4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (55,304) 200+ bought in past week. Between the pole design, and the significant amount of fine mesh used to make the majority of the seat, the Flexlite stood out to our testers. Here at OutdoorGearLab, our minimalist-minded reviews always appreciate a product that performs a variety of functions. +136 Diving deep into the backcountry, we'd pick something more versatile, and when car camping without weight restrictions, we'd pick something more comfortable. We won't accept manufacturer's freebies. We bought 2 REI flexlite chairs at the garage sale. and our This is my review of the REI Flexlite Air ultralight chair. They are great, comfortable and heavy, huge. You can leave them on your chair between uses or remove them easily. Sitting in the Flexlite was a much more upright experience, rather than the typical lounge effect we'd come to expect from portable camping chairs. It's a decent choice when trying to walk the line between comfort and weight. If weight matters most, you might want to instead take a gander at the Helinox Chair Zero or our backpacking chair review. This chair also fits back into a drawstring bag, which added an extra layer of finagling to the take-down process, though we admit it was large enough that we never had to reroll the chair smaller to get it to fit. There were several aspects of this chair that we felt made it decently comfortable to lounge in. This was a little tough to do at first, but our chairs have relaxed with use and it's easier now. lighter! Is there something comparable w/a lower price? Reproduction without permission is prohibited. We love its deep seat and mesh material that is both soft and breathable, providing a great place to relax on a hot day. Source: bought it new little backpacking chairs. Price Paid: $90 total. You're a bit bigger than me, but you can try them out at REI and see how you feel. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. However, there are no included directions or helpful tips to make the construction of this chair any easier for a novice user, like there are in both the Helinox chairs. Reviewed by We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. . Perfect for backpacking. It is not safe within ten feet fire because it tips. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing. Activate an email alert and buy or sell for the best market price Because of the longer back poles, we found it harder to grasp all the folded up poles at once, as they kept getting in each other's way by sticking awkwardly beyond the plastic joints. No sponsored content. at REI, Check Availability The Flexlite Air's design is very similar to that of the Helinox, but there are significant differences. Chair .5 is 1lb 8oz and this one is 1lb 5oz. Ripstop nylon shell is lightweight, durable and dries quickly; elastic corners fit securely over seat edge. The REI Flex Lite chairs are kind of surprising. Not too bigit packs away fairly small. +14 Check Price Showing off the cell phone compatible side pocket on the Flexlite during a day at Mono Lake. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Ultimately chose the REI on price ($20 less) and comfort with REI products. I use the REI FlexLite Air. However, it's not a pocket meant for keys or sharp objects, as those items are likely to dig uncomfortably into your sitting area. Mesh side pocket is handy for a book, flashlight or phone. The legs were quick to pop off the ground and destabilize the user. Not to mention the fabric and stitching. How Much Should a Backpacking Tent Weigh? Leaning side-to-side in this chair - for example, to pick up the ball your dog dropped and give it another toss - felt like a balancing act. I know I do, but its not uncomfortable. It still was not worth $78 let alone reg price $99 bucks. It weighs a hair less, costs less, and, IMO, is pretty dang great. The first time we went backpacking, they clearly were left at home, but we got out in the middle of nowhere and realized that we had no place to sit. REI Flexlite Macro chair - $30 (Bozeman) View larger image. But I can't quite shake it. 1-48 of 115 results for "rei flexlite chair" Results. With how much this chair sinks in the sand, it might not make the best beach chair (check out the Helinox Beach Chair for that), but on sturdier ground, sitting in this chair isn't a bad experience. Here's a grossly long video on the differences . And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No ads. For that reason I sent it back and kept the Heliinox Chair Zero which is much money re comfortable. From left to right: TravelChair Joey, Helinox Swivel, REI Flexlite. Your email address will not be published. This makes it slightly bigger when packed than the Helinox Chair Zero, which is the only other camping chair to weigh in at 1 lb. Size isn't everything, but for the ounce-counting backpackers amongst us, the Flexlite could be a great choice. To make up for this slight increase in packed size, this competitor is lighter than the Helinox Chair One. I had to prop it up against a tree or a log in order to sit in it. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Super ultralight, comfy and easy to setup The REI Flexlite Air Chair and the Helinox Chair Zero are astonishingly similar in design and assembly. The legs are little tent poles, you assemble by pulling and letting them become straight, and stretching the seat onto the poles. The Flexlite sits 10 inches off the ground, which is nicer than the short seat of other models in our review. 10oz., this chair is a full 4oz. 16 oz (454g) Shop. INSECT-SHIELD: Use coupon code "SECTIONHIKER" for a 15% discount at InsectShield.com GARAGE-GROWN-GEAR: Take 30% Off the Gossamer Gear Silverback 65 backpack at Garage Grown Gear OSPREY-PACKS: Backpacking Pack Sale! Still hard for me to justify the 1lb of extra weight just for a chair. Unlike most of the other portable camping chairs, this chair sported a different orientation of the support poles. If there is wind or weather I would not use it. +99 storminn0rm The 7 Best Camping Chairs of 2023. The ripstop nylon has been replaced by bluesign-approved ripstop polyester. REI Flexlite chairs have a range of weight capacity. Underquilts perform brilliantly for hammocks. our favorite taco-style chair, the ALPS Mountaineering Weekender, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews. The lightweight chairs in the Flexlite family provide you lots of options for leg angle to make every day a good one. $29.47 $ 29. hard to get into and 2.) Shop for REI Co-op Camp Chairs at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Weight capacity. I know it is heavier but it is sturdy only $22. With such a light weight, we feel the REI Flexlite would make a great addition to your next camping trip, short backpacking trip, or long day hike. Though the Flexlite is the second lightest chair in this review, we weren't instantly concerned with the durability of this chair. This chair is reasonably priced. Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie Review, Backpacking the Monadnock Sunapee Greenway A Trip Plan, Zpacks Zip-Around Sleeping Bag (10 Degree) Review, 10 Backpacking Gear Maintenance Tasks for April, 10 Best Freestanding Backpacking Tents of 2023, Nitecore 10000 mAh USB Power Bank (5.9 oz), Feathered Friends Flicker 40 Quilt Sleeping Bag. Bought for weekend backpack trips for comfort. Value for money is unmatched. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. Views: 19. Mark Van Lenten We bought some damaged flexlite chairs from the REI garage sale. It is durable, and easy to pack into a small package. Another difference I noticed is that the front of the REI Flexlite seat cuts into my legs. Copyright 2023 Wandering Always, all content on this site is created by and belongs to Kim Wiley and Andrea Carpio. I'm 6'4" and I was able to stretch my feet out and lounge. The seat is small, the back is low, and the pocket for . Don't miss the latest news and discussion. Thursday November 3, 2022. The model we tested is pictured last. It's an awesome lightweight chair. In our tests, that weight rating seemed accurate, and the Flexlite didn't show too much stress in doing so. Starting bid: One was a very comical event that my brother caught on camera but the other one was painful. I used the 1/8" shock cord from REI. It's also not big enough for a beer or most books, so don't get too many ideas! While there were certain aspects we liked, read through our testing metrics to find out where the Flexlite fell short of some of the other portable chairs in this review. I had a lafuma ultralight chair from REI, that stared falling apart after a month or two, and I returned it for the current one, no hassles. 47 $44.99 $44.99. This chair falls into a middle ground of seat height the front edge is about 17 inches from the ground (sinking several inches when sat in), and the middle rests around 10.5 inches from the ground. My guess is the Chinese stuff is way inferior. Nope, it held up, I didn't fall, and it was darn comfy! They take less than five minutes to put together, take apart, and pack back up. I like both chairs. Doing a 10 day through hike and need a ultralight chair. 2023 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. Coleman Camping Chair with Built-in 4 Can Cooler. . It's important to note, though, that this chair is one of the most comfortable taco-style chairs in our review, giving it a significant advantage over some of its competitors. We'll send you a few emails every week. Lucky for us, we found a rock to hang out on until it was time to crawl into the tent. Features. Source: bought it new Save Big on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40% Off. Skydiving, Paragliding & Hang Gliding Equipment, Xiaomi Mi Portable Electric Air Pump Compressor 1S Digital Tyre Inflator Car, Mens Suspenders Adjustable Clip On Long Strong Wedding Party Womens Sz 100 Cms, Bosch 3.6 V Cordless Compact Hedge Shrub & Grass Shear Garden Kit Isio 3, Bosch 18 V 3Pc Cordless Kit: Circular Saw, Recip Saw, Multi Tool 1 x 4Ah Battery, EVA Foam Floor Mat Heavy Duty Interlocking Gym Exercise Baby Kids Puzzle Playmat, 5500+ SOLD! So does setting the chair on a piece of cardboard from what I understand, although its less practical to carry on a backpacking trip. Edit 2/2023: Now eight and half years of use, and still no sign of wear. I dont take in on every trip. This is what we learned: REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair Review Weighing in at just a single pound, the new REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair is an ultralight wonder. It easily folds up and stores in its own bag. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews. +179 No other experience with Flexlite chairs. The legs and feet are amongst the smallest of any of the tent-style chairs we tested, leaving us to question our sitting security. We can't say we'd recommend plopping down onto this chair, though it seems sturdy enough to take it if you do. Everyone's got their luxury item (or two, or three) and one of ours is the REI Co-op Flexlite . Raise your voice in the movement to protect and share life outdoors. 8/17/2022: Compare 24 prices of used Rei flexlite chair from all sites. It didn't take long to realize that some kind of sitting device should exist for backpacking. This is my review of the REI Flexlite Air ultralight chair. 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