REI Flexlite Air Stool Evaluate

Backside Line

Weighing lower than 12 ounces, the REI Flexlite Air Stool is a light-weight, low-maintenance camp seat that’s extra accessible and packable than a full-fledged backpacking chair. Over the previous few months, we’ve packed it alongside sit pads and backpacking chairs to match its execs and cons as we arrange campsites all through the New Mexico Wilderness.  

In case your largest campsite concern is again assist, you possibly can cease studying. When you’re in search of a helpful seat that will get you off the bottom, keep on with us. The REI Flexlite Air Stool is lighter than an ultralight backpacking chair, packs down small, and units up shortly when it’s time to have a tendency your cookstove, filter water beside a stream, or cease for a snack on the saddle. 

Whereas we’re not bought on stools for prolonged sits, we are able to get behind this REI stool for brief breaks and camp chores. We additionally desire the Flexlite Air Stool to the common REI Flexlite Stool as a result of the Air is lighter, extra packable, and has the next weight restrict. That’s why it’s the only real camp stool that made the minimize for our information to the very best backpacking chairs.

How We Examined

We rank backpacking chairs for consolation, packability, stability, and ease of use. Our evaluate of the REI stool relies on our experiences with it on in a single day backpacking journeys, discipline exams, side-by-side comparisons, and notes from different CleverHiker gear analysts.

Consolation

A stool simply can’t compete with a chair for consolation, however in comparison with sitting on the bottom, it’s fairly the advance. The REI Flexlite Air Stool is greatest for brief sits, situations the place you’re getting up and down, and campsite chores (particularly group tenting dish pits). 

With a 17.5-inch seat peak, the Flexlite Air Stool helps a taller seating place than any of the backpacking chairs we examined. That’s a possible consolation plus, particularly in case you’ve had hassle getting out and in of a basic backpacking chair. We discovered the upper, upright seating place tremendous for cooking, filtering water, inflating our sleeping pad, and different camp chores. 

Total, this stool ranks beneath common for consolation. The small, triangular seat didn’t do a lot for us. Guys, particularly, might discover it troublesome to straddle the seat’s raised corners with out crushing issues that shouldn’t be crushed. Clearly, the largest consolation limitation is the shortage of a backrest. When you’ve bought good posture, you would possibly discover it comfy sitting up straight on prime of the REI Flexlite Air Stool. Nevertheless, CleverHiker Gear Analyst Jory Brass has a foul again, so he’d by no means select a stool over a backpacking chair.

Consolation isn’t this stool’s robust swimsuit. Nevertheless, it ranks a lot increased for weight and packability.

Weight & Packability

The largest win for the REI Flexlite Air Stool is that it saves a number of ounces over a real backpacking chair. At 11.5 ounces, this stool is about 5 ounces lighter than the ultralight choices in our lineup. It’s additionally 6.5 ounces lighter than the OG REI Stool. When you worth weight financial savings over consolation, think about this stool as a potential various to a backpacking chair, even an ultralight one. 

This weight financial savings additionally carries over to packability. The stool’s packed dimension is noticeably narrower than the backpacking chairs we examined. We discovered it a lot simpler to stuff the REI Flexlite Air Stool into the facet pockets of our backpack than most chairs we examined.

Stability

Stability is just not a powerful swimsuit of the REI Flexlite Air Stool. With a slim base, tall peak, and fewer legs beneath us, we wobble fairly simply when perched on prime of the stool. Our tester even fell off the Flexlite Air, though it was arrange on stable, even floor. The tripod-style body doesn’t encourage a lot confidence, and the upper heart of gravity doesn’t assist issues, both. 

On the plus facet, the Flexlite Air Stool has a regular weight capability of 250 kilos. Simply keep in mind, you’ll get some wiggling in case you select a 3-legged stool over a 4-legged chair. We ranked it close to the underside for stability in contrast with the opposite choices we examined for backpackers.

Ease of Use

The Flexlite Air Stool is a no brainer to arrange, however you possibly can’t completely flip off your mind to maintain your stability whereas sitting in it. You merely must twist it and set it on the bottom to make use of. Nevertheless, the Flexlite Air was additionally fairly simple. 

Our preliminary setup took solely 20 seconds, and re-packing it was additionally simple, because of the smaller elements and a beneficiant stuff sack. These stools are constructed to arrange and tear down shortly. That’s why we like them for trailside breaks, lunch stops, and camp chores.

The REI Flexlite Air Stool is sensible for some backpacking makes use of and never for others. When you’re a backpacker in search of a light-weight and packable seat that you could whip out shortly for breaks and chores, this camp stool matches the invoice. Given the peak of its seat, the Flexlite additionally is sensible for taller backpackers and people with mobility points. 

Nevertheless, if you’re on the hunt for extra consolation, stability, or again assist, this not your chair.  Lastly, the common REI Flexlite Stool is the extra budget-friendly possibility. Nonetheless, we desire the REI Flexlite Air as a result of it’s lighter, extra packable, and extra acceptable for backpackers over 200 kilos.

What Different Backpacking Chairs Ought to You Think about?

When you’re not feeling the REI Flexlite Air Stool, be at liberty to browse our full information to the greatest backpacking chairs or try these choices:

(Common) REI Flexlite Stool: The unique REI Flexlite stool is heavier and bulkier than the Flexlite Air Stool, nevertheless it additionally prices half as a lot. 

REI Flexlite Air Chair Evaluate: When you’re not bought on the stool, the REI Flexlite Air Chair gives extra consolation and stability whereas staying light-weight and reasonably priced. 

Therm-a-Relaxation Z-Seat Evaluate: For a featherweight and cheap camp seat, try Therm-a-Relaxation’s Z-Seat sit pad – a favourite for ultralighters.