Big Agnes  Skyline UL Chair

Although I did not purchase this chair from REI, I would like to review it because I find it an indispensable item of my backpacking/camping kit. This is by far the best camping/backpacking chair of this type because of its price, build and comfort level. The seat is at the highest above ground height (15”), while slightly lighter but more expensive competitors also have a shorter seat height (11”), which I find uncomfortable because I can’t sit with my back straight up. I have been using the BA chair for about a year now almost every weekend and I find it to be sturdy, well built and certainly backpackable. If I had to I would not hesitate to buy this chair again.

Purchased the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair along with 4 other lightweight chairs. Chose the Skyline as it appeared to be better built (no plastic hub), had higher weigh capacity and sits about 2 inches higher off the ground. Thought the few extra ounces were going to be worth it. However took it to Philmont Scout Ranch and on Day 2 of the trek one of the curved arms cracked at the hub. Was not leaning back and was very careful when I was sitting. I used Tenacious Tape, some zip ties and 2 tent stakes for a field repair that did last the rest of the 12-day trek. Two others had the REI Flexlite Camp Chair that costs 60% less and they had no mechanical issues during the trip. Save a few bucks and go with the REI chair.

Waited forever for them to restock and so happy to have it. Best chair ever. Comfy easy setup and looks cool to boot. It’s so compact, I’ll take it everywhere!

Ive tried the chair zero and chair one by hellinox plus the REI flexlight all on trail. The chair zero and flexlight are lighter than the big Agnes with the chair one being a bit heavier. In my opinion that is the only plus side to the two lighter chairs. Construction. None come close to the big Agnes. No plastic bits just quality materials. Stability. with a wide base this chair is very stable. The only one that comes close is the chair one. Both the flexlight and chair zero are very tippy and if your in soft dirt you will be finding yourself on the ground often. Comfort. I’m 6’ 175lbs. Neither the flexlight or chair zero are comfortable to me. To close to the ground. The chair zero is an exaggerated stool. Not really capable of relaxing in. The flexlight is so reclined and tippy that you can never really trust it. The chair one is comfortable but the big Agnes is tall and with a deep wide seat. It has a very slight recline which makes it ideal for cooking and relaxing at camp. All of these chairs are around $100. When compared to the quality construction of the big Agnes it makes the others seem pretty overpriced. All in all, if your backpacking And want a nice chair to relax at camp and recover, this chair is well worth the extra ounces.

I bought this chair because I was having social distancing meet-ups with friends and wanted a portable chair to sit in the driveway or a parking lot vs sitting on the ground. I decided to opt for a chair that I could also take camping with me whenever that happens again. I wasn't able to see it in person before purchasing, but when I stopped by REI for curbside pick up, I was VERY surprised by how compact and lightweight it was. It was super easy to put together and the highlighter yellow would be perfect for the woods/outdoors--easy to spot. Many of the reviews I read before purchasing spoke to how light it was which is great for backpacking and I can attest to how NOT heavy it is. I wouldn't think twice before packing it into a daypack or even a larger backpacking trip.

As with every other product that I’ve purchased from Big Agnes, this chair is excellent. For an UL backpacking chair it beats any that I’ve tried, including the Chair Zero, for comfort and ease of ingress/egress. It’s light enough to justify the extra weight on an extended, multi day hike. It sits high enough of the ground to feel like an actual chair rather some silly glorified stool that you have to roll out of. Worth every ounce and penny!

I’ve taken this chair with me half a dozen times now when camping and backpacking with my scout troop. It’s so light I barely even know I have it but when it’s time to sit down and rest I’m glad I do. It’s very sturdy and I’ve had no issues siting on a variety of terrains. I’m 6’3 and 230 lbs and I’ve never felt like it wouldn’t easily hold me (it’s rated at 275). It’s extremely comfortable and Is highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light chair they they will love.

I knew this chair was heavier than the helinox, but having a higher seat height and slightly wider chair is well worth the extra ounces in my opinion. If you have the extra space (it’s about 5 inches longer than the chair zero when packed) and want to sit more than 11 inches off the ground id highly recommend going with this chair.

Unpacked this chair and I was amazed. The metal pole pieces are shock-corded and “keyed.” Poles are heavy-duty aircraft-grade aluminum with steel cores at the joints. Super stout! The fabric seat is bulletproof. The first test sit was an A-Ha! moment. The “fore-and-aft” legs are incredibly stable; much better than the competing side-side designs. Great value! This one is a keeper!

These old bones don’t want to be on the ground after a hike day. This chair gives me the comfort I need to relax by the fire. Very easy to assemble and travels well in my pack. Seems pretty durable.