I was in REI Sat in Chicago and eyed another chair to try, Alite Monarch Butterfly Chair.
18 oz, packs small.
Website shows some people wearing sleepingbags with separate legs too. Thought it was a joke at first. They look like Gumby.

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The chair is intriguing, not really sure where they are going with website. Almost seems like an SNL skit.

We used the new Alite chairs on our last trip. Very comfortable and packed small, this we knew from trying them before the trip. But an interesting design limitation was not being able to sit in the chair and lean very far forward to reach in front of you to pick something up. Once you get your center of gravity forward of the legs, the chair will skid out from under you.

Still we liked it. You just need to set things beside you that you want to work with while sitting, i.e. coffee cup, maps, book.

Yep nice chair, very comfortable.  What Jim J says echos my experience.

The Alite Mayfly has come up a few times, maybe last time was a POD comment on one of Jimmar's camp shots. it's been on my list of things to get. They're now 50.00 at the Alite site. The notice says sale ends Jan 1 but the price is still 50 bucks (orange only).      (You need to Login or Register

Mayfly is a better version of the Monarch. Added some support to the front and a bit higher up the back rest. Several people have used them on trips with us.  :thumbup :thumbup

I ran across this camp chair online.

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It is an obvious rip-off of the Helinox camp chair BUT
I'm going to buy one sometime in the future and NOT feel about it because Helinox is NOT made here either.

  It doesn't say what it's weight limit is but for $30 bucks I'll take a shot.

I also ran across this useful hint for those who have the Helinox type chairs but worry about the feet sinking into the soft ground?

This is a CHEAP DIY solution that isn't going to add much weight at all.

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I got Martha a nice chair she saw other trippers using. That trip we saw, and tried, about everything available. She got tired of going so low to get in and out of our Monarch chairs. I'll still use my Monarch, but her chair is nice and some day I'll probably upgrade.

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It's a little bulkier but not heavy.

I like that chair too JJS.
This is going to be my next gear purchase in chairs.
Will test it out this summer, do a report.

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Similar to my first post but this has ADJUSTABLE legs which I think would be very handy. Weighs the same, 2lbs but holds #300.

For $10 bucks more you get the footprint that keeps you from sinking into soft ground.

For $50 bucks, its half the price of the Helinox chairs and has adjustable legs.

ST -

I'll be interested in your report on this chair.  Even at tallest setting, the seat is still only 15" high.  That was my main problem with it.  The price certainly beats the heck out of the competition.  That's great value IF it  proves to be sturdy, durable, etc..

I had about given up on finding a true lightweight chair.  While I loved the Helinox Sunset Chair (sits 18" high; weight is < 3 lbs), the prices were ridiculously high... until I found a rather extraordinary deal on a "close-out fabric" (not sure why they would discontinue a fabric featuring pictures of birch trees; seemed fine to me). 

Anyway, my new chair will get tested in about 6 weeks.  I'll try to remember to report back on it.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

P.S.  If anyone is in the market & can stomach "rhubarb" color, here is another fabric that is being discontinued in the Helinox Sunset Chairs (though not quite as substantial a deal as what I lucked into):   (You need to Login or Register

Jimbo, you must have really long legs for your height?

I just looked at a review from a 6'6" 360# powerlifter guy who took a chance it would hold him because they usually underrate items like this for liability reasons.

He said it held him just fine. Having long legs changes the equation for sure.

My brother bought that chair for our last trip together. Not quite as robust (the frame is of slightly thinner aluminum) as the Helinox but it lasted the week with loads of use. He's tall (6'3) but under 200#. Adjustable legs gave some advantage for uneven ground but look to be a point of future failure.

solotripper wrote on May 10^th, 2018 at 7:09pm:

Jimbo, you must have really long legs for your height?

ST -

Leg length is only part of the issue.  The other part is uniquely mine.  As I "rehab" from hip replacement surgery four months ago, muscles on my left side are still healing.  I find that lowering myself to a chair height of 12" (what you find in a lot of camp chairs) is a little uncomfortable (and it's even worse to "rise" from).  15" is better, of course, but I was researching for & holding out for a sturdy, lightweight chair - at a reasonable price - with an even higher seat elevation.  I had tested the Helinox Sunset Chair at REI and was impressed... but much less so with the price tag (& the price of the "ground sheet" - sold separately - is ridiculous).  However, when I found a discontinued model on-line at a very substantial discount, well, I decided it was worth it.

We'll see.  Two weeks in the bush beginning late next month should tell the tale.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

Quote:

(& the price of the "ground sheet" - sold separately - is ridiculous).

I got your back Jimbo IF you need another groundsheet in the future.

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solotripper wrote on May 11^th, 2018 at 12:45pm:

[quote] (& the price of the "ground sheet" - sold separately - is ridiculous).

I got your back Jimbo IF you need another groundsheet in the future.

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Thanks for the tip.  I have one on order.  Looks like it should fit the Helinox Chair One just fine.

dd

Jimbo, The link I posted was the shorter version of the same chair.
Here's the taller one.
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DentonDoc wrote on May 11^th, 2018 at 3:55pm:

solotripper wrote on May 11th, 2018 at 12:45pm: [quote] (& the price of the "ground sheet" - sold separately - is ridiculous). I got your back Jimbo IF you need another groundsheet in the future.   (You need to Login or Register Thanks for the tip.  I have one on order.  Looks like it should fit the Helinox Chair One just fine. dd

For the $20 dollar difference, I would MAKE it fit.  ;) ;D ;D

From what I can see it looks to be almost the same item. :-/

[quote author=Jim_J_Solo link=1306249428/15#15 date=1526058865]Jimbo, The link I posted was the shorter version of the same chair.
Here's the taller one.
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Jim J -

Thanks.  I didn't know that chair came in a 19" model.  On the other hand, seems to me I had a chair quite like that one some years ago.  Due to its triangular shape, I found it to be something of a "crotch-buster" & could only sit in it for a few minutes without becoming rather uncomfortable.  I'm not sure that chair would be the ticket for me.

Also, re: that alternative "ground sheet" mentioned by ST.  Could be that's a decent deal.  Also could be it doesn't fit the Sunset Chair at all.  I had neglected to mention that, despite my protestations about "price", I went ahead and paid for the silly thing anyway (I'm going on a beach vacation in August where it will come in handy).  Here's what I discovered:  that $30 ground sheet specifically made for the Helinox Sunset Chair (only the "large" will do) is one tough son-of-a-gun to put on!  It's about as tight a fit as you can imagine.  In fact, had I not been warned in advance by a YouTube demonstrator that this would be the case, I probably would have given up & sent the item back.  It took some serious tugging & strength to put into place.  NOT user-friendly!

With this in mind, I suppose it is possible that the alternative, lower-priced ground sheet might actually fit better.  On the other hand, it might not work at all.  Beware!

Jimbo   8-)

Quote:

With this in mind, I suppose it is possible that the alternative, lower-priced ground sheet might actually fit better.  On the other hand, it might not work at all.  Beware!

Are any of the people in this discussion going to be on that group solo your taking?
Maybe you'll get a chance to compare the cheap groundsheet to the premium one and let us know.

Do these measurements match up to your chair?

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