Yes we have used the chair on two trips. They we easier to get in and out of than the larger and heavier folding chairs and the don't pinch your legs. They do sink into the duff layer if you are camping  under the trees or on real soft ground. We take four tennis balls , light and fit in the pouch the chairs come in, put them on the legs and they don' t sink anymore.

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I have not used the above (although tempted) but it seems like it might be pretty nice. I use camp times pack stool which is as advertised......a backpackers dream stool coming in at 14 oz. Plus you sit low to the ground which is a must if your intent is to use it while cooking.

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solotripper wrote on Dec 16^th, 2013 at 8:28pm:


I have looked at these in person and there are several good aspects about them. They seem very well made (tubular steel legs vs aluminum) and if your a big fella these might meet your need for a fairly compact chair that is sturdy. It also has a backrest which is an attractive feature.

However, there is one drawback, and its a big one (or should we say a weighty one)......the thing weighs a ton. 3.5 lbs.....wow......that's a lot and is why I don't own one.

But if your primarily a base camper or want a good seat for deer/turkey hunting these would be pretty good choice.

I agree that at 3.5 lbs it's no lightweight, but that's with those nice padded legs for soft ground, individual adjustable legs and the ability to swivel which might be nice if your setting around on a lookout looking for photo-ops.

That Helinox is nice and light, but as prouboy said, the feet sink into soft ground and I'm guessing you better set it up on fairly level ground or you could have problems ?

I checked, a tennis ball weighs between 2-2.5 oz.
The chair weighs 2 lbs, add say 4 x 2.oz tennis balls, and your pushing 3 lbs.
Don't know enough about either, but by just looking at pictures and what there made of, I would say the Shappell chair would probably take 
abuse better than the Helinox?

So I guess like everything involved in tripping you have to decide what's worth lugging and what's not.

Over the years I've tried them all out and this is still the most comfortable and, at 18 oz, the lightest.  The one drawback is replacing the nylon when it finally wears out.  That being said, I have a pair of them and it is only this year, after 7 seasons, that I've had to replace the nylon on one of them.
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