Backpacking Chairs vs Sit Pads

A packable chair weighs about 2lb. A foam sit pad weighs about 2oz. That is a thirty-to-one ratio for a comfort item, which makes this one of the more contested weight decisions in backpacking.

1. 1

   What the chair actually gives you

   Back support and getting off the ground. After a long day, sitting upright against a backrest rather than slumping on a log is a genuine recovery difference that people with back trouble notice immediately. It also keeps you out of mud and insects.

2. 2

   What the sit pad gives you

   Insulation and dryness for 2oz. You still slump, you still need something to lean against, and you are still on the ground. But you are dry, off cold rock, and carrying essentially nothing. It also doubles as a pack frame pad, a kneeling pad, and a supplement under your sleeping pad's hips.

3. 3

   How long your evenings are

   This is the deciding variable. A trip where you arrive at 6pm and sit around until 9pm makes a chair look reasonable. A trip where you arrive at 8pm, eat, and sleep makes it two pounds of dead weight.

4. 4

   Consider back conditions honestly

   For hikers with back problems, an evening of slumping undoes some of the day's recovery. If sitting upright is a medical need rather than a preference, the weight calculus changes and the chair is worth carrying.

5. 5

   The middle option

   A lightweight chair kit that converts a foam sleeping pad into a backed seat weighs roughly 8-11oz — between the two extremes. It uses gear you already carry and gives real back support without a dedicated 2lb chair.

   Choosing a camp chairIf you decide the chair is worth it

   Read Guide →

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