Camp Chair Ideas please

Sadlsor

Sadlsor

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Joined
Jan 15, 2020
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67
Location
Birmingham, Alabama
Bike
2008 ST1300A
So I carried a lawn chair, the standard I use for camping trips, but found a major drawback.
On the ST1300, the ends obscure my view to the rear in the mirrors, due to its length and the low-mount position of the reflective features on the bike.
I'm not inclined to spend the $100 or so for the BMW-favored Kermit (I think that's the name), so what is your favorite camp chair for traveling on 2 wheels? I need something that will go across the seat without effectively blinding me to the rear.
Here's a photo of my pack mule, with everything I brought. The orange drybag aids in keeping the lawn chair in place, and the bag contains my tent, Thermarest sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. And incidentally, I never even took the chair out of its bag the whole trip. Photo taken at my campsite, Lake Junaluska Campground
(Note the orange sidestand puck, required for the soggy ground.)

(EDIT: sorry, admins -- I really did look for a Camping forum to put this in, but obviously I didn't see it. My Bad!)

ST at Junaluska campground.jpg
 
Thanks, Will.
"Ask and ye shall receive."
This looks to fit the bill, and it's affordable to boot. At that size, you're correct - it should fit easily in the dry bag.
I appreciate it!
 
Sadlsor said:
So I carried a lawn chair, the standard I use for camping trips, but found a major drawback.
On the ST1300, the ends obscure my view to the rear in the mirrors, due to its length and the low-mount position of the reflective features on the bike.
I'm not inclined to spend the $100 or so for the BMW-favored Kermit (I think that's the name),
Click to expand...
A. I think you are supposed to fold the lawn chair up before you strap it to the back of your bike. :rofl1:
B. Where did you find a Kermit chair for $100? Last time I checked they were in the neighborhood of $150 and those optional leg extensions were another $50. After lusting for a Kermit, I made my own, and decided that it was so much work that Kerr* was entitled to whatever he charges for these. Yes, they are a work of art (well debateable) but well worth it. And he has a folding table, too.
C. You can do the same. Grab an old tree and your knife and start whittling. Remove everything that is not a chair.
D. I think they even make the Kermit chair in a ahhhhhh, relaxed size for those who are avoirdupois challenged. So that others do not feel slighted, one might be able to request a narrower chair if skinnier than Ally McBeal.


*Not the designer's name, but if he is gonna call it a Kermit Chair and not infringe on a Sesame St. character's name, he must be either Mr. Kerr or Ole Mitt.
 
I have a couple of the REI house-brand versions of the chairs @Willsmotorcycle and @Horsehead recommended and use them all the time, particularly for concerts on the lawn where only low chairs are permitted (Dead & Co. in San Diego in a couple of weeks!).

I recommend them too, but while at the Rally in the Gorge a few years ago, my campsite neighbor had an enhanced version of this style of chair that didn't pack much larger but was far more comfortable. The higher back makes a big difference. This or something similar is on my shortlist for new camp gear.

The Helinox brand is more expensive than the REI brand or the Amazon specials, but they are built well.

1634171494874.png 1634171570584.png

www.rei.com

Helinox Camp Chairs | REI Co-op

Shop for Helinox Camp Chairs at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
www.rei.com www.rei.com

www.rei.com

Helinox Beach Chair | REI Co-op

The Helinox Beach Chair is a versatile camp chair for sticking your toes in the sand, keeping your backside out of the dirt and keeping your eyes on the sunset.
www.rei.com www.rei.com
 
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Before you buy one of the small aluminum framed chairs, sit in one for a while. I gave one away at a BRG, after trying to get comfortable in it. I went to Walmart and got one for $6, which I still have after 3 years. This past August, I thought I’d try the small style again (I bought 2). After one day at MNSToc, yep I went to Dollar General and got a chair for the remaining 4000 miles of my trip. That chair is already strapped on the Wing for the RTC in Virginia, this weekend.

If it’s a pain to carry the larger chair, wait until you‘re at the event and buy one there. Donate it to the campground when the event’s over. Life’s too short to sit in an uncomfortable chair.

John
 
The NAPA Maxi Trac chair is taller like the Helinox but $25. A bargain if you are 225 pounds or lighter.

Greg
 
For reference only: I weigh a buck-fifty without riding gear, and I'm 6 feet no-extra-inches tall, when I stand up straight.
I was just guessing at the Kermit price, I still have farkles on my list that are higher priority than someone's idea of a designer camp chair.
I'm sure they ARE comfy and all, but at that price they dang sure better be.
No offense to Kermit owners, I'll use the leftover Benjamin and change to buy Dino juice, which I use way more than camp chairs anyway.
As I said, I never even took this out of the bag, this trip. But it can come in handy.
Still, I really appreciate the opinions and experience of all the responders.
 
I secured a chair similar to that one on top of my dry bag and the mirror views were under it. A pair of eye bolts set in the front side of the top box were hard points for securing the chair.
 
Kermit chairs have a following here is AUS, but I'm not included. (Posted previously I think, but any excuse to post a pic.)



We've had a coupla Helinox chairs for around 10 years now, they get used around five or six times per year, they're still like new. Very sturdy, holds my 85kg well, packs very light and small, comfortable for sitting around a camp fire, about half the price of a Kermit here in AUS.
 
Maybe if you mounted that folded lawn chair vertically, like a rudder? Be interesting in cross winds, though.
 
I have always had great luck and customer support from GCI. They have next day aired replacements twice over 10 years. You can find the PICO in Amazon Warehouse for $60 and less sometimes. It packs up like laptop or so.



17191252_605113326365272_4362391534428145132_n_605113326365272.jpg

Under Cooler (empty BTW. I'd never pack anything that high)



17498772_613450442198227_1970874075725502367_n_613450442198227.jpg

In dry bag. I expected rain on that trip.


62503173_1085291908347409_8167452506067042304_o_1085291901680743.jpg


Most times, I just put it directly in front of the top box

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PICO YouTube
 
I've had a Helinox Chair One for about 5 years now. Comfortable, sturdy, quick set up/tear down, fits in pannier, it's been a great chair. My one caveat would be that the seat height can be low in some situations. I will probably bump up to the Chair One XL or the Sunset Chair for the ease of getting up if I see them on sale.
 
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