Camp Chair Mulling

[PharmGeek]

mimi, I have not tried the sams club variety, but its possible they are comfortable and a good buy.

Many zero gravity chairs are out there, but many for me were disappointing in some way.

Quality of some components around the key structure is often held up by plastic bits that will likely break with routine use in 2-4 years and often some are already broken in the store (although to be fair, they probably take some real abuse in that setting).

Also, many (not all) are especially heavy...not that any of them are "light" but some certainly are lighter than others.

Size is another problem and this varies perhaps person to person....for me I am just over 6 foot and many of the chair I could not just stretch my legs out in and be comfortable, as my ankles were hanging on the end of the footrest...or bow up my lets a bit, and that proves less comfortable.

The exact ergonomics of each one as far as size and shape varies a bit and so your results may vary. I thought the cheap target one I bought (then returned) was quite comfortable, had what appeared to me a fairly solid construction, was quite heavy, was pretty comfortable, but was too short for me.

Many of the types I sat in at camping world were either obviously cheap really (despite 80-120 dollar price tags) or not quite the right fit for me.

I think if you find a zero gravity chair that fits you nicely, whatever the brand, you could take a nap in them...I have dozed off in mine at least and at a backyard party over the weekend someone passed out in mine.

I ended up getting the lafuma variety, the XL size future clipper...so far we love them...they are pricey at 160-180 bucks a piece though.

They do make ones with padded mattresses instead of the mesh type, but I heard wanted the mesh for easier to dry off after a rain, etc...the padded ones also are like 50 more bucks....

I think the lafuma's are over-priced, but after trying several, they worked for me...the target variety if they offered an XL variety I probably would have bought those...but man, the lafumas are like 10 lbs lighter as I recall.

bottom line, one needs to really sit in a chair for more than 15-20 min and see if you like them...I brought home several, sat in living room, watched a movie, and see how it went....I bought my lafuma's from backcountry.com and they gave me 10% off and said they would accept them back if I was not pleased in any way....most retailers will let you return them..so give a bunch of them a shot and see what works for you.

Good luck.

[DHart]

Originally Posted by Jim Flower

DHart,
I think that you already have the perfect camp chair. 6'1" & 185 lbs is an enviable condition that may be partly due to the inability to "hang out in for hours on end" in your current camp chair. Har har. Jim


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Thanks, Jim... fortunately I've been able to keep this same size and shape for my entire adult life... and I'm 65 now. Yikes. That's OLD.

The kind of reclining camp chairs that I am looking for would have good padding (since my padding isn't all that thick!).

Many of the reclining/zero gravity camp chairs on the market are not too bad... except most have no padding, except perhaps behind the head.

I would love to find a nicely padded recliner that, while more on the heavy side, is still relatively portable and foldable. To me THAT would be an awesome camp recliner that one may be able to relax in for hours on end.

I haven't found one yet. The thought occurred to me to create one, but I'm past the point in life where I would want to take that on. There is a great opportunity there, though, I believe.

[Jim Flower]

I don't think there is a better source anywhere for a discussion on the choosing of a camp chair thanks to PharmGeek. Over 400 entries with a variety of opinions. Start at the beginning or just read Pharm'a last entry and surely you will find something that works for you. Gotta love these forums. Jim


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[PharmGeek]

Thanks Jim.

Lafuma again makes a padded variety indeed - worth a gander

Good luck!

Also - I recall in this thread one I liked was sold at camping world that was a reclining chair with a lot of padding and an extendable footrest - it was very comfy - a bit unwieldy but doable perhaps


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[mimiandrews]

Thanks PharmGeek. We don't need one often enough to justify a high price. Unfortunately, our Sam's has failed to set up a demonstrator, so I can't even sit on one at the store.

[Tincampers]

We bought the Walmart version of the Zero Gravity chairs and for me, I have the same feelings about them as PharmGeek. Being a tall person, my legs hang off the end of the foot part which is uncomfortable. They are also heavy and cumbersome to move around and also they take up a lot of storage space. But, they are very comfortable and we will continue to use these until they fall apart. I recently bought some side tables for them from Amazon. I think I paid about $12 each. They slide onto the legs and will fit most any A frame type chair. Here's some pictures:

[Royce]

I have a Lafuma that is very comfortable, and most likely the best made of that style. It was expensive and I have had to repair it twice, in 15 years, broken plastic parts. Parts were available and Lafuma dealer supplied at no cost. I have tried many of the other folding chairs on the market and had mixed results over the last 40 years of buying camp chairs. Never owned a ZipDee but have had a set of knock off ZipDee's that were decent. After 20+ years of occacional use they have finally all been replaced. My only complaint of that style was the bar at the front of the seat was a little uncomfortable on my legs.

I have finally found the camp chair to end all camp chairs, no plastic parts and everything on it is replaceable either from my stock of wood and metal or from the manufacturer. It is easy to setup, packs very small, American made, and is Comfortable!!!

The chair:
Kermit Chair Company | The Original Touring Chair

http://www.sitemason.com/files/djrMT...7.jpg/main.jpg

[danjoe91]

The top-of-the-line chair as far as quality would have to be the Zip-Dee chair. We have two chairs that match our original Zip Dee awning exactly, and they are built to last! When you fold the chairs, they feel quality all the way, and have wooden arms, not plastic. They do cost more than most, but the value is in how long you will get to have them.

[AWCHIEF]

Zip Dee chairs may be quality built but they are uncomfortable as far as my back is concerned. Ergonomics has come a long way and it seems that ZD had not kept up.

[m.hony]

The point of this post is to identify the comfortable chairs. Some comfortable chairs have been identified, but I have never sat in one personally. I guess I'm easy to please or don't want to spend any money or store/haul anything else. I am satisfied sitting at a picnic table bench or in my Zip Dee chairs.


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[PharmGeek]

M.hony - good point

There is no free lunch - buying and packing them is a cost (space, weight, effort).

If what works for you is all you want then that's awesome.



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[AWCHIEF]

I carry two chairs with me. One was a free fold up from a local casino and the other is a gravity chair I got from Bed,Bath and Beyond about 7 years ago. The only other chair I have considered is the Coleman Comfort Chair. Passing a Coleman Outlet store on the way home tomorrow. Going to stop and see if they have any in stock.

[PharmGeek]

I'll be interested in your report


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[AWCHIEF]

Will do, hopefully they will have them in stock.

[PharmGeek]

I am short I think just one chair - I want it to fit in the long outer front compartment - someone like that or strongback or eureka I think will


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[DHart]

Investment in time reading this entire thread has been made.

Many thanks to Pharma and everyone else who contributed.

We have a pair of recliners that came from Camping World a couple of years ago. They're ok, but I have to rest my feet on the end bar, or if not, then the end bar cuts into my ankles. Like you, Pharma, I'm between 6'0 and 6'1". With the next set of recliners, I don't want to deal with that.

All in all, I think I will give first shot at the Lafuma Clipper Mesh in XL as you did. It sounds like a good choice. The padded version appeals as well. My wife and I are so spoiled by the luxurious swivel, rocking, heavily padded recliners that we have in our motorhome that some allowance needs to be made for the lightweight portable models. But that's ok. At this point in our lives, seated comfort while camping is one of the most important pleasures.

[PharmGeek]

I think the padded Laguna IF you can get in XL will please you

But if not in XL then the future clipper mesh I think is a nice one as well

I was told by a high school friend that she bought a big XL style gravity chair from Amazon that her very tall husband loves - I'll try and post it in here as well


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[m.hony]

Elery,
My wife was looking at a post on Facebook about "Would you take your RV to Key West?" She was reading aloud, and I answered, "Yes, most definitely- when we retire- it's on my bucket list."
She began reading the comments aloud. "I wonder if towing my Airstream would be a white knuckle experience". I was looking over her shoulder and saw the comment was by Elery Curtis. I said, "You know who that is? That's PharmGeek."


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[PharmGeek]

Hahaha - yup - small world


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[PharmGeek]

Some additions:

At bass pro shops Destin today while wifey naps

This small chair is interesting - comfortable - folds up pretty small - but I think this is a "get what you pay for" - many moving parts rivets - plastic - but for the price and comfort it's nice actually




But this zg recliner was actually very comfortable - still a tad short for my height (a recurrent small problem with most of these chairs) - it had a different smooth and strong lock mechanism - did not just seem like friction control - something g like a cog wheel or something g in it - it had minor padding - very comfy






Worth a serious look at a bit lower price point especially considering padding...


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