REI Flexlite Air Chair

If you're looking for a lightweight, packable chair for backpacking, canoeing, or bikepacking trips, the Flexlight Air Chair is one to consider for sure. It's comfortable and doesn't add much weight to your pack.

A side view.

When packed up, the chair fits well on the top of my pack.As with other similar chairs, this will sink into the ground if it is muddy and soft. I do have to move it sometimes when I'm on softer ground, but it's no big deal. I should mention that although the stuff sack is pretty light, I did try to take it without the stuff sack and it's not as easy to pack and store without the stuff sack (I try to save grams when I can!).  I may try that next time, however because I like the concept. 

Background

I've used this and other similar chairs on various long distance hikes and camping trips.

A great lightweight luxury item

I have not carried the extra weight of a chair until now, opting for available logs, boulders, ground, and bear can (when carried) as a seat. However, after sampling a friend's Helinox Chair Zero on a weeklong backpack this summer, I decided to go for it and get one for myself. I ended up getting the REI Flexlite Air. It was less expensive (helps when it's on sale too) and was similar to but about an ounce lighter. Comfort and fit for me are very similar.

Like most available chairs of this type, it only adds about a pound to your load, and with its shock-corded and hubbed frame system, sets up/down quickly. The nylon seat attaches easily.

Unless the ground is firm, the legs can sink a bit into soft ground or sand. Although is a bit bulky in its storage sack, it's not too bad.

Stool designs are available and may even be lighter, but the option to lean back into the chair was the selling point. Provides nice rest at the end of a long day on the trail, or to use even at a nice lunch spot.

I stumbled into a useful (and pretty detailed) comparison of the two chairs that helped me understand the differences, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKJStXLZ3d0

Glad I made the leap!

 

Background

This is my first backpacking camp chair, used for one season in Washington's Olympics and Cascades.

My chair broke. REI provides no resources for parts or repair of this chair.

I have one of these chairs with a broken joint. I weigh 157 lbs, and it was not being misused when it broke. REI wouldn't help with the part or repair. I was given the oversea distributor's info, but no one replied.

This is an expensive chair to be an unreliable throwaway. For a company like REI that pushes sustainability, this item does not reflect their own standards.