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Photo by Stephan Hahnel, Kradwanderer, in Northern Argentina

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Stephan Hahnel,
www.krad-wanderer.de,
in Northern Argentina



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  #1  
Old 8 Sep 2016
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Motorcycle Camping chair
I'd be grateful for any recommendations. I know some people will use their panniers to sit on but I want a proper chair. Nothing too expensive, and obviously it needs to be fairly robust and easy to carry.
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  #2  
Old 8 Sep 2016
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If it fits across your bike and weight isn't a real issue, you can't go wrong with this kind of thing.
Arpenaz Camping Folding Chair - Brown - | Decathlon
If you want a smaller pack size and weight then the helinox copies are great.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...x-chairs-72658
They take a bit more time to set up and will sink into soft ground unless you do something about the feet (mine has squash balls stuck over the ends)
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  #3  
Old 8 Sep 2016
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Another vote for the Helinox copies.

I never travel with a chair due as I enjoy travelling light with less stuff but I got one for SWMBO as we were on 2 bikes for 3 weeks in Mongolia this summer and she was happy to carry it.

I can say that I happily enjoyed using it whenever she vacated it!

Weight is about 900 grams with a pack size about the same as a 2 litre bottle - not the worst. Robust? Perhaps sit in one before parting with the cash as I am a lightweight and I wouldn't go jumping into it
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Old 8 Sep 2016
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The Helinox copies are not as rigid or as comfortable as the traditional style ones that BYT linked through to at Decathlon (or any camping shop). However they do pack down to a size you can carry on a bike without any problems. The 2L bottle comparison Dale made is probably a slight overestimate - they're about the same length but a bit thinner (both of mine are about 12cm / 4.5").

The only other "bike friendly" chairs I've found are the small tripod stools or the foldable canvas + origami stools that were popular some decades ago (link in case you don't know what I'm talking about - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-..._3076460031_78 ) but while both of them are ok for keeping your posterior off the ground neither of them really work as a chair, something that the Helinox design does quite well.

So far the older £17 Chinese Helinox has survived a season of camping (a few festivals and about 4 weeks under canvas) without showing any signs of wear or anything breaking and seems good value. As mentioned the legs do sink into soft ground and it's light enough to blow away in the wind if left out. You can lean back in it and relax but I suspect it wouldn't take much to over stress it. You can certainly feel things distorting if you push back on the legs.
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Old 8 Sep 2016
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Thanks guys for your replies.

backofbeyond......a majestic summary!
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  #6  
Old 9 Sep 2016
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I bought a couple of Helinox chair one's for me and SWMBO a while ago, expensive, yes, but they are well made, comfortable and tough, my Buddy Mark who is 6'5" and 230 + lbs sat in one and made himself comfortable with no issues at all, they do the lighter 'ground chair' which is 640g if you want to sit a bit lower and save a few grams,
As long as they don't get lost, stolen or ridden over I will be disappointed if I don't get 20+ years of use out of them
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Old 9 Sep 2016
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I bought Outrad chairs from Amazon fr at 35 euros each. They appear to be identical to the Helinox but half the price. Very small pack size was important so they are not full size but still better than sitting on the floor.
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Old 9 Sep 2016
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Thanks Magnon
I googled them but no sign of them. Have you got a link!

This one doesn't look too bad either.....

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/High...6-ec9378101346

Downside is it'll take about 4-6 weeks to arrive. Upside is I don't need it for a while anyway.
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Old 9 Sep 2016
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Surprised no one's mentioned the Kermit Chair: Kermit Chair Company | The Original Touring Chair | Motorcycle Camping Chair . Kind've cult-like, but I sure like mine.
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Old 9 Sep 2016
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Not easy on the pocket though!
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Old 9 Sep 2016
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https://www.amazon.fr/OUTAD-Pliable-...=Chaise+outrad

OUTAD not OUTRAD
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Old 10 Sep 2016
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I am using a helinox copy for a 3 month road trip so far, bought from eBay (25€). The chair is nearly every day in use and doing very good. No broken legs or ripped mesh. Good quality for 1/4 of the price.

Weight limit is up to 100kg,original 140~, but i am not heavy and I don't see any reason spending 100€+ Euros on a chair!

Why taking a tripod chair which is, not compfy and nearly as big as this folding copy chair? Makes no sense

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Old 10 Sep 2016
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This is the one we use.
https://alitedesigns.com/products/monarch-chair-black
The 2 legs takes some getting used to, but it's really comfortable even on uneven terrain and very light and compact when folded up.
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Old 11 Sep 2016
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Thanks memo-p

Looking at the pics it looks like you need to use your feet to balance yourself on that chair. Whilst I understand the appeal for some people it wouldn't be for me.

When I sit down I want to sit down properly and do fekk all
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Old 11 Sep 2016
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Surely you must end up flat on your back sooner or later with that Monarch chair? Lose concentration for a few seconds or reach a bit too far for (another) and over you go. What it needs is the Homer Simpson add-on, a hinged piece at the back that swings out to prop you up when you over do it.

In fact if you had two prop things, you could fix them in place at the back and that would be a lot more stable. No, wait, hmm, that begins to sound like ... a chair.

Actually, facetiousness aside, it looks like an interesting design but if you can't nod off in it (I imagine you can't as you'd fall over) is it any better in practice than the tripod stools?
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