Worth it. The Flexlite's wobbly construction and lack of versatility left it falling short from coming away as our favorite car camping chair. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. The REI Flex Lite has multiple types of carrying handles, helping you get this chair more easily from A to B to C to. The legs and feet are amongst the smallest of any of the tent-style chairs we tested, leaving us to question our sitting security. The higher leg angle of the REI Flexlite Air Chair (relative to the Helinox Chair Zero), combined with its deeper seat, cradle your hips and body more comfortably, while in a normal sitting position with legs folded near the chair. The contents of the REI Flex Lite are simple enough, but the awkward pole length, and small stuff sack make putting this chair away more of a challenge than its brethren. As far as the Flexlite goes, we only enjoyed this chair until we put it on an uneven surface. We like theREI Flexlite a lot, but had a hard time finding the exact right application for it. The corner pockets for the pole attachments are relatively broad compared to the Helinox Chair One, which helps aid the set-up process. It's light and compact. We bought some damaged flexlite chairs from the REI garage sale. The Flexlite sits 10 inches off the ground, which is nicer than the short seat of other models in our review. This is my review of the REI Flexlite Air ultralight chair. I took my chair on one 4 day/3 night backpacking trip and fell over backwards twice when sitting down into the chair. Source: bought it new The REI Co-op Flexlite intrigued us from the moment we first set it up. Something went wrong. Features. The Flexlite Air Chair has a seat height of 11 which can be difficult to stand up from if youre not limber. In all, it's great to be off the ground. Diving deep into the backcountry, we'd pick something more versatile, and when car camping without weight restrictions, we'd pick something more comfortable. The REI Flexlite Camp Dreamer is an interesting camping chair that combines elements of hammocking, rocking, and lounging. Works well in car camping too, useful if space is at a premium such as in a smaller vehicle. for your first email from REI. There were several aspects of this chair that we felt made it decently comfortable to lounge in. June 7, 2013. Take a look around! September 28, 2014 I would definitely recommend this camp chair. A helpful community that aims to help users make informed decisions about camping gear including sleeping systems, clothing, cooksets, and packs. and to show off our stuff! Unlike many of the products we normally review, chairs have the unique privilege of being designed specifically for comfort. +52 We've used these on solid ground, desert grit, and even at the beach - clearly the legs will sink into the ground when it's beach sand, but not so deep that you can't still sit in the chair. I'm 6'4" and I was able to stretch my feet out and lounge. The difference is the bottom support bar runs side to side on the old version, and front to back on the new version. Source: bought it new JWatson My guess is the Chinese stuff is way inferior. Most backpacking-oriented options have narrow and low-slung seats that make them 1.) We never felt like we were slipping out of it, and the sides are low enough to allow for free range of arm motion. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. Like others I bought it to use with my REI Flexlite Chair and it fit perfectly. Check out the latest Flexlite below in the first photo. The REI Co-op Flexlite intrigued us from the moment we first set it up. The REI Flexlite Chair is lightweight & comfortable. I looked at one in the store and laughed - no way is that comfy or sturdy. We love the side pocket on this product and are surprised that some of the other contenders don't have a similar feature. Last year I didn't have this when we did the same trip and I spent 6 days sinking, tipping, and generally just struggling with my chair in the sand. While that does work, its really not as satisfying or relaxing as having a chair to sit on for stargazing, hanging out in camp with friends, or just watching the clouds float by. Tipping the scales at 29 ounces, this is a similar weight to that of our favorite taco-style chair, the ALPS Mountaineering Weekender. A great companion for a hot summer day at the Buttermilks. The feet did sink into the sand, but it wasnt a problem. The case is oversized to make packing away a no-fuss experience, and the total packed size is 16 inches long and about 5 inches wide roughly the size of a sleeping pad. No "sponsored" content. With this update, REI has switched the materials, no longer using the see-through mesh for the chair fabric. Edit 2/2023: Now eight and half years of use, and still no sign of wear. REI Co-Op FlexLite Camping Backpacking Folding Outdoor Chair Nylon Burnt Orange | Sporting Goods, Camping & Hiking, Camping Furniture | eBay! 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. October 1, 2014. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this chair to our friends and believe it could easily be the best option for you, depending on where you plan to use it. REI CO-OP Flexlite Low Chair. High seat and breathable fabric, yet isn't as sturdy as other chairs in this review, and sinks more than average in sand. Price Paid: $70, Reviewed by Camp Chairs, In seated position, knees are above waist. Left to right: Helinox Chair Zero, Helinox Chair One, Moon Lence Ultralight, REI Flex Lite, Onepack Ultralight. It may not be as light as some chairs and stools out there, but the ability to lean back after a long day of hiking is luscious. While those taller, bigger "bag" chairs have some comfort (and cup holders! I see others have their 1lb chairs out now saw a Big Agnes model on display at Ragged Mountain Equipment this week. I set it up and it was so flimbsy that is was not safe to sit in. Activate an email alert and buy or sell for the best market price - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab, - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab, Report this item - opens in new window or tab, Quickly shipped and accurate description. Through regular use, the poles do bow slightly, but nothing that our testers felt was too much or felt significantly unstable. We also liked that out of all the portable camping chairs, the Flexlite has one of the highest seats from the ground - easier to get out of at the end of the night when we wanted to head to bed. Chair Zero is 1lb 1oz. Even after a few weary plops onto it, everything seems to be holding up just fine. Your email address will not be published. Why dont I have an Appetite on Backpacking Trips? Doing a 10 day through hike and need a ultralight chair. Trailspace's community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top camp chairs. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. She showed us that she could drop into it without tipping over backwards. Unlike most of the other portable camping chairs, this chair sported a different orientation of the support poles. Got feedback? These are great for riding bikes to the beach, since they are small and lightweight. 1. eyesontheskydotcom 7 yr. ago. The incredibly low weight of the REI Flexlite Air is impressive, and we consider it reasonably comfortable for its weight. We won't accept manufacturer's freebies. It consists of a frame made of sturdy shock-corded tent poles, and a sling type seat that attaches to the frame at four points with reinforced pockets. This simple little chair goes a long way when you can't find a log to park your rear on. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. Uses the Camp Boss frame, which is 20% larger than the original Flexlite, and has an increased weight capacity of 300 lbs. Flexlite Norwell Macro and Flexlite Camp Boss accommodate up to 300 pounds. Bought one for my sonhe loves it also. Free Shipping and Returns. It's light and compact. Philip Werner March 10, 2022 Gear Reviews. The drawback of that light weight, is that these things will blow away if you sneeze at them - we make sure to put something in them when we stand up, or just tip them over and they move less. | updated Nov 12, 2020. So does setting the chair on a piece of cardboard from what I understand, although its less practical to carry on a backpacking trip. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. To get us a closer look, REI sent Man Makes Fire a review unit. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews. How to replace shock cord in REI Flexlite Chair Legs. 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. Its dead simple to set up or pack away. REI Flexlite chairs have a range of weight capacity. Shame on those that preach sustainability or carbon footprint. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We will only ever share honest, unbiased reviews. Lightly used camping chair. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. While at 1lb. The only complaint I have is that the rubber feet on the ends of the legs are a little small. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. 300 lb rated. It's dead simple to set up or pack away. Here's a grossly long video on the differences . Check Price We felt that these large flaws, unfortunately, took away from the overall comfort of the chair. Despite this difference, I feel that the Chair Zero is more stable and has less play in its pole structure than the Flexlite Air. No other chair will be near the weight of the Zero. Another difference I noticed is that the front of the REI Flexlite seat cuts into my legs. I overlooked the wobble in favor of size and weight. If you're looking for something a little sturdier and don't mind an extra few ounces, check out the Helinox Chair One. 10oz., it's unlikely to make the cut for an ultralight backpacker or PCT thru hiker, it is the second lightest portable camping chair we tested and has a decently high level of comfort. All Rights Reserved. The legs also have a tendency to sink into sand or soft earth so its best if the chair is placed on a flat rock or the solid rock dust found on many campsites. Ends 4/30/23. This chair is great! While the Flexlite doesn't pack down quite as small as some of the competition, due to its extra long back poles, it isn't much larger! This said, its a minor difference, and your mileage may vary. When you're done, the poles break down just like a tent, the seat folds in half, and it rolls up around the legs and slides right into the bag. This chair is useful only if you sat it up on slab rock or very hard dry earth. Chair .5 is 1lb 8oz and this one is 1lb 5oz. The lightweight design and mesh back panel of the REI Flexlite make it an excellent choice for hot weather camping, though we found some of its competitors to have stronger performances in other vital metrics. It's a little bulky/heavy, especially as a non-necessity, but a nice reward after lugging a pack all day. The legs were quick to pop off the ground and destabilize the user. It was tempting as our camping party was 3, and I had let my kids take the $100 chairs, while I suffered in the old beach chair as we sat around the fire. A Hiking Camera Pack: MindShift BackLight 18L. GearLab is commited to honest, objective, reviews. Good camping/hiking chair. Add to Wish List. 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. As for the 'plop test, our 170lb tester reported that he didn't get the feeling that the chair was going to break underneath him, though he did just about fall over backward a couple of times! The Helinox base sold separately fits on the Rei Flexlite . Required fields are marked *. nice review still $100 for that cute chair? This contender was bested only by the Helinox Chair Zero and Helinox Chair One. 20% larger in all dimensions than the original Flexlite Chair; increased weight capacity of 300 lbs. Not too bigit packs away fairly small. There is a little stash pocket on the side, a nice spot to stash a flashlight or cell phone. 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. Just sometimes. Showing off the cell phone compatible side pocket on the Flexlite during a day at Mono Lake. not much fun to sit in for long periods. This is a nearly universal problem with chairs of this type, but its exacerbated by the fact that the plastic tips at the ends of the Flex Air lite are smaller than on most other chairs. The free rotation around the middle axis presents a challenge to the user, both in connecting the seat and setting the poles on the ground in the correct orientation. for the original Flexlite) Updated seat eliminates tension zones and provides comfort for a wider range of bodies; updated pole pockets utilize pull loops and larger openings for an easier setup. It's significantly more expensive than any of the taco-style chairs in this review, but it's also more comfortable. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. You'll be lucky to find a decent one that is twice as heavy. $29.47 $ 29. However, my mesh developed a rip, not due to weight (I'm 160 lbs) or misuse. 16 oz (454g) Shop. REI Flexlight Air is 1lb. Developed a rip, not due to weight ( I 'm 160 )... 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