded side pockets. The Moon Lence Portable Chair is more portable when clipped or strapped to the bottom of your backpack.  

If you’re a weight-conscious backpacker, you should pass on the Moon Lence Portable Camping/Backpacking Chair and choose a lighter option. If you care more about comfort than packability, you may be willing to haul this oversized chair into the backcountry, even though it weighs over two pounds.

Stability

Our stability testing yielded mixed results for the Moon Lence Portable Chair. 

On the plus side, this budget-friendly backpacking chair didn’t budge much as we rocked side to side, leaned forward and backward, and bent over in laughter. The front legs lifted slightly as we leaned backwards, but we felt well-balanced as we leaned in other directions. Its stability is undoubtedly due to its weight and size, which are more like a campground chair than a backpacking chair. 

On the minus side, it took less than a minute for our 200-pound tester to bend two of the Moon Lence Portable Chair’s legs while testing its stability. After Gear Analyst Jory Brass shimmied side to side in the Moon Lence chair on slightly uneven terrain, the chair no longer sat flush on level ground. It wobbled noticeably with only three legs touching the pavement. This not only raises concerns about the stability of this budget backpacking chair but also its durability and the claimed weight capacity of 400 pounds.

If you pull the trigger on this budget pick, you’d better stick to level ground – and baby it – or it may not last long. It will help if you’re on the smaller side, too.

Ease of Use

The Moon Lence Portable isn’t tricky to use, but we had some pet peeves after assembling and disassembling it in our field tests. Our initial setup took three minutes, which is three times longer than our average. We were slowed down by the chair’s taut fabric, which required an arm workout to stretch over the aluminum frame. 

Plus, we initially had trouble distinguishing the top, bottom, and sides of the seat material. We had to rotate the seat 2-3 times to get it lined up with the frame. The length and width dimensions were similar, and the Moon Lence branding was on the side of the seat, not on top like most camp chairs. These little details slowed us down when we were first getting to know this chair.

Likewise, repacking this portable chair is hit or miss. The chair’s side pockets can get in the way when we try to wrap the seat fabric around the tent poles, and the bulky plastic hubs also take some finessing to fit into the stuff sack. Fortunately, the stuff sack is zippered from end to end, which makes it a little easier to massage those parts into their case.

Also, keep in mind the durability issues we experienced during our short stability tests. Since the chair legs bent so easily on uneven ground, campers should take extra care in finding a level campsite to use this Moon Lence chair.

Should You Buy the Moon Lence Portable Camping Chair?

We love the price of the Moon Lence Portable Chair, but backpackers should weigh this chair’s tradeoffs before buying it. Bigger and heavier than most backpacking chairs, this budget-friendly chair provides plenty of comfort and back support.

However, its budget components make the Moon Lence chair heavier and less durable than the premium backpacking chairs we reviewed. 

That’s why we prefer this crossover as a camping chair over a backpacking chair. But budget-oriented backpackers might pull the trigger if they care more about price and comfort than weight and durability. 

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

Our guide to the best backpacking chairs showcases several alternatives to the Moon Lence Portable Camping Chair:  

Trekology Yizi-Lite Review: Comfortable, packable, and affordable, the Yizi-Lite topped the Moon Lence Portable to be our DuskHiker Budget Buy. It’s our favorite budget backpacking chair. 

REI Flexlite Air Backpacking Chair Review: The best value on our list, the REI chair scores high across the board while costing much less than the premium backpacking chairs we reviewed.
Big Agnes Skyline UL Review: Another oversized and supportive backpacking chair, the Skyline UL is more packable, stable, and durable than the Moon Lence Portable – for a premium price.

Bottom Line

Weighing less than 12 ounces, the REI Flexlite Air Stool is a lightweight, low-maintenance camp seat that’s more accessible and packable than a full-fledged backpacking chair. Over the past few months, we’ve packed it alongside sit pads and backpacking chairs to compare its pros and cons as we set up campsites throughout the New Mexico Wilderness.  

If your biggest campsite concern is back support, you can stop reading. If you’re looking for a handy seat that gets you off the ground, stick with us. The REI Flexlite Air Stool is lighter than an ultralight backpacking chair, packs down small, and sets up quickly when it’s time to tend your cookstove, filter water beside a stream, or stop for a snack at the saddle. 

While we are not sold on stools for extended sits, we can get behind this REI stool for short breaks and camp chores. We also prefer the Flexlite Air Stool to the regular REI Flexlite Stool because the Air is lighter, more packable, and has a higher weight limit. That’s why it’s the sole camp stool that made the cut for our guide to the best backpacking chairs.

How We Tested

We rank backpacking chairs for comfort, packability, stability, and ease of use. Our review of the REI stool is based on our experiences with it on overnight backpacking trips, field tests, side-by-side comparisons, and notes from other DuskHiker gear analysts.

Comfort

A stool just can’t compete with a chair for comfort, but compared to sitting on the ground, it’s quite the improvement. The REI Flexlite Air Stool is best for short sits, scenarios where you’re getting up and down, and campsite chores (especially group camping dish pits). 

With a 17.5-inch seat height, the Flexlite Air Stool supports a taller seating position than any of the backpacking chairs we tested. That’s a potential comfort plus, especially if you’ve had trouble getting in and out of a classic backpacking chair. We found the higher, upright seating position fine for cooking, filtering water, inflating our sleeping pad, and other camp chores. 

Overall, this stool ranks below average for comfort. The small, triangular seat didn’t do much for us. Guys, in particular, may find it difficult to straddle the seat’s raised corners without crushing things that shouldn’t be crushed. Obviously, the biggest comfort limitation is the lack of a backrest. If you’ve got perfect posture, you might find it comfortable sitting up straight on top of the REI Flexlite Air Stool. However, DuskHiker Gear Analyst Jory Brass has a bad back, so he’d never choose a stool over a backpacking chair.

Comfort isn’t this stool’s strong suit. However, it ranks much higher for weight and packability.

Weight & Packability

The biggest win for the REI Flexlite Air Stool is that it saves several ounces over a true backpacking chair. At 11.5 ounces, this stool is about five ounces lighter than the ultralight options in our lineup. It’s also 6.5 ounces lighter than the OG REI Stool. If you value weight savings over comfort, consider this stool as a possible alternative to a backpacking chair, even an ultralight one. 

This weight savings also carries over to packability. The stool’s packed size is noticeably narrower than the backpacking chairs we tested. We found it much easier to stuff the REI Flexlite Air Stool into the side pockets of our backpack than most chairs we tested.

Stability

Stability is not a strong suit of the REI Flexlite Air Stool. With a narrow base, tall height, and fewer legs underneath us, we wobble pretty easily when perched on top of the stool. Our tester even fell off the Flexlite Air, even though it was set up on solid, even ground. The tripod-style frame doesn’t inspire much confidence, and the higher center of gravity doesn’t help matters, either. 

On the plus side, the Flexlite Air Stool has a standard weight capacity of 250 pounds. Just bear in mind, you will get some wiggling if you choose a 3-legged stool over a 4-legged chair. We ranked it near the bottom for stability compared with the other options we tested for backpackers.

Ease of Use

The Flexlite Air Stool is a no-brainer to set up, but you can’t totally turn off your brain to keep your balance while sitting in it. You simply need to twist it and set it on the ground to use. However, the Flexlite Air was also quite easy. 

Our initial setup took only 20 seconds, and re-packing it was also easy, thanks to the smaller components and a generous stuff sack. These stools are built to set up and tear down quickly. That’s why we like them for trailside breaks, lunch stops, and camp chores.

Should You Buy the REI Flexlite Air Stool?

The REI Flexlite Air Stool makes sense for some backpacking uses and not for others. If you’re a backpacker looking for a lightweight and packable seat that you can whip out quickly for breaks and chores, this camp stool fits the bill. Given the height of its seat, the Flexlite also makes sense for taller backpackers and those with mobility issues. 

However, if you are on the hunt for more comfort, stability, or back support, this not your chair.  Finally, the regular REI Flexlite Stool is the more budget-friendly option. Still, we prefer the REI Flexlite Air because it’s lighter, more packable, and more appropriate for backpackers over 200 pounds.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

If you’re not feeling the REI Flexlite Air Stool, feel free to browse our full guide to the best backpacking chairs or check out these options:

(Regular) REI Flexlite Stool: The original REI Flexlite stool is heavier and bulkier than the Flexlite Air Stool, but it also costs half as much. 

REI Flexlite Air Chair Review: If you’re not sold on the stool, the REI Flexlite Air Chair offers more comfort and stability while staying lightweight and affordable. 

Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Review: For a featherweight and inexpensive camp seat, check out Therm-a-Rest’s Z-Seat sit pad – a favorite for ultralighters.

Bottom Line

Ranking at the top of our list of the best backpacking chairs, the Helinox Ground Chair wowed us with its stability and campsite comfort. Gear analyst Jory Brass didn’t think he’d like a low-riding chair. However, the Helinox Ground Chair changed his mind after testing it next to ten of his other favorites while overnighting at several New Mexico campsites. 

Sitting low to the ground makes it easier to extend your legs while lounging in camp, or to reach for a camp stove while relaxing in a semi-reclined position. 

This chair didn’t ace all of our tests. After all, it does take more effort to get in and out of a ground chair.  Additionally, its weight is 4-6 ounces heavier than our favorite ultralight models. Still, we like how the Helinox Ground Chair lets us stretch out our legs after an exhausting day of backpacking. Plus, the chair’s stability is pretty darn good, thanks to its unique square base and low center of gravity. 

For us, this chair’s obvious positives outweigh its possible negatives. If you feel more comfortable extending your legs in camp, you might even choose the Helinox Ground Chair over its sibling – and top-ranked chair on our list – the Helinox Chair Zero.

How We Tested

For two months, DuskHiker Editor and Gear analyst Jory Brass tested the Helinox Ground Chair in the Land of Enchantment. Field tests might seem low-tech, but sitting around in this chair, packing and unpacking it, and sticking it on a scale are the methods we chose for reviewing its comfort, weight, packability, stability, and ease of use.

Comfort

At the end of two months of testing, the Helinox Ground Chair had risen toward the top of our list for comfort. 

The scoop seat itself is quite comfortable. Our 200-pound tester has plenty of room – without corners and edges digging into his shoulders and quads (which happens with some other models). The seating angle is slightly reclined, making it easy to kick back, extend our legs, and relax in camp. Vertical slits and side mesh provide ventilation, keeping us cool in hot or humid weather. 

We have minimal comfort complaints after using this chair in the frontcountry and backcountry. As you might imagine, it takes a little more work to get in and out of a ground chair, especially if you’re stiff after cooling down from a hard day on the trail. This one sits about 6 inches lower than the typical, tent-style backpacking chair. 

Once seated, though, we find it comfortable to rest in several positions. In particular, it is easier to stretch out our legs in front of us – to get our blood circulating to drain the lactic acid from our achy legs. However, some campers will prefer the more upright seating positions of other comfort standouts.   

Most backpacking chairs are comfortable for short stints. The Helionox Ground Chair is one of the chairs we can sink into comfortably for an hour or more.

Weight & Packability

Compared with other backpacking chairs we weighed and tested, the Helinox Ground Chair ranked in the middle of the pack for weight and packability. Weighing 1 pound 6 ounces, it was well under our 2-pound cutoff for a backpacking chair, yet 4-6 ounces heavier than ultralight chairs. Weight-wise, the Helinox Ground Chair is good, but not great, by backpacking chair standards.

Its packed size is consistent with other chairs we tested. When stuffed, the Helinox Ground is shorter than other backpacking chairs and has a larger circumference than a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. We can cram the stuff sack into the stretchy side bottle pocket of our backpack, but it takes some work when our pack is full.

In short, weight and packability aren’t this chair’s strengths. But it’s clearly a backpacking chair – not a camping chair. We have no qualms about carrying the Helinox Ground Chair into the woods, given its comfort and stability.

Stability

Stability is a clear strength of the Helinox Ground Chair. As part of our field testing, Gear Analyst Jory Brass tested its stability on solid ground, soft ground, and sloping ground. The chair stood firm on all surfaces as he rocked back and forth, leaned side to side, and shimmied to put some pressure on the chair’s frame. 

The Helinox Ground Chair boasts several stability features that other backpacking chairs can’t claim. The chair’s square base not only offers support in all four directions but also resists sinking. It did great resisting sinking into sand or the soft bed of pine needles at our campsite along the Sandia Crest Trail. Plus, the frame is made with a premium DAC Aluminum alloy and pre-bent poles that can take some abuse. As a ground chair, its center of gravity is also quite low, making it more stable and less likely to tip over.

Ease of Use

Like most backpacking chairs, the Helinox Ground Chair is pretty easy to use. Initial setup took us around 45 seconds without instructions. All the connection points are intuitive, and the Helinox branding at the top of the seat makes it easy to align it with the aluminum frame. The stuff sack is appropriately sized for the chair. The premium aluminum poles pack down well, but the chunky plastic hubs for the square base stow somewhat awkwardly. 

As mentioned before, the toughest part about using a ground chair is getting into it and getting out of it (especially if you’re super sore from logging some miles). With the seat suspended only 4-5 inches off the ground, it takes more work to lower yourself into a sitting position. If you’re older or struggle with mobility or balance, you’ll probably prefer a more typical backpacking chair that typically positions you 10-12 inches off the ground. 

Still, sitting on the Helinox Ground Chair is much easier on your body than sitting on the ground.

Should You Buy the Helinox Ground Chair?

If you like the idea of a stable backpacking chair that lets you stretch out your legs at camp, the Helinox Ground Chair should be at or near the top of your list. We also like this chair for camping on soft ground, thanks to its square base, which doesn’t sink into sand or riverbanks as much as the feet of most backpacking chairs. 

Our tester has always used a taller backpacking chair, but he may switch to this ground chair to give his hiking legs a little more love in camp. However, sitting low to the ground won’t appeal to everyone, especially if you have trouble getting up or down after a long day on the trail. Plus, this chair isn’t the lightest of the bunch, so ultralighters may prefer shedding several ounces with an ultralight backpacking chair or sit pad. Overall, though, we’re big fans of the Helinox Ground Chair.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

For more backpacking chair ideas, please see our best backpacking chairs guide for more alternatives, including these: 

Helinox Chair Zero Review: If you’re not committed to a ground chair, the Helinox Chair Zero topped our 2025 list of the best backpacking chairs. 

Trekology Yizi-Lite Review: Do you like ground chairs but can’t afford the Helinox? The Yizi-Lite also sits low to the ground and costs almost three times less than Helinox backpacking chairs. 

Big Agnes Skyline UL Review: If you put comfort and stability first but want to sit higher off the ground, we recommend the Big Agnes Skyline.

Bottom Line

The Trekology Yizi-Lite is one of the more comfortable backpacking chairs we tested – and one of the cheapest. That’s why it made our list of the best backpacking chairs.

This chair sits low to the ground, letting us stretch out our legs after a taxing day on the trail. We also appreciate the deep seat with high back support, which was comfortable and supportive enough for our tester with a bad back. 

As an entry-level camp chair, the Trekology Yizi-Lite lags behind most backpacking chairs we tested in weight and packability. Even so, it’s a reasonable option for backpackers who won’t pay a premium for ultralight performance. It also scored pretty well in other metrics, which is a plus at this price point. Overall, you probably get a little more than what you pay for with this budget backpacking chair.

How We Tested

Gear analyst Jory Brass tested this Trekology chair over a two-month period at a series of New Mexico backcountry campsites. We compared its comfort alongside other chairs in frontcountry campsites. Additionally, we weighed, measured, hauled it into the wilderness, and timed how long it took to assemble, disassemble, and repack. To gauge its stability, we set the chair on soft and uneven surfaces – and even roughed it up to see if it wobbled or fell apart underneath our weight.

Comfort

The Trekology Yizi-Lite isn’t an expensive chair, but we found it more comfortable than several of the premium backpacking chairs we tested. 

We particularly liked the deep scoop seat. It’s roomy enough to accommodate broad shoulders and big booties, and the backrest hits higher than most models we tested. Our gear tester has a bad back, and he appreciated this chair’s back support in camp. We didn’t notice pinch points or corners digging into our backs, thanks to the seat’s generous dimensions. 

The chair’s short height, however, could be a positive or negative for comfort. Trekology lists this chair’s height as 9.8 inches; however, we measured half that much space between our butts and the ground. With a seating position so low to the ground, the Yizi-Lite felt more like a ground chair than a typical backpacking chair. 

On one hand, this just-off-the-ground design makes it easier to extend your legs in camp. On the other hand, it’s harder to get in and out of a ground chair. Our tester enjoyed leaning back in this chair while stretching his legs out in front of him to give them a much-needed rest after a big day on the trail. However, other backpackers may prefer sitting higher off the ground. 

If you’re going to lug an extra pound or two into the backcountry, you want it to be worth it. The Yizi-Lite didn’t come up short in the comfort and support metric. However, it’s best to consider it a ground chair, which might not be for everyone.

Weight & Packability

Budget backpacking gear almost always weighs more than premium gear, and that’s the case with the Trekology Yizi-Lite.

Unlike many camp chairs available on Amazon, it weighs less than 2 pounds – DuskHiker’s cutoff for a “backpacking” chair (versus a camping chair). However, at 1 lb 10.4 ounces, the Yizi-Lite ranks near the bottom of the chairs in our gear guide. The packed size is also borderline, thanks to the added bulk of the chair’s oversized plastic hubs and chunky aluminum pole segments. It’s taller and slightly thicker than a Nalgene bottle in its stuff sack—a tight fit for most backpacks’ expandable side pockets. Like most backpacking chairs, the Yizi best fits strapped outside your pack. 

Weight and packability are expected downsides for Trekology’s budget-friendly price. Still, this is the most packable backpacking chair we’ve found at this price point. Realistically, you’ll need to pay 2-3 times as much to buy a backpacking chair that’s a half-pound lighter and a bit easier to pack. 

Stability

Stability wasn’t a strength for the Yizi-Lite camping chair. Because of its design and weight, it surprised us,  but it wasn’t a dealbreaker, either.

At first glance, this looks like a super stable backpacking chair. The Trekology chair is heavy, sits low to the ground, and features thicker parts than most backpacking chairs we tested. However, we were surprised when it teetered side to side when we tested it on soft, sloping ground at a campsite in the Sandia Mountains.

Why did the Yizi-Lite chair wobble on uneven ground as we reached for our coffee and camp stove? For starters, the chair’s center pole runs front-to-back, not side-to-side like most backpacking chairs. Plus, its short legs form a narrower base that’s only 11 inches wide. These features limit its lateral stability despite the Yizi-Lite’s low center of gravity. This may also contribute to this chair’s lower weight capacity of 220 pounds.

We trust this chair’s stability on solid ground, and we felt confident when shifting our weight forward and backward. However, the Trekology Yizi-Lite’s side-to-side stability fell a little short, especially when we placed it on a soft bed of pine needles. With average stability, this chair works best at level campsites, based on our first-hand testing experience.

Ease of Use

There’s nothing tricky about using the Trekology Yizi-Lite. It’s a typical camp chair – with tent-style aluminum poles connected by shock cord. Initial assembly took us less than a minute. Repacking the chair took us a little longer because the chair’s plastic hubs are chunkier than most. However, the stuff sack has plenty of room to accommodate the chair’s bulky hubs and poles once we corralled them and wrapped them in the seat fabric.

As mentioned above, this chair sets up better on solid, level ground. Obviously, we always want a flat campsite. However, that’s a little more important with the Trekology chair than with other backpacking chairs. Plus, the chair sits low to the ground, which makes it tougher to lower yourself into the chair and get back up – especially when you’re stiff from a big day of hiking. However, these are small inconveniences, not big problems. 

Should You Buy the Trekology Yizi-Lite Camping Chair?

If you’re looking for a budget camp chair that’s barely light and packable enough for backpacking, the Trekology Yizi-Lite is our top pick. It’s also a good choice for campers and backpackers who prefer a ground chair to stretch out their legs at camp. 

If you’d rather not sit so close to the ground, you’ll find other backpacking chairs on our list more comfortable and easier to use. Plus, you won’t confuse this budget buy with a premium backpacking chair, given its weight and the quality of its materials. Overall, though, this is an average backpacking chair with a price that’s well below average. It’s a solid value. 

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

If you’re looking for something different, you’ll probably find it in our full guide to the best backpacking chairs, including these options: 

REI Flexlite Air Chair Review: This REI chair costs twice as much, but it’s still a great value for backpackers with its one-pound weight, smaller packed size, and more typical, off-the-ground seating position. 

Helinox Ground Chair Review: For a premium backpacking chair that sits low to the ground, the Helinox Ground Chair is an upgrade over the Yizi-Lite, thanks to its lower weight, better packability, and superior stability.  

Moon Lence Portable Chair Review: If you care less about weight, packed size, and durability, the Moon Lence chair is cheaper and more comfortable than the Trekology Yizi-Lite – but its 2 lb+ weight isn’t great for backpacking.

Bottom Line

The REI Flexlite Air Chair gets our vote as the best value in backpacking chairs. It only weighs one pound while providing the comfort, back support, and packability we want out of a backpacking chair. Gear analyst Jory Brass has been using his Flexlite since 2015, so he was stoked to compare REI’s newest model to 10 other seats for our latest guide to the best backpacking chairs.

Based on our first-hand testing, the Flexlite Air is a standout. It ranks at the top of our list while costing much less than other premium backpacking chairs. We’re especially impressed with the way REI balanced this chair’s weight and packability with its comfort and support. We have no qualms about carrying this ultralight chair into the woods because we know it will make a big difference in camp when it’s time to unwind after a big day of hiking.

Minimalists may balk at carrying an extra pound on their back, and some backpackers will want a more stable backpacking chair. That being said, the REI Flexlite Air is one of the best overall scoop seats we tested – and one of the more affordable ones, too.

How We Tested

For ten years, DuskHiker Editor and Gear analyst Jory Brass has carried some version of the REI Flexlite from the Grand Canyon to Tasmania as he backpacked iconic trails in the United States and Australia. For this review, he tested the newest Flexlite Air for two months in New Mexico. He compared its comfort to that of 10 other backpacking chairs through extended sitting sessions, weighed it, hauled it to backcountry campsites, and subjected it to some abuse. He also timed how long it took to assemble, disassemble, and repack it.

Comfort

The REI Flexlite Air Chair is comfortable, especially for an ultralight backpacking chair. The scoop-style seat has plenty of space for our sturdy gear analyst, who’s been using this chair for a long time without any serious comfort complaints. As its name suggests, the Flexlite’s aluminum poles have some flex to them. This improves comfort since the chair flexes with our body movements as we shift in the seat, lean back, or reach over for our coffee, camp stove, or map. 

We also like this chair’s back support. Backpacking chairs are more of a necessity than a luxury for gear analyst Jory Brass, who has a bad back. Although the REI Flexlite Chair doesn’t offer the best back support, it has provided him with plenty of support over the past ten years of backpacking. Its backrest hits high enough to lean back and take a load off his back and shoulders. For more support, you’d need to buy a significantly heavier backpacking chair. 

For the most part, we like this chair’s height, shape, and seating angle. With a seat height of 11 inches, the Flexlite sits relatively high off the ground, making it easier to sit down and stand up than several chairs we tested. The chair’s design allows us to sit somewhat upright while also leaning back and extending our legs in front of us. 

However, not all body shapes and sizes fit optimally in the Flexlite. Longer sits will cause the front edge of the seat to dig into Jory’s hamstrings when he stretches out his legs in front of him. This can restrict circulation, but occasional readjustments keep the blood flowing well enough in this position. Other than this occasional issue, the REI Flexlite Air proved to be a comfortable chair to carry into the backcountry.

Weight & Packability

The ultralight backpacking chair is also easy to carry into the backcountry, given its comparatively low weight and small packed size. 

Weighing only one pound, the REI Flexlite Air Chair is one of the lightest traditional backpacking chairs in our gear guide. If you want a comfortable backpacking chair with a backrest, this is the lightest one we tested. Minimalists may refuse to carry an extra pound for some campsite comfort, but this chair adds a lot to our camp experience without weighing us down on the way there.

Its packed size is also smaller than average. We typically strap backpacking chairs beneath our backpack, but this one fits inside the expandable side bottle pockets of our mid-sized backpack. We appreciated that versatility in the field. Some backpacking chairs hog pack space. Not this one.

Weight and packability are where the REI Flexlite Air Chair provides serious value. It’s the lightest scoop seat-style backpacking chair we tested, yet it costs significantly less than the closest competition in this category. If you’re looking for an affordable ultralight backpacking chair, the REI Flexlite Air is in a class of its own.

Stability

We love the REI Flexlite Air Chair, but stability is its lowest metric. Compared with other backpacking chairs we tested, it’s somewhat tippy, especially on sand and soft ground.

Over years of use, Editor and Gear Analyst Jory Brass doesn’t remember troubles with this chair’s stability – other than tipping over once on the Allegheny Front Trail when one chair leg dug into soft soil next to a creek and sent him sprawling (which was more funny than painful). However, that was in an older version of the Flexlite where the center pole ran side to side. Now, the chair’s center pole runs front to back – which limits its lateral stability.

This limitation played out in our field tests. While conducting stability tests at a backcountry campsite in New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains, Jory accidentally toppled the REI Flexlite chair when the camera was rolling (see below).

With its legs spreading less than 10 inches wide, the REI chair also has the narrowest base out of the backpacking chairs we tested. We noticed those legs lifting off the ground as we leaned back to relax, leaned forward to tend to our camp stove, or leaned to the side to grab our coffee mug. Plus, the Flexlite’s aluminum poles do indeed have some flex to them. These features add up to stability that’s only adequate.

If you’ve picked a nice, level campsite, you should feel fairly confident about the Flexlite’s stability. The chair’s limitations are more noticeable on sand, soft soil, and uneven terrain. For us, the chair’s average stability is a reasonable tradeoff for its ultralight weight. But it’s not the best buy for klutzes, backpackers with poor balances, or those who regularly set up camp in sand, pine needles, and soft ground.

Ease of Use

In our experience, the REI Flexlite Aire Chair is the typical, tent-style backpacking chair. Its aluminum leg segments are connected with shock cord for relatively quick assembly and disassembly. The flex in the aluminum legs makes it easier to stretch the seat fabric over the frame and stick the poles into the seat’s corner pockets. In the field, it took us about 30 seconds to unpack and set up the Flexlite Air Chair – and a similar time to break it down and repack it in its convenient stuff sack. The average backpacking chair took us twice as long. 

The only drawbacks we found are stability-related. Since this ultralight backpacking chair isn’t as stable as heavier camp chairs, you may need to watch your balance more or spend a little time finding the sweet spot where the chair legs are weighted evenly.  

Overall, this backpacking chair is pretty easy to use. 

Should You Buy the REI Flexlite Air Chair?

We highly recommend the REI Flexlite Air Chair for backpackers looking for a perfect balance between weight savings and comfort. This is an ultralight chair that packs plenty of comfort and back support into its one-pound package. The chair’s lightweight build sacrifices some stability, but that’s a fair trade-off for more weight savings and better packability. We also recommend the Flexlite Air Chair for value-oriented buyers since the other ultralight backpacking chairs we recommend cost 40-80% more. That’s why the REI chair is one of our DuskHiker Budget Buys.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

The REI Flexlite ranks high on our list, but we share more top picks on our full guide to the best backpacking chairs.

Helinox Chair Zero Review: The Flexlite finished second to the top-ranked Chair Zero – which is slightly more comfortable and stable while weighing two ounces more and costing quite a bit more. 

NEMO Moonlite Elite Review: The other ultralight backpacking chair on our list, the Moonlite has standout stability and also features a unique, reclining suspension.

Trekology Yizi-Lite Review: If you’re most focused on comfort and price, this affordable low-rider from Trekology is another one of our best budget buys.

Bottom Line

This ultralight backpacking chair costs a pretty penny, but the Helinox Chair Zero pulls off the perfect blend of comfort, packability, stability, and ease of use. That’s why it’s at the top of our list of the best backpacking chairs after testing it for two months in New Mexico’s high desert mountains. 

The Chair Zero isn’t the lightest backpacking chair we tested, but Helinox made those two extra ounces count. This chair has better comfort, back support, and stability than the other lightweight backpacking chairs we reviewed. It still manages to be one of the lighter and more packable chairs around. 

We can’t fault this chair for anything other than price. Even then, its price tag is probably justified by its premium performance. Additionally, it costs ten dollars less than last year, which is unusual given the current market trends. When we’re buying a backpacking chair, we want one that’s lightweight and clearly a comfort upgrade over natural camp furniture. That’s the Helinox Chair Zero, which we recommend to all backpackers who want a high-performing chair that won’t weigh them down.

How We Tested

This spring and summer, DuskHiker editor and gear analyst Jory Brass backpacked with the Helinox to see if it still lives up to its legendary reputation. He also car camped in the New Mexico wilderness, comparing it to the other 10 best backpacking chairs on the market to assess their comfort, packability, stability, and ease of use.

Comfort

Lightweight backpacking chairs aren’t as comfortable as heavier camping chairs, but we found the Helinox Chair Zero plenty cozy at our New Mexican campsites. The scoop seat has enough space for our broad-shouldered gear analyst to sit comfortably without corners or edges digging into his traps, armpits, or quads. 

While we used this chair mostly in cooler temperatures and in the shade, its vertical ventilation slits should keep our backs cooler if we wanted a full sun session in the chair. The backrest extends high enough to provide meaningful back support. In other words, this chair ticks all our comfort boxes in the field, which is impressive for its comparatively low weight. 

Sure, some of the heavier chairs we tested are slightly more comfortable. However, the Helinox Chair Zero is quite comfortable for such an ultralight backpacking chair.  

Weight & Packability

Compared to other classic, scoop-seat backpacking chairs, the Helinox Chair Zero deserves the ultralight label. At one pound two ounces, it’s tied for the second lightest chair we tested, and only two ounces behind the lightest on the list. That’s well below our two-pound cutoff for a backpacking chair. 

The DAC aluminum alloy frame keeps this chair’s weight and bulk to a minimum (while supporting hikers up to 265 pounds). Likewise, the ripstop polyester seat is thin yet sturdy, which also helps with weight and packability. Made with such premium materials, the Chair Zero packs into a relatively narrow stuff sack that fits into the side bottle pockets of our mid-sized backpack. 

If you’re willing to carry any backpacking chair into the backcountry, you should have no qualms about lugging the Chair Zero in or on your pack. It’s worth the extra pound.

Stability

Stability is where the Helinox Chair Zero holds a clear advantage. While its competitors’ chairs have a similarly low center of gravity and provide a dependable base at level campsites, the Chair Zero performs better when Gear Analyst Jory Brass uses it on uneven ground. The Helinox chair can hold its own (and us) on sloping, soft beds of pine needles and slanting granite.

In particular, the Chair Zero has solid lateral stability for such a lightweight backpacking chair. As our 200-pound tester danced and shimmied side to side to put stress on the chair’s ultralight frame, the Chair Zero handled the abuse. The chair’s center pole runs side to side and features a wide, 14-inch base. That pays off when things literally go sideways at camp. 

Conversely, the Chair Zero doesn’t handle forward or backward leans as well. The chair has a wide base, but its short legs sit much closer together from front to back. We didn’t need to lean back too far to feel the front legs lift off the ground – putting us at risk of falling backwards.    

Overall, we found the Helinox Chair Zero to be a trustworthy backpacking chair. As an ultralight, it’s not as stable as the significantly heavier options or its low-riding sibling, the Helinox Ground Chair. However, we found that this chair’s ultralight construction didn’t compromise stability as much as several other chairs we tested and reviewed.

Ease of Use

Like most backpacking chairs, setting up the Helinox Ground Chair is straightforward. It’s a standard, tent-style backpacking chair with aluminum poles connected by shock cord. You simply stretch the seat cover over the frame and slip the ends of the poles into the corner pockets. 

Our initial assembly and disassembly times averaged just over a minute – slightly longer than our average. The only thing that slowed us down was a little detail. Rather than putting the Helinox branding at the top of the seat – like most backpacking chairs – the branding runs up one side. This makes it tougher to figure out the top, bottom, and sides of the seat – much like fumbling with the fitted sheet on our bed. Obviously, this isn’t a big problem and will be a non-issue once you remember the Helinox logo runs up the top left of the chair.

Should You Buy the Helinox Chair Zero?

We like just about everything about this premium backpacking chair – with the possible exception of its premium price. More than any chair we tested and reviewed, this one strikes the perfect balance between weight savings and comfort, packability, and stability. Compared to the competition, the Chair Zero is easy to carry on the trail, and it provides plenty of advantages at camp with better comfort, back support, and stability than you’d expect from an ultralight backpacking chair. 

If you’re a budget-oriented backpacker, you’ll be better off with one of our best budget picks. However, if you’re willing to pay a premium for ultralight performance, we’re confident that the Helinox Chair Zero will be a good choice for you.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

If you’re not sold on our top pick, please browse the other chairs that made our full guide to the best backpacking chairs. 

REI Flexlite Air Chair Review: If the Helinox chair is too rich for your blood, the Flexlite is two ounces lighter and costs $40 less while providing similar performance. 

Helinox Ground Chair Review: The Chair Zero’s cousin boasts outstanding stability and sits low to the ground, so we can stretch out our legs comfortably at camp.

Trekology Yizi-Lite Review: If price is your biggest concern, we found the Yizi-Lite to be very comfortable and surprisingly packable for such a cheap backpacking chair.

Bottom Line

An alternative to a traditional backpacking chair, the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair is a roll-up seat with a backrest that won’t break your back or your budget compared to our other favorite backpacking camp chairs.

For better or worse, this chair falls halfway in between the sit pads we recommend and the classic, tent-style backpacking chairs with scoop seats. You’re still sitting on the ground (but with some padding), and it’s got a little back support (better than a log or a rock).

Optimistically, it’s a foam pad with a backrest, making it more supportive than a sit pad and cheaper than a classic backpacking chair. Pessimistically, it’s not nearly as light or packable as a sit pad and not nearly as comfortable or supportive as a classic backpacking chair. 

In other words, this in-betweener may or may not be worth it, depending on what’s most important to you. If you’re more concerned about price than comfort, weight, and packability, the Hex 2.0 gives you a basic backrest while leaving a few bucks in your bank account. However, it wouldn’t be a great buy if comfort, weight, and packability are your priorities. 

Personally, we prefer this chair for in-town use, such as a bleacher backrest for ballgames or a portable lawn chair for concerts at the park. However, we can also see budget-oriented backpackers choosing the Hex 2.0 as a basic backrest. 

Other DuskHiker staff members like to keep one on hand to add an extra buffer under their sleeping pad when car camping. It has also saved one from a bad sleep when their popped inflatable sleeping pad was beyond repair. Oh, and it was also used as a makeshift seat in an inflatable kayak after a thwart popped. Honestly, one of these is just good to have on hand.

How We Tested

For two months, DuskHiker editor and gear analyst Jory Brass just sat around his living room in camp chairs. And by living room, we mean the New Mexico wilderness. He compared their comfort, packability, stability, and ease of use against the best of the best. While DuskHiker gear analysts are no strangers to crazy creeks, we tested the latest Hex 2.0 for this review.

Comfort

The Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 turns rocks, logs, and the bare ground into more tolerable camp chairs while giving backpackers a little back support. Overall, though, we found this roll-up chair less comfortable than the competition. 

The best we can say is that the original Hex Chair cushions both our butt and our back, which isn’t true of sit pads, such as the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat. If you’re used to stumps as seats and rocks or tree trunks as backrests, the Hex 2.0 can be a slight uptick in comfort. Our tester found it comfortable enough for short snack breaks and summit views. However, the chair’s padding is thin and firm with limited cushioning. Plus, sitting on the ground isn’t the most comfortable seating position, especially for extended periods of time.

The backrest is a potential plus, especially for campers with bad backs, such as our gear analyst, Jory Brass. However, he didn’t find the backrest as supportive or as comfortable as the classic backpacking chairs he tested. The Hex Chair doesn’t encourage an ergonomic seating position. The straps place all the pressure on the top edge and bottom edge of the chair – that’s not only uncomfortable but also leaves the lower back unsupported. 

Compared to a backless bleacher seat or a canoe bench, the Hex 2.0 Original Chair adds just enough comfort and back support.   

Weight & Packability

Likewise, the Crazy Creek roll-up chair isn’t exceptionally light or packable. At 1 pound 4 ounces, the Hex 2.0 Original weighs as much as the average backpacking chair – despite its minimalist design and lack of an aluminum frame. Thus, this chair doesn’t have a weight advantage (or comfort advantage) over classic backpacking chairs. Plus, this foam seat is more than a pound heavier than the other foam chairs we recommend as minimalist options, the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat and Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad. 

The Hex Chair’s packed size is also the bulkiest of the 11 backpacking chairs we tested and reviewed for this year’s guide. Rolled up and strapped tight, the chair’s diameter is more than 4 inches, and its length is 16 inches. That size is fine for strapping the seat to the bottom of our pack. However, that’s too bulky to stuff into the expandable side pockets of most packs. It’s also extra volume if you need to store this seat inside your backpack, if, for example, you need to strap your sleeping pad to the bottom of your pack.

Cheaper gear generally comes at a cost in terms of weight and packability. That’s the case with the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original Chair. Given its packability constraints, the Hex is a better fit for car camping, kayak camping, and canoe trips – where you have a little more storage space.

Stability

The chair’s stability is also a mixed bag. On one hand, sitting directly on the ground eliminates the accidental tipping over that we’ve all experienced in wobbly backpacking camp chairs. This seat’s cushioning is so thin that your center of gravity is as low as it can go in this chair. 

At the same time, the strapped seatback gives this Crazy Creek Chair the mechanics of a rocking chair. As we leaned back into the backrest, the front of the Hex 2.0 Chair lifted easily. That rocking sensation limits front-to-back stability. Unlike traditional backpacking chairs with aluminum frames, the Hex Chair’s strapped suspension didn’t inhibit our side-to-side movements, either. When seated in this ground chair, your body provides most of your stability. The chair itself only supplies limited cushioning and a basic backrest.

Ease of Use

If the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 has an advantage over other backpacking chairs we reviewed, it’s in this category. As a roll-up chair, the Hex only takes a few seconds to set up and break down. You simply unstrap it, unroll it, take a seat, and adjust the side straps to your desired tension. You don’t need to worry about aluminum pole segments connected by shock cords or stretching a seat fabric over a frame. It doesn’t deploy as quickly as a sit pad, but it may save you 30 seconds of setup time compared to a classic backpacking chair. 

Plus, you can use this roll-up chair in several places beyond the campsite. We’re more inclined to choose an ultralight sit pad or backpacking chair for the backcountry. However, in the frontcountry, the Hex 2.0 can be a welcome backrest for bleachers, picnic tables, and the beach. Plus, many outdoor concert venues prohibit framed camping and backpacking chairs; however, many would allow you to carry in a roll-up ground chair, which would be a nice backrest for an outdoor bluegrass show or summer Shakespeare in the park.

Should You Buy the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Backpacking Camp Chair?

Based on our side-by-side tests, the Hex 2.0’s best qualities are its price point and versatility. If you prioritize price over comfort, weight, and packability, the Crazy Creek Hex Chair costs half as much as a premium backpacking chair. 

However, we prefer sit pads as cheap, ultralight seats for the backcountry and would rather sit in a traditional backpacking chair if we’re hauling more than a pound on our back. 

That being said, we also recognize the Hex Chair’s versatility as a plus – we see some promise in using this chair for paddle trips, ball games, picnics, the beach, and outdoor concerts.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

For alternatives to the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0, please browse our full guide to the best backpacking chairs.

Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad Review: This extended foam pad can do all the Hex Chair can do, but it’s 5 times lighter and half the price. 

Trekology Yizi-Lite Review: A DuskHiker Budget Buy, the Yizi-Lite weighs 6 ounces more than the Hex but costs less and provides better comfort and back support.

REI Flexlite Air Chair Review: The best value on our list, the Flexlite is an ultralight backpacking chair that’s affordable and strong across the board in our test metrics.