View Full Version : Campfire Comfort Advice
Geneva Jenn
12-09-2014, 09:24
After a long day of hiking, there is nothing like sitting around the group campfire. However, I find I cannot get comfortable without a chair back or something to rest upon as I am so darn tired! When I use my thermorest pad I have this lightweight contraption that turns it into a chair that weighs very little, but it is winter and I am now in an under quilt so I don't carry my pad.
Anyone have ideas or options to keep my weight light but finding a comfort in a pseudo-chair at night?
Lone Wolf
12-09-2014, 09:28
http://www.helinox.com.au/ground-chair-ultralight-portable-chair.php
I Purchased the Alite Mantis chair last year , well worth the weight for the comfort but not cheap - Very similar to the one L.W. posted.
Damn Yankee
12-09-2014, 09:47
I have the EcoChallenge chair.
LogHiking
12-09-2014, 09:53
I don't have personal experience with this product but I'm considering it. The reviews are overall positive but some people don't find it comfortable (likely that way with all chairs). Price and weight are good in my eyes, and although not often making UL products Kifaru always turns out extremely well made gear.
http://store.kifaru.net/field-chair-p27.aspx
Dochartaigh
12-09-2014, 10:21
I don't have personal experience with this product but I'm considering it. The reviews are overall positive but some people don't find it comfortable (likely that way with all chairs). Price and weight are good in my eyes, and although not often making UL products Kifaru always turns out extremely well made gear.
http://store.kifaru.net/field-chair-p27.aspx
You can make that yourself for about $10 with some rudimentary sewing skills. Check out this post:
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/11672-The-Jerry-Chair-An-Ultralight-Camp-Chair?highlight=gearskin
I've only tried mine sitting inside on my carpet so far (and my big butt definitely needs a larger foam pad than I used), but it's pretty comfortable once you learn what height and angle your trekking poles have to be set at. Pain to get into it though (but hopefully that will change it I can dig the ends of my poles into some real dirt and have it stand-up on it's own).
Mine came in at 4.65 ounces with foam pad (which I'm going to start using the foam pad from my new pack so it'll weigh about 1 oz less), but mine is extra reinforced everywhere (double layer of fabric up the middle, grossgrain edges, etc.). Should probably be 2.5 oz for the chair (depending on the fabric) + whatever pad you use.
shakey_snake
12-09-2014, 10:56
A lightweight hammock w/suspension (http://www.hummingbirdhammocks.com/shop/single-hammock-and-tree-strap-bundle) can weigh 8oz.
And if you're just using it as a chair, you don't have to worry about it being too small to lay in.
Dochartaigh
12-09-2014, 11:26
A lightweight hammock w/suspension (http://www.hummingbirdhammocks.com/shop/single-hammock-and-tree-strap-bundle) can weigh 8oz.
I find a hammock isn't an ideal camping chair. Sure, if you're by yourself it's super-comfy, but when I'm hiking it's usually with other people who I want to socialize with, which includes looking at them when we're talking.
With a hammock you're stuck lying sideways in it straining your neck to look at the person you're talking with who's most likely on the ground. If you sit in the middle of it with your feet on the ground I find I learn back way too far. If you hoist up one side really tall so it's like the mini-hammock chairs, that's better (but I usually can't reach that high), and if you happen to have the smaller hammock chair type you're then stuck sitting facing a tree...
Rocket Jones
12-09-2014, 12:11
Once I saw a setup where a simple loop of paracord was used. Basically, the loop of cord goes around your drawn-up knees and behind your back. You sit on a small piece of CCF and use another across your back to cushion the cord, and it acts sort of like a chair to provide back support. I've tried it to see if it really works, and it does.
Another Kevin
12-09-2014, 12:34
On winter day trips, I usually tote my big overnight pack (because I've never found a good way to lash snowshoes, crampons, etc. to my day pack). I throw in a two-foot square of CCF as a sit pad. For a back rest, I prop my pack up with my poles. I usually need to shorten them to get the angles right. For overnight trips, it's the same arrangement, but with my sleeping pad doubling as the sit pad.
(That's a thought... if I switch to a hammock, do I start needing to bring a sit pad? Another opportunity to overthink things: every gear change means another gear change...)
Dochartaigh
12-09-2014, 13:17
That's a thought... if I switch to a hammock, do I start needing to bring a sit pad? Another opportunity to overthink things: every gear change means another gear change...)
If you're going as light as possible, then you're probably going to use a 3/4" length underquilt for the hammock because of the weight savings over a full length quilt. That leaves the bottom part of your legs exposed, so to compensate for that people use a piece of CCF under their feet. My piece of CCF is 1/8" thick, rated to 25 degree, 20x12", and weighs 1 ounce. Since it's so thin I don't think it'll make a good matt to sit on, but you can dual-use your current sit pad as that extra insulation you need in the hammock and call it a day.
kayak karl
12-09-2014, 14:25
If you're going as light as possible, then you're probably going to use a 3/4" length underquilt for the hammock because of the weight savings over a full length quilt. That leaves the bottom part of your legs exposed, so to compensate for that people use a piece of CCF under their feet. My piece of CCF is 1/8" thick, rated to 25 degree, 20x12", and weighs 1 ounce. Since it's so thin I don't think it'll make a good matt to sit on, but you can dual-use your current sit pad as that extra insulation you need in the hammock and call it a day. who's 1/8" is rated at 25 degrees?
Dochartaigh
12-09-2014, 15:00
The specific CCF pad I have is sold by Arrowhead Equipment (maker of Kick Ass Quilts). It's only for the bottom portion of your legs which they say doesn't need nearly as much insulation as the rest of your body ( I wouldn't think 1/8" over your entire body would keep you warm down to 25º at all). I've personally only tested mine down to 42º so far but I was toasty in my setup.
http://www.arrowhead-equipment.com/store/p316/Partial_Length_Foot_Pad_.html
I'm going to revisit this when my Hammock Gear Phoenix 20º gets here - that's 6" shorter than the current underquilt I have now. Since higher up on my lets will be exposed I might have to move over to a longer and/or thicker piece of CCF foam in the future (which will still be much lighter than getting the full-length underquilt at least).
Alite Designs http://shop.alitedesigns.com/monarch-chair.html 20 oz.
Alite Designs has other chairs.
For backpacking, I carry the triangle packcloth seat, from a three-legged chair. There are three sticks I can lash together at the pivot point, to hold the triangular packcloth seat.
I prefer Alite Designs tho' for comfort.
10oz
https://grandtrunk.com/shop/micro-camp-stool/
dangerdave
12-09-2014, 17:17
I have my (now deceased) grandmother's garden kneeling pad that she used for over twenty years. It's about 10"x18" and one inch thick. Weighs 3.3oz, and makes a great seat pad. Also feels good to carry something of her with me when I hike. :)
VTATHiker
12-09-2014, 17:18
Have you considered a Crazy Creek?
http://www.crazycreek.com/hex-2-0-original-chair/
squeezebox
12-11-2014, 18:21
Rocket Jones ! great idea! But the cord would dig in and not very adjustable. Here's my modification. Use webbing 1/2 or 3/4 your pleasure. a piece around your knees close to your belly an adjust buckle, both sides, when the webbing starts at your back Y it out to 2-3 pieces of webbing to support more of your back. very adjustable , lighter than the ccf across your back. You've got a couple of buckles and some webbing to fix your pack etc. if needed. And with 3-4 of them and a couple of good saplings you have the perfect setup to carry someone out. Wt. an oz or 2?
I'll make one
Solitude501
12-11-2014, 19:06
#1 Helinox ground chair
#2 Alite Monarch Butterfly
Worth the weight to carry for me, way better than a pad and log/rock. Also, feels better to be off the ground.
I have to laugh (and, i suppose, share the laugh) when equipment makers with stuff weighing over 1 pound feel compelled to list weight in grams. no criticism here, just a shared chuckle.
The Alite Monarch Butterfly is an interesting chair, with only two points of contact with the ground. It is easy to balance forward and back, but I have fallen off of it sideways a couple of times when one of the feet sunk into the forest floor. It was not wet. I weigh less than 150 lbs. It should be stable on solid and/or frozen ground. It is nice to be up off the ground.
Dochartaigh
12-11-2014, 22:24
The butterfly is 1lb 6 oz though. The Helinox Ground Chair (with 4 points of contact with the ground, with cross members in-between even so it shouldn't sink into soft ground) is 1 lb 1.6 oz...so if you're going to carry an actual chair with you I would much rather have the Helinox.
rocketsocks
12-12-2014, 00:21
http://www.helinox.com.au/ground-chair-ultralight-portable-chair.php
I was at EMS the other night and saw one of these chairs and took it for a test run....Sweet! and light too. I just may have to pull the pin on one a dees...well it's on my wish list anyway, well worth the pound and a half and darn comfortable too.
I was at EMS the other night and saw one of these chairs and took it for a test run....Sweet! and light too. I just may have to pull the pin on one a dees...well it's on my wish list anyway, well worth the pound and a half and darn comfortable too.
I was so tired after a 20 plus mile day, ate my food and relaxed on terra firma posted up on a Oak tree...
rocketsocks
12-12-2014, 01:00
I was so tired after a 20 plus mile day, ate my food and relaxed on terra firma posted up on a Oak tree...
yup, gotta a little Rip Van Winkle in me too. nuttin' like a good stump after a long day.
yup, gotta a little Rip Van Winkle in me too. nuttin' like a good stump after a long day.
Did post on no 'stump', but probly 100+ year old oak...
Geneva Jenn
12-20-2014, 14:02
Thanks for all of the help. Researching these options and what works best. On much of the trail the fire pit is intentionally in a clear area without trees to lean up on. I want to be able to sit and drink at the fire and roast my marshmallows (very lightweight treat that is great at the end of a long days hike!).