Backcountry Hunting Chair

[Ironman8]

Who actually uses one up in the mountains? If you do, is it used for camp only or does it come out to glassing spots with you?

Trying to decide if the weight is worth it or if a cc foam pad would be more practical?

 

[Timberghost]

I have been contemplating a kifaru field chair. About 10 oz and looks super comfy. For 60 bucks it might be worth it.

 

[Brent1321]

I have the Kifaru Field Chair. Think it is more than 10oz., will have to check. Really works well, very comfortable, but I usually leave it at home when I start packing, never makes the cut. Just put mine on the scale, 12.8oz.

Brent

 

[tttoadman]

I have a tri fold chair that weighs 23.5 oz. I have packed it a few times, but that is just too much. I have recently picked up an insulated inflatable butt pad that weighs something like 5oz.

 

[Timberghost]

Well even at 12.8 oz that's about he lightest option I have found.
Want to sell yours? Lol.

 

[charvey9]

I've never taken anything on a long hunt, and never would want to carry around the extra weight. However, last year during the late deer archery season snow had pushed the deer out of my normal spot and I found myself doing a lot of slip hunting for the last week. Walking around, looking for sign and then setting up for 30-60 minutes at a time. Everything is wet and raining by mid November so I took along a 2" thick foam pad I bought at Dicks just to throw down on the ground for something to sit on. I also use it when I go out coyote hunting.

 

[OR Archer]

I carry an old light weight foam pad. Serves the purpose. Great for around camp or sitting around glassing.

 

[Slim Jim]

I use the short thermarest zfoam sleeping pad. Multiple uses- sitting while glassing, laid out for mid day nap and I put it under my blow up sleeping pad at night for extra r rating/comfort. It's also good backup just in case my blow up goes flat. Nothing worse than sleeping against the earth.

 

[16Bore]

^^^
Z-rest is a good way to fly. Less bulky than the roll ups, and can be folded in half to put your ass about 4" off the ground. Nice for being perched on rocks too.

 

[KMD]

I have been contemplating a kifaru field chair. About 10 oz and looks super comfy. For 60 bucks it might be worth it.

I picked up a Kifaru field chair to bring along in the backcountry last fall. Seemd like a good alternative to a full-on chair at the time. I went ahead and treated the underside of the nylon 'seat' with Rustoleum 'Never Wet' spray, to keep moisture from seeping through to my butt. That did work well!
The collapsable legs, however...suck. I could hardly lean any of my weight into the chair before the legs collapsed. Maybe I got a dud? Honestly, forgot to ask about sending it back after getting home, so thanks for the reminder!

 

[bbrown]

I recently picked up the Alite Mayfly chair - weighs is right at 22 ozs, packs down fairly small and is pretty damn comfy. I doubt I will bring it on any real extended back country hunting trips but it was nice this spring on a couple quick trips looking for turkeys. It will be real nice on summer scouting and fishing trips.
http://www.amazon.com/Alite-Designs...8&qid=1400163927&sr=8-1&keywords=mayfly+chair

 

[fillthefreezer]

I recently picked up the Alite Mayfly chair - weighs is right at 22 ozs, packs down fairly small and is pretty damn comfy. I doubt I will bring it on any real extended back country hunting trips but it was nice this spring on a couple quick trips looking for turkeys. It will be real nice on summer scouting and fishing trips.
http://www.amazon.com/Alite-Designs...8&qid=1400163927&sr=8-1&keywords=mayfly+chair

no cup holder?! deal breaker for me...

 

[jimriver]

I use a cheap trifold chair and have packed it with me on every hunt. I use it for hunting and around spike camp. It weighs 26.8 oz and my total pack weight is 46.18 lbs for a 9 day back packing trip. The chair is heavy but to me it is worth it.

 

[Lawnboi]

I have a field chair and the verdict is still out on it. Not sure how much I really like it.

Ii butchered a z lite pad though, I almost always carry 4 sections or so. Helps keep your ass dry as well as works as a nice umbrella.

 

[Ironman8]

Say the weight is light enough to justify bringing along, have you guys that broght a chair found that it was difficult finding a relatively flat spot it set it up to glass from? This Oct will be my first mountain hunt in Idaho and I highly doubt what works here in TX will work the same in ID.

 

[Browtine]

I picked up a Kifaru field chair to bring along in the backcountry last fall. The collapsable legs, however...suck. I could hardly lean any of my weight into the chair before the legs collapsed. Maybe I got a dud? Honestly, forgot to ask about sending it back after getting home, so thanks for the reminder!

Did they change the design? I have a couple of them that are about 5-6 years old and they both have the aluminum legs with holes that a spring loaded button snaps into at various heights. They are pretty much bombproof.

They also make a great bipod for shooting prone.

That being said, mine does not make the cut anymore on backcountry hunts where weight is a concern.

 

[Becca]

Luke and I are big fans of the thermarest trekker chair sleeves. They turn a short prolite pad into a chair with back support. Besides glassing, we use them sitting around in our shelters, or outside in the evenings when the weather is nice. We take the chair sleeves and short pads along with us whence leave for the day, and the set up can double as a bivy pad; into he event we have an unexpected night away from our tent, we each had a pad to sleep on, and insulate our torsos from the ground which really helps you keep warm at night.







Here is the chair sleeve: http://www.rei.com/product/829895/therm-a-rest-trekker-chair-kit#specsTab

Here is a link to the pads, we use short but they can accommodate longer pads as well:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___40057

At 9.5oz for the sleeve and 8 oz for the pad it's 17.5 oz of worth it for having a chair with a backrest that can double as a bivy pad!

 

[Timberghost]

Any of you guys that aren't using the field chair want to sell one? Let me know. Thanks, rob

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

I recently bought a small REI brand inflatable pad that weighs 4 oz and packs very small. I think it'll work for camp, glassing and whatever, it seems pretty durable. I'll post back after this weekend: I'll be using it for a bear hunt

 

[Lawnboi]

Any of you guys that aren't using the field chair want to sell one? Let me know. Thanks, rob

Sorry but I'm going to keep mine for a little longer. It's real nice sometimes.

Whatever you do, if you get one. Do not get it in highlander. Iv lost mine a couple times and it's not easy to find.