ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Tenting Chair Assessment

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The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong is our prime decide on our finest tenting chairs information. It checks each field we search for in a high quality tenting chair, and it’s been Senior Content material Editor Ian Krammer’s go-to for years. He’s used this mannequin for tenting, roadtrips, festivals, barbecues, festivals, and past.

The King Kong is a beast of a worth with premium options at a superb worth. It has an industry-leading 800-pound weight restrict and excellent sturdiness due to a powder-coated metal body and bolstered joints. Thick quilted polyester material isn’t solely cushioned, however insulated, so it’s an excellent alternative on chilly nights. The broad seat and again work for each physique form and measurement, and adjustable armrests give it a custom-made really feel. Measuring 19 inches tall, the King Kong is comfy for entering into and out of and it comes with 3 giant, helpful pockets and two cupholders. 

Nonetheless, very similar to King Kong himself, this chair is heavy and hulking. We discover it’s a little bit of a chore to jam right into a full trunk or a small gear room. The carrying case is awkward to make use of, and never our favourite for carrying. We discover the dearth of mesh and thick material make it really feel heat on scorching, humid summer time days, and the cupholders are too slender for large containers. However, this mannequin nonetheless takes our prime spot. For a really affordable worth, the King Kong is comfortable, sensible, and straightforward to make use of.

Consolation

The King Kong is comfy to lounge in for hours at a time. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer loves the quilted polyester seat – it’s cushioned and insulated, good for cooler summer time nights and shoulder seasons. It’s additionally the chair we attain for to dam the wind and keep only a bit hotter across the fireplace. We discover the seat is pretty agency and doesn’t sag over time, and has loads of lumbar and again help, however it’s soft sufficient for hours of lounging at camp. The armrests modify up and down for a customizable expertise irrespective of how tall or quick you’re.

The King Kong is aptly named – it’s so giant that it really works for each physique kind. The seat measures 2+ ft broad and a pair of+ ft deep and 19-inches tall, making it comfy for most individuals to sit down and rise up. This enormous measurement additionally means plenty of lounging choices – Ian typically sits cross-legged, slouched, and sideways.

However, the King Kong isn’t probably the most breathable chair. Within the Utah desert the place nights had been nonetheless above 60°F, Ian felt heat and clammy. In comparison with tenting chairs with mesh backs and thinner supplies, it doesn’t supply a lot airflow or cooling impact once you’re already overheated. That stated, breathability is a minor problem – the King Kong is among the comfiest chairs we’ve examined.

Sturdiness

In terms of sturdiness, the King Kong leads the pack. Ian’s put this chair by way of the wringer from tough Utah desert automobile tenting journeys, to live shows within the park, to 9+ months in his yard. To this point, our nonstop testing finds the King Kong continues to carry out aesthetically and functionally in addition to the day we bought it.

With a jaw-dropping 800-pound weight capability, this chair can deal with the hardest situations. ALPS Mountaineering makes use of corrosion-resistant powder-coated metal for the body, and bolstered joints supply long-term energy. We discover the polyester material is stain and abrasion-resistant, and powerful stitching retains materials from separating or breaking down. The King Kong’s elements are additionally constructed to final, together with bolstered cupholders, broad plastic ft, and powerful pockets.

However all this energy makes the King Kong heavier and bulkier than most. It’s much less transportable than lighter chairs, which may make it a activity to hold for longer distances. Additionally, the quilted material doesn’t have a UV Therapy, though we’ve solely observed minimal fading up to now.

Additionally, the King Kong’s soft material dries very slowly after moist climate. Ian left this chair exterior throughout rainstorms and dewy nights and it soaked all through. The thicker material took between 3 and 4 hours to dry. If there’s rain within the forecast, contemplate stashing the chair in your automobile or tent vestibule earlier than it will get moist.

Portability

For those who’re searching for a conveyable chair, the King Kong might miss the mark. At 13 kilos and three+ ft lengthy, it’s one of many heavier and bulkier choices we’ve examined, and it’s a bit difficult to maneuver into tight areas. For those who’re restricted on trunk and cupboard space, the King Kong is a bit awkward.Additionally, the King Kong can really feel like overkill on shorter and extra informal outings the place a smaller, lighter chair is perhaps a greater decide. 

The opposite draw back relating to portability? It’s carrying case. The bag is sturdy, however its slender opening at one finish makes packing the chair a little bit of a wrestle. We recognize the case has two nylon straps for carrying like a backpack. This freed our fingers to hold different issues. However, it’s uncomfortable with out padding on the straps, so we don’t suggest carrying it too lengthy. 

Ease of Use

The King Kong is a traditional one-step tenting chair design that’s person–pleasant and quick to deploy. It unfolds in ten seconds, with a sturdy body that locks into place for a secure, comfortable sitdown. The adjustable armrests are simple to fine-tune and it’s broad design accommodates all types of sitting positions. We additionally like that the King Kong is straightforward to get into and out of, principally due to its tall seat top.

For those who’re the sort of camper who doesn’t like getting up, the King Kong has all of the pockets you could possibly want. There’s one enormous pocket on every armrest large enough for a pill, telephone, and snacks. There’s a large, shallow mesh pocket on the again of the chair, behind the top, for storing bulkier objects like gloves, a hat, or perhaps a jacket. Two cupholders match most mugs and bottles. This mannequin has all of the storage we want for a number of hours across the fireplace.

However, it’s not good. The armrest cup holders are common, however not large enough for giant bottles or mugs like a Nalgene. Additionally, the storage pockets are handy, however they might use a divider to maintain smaller objects from shifting round. Nonetheless, these aren’t dealbreakers – relating to a user-friendly chair, the King Kong is hard to beat.

Ought to You Purchase The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Tenting Chair?

The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong is a superb alternative if you need a sturdy, comfortable, and powerful tenting chair. With an 800-pound weight restrict, tall top, and broad, quilted polyester seat, it’s tremendous sturdy and accommodates all physique sorts. The adjustable armrests and thick, insulated material are comfortable for hours of lounging. Automobile campers, hunters, and fishers will love the a number of storage pockets. The King Kong’s powder-coated metal body and bolstered joints make it dependable for years of tough use in any situations. This mannequin is close to the highest of our tenting chairs record as a result of it punches approach above its class in most metrics – with out the excessive price ticket.

Nonetheless, the King Kong isn’t probably the most light-weight or transportable. It’s a bit cumbersome to hold over distances, and is commonly overkill for shorter journeys. It takes up a significant quantity of trunk and cupboard space, too. The quilted material isn’t very breathable and may really feel heat in scorching climate, so it’s not the perfect for sunny, sweaty summer time outings. Moreover, the armrest cup holders, gained’t suit your massive espresso cups or water bottles. Nonetheless, although, this chair is one in every of our favorites for each tenting journey – and we’re assured you’ll really feel the identical.

What Different Tenting Chairs Ought to You Think about?

Did the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong catch your eye? See how this chair compares to our different prime picks on our record of the perfect tenting chairs. And don’t overlook these wonderful options:

YETI Trailhead Assessment: The YETI Trailhead can also be tremendous sturdy and boasts a really excessive weight restrict. It’s a extra breathable, premium choice that’s not solely comfier, but additionally a lot simpler to hold. The draw back is it’s heavier, bulkier, and much more costly.

Kijaro Twin Lock Assessment: The Kijaro Twin Lock shares the King Kong’s tall seat top, user-friendly setup, and really affordable worth level. It’s additionally lighter and extra supportive, though not as sturdy or comfy.

REI Skyward Assessment: The REI Skyward is a lighter, extra conventional tenting chair, however it’s equally inexpensive and straightforward to arrange. Whenever you want a easy, inexpensive choice with out the load or bulk, this one is an efficient alternative.