Angular displacement and psychological terminology. This was a deep dive. I've not watched any content from this channel before and this was incredible. Totally unexpected amount of detail and deconstruction of gear. Sub'd.
I am taking Biomechanics and this had me laughing when he used the Greek letter for angle. Too funny. I actually appreciated the explanation in degrees and angles.
THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!!! I have been desperately searching for EXACTLY this information. You're the best! Going now to check out all your other videos!!
This is everything and more. I feel so supported having watched this, as if I got to try the chairs in the store, and I haven’t so much as seen either of these chairs in real life yet. Thank you for answering all my questions and then some. I also appreciate your subtle humor. It’s the kind that makes one smirk.
Amazing breakdown! I would have never thought this level of detail would be interesting to me but it really had me thinking about how to assess what I like or don't like! Wish you could evaluate every decision in my life for me!
Very detailed review! Much appreciated. So many reviews on UA-cam are not well thought out at all. Yours however was well thought out, well executed, detailed, and very funny. Kudos to you!
Your reviews and comparison vids are probably the best I’ve seen. Your analysis gives info I don’t even think about, but should be aware of. Thanks for your detailed efforts!
So I tried both chairs, the REI flex light is not even in the same league as the Helinox. Everything from the DAC poles, the design, the strength of the fabric, the bag it comes in, ease of assembly, absolutely everything is better. The REI Flex light 2022 is a stool, I returned it, also noticed 3 punchers in the fabric. The Helinox is a good chair for anyone 210lbs and below, the REI 150lbs and below and thats my rap.
I have the Helinox as part of my standard kit. I simply cannot sit on the ground/logs/stump for very long without high discomfort, so a chair is pretty key. All of my hiking friends made intense fun of me for bringing such a silly thing, and then a few minutes later looked on with equally intense jeealousy while I sat in luxury and they were in the dirt. Chair for the win, and since the rest of my kit os solidly ultralight I don’t feel bad about bringing it along. Nice overiew!
Paul Carpenter My bro-in-law brought the REI on a hike over Memorial Day. I initially thought it was a silly way to add a pound on you climbing a mountain, but it turned out to be one of the best things we had.
I bought the REI Flexlite Air about a year ago. But I wish I had spent a little bit more money and got the Helinox Zero. The REI chair is great, nothing wrong with the quality, it's just not as comfortable as a Helinox. Plus when I sit down, the REI chair feels like it wants to fall over backwards.
I've left Google but if I was still employed I'd be asking the UA-cam Team to create awards for people putting "technical" content like yours on this platform. (Along the lines of channels like Veritasium or Engineering explained where technical topic are accessible and fun to watch) Not to mention the ads free videos is such a rare thing nowadays. As for the trekking pole chair, there are some stuff out there but definitely nothing that was significantly engineered. I am sure it will eventually come out. I'd be curious to see how REI product design team would react if they had a hint of your idea.
Habituated camp areas will typically have a firmer ground for those ground stabbing legs on the Heliniox and the REI chair. Primitive sites with softer ground, you might go for a design whose legs have more surface area (tubing) for sitting more atop the ground.
Yes! I really miss the Helinox Ground Chair, so disappointed that they removed this from their line. That was the most comfortable for me. I had a pole section break on it (accident, slammed it into the car door), so I'm itching to repair it or maybe try to put some CF tubing sections in it. It's a little heavier than either of the two chairs I featured in the video.
This was a great review and funny too. Saw this video after I purchased both chairs on the REI website during the recent anniversary sale. The REI chair won after my 5 minute field testing of both chairs. The Helinox chair put pressure on the sides of both my legs in a very uncomfortable manner. I wanted out of the Helinox very quickly. The spreadsheet comment really hit home. The REI chair is 15.75 oz on my scale and now on my spreadsheet.
Today having sat in both I went with the rei. Having the horizontal support bar run parallel to my shoulders on the zero chair felt less stable than the rei horizontal bar running from back to front
Great comparison! I am going with the Helinox, because I do like to stretch my legs out but primarily because of the folded dimensions, when I am bike touring everything goes in panniers, I dont have the vertical space in the panniers that I do in my backpack. Also, great idea on using DCF and carbon.
Great video. Not mentioned: REI's warranty is 1 year vs Helinox at 5 years. My REI Flexlite Air is in landfill after 13 months and light use; REI fails to offer repairs or support.
Great Vid! Wish more UA-camrs in the Ultralight world would go this in depth with gear reviews. I was thinking the same thing about carbon poles and DCF material for the seat. Probably going to sew my own seat soon. Something else to consider to make these chairs lighter is removing the stretch cord between the frame lengths. Not that had to reassemble if you pre-mark the joints with different colored nail polish. Saves an oz.....
What an informative and entertaining video. Other points to include: How much is the cost?! I use my hammock as a camping chair. Comfortable, and no extra gear to carry.
Okay so I didn't expect a full on lesson when I clicked on this video, but I appreciate it thoroughly. Also, you're really funny. Love the sense of humour. 5:34 cracked me up in particular.
Just watched this after buying a very cheap chair £15 in the same style to try out as I have back issues, I figured I could modify it using the plastic block inserts to rebuild it, lighter, better, etc. Your review just blew me away with the in-depth aspect of chair ergonomics and component weight values, giving me a lot to think about measure and check. Great work and analysis, thank you so much and I will be checking out your channel further
My lady and I bought those Alite 2-leggers right when they came out. Still going - still pack'm - still love'm. We stopped paying attn to chairs and it seems the market went bananas with that design and now they're out of business. We still get weird looks but I actually prefer them not just for size/weight but cuz they're so damn comfy. "No, you don't feel unbalanced in them" is a phrase I've uttered more times than I can possibly remember. So in their case... 2-legs, but "chair". Weird chair, but chair. (And a chair that you can adjust all the angles mentioned here by changing your seat position and balance point. It's awesome.)
thank you - funny comment about "time out".. ! i have been bringing a hammock with me and use it like you would a chair - to relax, not sleep in. but thinking about bringing chair instead- as you can put it on top of granite etc not just in tree area. Good review. i'll stop at REI and try both - but i understand the differences now
I happen to own REI. For any of these chairs: attach both bottom sides of covering first. The longer back supports are more flexible and fit easier. Not sure why back support posts and cross pieces are same tubing as legs. Seems back supports do not carry same load. Seems😊 you could save a little weight...
My 3.5 foot carbon fibre pole weighs 1.9 ounces SO WHY NOT MAKE A SEAT THAT WEIGHS A POUND! Talk about ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE WEIGHT! How about I just DONT BRING A SEAT! HOW'S THAT FOR WEIGHT ANXIETY! IS THAT ENOUGH HEART PALPITATIONS WHEN SPREADSHEET VALUES CHANGE ENOUGH FOR YA! Talk about stools aren't chairs! I don't need a ROCKABY BABY CRIB any more than I need to BAKE CINNAMON ROLLS AND CHOCOLATE CAKE ON THE TRAIL! JUST GIVE ME A TWO OUNCE STOOL!🛎✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊
The detail in this video is nice, but I don’t agree with the conclusion. I bought both chairs, had a room full of family try them out and there was 100% consensus that the Chair Zero was way more comfortable. IMO, there’s no contest. The Flexlite Air was pretty bad - much easier to slip out of, easily tilts sideways and poor back support. The Chair Zero was so comfortable that a few members of my family used that chair to watch movies in. Chair Zero all the way.
The Air Chair frame is heavier than the Chair Zeros frame, but the fabric seat on the Chair Zero weighs 128g, because it's made of heavy rip-stop Polyester whereas the seat fabric on the Air Chair, on the other hand, is only 76.6g, because it's made of lighter rip-stop Nylon...So why not try fitting the lighter Air Chair fabric seat onto the lighter Chair Zero frame? If it fits then the Chair Zero hybrid would only weigh 440g (15.5oz (or 0.97lb)!
I'm curious about your opinion on the matter of flex. I find all these designs both very 'flexy' and also a bit tippy towards the back. Do you think more stiffness would. be beneficial or are your impressions that all is good on those two scores, especially the "flex" part? My first major was process piping design, and I must say that your overview is quite good, and excellent information to be aware of. I will say though that the current designs lean towards manufacturing ease, rather than the ultimate in design. They could come up with. better triangulation with near zero weight increase, but I'd take a weight increase if they used titanium joints, and redesigned them a bit - oh and lowered the price. It would make their shareholders feel so good about their innermost souls. Perhaps they should hike more often?
I wish I had discovered your channel months ago! I haven't seen anyone else take such a scientific approach to gear. Im just getting into backpacking and have bought some great I wish I hadn't. Im a nurse and professed nerd of most things. Throwing in the lower back injury activated by flexion is great. And the trauma from the Greek alphabet had me laughing. Subscribed, catching up and following along. (Amen to changing positions while sitting, L5 fracture with sciatica for me). Any packs geared toward lower back injuries? Sounds counterintuitive, just don't carry heavy loads on your back dingy.
Thanks for the comment! I feel you. I broke my sacrum about 15 years ago and since then, have had to be pretty careful about how I manage it. Changing positions often, and minimizing the time I spend sitting on the ground is essential.
4 years later and the best we have is the nemo moonlite elite that combines better comfort for a tad more weight. Could you review it as well? I personally am sticking with my rei fexlite that was cheaper and functional. If needed, I can get a replacement seat cover since I tend to be hard on chairs. Great video. Thanks!
Holy shit, this has been one of the best reviews i have watched. Its rare a video keeps my attention 100%, but this uhhh.. chair review did hahah. Thanks so much!
I love every review you do. Great detail and I believe you look into things in great detail. I have the REI chair on its way to me Thank you so very much for your reviews. You are simp,y the best when it come to detail I always look for you first when it comes to knowledge , inspiration and detail Happy Holidays Sheila Vancouver BC🇨🇦
Holy carp, a whiteboard presentation review of top tier camp chair contenders! Didn't see this coming, ha. I enjoyed this in depth perspective as great food for thought. My Chair One has mostly perished due to camp fire. No apparent recourse for spare parts sadly...
Great vid! One thing I haven’t seen compared between these two chairs is the propensity to lean/fall back. I’m 6’4” and have an exceptionally long torso so I like to lean back a lot. While the Helinox has a longer back and a better overall sitting angle, I found that the orientation of the support bar underneath caused it to almost always want to fall back (the front feet came off the ground). The Flexlite Air didn’t have this problem nearly as much and allows me to stay more firmly planted, so that’s what I went with. Might not be an issue for smaller folk or those who don’t have as long a torso, but it was a dealbreaker for me on the Helinox.
Love the humor and use of theta. We incorrectly use phi instead of theta in my work and it has always bugged me. Few things I’d still like to know: distance between the poles at the top (broad at the shoulder + rock climber lats = pressure points), does weight include carry sacks? are the feet anti-sink and well attached? does either do better on uneven ground? I have an old 1.7 lb flexlite that I keep losing feet from, they slide off easily after they sink into soft soils. Considering an upgrade because it drives me crazy 😜.
1:29 Nooo, Miranda is always right! hahahaha Never thought I was going to learn some vocabulary here, very much appreciated. I'd be calling chair to anything I could sit on hahahahaha Good video!
Hi i have both these chairs and am contemplating cutting and reinforcing a poop whole/ flap system in the chair, would this destroy the chairs integrity thus causing it to tear upon sitting on it? I weigh 140lbs
Wow. I loved this video. I thought it was a bit tedious a first, but I changed my mind by the end. Also, isn’t REI a good place to buy from because of their customer service and return policy?
Love the analysis of specs, it does give you a different perspective. Thanks!.....However, and as I am in currently looking to purchase one of these, do you have any real world info on: 1) Which one would tip over first upon relaxing your weight against the back of the material? That is, how far back can you recline into each chair without tipping over? I ask this in the context that the more you have to 'fight' gravity in this respect, the less lasting comfort you will have. 2) How easy, difficult, comfortable or uncomfortable is to tie one's shoes in it? How about cooking by leaning forward?
Your chart at the the intro made me pause the video and read it.... made me laugh. Particularly the pack it but don’t tell anybody. The flex lite air is one of my favorite pieces of gear. It takes no time to set up and whether you are at a kid’s lacrosse game or a mile and a half down in a gorge, the weight is totally worth it. I found the flex lite more comfortable than the zero. My preference and I sat in both before I bought the flex lite air. Yes, I’m over 24!
I have had the REI chair for 3 years. I am 6' 1" 190 lb. and find it very comfortable although so far I have only used it for day hikes if I anticipate sitting for long periods of time looking at wildlife with my binoculars. It is very sturdy and has held up well. Sometimes the legs sink into soft ground which requires moving it to a harder surface though.
My favorite chair, which I've carried for 36 years (will your chair last that long?) is the SlingLight. It weighs 18.0 ounces. and has never failed me.
The SlingLight is a GREAT chair. But it puts your back in a funky position if you have weird back issues like sponylolisthesis or other issues that require a more neutral back position. And - holler at us in 34 years and we'll see if these chairs are still in use!
Both chairs lean back too far, and hurt my back. I think they are monumentally uncomfortable. I use chairs mostly for kayak camping, where weight is less of a consideration. I want to sit up straighter. I use the old Thermarest thing you stuff a pad into. It works well for ukulele or guitar playing as well. It's not really a chair, since it has no legs, but I don't care, I can sit up straight in it.
Yes, depending on your back health/injury type, reclining chairs won't work for some, and a more upright position is essential. My wife has spondylolisthesis and she can't stay in a reclining position very long, and prefers to be upright. I have some disc issues right above the sacrum and broke my sacrum in '05, and a reclining position is essential to my comfort.
Don't know how I got here but, what a great review! Can you review and compare an ultralight packable casting rod and reel? No need to go into worms though. Best analytics ever 👍
Outstanding presentation. I have a backpack and chair myself and it is the most comfortable sitting experience any backpacker can have. They are considerably on really light weight taken in consideration they are a chair that provides the same features and comfort of a conventional chair. They are not cheap though. A pad on the ground it’s a much lighter choice but not as comfortable as a backpacking chair. I have the ALite mayfly backpacking chair that I don’t regret having purchased it.. what is your favorite backpack and chair? Thank you so much for sharing this video. Just to let you know, I subscribed to your channel. God bless you.
Might i inject yet another point concerning seat angle? Yes? Thank you! As that angle increases more pressure is being applied to the Sacrum AND the edge of the chair seat cuts into the back of the leg. This cuts the flow of blood to the legs and feet. That blood flow is what brings relief to tired and weary body parts that brought you to the beautiful places we've chosen to enjoy 😋
I have an older Helinox chair that is 2.27 lbs that I love. I weigh about 195 lbs and I have flopped down into it and it did not even groan. I even added small dog tennis balls to the feet of the chair so that the feet would not sink into the soft ground. A lot of extra weight but I like the comfort. I may have to gift it and get the new lighter one!
Yes! Thank you for making this video. I had just decided to pick up a Helinox but ran into the REI Air when checking out the sale. And there were no videos on it! I picked up the Air because the price/weight/comfort all checked out and I thought my first UA-cam video might need to be a review but there is no need now. Thank you 😊. One trip down and I am liking the REI Air!! ⏰
If helinox would place the cross bar further back I would have bought one to use as a porta-crapper. In the current design I would crap all over that cross bar. Instead I found a stool without a cross bar and modified the cloth seat to have a big hole in the center. It works really well and was only $15. It weighs 10 oz with the original fabric on it.
I would happily tote one of these anywhere. I have a bad back and the weight to comfort ratio would be perfect for me. Unfortunately I'm 6'3" and 270 pounds. I would really appreciate a company beefing up one of them for a few more ounces. Nobody can use a backpacking chair like a big boy backpacker.
Just picked up a flex lite for under $40 at REI. That was after returning a $130 (or around there) Chair zero that wasn’t on sale but also I could not get comfortable in. After watching this entire video while sitting n the Flexlite, I’m pretty happy with my purchase.
Long ago, chairs made for sitting outside around campfires near the cottage, or at the cottage, outside, where there was slightly uneven ground - were designed with three legs. Some without, making them stable stools, some with, making them stable chairs. One would often find them made with high tech materials such as Balsa, Fir and Black Walnut woods. Ahh, the good ol' days ..... keep getting better except for the sticker shock. ;)
I went one step further and bought the child version. Not worth the weight savings. 😔 Edit. Perhaps I can rectify the smol back support with ski poles. Thank you. 😊
The REI chair is Designed, Engineered, & Manufactured right here in good ole U.S.A. whereas Helinox is foreign made. My 5-Star chair of choice is Sagebrush, I can sit on the ground & get all the back support I need by simply leaning back into the branches.
Angular displacement and psychological terminology. This was a deep dive. I've not watched any content from this channel before and this was incredible. Totally unexpected amount of detail and deconstruction of gear. Sub'd.
Thanks and welcome!
Same
I am taking Biomechanics and this had me laughing when he used the Greek letter for angle. Too funny. I actually appreciated the explanation in degrees and angles.
first time watching this channel and had the same exact reaction... the intro got me and I had not even seen the technical detail of the video.
Well done as always. Next up: the UL stump review.
"Sit on your z rest pad for a little bit and be in a time out and see if you're projecting." Liked and subscribed.
THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!!! I have been desperately searching for EXACTLY this information. You're the best! Going now to check out all your other videos!!
The nerdiest backpack equipment review ever! Love it!
Thank you!
This is everything and more. I feel so supported having watched this, as if I got to try the chairs in the store, and I haven’t so much as seen either of these chairs in real life yet. Thank you for answering all my questions and then some. I also appreciate your subtle humor. It’s the kind that makes one smirk.
I’ve never know Ryan to be funny. This is great.
Amazing breakdown! I would have never thought this level of detail would be interesting to me but it really had me thinking about how to assess what I like or don't like! Wish you could evaluate every decision in my life for me!
Very detailed review! Much appreciated. So many reviews on UA-cam are not well thought out at all. Yours however was well thought out, well executed, detailed, and very funny. Kudos to you!
Pack a chair but don’t tell anybody 😂
LOL so true
I'm a engineer! You talk my language! Subscribed! Great work!
right? who's scared of theta?
Your reviews and comparison vids are probably the best I’ve seen. Your analysis gives info I don’t even think about, but should be aware of. Thanks for your detailed efforts!
Thanks for the nice comment, Aidan. I'm glad you're finding value in these vids!
Such a great breakdown. My camp chair literally broke a week ago so here I am comparing new chairs. Picked up a sub! Thanks
So I tried both chairs, the REI flex light is not even in the same league as the Helinox. Everything from the DAC poles, the design, the strength of the fabric, the bag it comes in, ease of assembly, absolutely everything is better. The REI Flex light 2022 is a stool, I returned it, also noticed 3 punchers in the fabric. The Helinox is a good chair for anyone 210lbs and below, the REI 150lbs and below and thats my rap.
I have the Helinox as part of my standard kit. I simply cannot sit on the ground/logs/stump for very long without high discomfort, so a chair is pretty key. All of my hiking friends made intense fun of me for bringing such a silly thing, and then a few minutes later looked on with equally intense jeealousy while I sat in luxury and they were in the dirt. Chair for the win, and since the rest of my kit os solidly ultralight I don’t feel bad about bringing it along. Nice overiew!
Paul Carpenter
My bro-in-law brought the REI on a hike over Memorial Day. I initially thought it was a silly way to add a pound on you climbing a mountain, but it turned out to be one of the best things we had.
Man talk about breaking things down. Might be the most in-depth comparison on any product i've ever seen
I can't believe you talked me into a chair... lol! Great video! Thanks for sharing. :)
You’re gonna thank me when u sit in it!!
I bought the REI Flexlite Air about a year ago. But I wish I had spent a little bit more money and got the Helinox Zero. The REI chair is great, nothing wrong with the quality, it's just not as comfortable as a Helinox. Plus when I sit down, the REI chair feels like it wants to fall over backwards.
Wow, what a detailed review! I just ordered the helinox. Thanks!
This has got to be the best camping chair video ever made! Congratulations
Relevant hashtags, #science #physics #math #chairs #anatomy #dryhumor #psychjokes LOL great review!
I've left Google but if I was still employed I'd be asking the UA-cam Team to create awards for people putting "technical" content like yours on this platform. (Along the lines of channels like Veritasium or Engineering explained where technical topic are accessible and fun to watch)
Not to mention the ads free videos is such a rare thing nowadays.
As for the trekking pole chair, there are some stuff out there but definitely nothing that was significantly engineered.
I am sure it will eventually come out. I'd be curious to see how REI product design team would react if they had a hint of your idea.
That intro had me laughing out loud. Literally. You earned a subscriber!
this is so much more than i ever wanted to know but i am here for it
Add on stabilizers to fix the sinking issue: ua-cam.com/video/BLYB4x4voME/v-deo.html
Thanks for your TED talk.
Professor of chair.
Habituated camp areas will typically have a firmer ground for those ground stabbing legs on the Heliniox and the REI chair. Primitive sites with softer ground, you might go for a design whose legs have more surface area (tubing) for sitting more atop the ground.
Yes! I really miss the Helinox Ground Chair, so disappointed that they removed this from their line. That was the most comfortable for me. I had a pole section break on it (accident, slammed it into the car door), so I'm itching to repair it or maybe try to put some CF tubing sections in it. It's a little heavier than either of the two chairs I featured in the video.
This is the best review I think I've ever seen. Well done, new sub!
Do a room tour. Those shelves of well arranged backpacking gear shrines are full of content
I’ve been meaning to. Gotta clean some stuff up first - it’s not looking like that anymore, got a bit of a gear explosion right now, in between trips!
This was a great review and funny too. Saw this video after I purchased both chairs on the REI website during the recent anniversary sale. The REI chair won after my 5 minute field testing of both chairs. The Helinox chair put pressure on the sides of both my legs in a very uncomfortable manner. I wanted out of the Helinox very quickly. The spreadsheet comment really hit home. The REI chair is 15.75 oz on my scale and now on my spreadsheet.
Today having sat in both I went with the rei. Having the horizontal support bar run parallel to my shoulders on the zero chair felt less stable than the rei horizontal bar running from back to front
Dang, you didn't leave anything for me to discover. Well done. Lol
Great comparison! I am going with the Helinox, because I do like to stretch my legs out but primarily because of the folded dimensions, when I am bike touring everything goes in panniers, I dont have the vertical space in the panniers that I do in my backpack. Also, great idea on using DCF and carbon.
These videos have been great! Informative, charming, and funny. Keep em coming!
Thanks Brook - your feedback means a lot!
Great video. Not mentioned: REI's warranty is 1 year vs Helinox at 5 years. My REI Flexlite Air is in landfill after 13 months and light use; REI fails to offer repairs or support.
We just had a 5-year old REI tent repaired, no charge, and it was our fault. Be persistent, change stores or find a different store manager.
Thanks. I was looking at these two chairs online just yesterday.
Great Vid! Wish more UA-camrs in the Ultralight world would go this in depth with gear reviews. I was thinking the same thing about carbon poles and DCF material for the seat. Probably going to sew my own seat soon. Something else to consider to make these chairs lighter is removing the stretch cord between the frame lengths. Not that had to reassemble if you pre-mark the joints with different colored nail polish. Saves an oz.....
This was a great video! So much information is definitely helping me pick my first UL Camp Chair!
What an informative and entertaining video. Other points to include: How much is the cost?! I use my hammock as a camping chair. Comfortable, and no extra gear to carry.
I love the humor! :-)
Okay so I didn't expect a full on lesson when I clicked on this video, but I appreciate it thoroughly. Also, you're really funny. Love the sense of humour. 5:34 cracked me up in particular.
Just watched this after buying a very cheap chair £15 in the same style to try out as I have back issues, I figured I could modify it using the plastic block inserts to rebuild it, lighter, better, etc. Your review just blew me away with the in-depth aspect of chair ergonomics and component weight values, giving me a lot to think about measure and check. Great work and analysis, thank you so much and I will be checking out your channel further
I’m 5’11, 254lbs, and have both Helinox and REI chairs. The stitching on the Helinox has lasted over 5 years compared to the REI.
My lady and I bought those Alite 2-leggers right when they came out. Still going - still pack'm - still love'm. We stopped paying attn to chairs and it seems the market went bananas with that design and now they're out of business. We still get weird looks but I actually prefer them not just for size/weight but cuz they're so damn comfy. "No, you don't feel unbalanced in them" is a phrase I've uttered more times than I can possibly remember. So in their case... 2-legs, but "chair". Weird chair, but chair. (And a chair that you can adjust all the angles mentioned here by changing your seat position and balance point. It's awesome.)
Great review! It was also a tossup for me and it finally came down to your review, the $20 price difference and the 2 ounces: REI...
Glad you found the review helpful. Good luck on your new quilt!
Decision tree full reveal at :32. Basically, if you’re >24, buy a chair.
Subscribing for the humor.
Such a level of analytics, you never mention price.
thank you - funny comment about "time out".. ! i have been bringing a hammock with me and use it like you would a chair - to relax, not sleep in. but thinking about bringing chair instead- as you can put it on top of granite etc not just in tree area. Good review. i'll stop at REI and try both - but i understand the differences now
Really loving the style of this video. great mix of fun but informative. that being said...i'm still not bringing a chair... ;-)
I agree about the style of these vids. I'm still trying to get my weight down so I'm not adding a chair at this juncture....who knows maybe later.
I happen to own REI.
For any of these chairs: attach both bottom sides of covering first. The longer back supports are more flexible and fit easier.
Not sure why back support posts and cross pieces are same tubing as legs. Seems back supports do not carry same load. Seems😊 you could save a little weight...
You forgot to mention the cost difference
My 3.5 foot carbon fibre pole weighs 1.9 ounces SO WHY NOT MAKE A SEAT THAT WEIGHS A POUND! Talk about ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE WEIGHT! How about I just DONT BRING A SEAT! HOW'S THAT FOR WEIGHT ANXIETY! IS THAT ENOUGH HEART PALPITATIONS WHEN SPREADSHEET VALUES CHANGE ENOUGH FOR YA! Talk about stools aren't chairs! I don't need a ROCKABY BABY CRIB any more than I need to BAKE CINNAMON ROLLS AND CHOCOLATE CAKE ON THE TRAIL! JUST GIVE ME A TWO OUNCE STOOL!🛎✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊
The detail in this video is nice, but I don’t agree with the conclusion. I bought both chairs, had a room full of family try them out and there was 100% consensus that the Chair Zero was way more comfortable. IMO, there’s no contest. The Flexlite Air was pretty bad - much easier to slip out of, easily tilts sideways and poor back support. The Chair Zero was so comfortable that a few members of my family used that chair to watch movies in. Chair Zero all the way.
Fantastic review. Touched on all the relevant points. Thank you.
The Air Chair frame is heavier than the Chair Zeros frame, but the fabric seat on the Chair Zero weighs 128g, because it's made of heavy rip-stop Polyester whereas the seat fabric on the Air Chair, on the other hand, is only 76.6g, because it's made of lighter rip-stop Nylon...So why not try fitting the lighter Air Chair fabric seat onto the lighter Chair Zero frame? If it fits then the Chair Zero hybrid would only weigh 440g (15.5oz (or 0.97lb)!
I'm curious about your opinion on the matter of flex. I find all these designs both very 'flexy' and also a bit tippy towards the back. Do you think more stiffness would. be beneficial or are your impressions that all is good on those two scores, especially the "flex" part? My first major was process piping design, and I must say that your overview is quite good, and excellent information to be aware of. I will say though that the current designs lean towards manufacturing ease, rather than the ultimate in design. They could come up with. better triangulation with near zero weight increase, but I'd take a weight increase if they used titanium joints, and redesigned them a bit - oh and lowered the price. It would make their shareholders feel so good about their innermost souls. Perhaps they should hike more often?
I wish I had discovered your channel months ago! I haven't seen anyone else take such a scientific approach to gear. Im just getting into backpacking and have bought some great I wish I hadn't. Im a nurse and professed nerd of most things. Throwing in the lower back injury activated by flexion is great. And the trauma from the Greek alphabet had me laughing. Subscribed, catching up and following along. (Amen to changing positions while sitting, L5 fracture with sciatica for me). Any packs geared toward lower back injuries? Sounds counterintuitive, just don't carry heavy loads on your back dingy.
Thanks for the comment! I feel you. I broke my sacrum about 15 years ago and since then, have had to be pretty careful about how I manage it. Changing positions often, and minimizing the time I spend sitting on the ground is essential.
4 years later and the best we have is the nemo moonlite elite that combines better comfort for a tad more weight. Could you review it as well? I personally am sticking with my rei fexlite that was cheaper and functional. If needed, I can get a replacement seat cover since I tend to be hard on chairs. Great video. Thanks!
Holy shit, this has been one of the best reviews i have watched. Its rare a video keeps my attention 100%, but this uhhh.. chair review did hahah. Thanks so much!
I love every review you do. Great detail and I believe you look into things in great detail.
I have the REI chair on its way to me
Thank you so very much for your reviews. You are simp,y the best when it come to detail
I always look for you first when it comes to knowledge , inspiration and detail
Happy Holidays
Sheila
Vancouver BC🇨🇦
Are you sure there is enough « detail » in there ? ^_^'
Holy carp, a whiteboard presentation review of top tier camp chair contenders!
Didn't see this coming, ha. I enjoyed this in depth perspective as great food for thought.
My Chair One has mostly perished due to camp fire. No apparent recourse for spare parts sadly...
This is what happened to my Ground Chair as well. So sad that this has been discontinued. Thanks for writing in!
Great vid! One thing I haven’t seen compared between these two chairs is the propensity to lean/fall back. I’m 6’4” and have an exceptionally long torso so I like to lean back a lot. While the Helinox has a longer back and a better overall sitting angle, I found that the orientation of the support bar underneath caused it to almost always want to fall back (the front feet came off the ground). The Flexlite Air didn’t have this problem nearly as much and allows me to stay more firmly planted, so that’s what I went with. Might not be an issue for smaller folk or those who don’t have as long a torso, but it was a dealbreaker for me on the Helinox.
Great points! I just sat in both and agree with you!
Love the humor and use of theta. We incorrectly use phi instead of theta in my work and it has always bugged me. Few things I’d still like to know: distance between the poles at the top (broad at the shoulder + rock climber lats = pressure points), does weight include carry sacks? are the feet anti-sink and well attached? does either do better on uneven ground? I have an old 1.7 lb flexlite that I keep losing feet from, they slide off easily after they sink into soft soils. Considering an upgrade because it drives me crazy 😜.
1:29 Nooo, Miranda is always right! hahahaha
Never thought I was going to learn some vocabulary here, very much appreciated. I'd be calling chair to anything I could sit on hahahahaha
Good video!
This is great! I always judge a chair by how it 'sits'. Now I know why it sits the way it does! Cheers! BTW, the outro made me laugh so I subscribed!
Hi i have both these chairs and am contemplating cutting and reinforcing a poop whole/ flap system in the chair, would this destroy the chairs integrity thus causing it to tear upon sitting on it? I weigh 140lbs
Wow. I loved this video. I thought it was a bit tedious a first, but I changed my mind by the end.
Also, isn’t REI a good place to buy from because of their customer service and return policy?
why not sit on a milk crate for a while. you may find the comfort zone to be aroud the simular dimenstions. thats what i am comfortably sit.
Gerard.
I'm saving a pound and sitting on a stump!
Love the analysis of specs, it does give you a different perspective. Thanks!.....However, and as I am in currently looking to purchase one of these, do you have any real world info on:
1) Which one would tip over first upon relaxing your weight against the back of the material? That is, how far back can you recline into each chair without tipping over? I ask this in the context that the more you have to 'fight' gravity in this respect, the less lasting comfort you will have.
2) How easy, difficult, comfortable or uncomfortable is to tie one's shoes in it? How about cooking by leaning forward?
Your chart at the the intro made me pause the video and read it.... made me laugh. Particularly the pack it but don’t tell anybody.
The flex lite air is one of my favorite pieces of gear. It takes no time to set up and whether you are at a kid’s lacrosse game or a mile and a half down in a gorge, the weight is totally worth it.
I found the flex lite more comfortable than the zero. My preference and I sat in both before I bought the flex lite air.
Yes, I’m over 24!
I have had the REI chair for 3 years. I am 6' 1" 190 lb. and find it very comfortable although so far I have only used it for day hikes if I anticipate sitting for long periods of time looking at wildlife with my binoculars. It is very sturdy and has held up well. Sometimes the legs sink into soft ground which requires moving it to a harder surface though.
My favorite chair, which I've carried for 36 years (will your chair last that long?) is the SlingLight. It weighs 18.0 ounces. and has never failed me.
The SlingLight is a GREAT chair. But it puts your back in a funky position if you have weird back issues like sponylolisthesis or other issues that require a more neutral back position. And - holler at us in 34 years and we'll see if these chairs are still in use!
Both chairs lean back too far, and hurt my back. I think they are monumentally uncomfortable. I use chairs mostly for kayak camping, where weight is less of a consideration. I want to sit up straighter. I use the old Thermarest thing you stuff a pad into. It works well for ukulele or guitar playing as well. It's not really a chair, since it has no legs, but I don't care, I can sit up straight in it.
Yes, depending on your back health/injury type, reclining chairs won't work for some, and a more upright position is essential. My wife has spondylolisthesis and she can't stay in a reclining position very long, and prefers to be upright. I have some disc issues right above the sacrum and broke my sacrum in '05, and a reclining position is essential to my comfort.
REI chair is also $30 cheaper, and I got mine at 50% off so it was $80 cheaper.
Thanks. such detail! REI's are 50% off right now!
Front to back legs of rei rather than side by side of helinox reclines better. More comfy
Don't know how I got here but, what a great review! Can you review and compare an ultralight packable casting rod and reel? No need to go into worms though. Best analytics ever 👍
Thanks for the very detailed review. "... go sit on your Zrest aand be in a time out. " LMAO!!!
Hi how to get the rei chair pole infomation, I can't find the pole is made by dac
Awesome video here. Required viewing before making a purchase!
Theta truly did send me
Back to an AP Physics spiral 🥴
REI sucks don’t buy nothing from them if you can’t help it
Outstanding presentation. I have a backpack and chair myself and it is the most comfortable sitting experience any backpacker can have. They are considerably on really light weight taken in consideration they are a chair that provides the same features and comfort of a conventional chair. They are not cheap though. A pad on the ground it’s a much lighter choice but not as comfortable as a backpacking chair. I have the ALite mayfly backpacking chair that I don’t regret having purchased it.. what is your favorite backpack and chair? Thank you so much for sharing this video. Just to let you know, I subscribed to your channel. God bless you.
Might i inject yet another point concerning seat angle? Yes? Thank you! As that angle increases more pressure is being applied to the Sacrum
AND the edge of the chair seat cuts into the back of the leg.
This cuts the flow of blood to the legs and feet. That blood flow is what brings relief to tired and weary body parts that brought you to the beautiful places we've chosen to enjoy 😋
Yes! Good points.
I have an older Helinox chair that is 2.27 lbs that I love. I weigh about 195 lbs and I have flopped down into it and it did not even groan. I even added small dog tennis balls to the feet of the chair so that the feet would not sink into the soft ground. A lot of extra weight but I like the comfort. I may have to gift it and get the new lighter one!
Yes! Thank you for making this video. I had just decided to pick up a Helinox but ran into the REI Air when checking out the sale. And there were no videos on it! I picked up the Air because the price/weight/comfort all checked out and I thought my first UA-cam video might need to be a review but there is no need now. Thank you 😊. One trip down and I am liking the REI Air!!
⏰
Thanks Mike! Good luck with the new chair!
Sounds like the only way to go is to go to REI and compare the two side by side.
All those measurements, but no mention if the widths are the same or different. That can affect comfort as well.
If helinox would place the cross bar further back I would have bought one to use as a porta-crapper. In the current design I would crap all over that cross bar. Instead I found a stool without a cross bar and modified the cloth seat to have a big hole in the center. It works really well and was only $15. It weighs 10 oz with the original fabric on it.
I would happily tote one of these anywhere. I have a bad back and the weight to comfort ratio would be perfect for me. Unfortunately I'm 6'3" and 270 pounds. I would really appreciate a company beefing up one of them for a few more ounces. Nobody can use a backpacking chair like a big boy backpacker.
Thank you for this! Very informative, and as always love your humor!
Just picked up a flex lite for under $40 at REI. That was after returning a $130 (or around there) Chair zero that wasn’t on sale but also I could not get comfortable in. After watching this entire video while sitting n the Flexlite, I’m pretty happy with my purchase.
Dude, you're freaking awesome!
This video is hilarious and so helpful!
I think the breakdown about definition was good but I don’t think ppl care if it has like 3 legs
Long ago, chairs made for sitting outside around campfires near the cottage, or at the cottage, outside, where there was slightly uneven ground - were designed with three legs. Some without, making them stable stools, some with, making them stable chairs. One would often find them made with high tech materials such as Balsa, Fir and Black Walnut woods. Ahh, the good ol' days ..... keep getting better except for the sticker shock. ;)
REI flexlite air doesn’t have a ground sheet accessory does it? Don’t you kinda need this if you’re in sand/mud/soft ground environment?
I went one step further and bought the child version. Not worth the weight savings. 😔
Edit. Perhaps I can rectify the smol back support with ski poles. Thank you. 😊
The REI chair is Designed, Engineered, & Manufactured right here in good ole U.S.A. whereas Helinox is foreign made. My 5-Star chair of choice is Sagebrush, I can sit on the ground & get all the back support I need by simply leaning back into the branches.