Camping chair-light/packable Reccomendations?- Not Kermit

[mrsoup]

After attending the West Bend rally I see a real need for a good useable chair that is lightweight and easily packed for motorcycle travel. We all know about the Kermit and the price they demand, we can do better. What is the favorite among the camping fraternity of BMW riders?

[SageRider]

Sorry, can't do better... Kermit!

[BUSTED]

You can buy cheaper camp chairs, but none better than Kermit. I was sitting on the hillside in West Bend, looking out at the large number of other Kermit chair owners and wondering how many have had theirs as long to remember the $49.95 price tag we paid at the time of purchase 15 years ago. It was pricey!

[Beemeroil]

Any camping store can help you, but never supply Kermits quality. I own a short metal chair that I will send for the price of the shipping.

[David]

Kermit.

 

Is this how you were hoping this thread would go?

[tomk99r11]

Kermit is a frog! There are lots of inexpensive comfortable options. One I often use is a $3 tripod with a backrest. Loads small and if it breaks (not so far over 4 yrs of use) I will buy another one. Spend the savings vs a Kermit on some good beer!

[Steve_Witmer]

I don't bring a chair, I bring a small backpacking stool that I have had for 20-some years. It was probably about 8 bucks. It's not as comfortable as a chair, but it's a step up from sitting on damp ground while you put your boots on.

[RedMac]

I wouldn't mind having a Kermit chair, but I'm not willing to pony up the $119.00 to buy one (is it just me or does $119 for a camp chair seem just a bit steep?). It's not that I can't afford the chair, but I just can't justify the cost.

 

Anyway, this is the chair I currently tour with

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores...mberId=12500226

 

I will say up front it's NO WHERE near as nice as a Kermit chair. But it's $100.00 less and it works well enough for me for touring. Usually at a campground they have a picnic bench anyway. My main criteria is that it had to be shorter than 20" when packed (it's 17, the Kermit is only 9.5 however..)

 

If money isn't an object, I'd say buy the Kermit. Tom obviously can't keep them in stock, hence there no reason to sell it for less. I would buy one if I felt it was priced fairly. Obviously I don't think it is. I'm NOT knocking the chair. It's hands down the best motorcycle camping chair on the market. But, until there is competition, the price will stay high. I found it interesting that he moved manufacturing to Mexico and then brought it back to the US. Note that the current owners didn't design the chair, they just bought the company from the rider that did...

 

If you want the best chair, buy the Kermit . I'm going to keep resisting, which is my choice as a consumer.

[Tony_K]

Anyway, this is the chair I currently tour with

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores...mberId=12500226

 

 

Yeah we have the same chairs. It packs smaller than the K 17" vs. 22" in length.

 

Kermits though are chairs. This is a sling.

A chair appeals to older types with possible back or joint issues or any other type of age related maladies we all get down the line.

 

The sling can even be a issue for younger folks! It's ok but nowhere near ideal for all.

 

Kermit has a true packable chair (with leg extentions). If a chair is what you want. There it is.

 

Most all the other types put you very low to the ground or dont pack that small.

[Cycledude]

Link does not work.

 

Snowy.

[cheesewhiz]

Link does not work.

 

Snowy.

 

Yuh huh!

Does too!

[drzep]

If you use a therm-a-rest, check out the trekker chair that they sell. Rolls up around the therm-a-rest and virtually takes up no additional space. Very comfy too because you can regulate the 'cushieness' by inflating/deflating the therm-a-rest.

[BluesTraveler]

I've owned a Kermit for years. Even put out he extra $$$ for the leg extensions, GREAT! chair. But recently I found something different. I realized when camping I sit at the picnic table most of the time with friends. What I found was an inflateable stadium chair made by Crazy Creek. Campmor has them on sale for $19. The 'Stadium Air Chair' is the only one that deflates and then rolls up to almost nothing. Two will fit in the lid of one Jesse Bag.

 

Here you can see it packed up and inside the lid if my Jesse Bag.

 

 

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores...mberId=12500226

 

Lately I've been leaving the Kermit behind but whe I do bring it along the Crazy Creek fits real nice in the Kermit making it even better.

[bakerzdosen]

There is also something to be said for making the chairs (they tried Mexico for a while, but they're back to TN) in the good old US of A. To some that doesn't matter. It does to me whenever possible.

[mrsoup]

Yes, I really expected to hear from Kermit defenders, thus the NO Kermit in the subject line. No doubt it is the best on the market, but as others have stated I cannot justify the cost. I think there is a market for a similar product at a 'fair' price. I thought perhaps some of you had come across a chair that meets the motorcycle camper critiera.

The Campmor 'sling' looks interesting...

[BluesTraveler]

That sling, I broke one getting out of it while at REI. Has a lot of plastic parts. And thats what broke.

 

Im no lite weight but im within what the chair is suppose to hold. I ended up on the ground, got up, looked around, and then ran away.

[HandsomeDarwin]

RedMac has it right, the Trail sling ultra light is really nice for a bike. I got mine at Campmor for $20 on sale. I will warn you they sit low to the ground and it takes some time (practice) to get used to the wierd design and sitting position. But once you get past that they are really comfy and practical. I would not recommend if you have bad knees or are overweight as it could be hard to get up from the seat. I fell asleep in mine while under a perfectly sky one night at the Biltmore during the RA rally. I love it.

[RoadJunkie]

I got mine at WalMart. Folding, with no arms, but length is about 22"-24" folded. Perfect for my needs at $5.00. I didn't think you could make a chair like this for $5.00. I looked on the web but didn't find it, so check out your local store.

 

I was surprised to see how many of these 5-buck chairs I saw at the West Bend Rally. Try it...for 5 bucks you can chop it down for tent stakes if you don't like it.

[Davis]

For ease of packing you can't beat the $5 Wally World chair. Stop on your way in, buy a chair, toss it when you leave. Of course, after a couple of years you'll have spent more than the cost of the Kermit on disposable chairs. And yes, after having the GCI sling break (and I'm a svelte 165), it counts as disposable also.

[mmmoore]

I just went to Sam's (Costco) and got one of the chairs in a bag (6-7" diameter & about 3' long) that has an adjustable foot rest for $18. It has armrests, bev., holders, and has been around since 2000. A little worn but OK I'll buy another when it retires. Not as close to the ground and so nice to have feet elevated after 12 hour run... Actually fallen asleep in it after cigar and scotch/water in medicinal quantities!

[tomk99r11]

We live in a great country don't we?! If you want to you can spend $3 to get what you want or $119 on a Kermit, or maybe more on some other option. I am guessing most of us can afford whatever suits our fancy if not simply our need. But, it is our choice, for which we should be appreciative.

I know I am.

[tallman]

RedMac has it right, the Trail sling ultra light is really nice for a bike. I got mine at Campmor for $20 on sale. I will warn you they sit low to the ground and it takes some time (practice) to get used to the wierd design and sitting position. But once you get past that they are really comfy and practical. I would not recommend if you have bad knees or are overweight as it could be hard to get up from the seat. I fell asleep in mine while under a perfectly sky one night at the Biltmore during the RA rally. I love it.

 

+3 & +4 on the Sling Chair

Beth and I have been using it and really like it.

Lightweight, packs small.

Once you get the knack for using it the chair is very comfy.

30 oz compared to 83 oz for the Kermit

That's over 6 1/2 pounds difference if you're packing for two people.

The Kermit is well made, but at my height I found it about the same as the Sling chair for getting out of. If you add the leg extensions for the Kermit, the weight difference is even more substantial.

[Officer_Impersonator]

A super-light weight and compact option - if you also use a Thermarest - is to get the kit that converts a Thermarest into a camp chair. It's like $30 for the kit.

 

For storage and travel, the kit fits inside the Thermarest, and then inside the Thermarest storage bag. The kit, with it's aluminum stays, makes a great spindle on which to roll up your Thermarest.

 

It takes up no more room than your Thermarest, and is a pretty darned comfortable chair!

 

http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=102&cID=4

[Mike]

Have you considered the Kermit chair?

 

The GCI Outdoor Quick-E Seat is not really a lounging chair, but it is compact, gets you up off the ground and is fairly comfortable:

 

 

$29.00 from www.rei.com .

[SageRider]

I just went to Sam's (Costco) and got one of the chairs in a bag (6-7" diameter & about 3' long) that has an adjustable foot rest for $18. It has armrests, bev., holders, and has been around since 2000. A little worn but OK I'll buy another when it retires. Not as close to the ground and so nice to have feet elevated after 12 hour run... Actually fallen asleep in it after cigar and scotch/water in medicinal quantities!

Those chairs may be fine packed on many bikes, but on an oilhead or hexhead RT, the mirrors will be blocked by a chair that long. Some people buy handlebar mounted mirrors, some buy Kermits, and, I guess there are probably some who don't use their mirrors anyway...

[Officer_Impersonator]

I fail to see the difference between buying one Kermit chair at $120 that will last the rest of your life vs. a new "Wal-Mart" chair for $20 every year for the next six years.

 

It's the same amount of money in the long run, you're buying something made in Tennessee (or is it Kentucky?) vs. something made in China, and you're not filling up landfills with broken camping chairs.

 

Suit yourself, but in the long run, the Kermit chair is a bargain.

[SageRider]

I fail to see the difference between buying one Kermit chair at $120 that will last the rest of your life vs. a new "Wal-Mart" chair for $20 every year for the next six years.

 

It's the same amount of money in the long run, you're buying something made in Tennessee (or is it Kentucky?) vs. something made in China, and you're not filling up landfills with broken camping chairs.

 

Suit yourself, but in the long run, the Kermit chair is a bargain.

Doug, I don't know who you where aiming your post at, but you don't need to convinvce me. I already own a Kermit.

[Officer_Impersonator]

I was simply trying to reply to the original poster and the thread in general.

[SageRider]

[RedMac]

I fail to see the difference between buying one Kermit chair at $120 that will last the rest of your life vs. a new "Wal-Mart" chair for $20 every year for the next six years.

 

It's the same amount of money in the long run, you're buying something made in Tennessee (or is it Kentucky?) vs. something made in China, and you're not filling up landfills with broken camping chairs.

 

Suit yourself, but in the long run, the Kermit chair is a bargain.

 

I think he was having them made in Mexico for quite a while.... And obviously the price wasn't any less.

[Twisties]

The GCI Outdoor Quick-E Seat is not really a lounging chair, but it is compact, gets you up off the ground and is fairly comfortable:

 

 

We've got these too. I can sit in it for over an hour, and for me that's pretty good.

 

The Kermit's are pretty, but I can't say they look any more comfortable to me... though nobody has offered theirs up for me to give it a go. They hang on to them pretty tight!

[Mike]

I fail to see the difference between buying one Kermit chair at $120 that will last the rest of your life vs. a new "Wal-Mart" chair for $20 every year for the next six years.

 

It's the same amount of money in the long run, you're buying something made in Tennessee (or is it Kentucky?) vs. something made in China, and you're not filling up landfills with broken camping chairs.

 

Suit yourself, but in the long run, the Kermit chair is a bargain.

Doug, I don't know who you where aiming your post at, but you don't need to convinvce me. I already own a Kermit.

 

I, too, own a Kermit. But the OP said he wasn't interested. With the current price being what it is, it's hard to dispute someone who questions the value . . . particularly when $5 folding chairs that are pretty comfortable and durable are easy to come by.

[Officer_Impersonator]

I have yet to encounter a durable $5 camping chair. Maybe weighing 220# has something to do with it, but considering the size of the average Wal-Mart customer, you'd think they'd sell a product that could withstand 300+ pounds.

 

I'd rather pay more for a quality product made by nice people than by Communist Red China soldiers masquerading as factory workers - but that's just me.

[SageRider]

I, too, own a Kermit. But the OP said he wasn't interested. With the current price being what it is, it's hard to dispute someone who questions the value . . . particularly when $5 folding chairs that are pretty comfortable and durable are easy to come by.

Agreed, but so far no one has come up with anything that matches the compact packed size with the same full chair features (back, arms, optional cup holder, durable)

[SAAB93driver]

I'd rather pay more for a quality product made by nice people than by Communist Red China soldiers masquerading as factory workers - but that's just me.

 

It's not just you.