Trekology Yizi-Lite Backpacking Camp Chair Assessment

Backside Line

The Trekology Yizi-Lite is without doubt one of the extra snug backpacking chairs we examined – and one of many least expensive. That’s why it made our listing of the finest backpacking chairs.

This chair sits low to the bottom, letting us stretch out our legs after a taxing day on the path. We additionally recognize the deep seat with excessive again assist, which was snug and supportive sufficient for our tester with a nasty again. 

As an entry-level camp chair, the Trekology Yizi-Lite lags behind most backpacking chairs we examined in weight and packability. Even so, it’s an inexpensive possibility for backpackers who received’t pay a premium for ultralight efficiency. It additionally scored fairly properly in different metrics, which is a plus at this worth level. Total, you most likely get just a little greater than what you pay for with this funds backpacking chair.

How We Examined

Gear analyst Jory Brass examined this Trekology chair over a two-month interval at a collection of New Mexico backcountry campsites. We in contrast its consolation alongside different chairs in frontcountry campsites. Moreover, we weighed, measured, hauled it into the wilderness, and timed how lengthy it took to assemble, disassemble, and repack. To gauge its stability, we set the chair on delicate and uneven surfaces – and even roughed it as much as see if it wobbled or fell aside beneath our weight.

Consolation

The Trekology Yizi-Lite isn’t an costly chair, however we discovered it extra snug than a number of of the premium backpacking chairs we examined. 

We significantly appreciated the deep scoop seat. It’s roomy sufficient to accommodate broad shoulders and massive booties, and the backrest hits increased than most fashions we examined. Our gear tester has a nasty again, and he appreciated this chair’s again assist in camp. We didn’t discover pinch factors or corners digging into our backs, due to the seat’s beneficiant dimensions. 

The chair’s brief top, nonetheless, could possibly be a optimistic or damaging for consolation. Trekology lists this chair’s top as 9.8 inches; nonetheless, we measured half that a lot house between our butts and the bottom. With a seating place so low to the bottom, the Yizi-Lite felt extra like a floor chair than a typical backpacking chair. 

On one hand, this just-off-the-ground design makes it simpler to increase your legs in camp. However, it’s more durable to get out and in of a floor chair. Our tester loved leaning again on this chair whereas stretching his legs out in entrance of him to present them a much-needed relaxation after an enormous day on the path. Nonetheless, different backpackers could want sitting increased off the bottom. 

For those who’re going to lug an additional pound or two into the backcountry, you need it to be price it. The Yizi-Lite didn’t come up brief within the consolation and assist metric. Nonetheless, it’s finest to contemplate it a floor chair, which could not be for everybody.

Weight & Packability

Funds backpacking gear virtually all the time weighs greater than premium gear, and that’s the case with the Trekology Yizi-Lite.

In contrast to many camp chairs out there on Amazon, it weighs lower than 2 kilos – CleverHiker’s cutoff for a “backpacking” chair (versus a tenting chair). Nonetheless, at 1 lb 10.4 ounces, the Yizi-Lite ranks close to the underside of the chairs in our gear information. The packed dimension can be borderline, due to the added bulk of the chair’s outsized plastic hubs and chunky aluminum pole segments. It’s taller and barely thicker than a Nalgene bottle in its stuff sack—a decent match for many backpacks’ expandable facet pockets. Like most backpacking chairs, the Yizi most closely fits strapped outdoors your pack. 

Weight and packability are anticipated downsides for Trekology’s budget-friendly worth. Nonetheless, that is probably the most packable backpacking chair we’ve discovered at this worth level. Realistically, you’ll must pay 2-3 instances as a lot to purchase a backpacking chair that’s a half-pound lighter and a bit simpler to pack. 

Stability

Stability wasn’t a energy for the Yizi-Lite tenting chair. Due to its design and weight, it shocked us,  but it surely wasn’t a dealbreaker, both.

At first look, this seems to be like a brilliant steady backpacking chair. The Trekology chair is heavy, sits low to the bottom, and options thicker elements than most backpacking chairs we examined. Nonetheless, we had been shocked when it teetered facet to facet after we examined it on delicate, sloping floor at a campsite within the Sandia Mountains.

Why did the Yizi-Lite chair wobble on uneven floor as we reached for our espresso and camp range? For starters, the chair’s middle pole runs front-to-back, not side-to-side like most backpacking chairs. Plus, its brief legs type a narrower base that’s solely 11 inches extensive. These options restrict its lateral stability regardless of the Yizi-Lite’s low middle of gravity. This may occasionally additionally contribute to this chair’s decrease weight capability of 220 kilos.

We belief this chair’s stability on strong floor, and we felt assured when shifting our weight ahead and backward. Nonetheless, the Trekology Yizi-Lite’s side-to-side stability fell just a little brief, particularly after we positioned it on a delicate mattress of pine needles. With common stability, this chair works finest at stage campsites, based mostly on our first-hand testing expertise.

Ease of Use

There’s nothing tough about utilizing the Trekology Yizi-Lite. It’s a typical camp chair – with tent-style aluminum poles related by shock twine. Preliminary meeting took us lower than a minute. Repacking the chair took us just a little longer as a result of the chair’s plastic hubs are chunkier than most. Nonetheless, the stuff sack has loads of room to accommodate the chair’s cumbersome hubs and poles as soon as we corralled them and wrapped them within the seat material.

As talked about above, this chair units up higher on strong, stage floor. Clearly, we all the time desire a flat campsite. Nonetheless, that’s just a little extra vital with the Trekology chair than with different backpacking chairs. Plus, the chair sits low to the bottom, which makes it harder to decrease your self into the chair and get again up – particularly once you’re stiff from an enormous day of climbing. Nonetheless, these are small inconveniences, not large issues. 

Ought to You Purchase the Trekology Yizi-Lite Tenting Chair?

For those who’re in search of a funds camp chair that’s barely gentle and packable sufficient for backpacking, the Trekology Yizi-Lite is our prime choose. It’s additionally a good selection for campers and backpackers preferring a floor chair to stretch out their legs at camp. 

For those who’d slightly not sit so near the bottom, you’ll discover different backpacking chairs on our listing extra snug and simpler to make use of. Plus, you received’t confuse this funds purchase with a premium backpacking chair, given its weight and the standard of its supplies. Total, although, that is a median backpacking chair with a worth that’s properly beneath common. It’s a strong worth. 

What Different Backpacking Chairs Ought to You Contemplate?

For those who’re in search of one thing totally different, you’ll most likely discover it in our full information to the finest backpacking chairs, together with these choices: 

REI Flexlite Air Chair Assessment: This REI chair prices twice as a lot, but it surely’s nonetheless an important worth for backpackers with its one-pound weight, smaller packed dimension, and extra typical, off-the-ground seating place. 

Helinox Floor Chair Assessment: For a premium backpacking chair that sits low to the bottom, the Helinox Floor Chair is an improve over the Yizi-Lite, due to its decrease weight, higher packability, and superior stability.  

Moon Lence Transportable Chair Assessment: For those who care much less about weight, packed dimension, and sturdiness, the Moon Lence chair is cheaper and extra snug than the Trekology Yizi-Lite – however its 2 lb+ weight isn’t nice for backpacking.