REI Co-op  Flexlite Chair

I normally love REI branded gear but this chair is a huge disappointment. I have used it 3x, most recently last weekend on a camping trip. One of the seams that holds the support pole, ripped out completely rendering the chair useless. I would also like to add, I am relatively small, 5’7” and weigh 150 lbs so the weight isn’t the issue. I visited my local REI store and was told because it is over the 1 year warranty there is nothing they will do to fix it. I’ve conveniently had the chair for 13 months, just over the year warranty. Moving forward, I will likely give my business to brands like Patagonia that stand behind their products and would gladly fix something like this.

I’m 180lbs guy, I don’t why the seat panel broken like that. Poor quality and I’m very disappointed

I recently purchased this as a second chair. I got one several years ago, as well. I didn't notice right off that the design had changed. The lower support post runs front to back on the new chairs. It runs side to side on my old one. The change makes for a fairly unstable chair. Easily tipped to the side while sitting. It happened! Otherwise, it's a great, compact, comfortable chair. I'm keeping the old one but I returned the new on. I'll keep watching for a return to the old design.

Absolutely great backpacking chair. I'm over 200 pounds and not exactly young anymore, but love to backpack and primitive camp. I needed a chair that wouldn't add too much weight to my backpack and sturdy enough to hold me--this fits the bill. I suppose I could just sit on the ground, a rock, or a log, but I will gladly trade the extra 2 pounds in my pack for a little comfort. It is very comfortable and easy to get in and out of, but it will tip you over if you just plop down (trust me I know). My only complaint is the feet on the chair are narrow so the chair will dig in if the ground is soft. A broader foot pad on each leg would definitely help.

This chair is great for a wide variety of purposes. It's lightweight and the mesh allows for great airflow. It's easy to assemble although sometimes take a bit of wrestling to get the slots seated on the poles. I've carried this on overnight backpacking trips only when the trip is not very long. Although it is lightweight it would still be too heavy for long backpacking trips. I just recently bought a second chair for my husband. We've used these at golf tournaments, concerts, sporting events, etc. It easily fits in my REI Flash 18 with room too spare. It's a little pricey but not when compared to the alternatives for this type of chair.

It appears they made a design change, but the reviews here apply to both designs. It's easy to check. If your chair looks like the picture above and the main frame bar goes back to front, this is the newer style. This is also the very poor one. The chair is not stable in any form unless you remain motionless after getting into it. I tested it on hardwood floor and carpet and still had trouble. The front bars that hold up the seat fabric move a lot and the center bar isn't stable. The older model had the main frame bar go from left to right. All video reviews online seem to use this style. This one seems stable. Don't buy this product unless you get the left/right bar.

Absolutely love this chair! We pretty much only do remote camping (either backpacking or canoe camping), and one of the hardest parts about remote camping is having a comfortable place to sit when everything we use has to be carried in. So we decided to spurge (both on cost and weight) and get something to make our trips more enjoyable. Seriously — I could sit in this chair all day. Nothing like sitting along the lake with a cup of coffee and listening to the waves crash on shore. Love it!

Knew I needed a small chair to take along on paddling trips. This chair is way more than you'd expect. Its super strong and comfortable. supported me and the lady on my lap at one point as well and held up on a muddy gravel surface. My buddy's all poked fun for bringing a chair along when they saw me pull this thing out, until they all took it for a spin. Pretty sure I got REI a few more sales. Super light, and compact. low enough to the ground that you don't need a cup holder. Also if you're a campfire guitar player, this chair is ideal, no armrests to get in the way. Can even lean back for a quick nap. I've done all the above and I'd definitely recommend this chair. Taro leaf (Green) Justin Clary

I bought this chair 15 months ago and have used it for about 2 weeks of camping before the top seams tore out (see photo). It was my favorite chair. I weigh about 225 lbs, well below the weight rating of 250 lbs. I did not "plop" on the chair, I was always very careful when sitting in it because I was afraid the frame would fail. I am pretty ticked off that it broke right after REI's 1 year return policy time limit expired. Hard to use a chair like this enough in one year to see how durable it is. Great product if you are lighter in weight, but right now I am not a happy customer.

We're of an age when sitting on the ground and then getting up again takes up more time than assembling and dissembling this chair. We toss it into our kayak hatches -- compact and light -- when we do day trips or multi-day trips. Unlike other similar low-chairs, one can stand up without help. (Those with aging limbs and muscles, should check this before purchase at store.) If in sand or mud (both likely when kayaking), find bark or flat rocks to put under the legs. Test it for balance before plumping down on the chair in those conditions. It is light and easy to carry for other outdoor events.