REI Westward Padded Folding Chair Assessment

Backside Line

Mixing model, sturdiness, and luxury into its design, the REI Westward Padded Folding Chair is a reduce above your common garden chair and is hard sufficient to go from yard to backcountry. Boasting a thick layer of cushioning, it’s probably the most snug chairs we’ve sat in and shortly turned a favourite when testing it within the excessive desert and alpine environs of Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, California. 

The draw back to the Westward is its weight and bulkiness, which require some Tetris expertise when you’re packing it into a totally loaded automotive. Even when folded, it retains a wider profile and rectangular form, making it considerably trickier to suit into smaller areas. Constructed-in backpack straps are a considerate component that make the Westward extra transportable and considerably simpler to hold, however it’s nonetheless not the perfect possibility for lengthy treks. Nevertheless, for adventures nearer to house — or nearer to the automotive — it’s an extremely stress-free seat that not solely appears to be like good, however is constructed to face up to the numerous circumstances of the outside.

Consolation

Consolation is the defining function of the REI Co-op Westward Padded Folding Chair, and, as its identify suggests, the padding offers it the additional edge. In contrast to most tenting chairs — the place the chair’s physique typically encompasses a skinny layer of material — the Westward fashions its design after the basic garden chair, enabling it to include a thick layer of cushion on each the backrest and seat. The cushion is plush, however can also be supportive, because of the chair’s sturdy aluminum body. 

This chair turned our go-to seize for sluggish evenings sitting outdoors, studying a e-book, as a result of it was so snug to take a seat in for hours at a time. The one draw back to the ample padding on the Westward is its restricted breathability. The openness of the chair’s design permits unobstructed airflow, however the seat itself can get scorching as a result of the backrest and seat haven’t any gaps or vents. 

Except for cushioning, the Westward’s consolation stems from its proportions and construct. The peak of the chair and the place of the armrests are dialed into the perfect spots for max consolation. With each ft on the bottom, our legs rested at a snug bend, not feeling too scrunched as they did in different lower-seated tenting chairs. 

One other good thing about the Westward’s garden chair design is the spaciousness afforded to the seat. A big rectangle, the seat provides loads of wiggle room, making it sensible for a variety of physique varieties and sizes. For individuals who begin to really feel stressed sitting in the identical place for too lengthy, the seat’s roominess permits a variety of seating configurations. We had been in a position to sit with one leg tucked beneath us, each ft on the bottom, and cross-legged. The largest downside of the Westward is its weight capability, which faucets out at 250 kilos, and is among the many lowest among the many different chairs examined. 

The Westward might not recline, however its roominess and beneficiant cushioning make it probably the most snug tenting chairs we’ve used. Its considerate design prioritizes a relaxed seated expertise — the proper solution to unwind on the finish of a day of outside adventures.

Sturdiness

Though its garden chair-inspired design suggests it’s better-suited for milder use, the REI Co-op Westward Padded Folding Chair’s development and supplies are well-made and durable, making it a chair constructed to final. 

The load capability of the Westward tops out at 250 kilos, which is pretty low in comparison with different chairs. Although this will likely recommend a decrease potential to face up to rougher use. In testing, we repeatedly dropped our full weight onto the chair to see the way it dealt with sudden stress and skilled no points. Whereas we don’t advocate slamming your self into the seat each time you sit down, the Westward’s aluminum body and built-in crossbars are designed to deal with extra intensive use.  

The Westward folds open utilizing hinges and pivoting joints. We discovered the expertise of folding and unfolding the chair easy, as a result of easy motion of those mechanisms. Over time, these pivot factors might develop into gunky and transfer much less seamlessly; nonetheless, we anticipate the {hardware} being simply handled with lubrication. 

The weakest facet of the chair is the cupholder, which is connected through a single screw on a plastic swivel. The design of the cupholder itself is powerful, however its single attachment level is extra inclined to breakage or injury if jostled an excessive amount of or hit the flawed approach. 

Padding is among the most essential facets of the Westward’s design. Not simply snug, the cushion is made with recycled polyester that’s abrasion-resistant and water-repellent, making certain you should use the chair outdoors in all circumstances with out impacting its longevity. With its intentional selection of supplies, the Westward is a chair meant to deal with a life outside.

Portability

Although it’s not the heaviest chair we examined, the REI Co-op Westward Padded Folding Chair positively doesn’t match into the ultralight class. Weighing about 8.5 kilos, it’s not excellent to hold over lengthy distances, and its total design limits its versatility. The additional cushioning and durable body elevate the chair’s consolation and sturdiness, however diminish its portability. 

When not in use, the chair folds right into a rectangle. Folding slims the chair’s profile for storage, however it retains some bulk and isn’t as compact as chairs that totally collapse and may be shoved right into a carry pouch. Sustaining this rectangular form makes it tougher to pack the chair into a totally loaded automotive, and its dimension successfully guidelines it out for stowage in a pack or bag. 

To fight the potential discomfort of carrying the Westward higher distances, the chair has built-in shoulder straps that permit it to be carried in your again. Their adjustability allows them to be dialed to the proper place for whoever is carrying the chair, making it a lot simpler to carry the Westward additional down the path. 

In the event you’re already carrying one thing in your again, the chair additionally has a sewn-in high deal with for hauling it in hand. It may not be the chair to take in your subsequent backpacking journey, however the straps and high deal with are a useful counterbalance to the chair’s bulk and weight. Its dimension and weight constrain its portability in each transport and storage, however when your vacation spot is nearer to the automotive, the consolation of the Westward is definitely worth the haul.

Ease of Use

With its folding design, establishing the REI Co-op Westward Padded Folding Chair to be used is basically foolproof — merely slide it open, and also you’re prepared to take a seat. In contrast to some chairs with seats decrease to the bottom, it wasn’t a problem to take a seat down and stand up out of this chair. It sits at a snug peak, and the durability of the seat and armrests make it simple for individuals with a variety of mobility to each ease themself into the chair and push themselves again up. 

We did discover it tougher to make use of the Westward on tough terrain. As a substitute of particular person ft at every nook, the Westward’s design options crossbars in the back and front of the chair. The crossbars double as braces and bolster the chair’s structural integrity, however the nubs molded into the corners of every bar don’t have sufficient size to dig into uneven surfaces to assist stage out the chair. It’s a lot simpler to take a seat the Westward on flatter floor, the place the crossbars gained’t pressure the chair to take a seat unsteadily. 

The Westward prioritizes consolation, and we might have appreciated a storage pocket or pouch included into the design to stash free gadgets or snacks for max comfort and rest. The chair doesn’t supply many additional options, however it does come outfitted with a single cupholder. It pivots out from beneath the chair, handily tucking away when not in use. We had been pleasantly stunned that our 32-ounce Hydroflask water bottle match within the cupholder, which is often too massive for many cupholders.

The plastic body and burly mesh physique of the cupholder had been additionally sturdy sufficient to deal with this heavier container. The one draw back is its place. Having the cupholder mounted beneath the seat of the chair felt a bit low and fewer intuitive than chairs with armrest cupholders.

Ought to You Purchase The REI Westward Padded Folding Chair?

Envisioning lengthy evenings across the campfire or lounging with associates at yard barbecue hangs? Then the REI Westward Padded Folding Chair could be your excellent choose. Thickly cushioned on each the again and seat, it’s snug to take a seat in for hours at a time. Considerate design options — like its spacious cupholder, backpack straps for simpler carrying, and its one-step setup — add practicality to the chair, past it being only a stress-free seat.  

In the event you’re looking for a chair to carry deeper into the backcountry or have to hold your gear on foot, the Westward may not be the best choice. Its heavier weight and bulkier design make it higher suited to automotive tenting and lighter adventures. Its rectangular form makes it more durable to pack for transport if you’ve obtained a totally loaded car, however when consolation is the precedence, and also you want a soothing spot to take a seat, the Westward is actually a best choice.

What Different Tenting Chairs Ought to You Contemplate?

Head over to our information to the information to the very best tenting chairs to learn the way the REI Co-op Westward Padded Folding Chair compares to our different suggestions. And contemplate a few of our different faves: 

YETI Trailhead Assessment: Just like the Westward, the Trailhead prioritizes consolation as probably the most luxurious chairs we’ve examined. With an ethereal mesh seat, it’s extra breathable than the Westward throughout hotter climate and provides even higher sturdiness and stability. At over twice the worth of the Westward, the Trailhead gained’t match into everybody’s finances, however its lasting design means you gained’t want to consider shopping for one other chair for years. 

ALPS Mountaineering King Kong Assessment: Just like the Westward, the King Kong encompasses a thicker cushioned seat that’s snug to take a seat on and offers insulation on cooler nights. With a burly metal body and strengthened joints, it’s constructed to final. The King Kong is a number of kilos heavier than the Westward and a bit cumbersome, however considerably cheaper, making it a greater finances possibility with out sacrificing sturdiness. 

Helinox Chair One Excessive Again (re) Assessment: For these wanting a snug chair, however searching for one thing lighter weight and extra transportable than the Westward, the Helinox Chair One threads the needle between rest and ultralight. Weighing a number of kilos lower than the Westward and packed right into a compact pouch for transit, the Helinox is effortlessly transportable. However don’t be deceived by its gentle weight; its high-backed design makes for a snug place to take a seat after a protracted day on the path.