Best Ultralight Backpacking Chairs

We curated a selection of the best ultralight backpacking chairs that are all incredibly versatile, easy to use, compact, and suitable for the trail or the campsite.

The list includes products from the most renowned outdoor brands. All of them are collapsible, meaning they need minimal assembly. Some of them are very expensive but have excellent warranty conditions.

The weight is not the only important parameter you must consider when carrying stuff in the pack. So all these chairs are also incredibly compact, which you’ll find out from the descriptions below.

Our List Of Ultra-Lightweight Backpack Portable Chairs

Each of the chairs in the list has something that sets it apart from its competitors, as we point out in the descriptions. This can be one feature or a combination of a few of them.

1. Helinox Chair Zero

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 25″ x 18.5″ x 20″
• Folded Dimensions (L x W x D): 13.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″
• Weight: 1.1 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 265 lbs

First on our list of the best ultralight backpacking chairs is one of the best-known chairs, and it is hard to find anything lighter. It weighs only 1 lb 1 oz (490 g) when assembled. The official capacity of this chair is 265 lb (120 kg).

Its packed size is equally impressive, which is 13.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches (35 x 10 x 10 cm). So this means that the packed volume is only 2.74 liters. This is almost the same as in the Big Agnes Skyline chair.

Lightest Option

Pros:

• Incredibly light
• Very easy to use
• Nice carry bag
• Great warranty conditions

Cons:

• Feels unstable

Available from:

AMAZON

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The chair is collapsible and needs simple assembly. But the frame is shock-corded, so all the elements are permanently interconnected, and they easily fit in each other. When required, you can have the structure ready in seconds and then attach the seat on the ends of the poles.

The dimensions are (H x W x D) 25 x 18.5 x 20 inches (64 x 48 x 52 cm). But what makes this chair stand out is its incredible 5-year warranty.

Check out this video:

2. Trekology Ultralight Camping Chair Yizi Lite

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 21.2″ x 21.7″ x 21.7″
• Folded Dimensions (L x W x D): 12.6″ x 5.9″
• Weight: 1.65 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 200 lbs

This chair weighs only 1.65 lb (750 g) and is also very compact, as shown in the picture. The packed size is only (L x D) 12.6 x 5.9 inches (32 x 15 cm). There are two elements, a shock-corded frame and the fabric that attaches to it.

The frame is an aero-grade 7075 aluminum alloy, the fabric is a polyester combined with a breathable nylon mesh, and the feet have plastic caps.

Best Pack Size

Pros:

• The best pack size
• It’s a great price
• It’s not too heavy

Cons:

• Poor weight capacity

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The feature that you would not expect in such a light and compact chair is a side pocket for small items. The chair comes with a carry bag.

The price is simply incredible. The official capacity is 200 lb (91 kg), and the overall dimensions (L x W x H) are 21.2 x 21.7 x 21.7 inches (54 x 55 x 55 cm). Note that the seat height is 9.8 inches (25 cm).

Check out this video to learn more:

3. Big Agnes Skyline Ultralight Backpacking Chair

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 26″ x 21″ x 17.5″
• Folded Dimensions (L x W x D): 17″ x 3.5″
• Weight: 1.11 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 275 lbs

The third installment on our list of the best ultralight backpacking chairs is the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair from a new series from Big Agnes that includes a Stool version.

With a weight of only 1 lb 11 oz (765 g), this is an ultralight backpacking and backpack-portable chair. This is even more so when you realize that its official packed size is only (L x D) 17 x 3.5 inches (43 x 9 cm). So its volume, when packed, is around 2.73 liters. For this reason, it is also included in our list of best compact camping chairs.

Best Height

Pros:

• Great carry bag
• It’s ultralight
• Its got a good height

Cons:

• The price
• The feet are narrow

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The official capacity is excellent, it weighs 275 lb (125 kg), and the overall dimensions, when unfolded, are (H x W x D) 26 x 21 x 17.5 inches (66 x 53 x 44 cm). Note also that the seat is 15 inches (38 cm) high.

This is a collapsible chair with a shock-corded aluminum frame plus a piece of seat fabric that you easily attach to the frame. The material is an ultralight 70D Robic ripstop nylon with a waterproof UTS coating. There are no plastic hubs; this detail differentiates it from some of its competitors.

You can find out more in the video below:

4. NEMO Moonlite Reclining Chair

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 20″ x 20″ x 26″
• Folded Dimensions (L x W x D): 14″ x 4″ x 4″
• Weight: 1.14 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

As the name of this chair suggests, the feature that sets it apart is its unique and original patent-pending reclining system. You have continuous multi-position adjustability within a certain range; straps on the sides allow this.

Like all the other chairs from NEMO, it needs a simple assembly, which means just attaching the fabric to its shock-corded frame. You also have a unique ball and socket connection point where the seat attaches to the backrest pole.

Most Comfortable

Pros:

• Brillant warranty
• The reclining design is great
• It’s not too heavy
• Packs down well

Cons:

• The price is steep
• The chair legs aren’t tent safe

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The fabric is 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, and it is bluesign-approved. The tubes in the frame are premium forged and hardened 6061 series aluminum.

The packed size is impressive, 14 x 4 x 4 inches (35 x 10 x 10 cm), and the weight is 1 lb 14 oz (850 g). The capacity is excellent at 300 lb (136 kg). The dimensions are 20 x 20 x 26 inches (52 x 51 x 65 cm), and the seat height is 15 inches (38 cm). You have the NEMO Lifetime Warranty.

There’s more information in this video:

5. Alps Mountaineering Axis Chair

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 24″ x 22.5″ x 21″ 
• Folded Dimensions (L x W x D): 16″ x 6″ x 3″
• Weight: 1.14 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 250 lbs

Last up on our list of best ultralight backpacking chairs is this selection from the Alps brand. First, this chair’s weight and packed size make you realize how ultralight and ultra-compact it is. The weight is 1 lb 14 oz (850 g), and the packed size is impressive at 16 x 6 x 3 inches (41 x 15 x 8 cm).

The fabric combines a 420D honeycomb ripstop polyester and a nylon mesh for ventilation. It attaches to the frame, and pull loops in the top corners make the process easy. It comes with a nice carry bag that can be attached to the front under the seat, so you can use it as a storage pouch to keep your stuff off the ground.

Top Pick

Pros:

• Excellent weight
• Great packed size
• Tent safe legs

Cons:

• It’s hard to get out of

Available from:

AMAZON

If you click this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The frame is a hubbed aluminum, and the best feature of this chair that sets it apart is the legs design. As you can see in the picture, you have those bars on the ground, so the chair will not sink, no matter where you use it. This means the legs are safe to use also in a tent.

Note that the seat is relatively low; you have 6 inches (15 cm) on the back and 8 inches (20 cm) on the front. The overall dimensions are (L x W x H) 24 x 22.5 x 21 in (61 x 57 x 53 cm), and the official weight capacity is 250 lb (113 kg).

Final Thoughts

When we picked our selection of the best ultralight backpacking chairs, we looked at two things:

• The frame
• The fabric

There are differences in the capacity, but not so much that it will be an issue. Perhaps more significant differences are the weight and packed size, so focus on this when choosing a chair.

As mentioned above, all of them come with something unique. Extra features may add weight; you can see this when you check the Nemo chair with its unique reclining design. But perhaps this feature is not so important to you; focus on the more important features.