Ultralight Camp Chair - 1.7 lbs of Pure Pleasure

This BSA Ultralight Camp Chair is Going to Jamboree!

The Lafuma next to the BSA chair.

Update (4/18/2017):  Scoutstuff.com  now offers a 2017 Jamboree Version. Rated at 300 lbs. I cannot say how it compares, but it looks like the original versions we love so much. It is slightly heavier at 2.25 lbs and more pricey than the 2014 version at $75.99.  Here is the link

2017 Jamboree® Travel Chair—Red

Item: 636658
We took our original chairs to the 2013 Jamboree and they were the single best piece of gear we had for the duration.

Big Agnes / Helinox have really expanded their chair line from the ultralight to larger car-camping versions and even a rocker. Do check out Big Agnes / Helinox at this link. 

Update (3/31/2014):  The Chair is back at Scoutstuff.com.  We have no idea how long it has been there, but it was there today. Here is the description.

"BSA® Backpacking Chair

Item: 618758

Availability: In Stock

$49.99

This BSA-exclusive, top-quality design combines affordability with strength and durability. The sturdy frame-with 250-lb. weight capacity-is made from anodized aluminum tubing with reinforced aluminum alloy joint hubs for added stability. Seat, back, and arms are made of 600D PVC with mesh inserts. Lightweight and portable, chair folds up quick and easy, and weighs just 1.9 lbs. Black. Imported."

These were the greatest comfort at the National Jamboree and has been on most of our camps and trips since! 

Update (5/6/2013):  We took the BSA UL chairs to the NE4VOA Summit in PA and toted and used these chairs in a number of instances.  We can assure you that these chairs are worth it!..

Our review of the LaFuma Micro Popup Chair from REI last July is our second most popular blog post.  We still like those chairs, but two new chairs from the Boy scouts of America are now here in our house and part of @scoutingcouple's favorite gear.  We first saw them in the jamboree catalog and you can see them at scoutstuff.org where they currently sell for  

Even holds a Jamboree
Scoutmaster comfortably!

$59.99.  We showed these at our Jamboree Troop and Crew meetings and there were a lot of promises to run out and buy them.  The fit in a duffel or a backpack and while 1.9 lbs packed is heavy by ultralight standards, it is so worth it to have a back and a comfy spot when you stop moving.

Turns out that Kimberly's National Jamboree crew (F610) will be camping about 2 miles from my Troop (B326) at Jamboree and it will be great knowing that when we meet in her camp or mine or at Summit Center or a ton of other places we can "sit a spell" in the beauty of those WV hills and watch the action of scouts and venturers having fun. (Or we might just find a quite spot in them their woods and sit and visit in solitude. Wondering if it is possible to visit in solitude when 40,000 youth as so near... ).

carrying case in the seat

As the ad in scoutstuff.or says this is "The ultimate camp chair!" It features "the same aluminum pole technology used by DAC in their trekking poles and tent poles, this camp chair is light, strong, and comfortable. With a carrying bag and breathable mesh backing, this chair is one to always keep on hand in your pack or gear bin."  While they list the weight as 2 lbs, I pulled out the backpacking scale and packed the chair is 1 lb 14.2oz and without carrying case it is 1 lb 11.2 oz.  Seriously ultralight - 1.88 lbs packed and 1.7 unpacked.

If fits sideways in my day pack,
yes completely inside.
I have it sticking out for scale.
It is a 40L REI Lookout Day Pack

We will be testing these out at the NE Region Area 4 Venturing Summit and will let you know how they worked out, especially in and out of our day packs and how they fit with all the other items we may want to carry daily at the Jamboree.  I can already tell you that setup and take down is a snap.  I even handed our two packed chairs to two scouts that had never seen them and asked them to set them up and they did so pretty quickly.  then didn't want to get out of them.  There is no way to set it up incorrectly since the pole structure is ONE PIECE where every link is shock-corded.  The joints seem very heavy and strong plastic.  The "feet" seem on tight and secure. I did worry when some of the scout leaned back in them, but while I was worried the chairs seemed to take it.

The BSA chair is 13.5" off the floor
compared to the Lafuma's 8.5"

Sitting in the chair is very comfortable, at first it doesn't seem firm and then you realize it is flexing giving you a feeling that is moves a bit with you almost like a bit of rocking.  Not sure I am explaining that well, but the flex moves from worrisome to comfy very fast.  The other night I sat in it for an extended time during a meeting (when I could get one of my assistant scoutmasters out of it). I love the Lafuma Micro Popup Chair, but this one wins hands down for me for two reasons.  First is its smaller size (14" packed vs, 29" folded) and lighter weight (1.9 lbs. packed vs. 2.5 lbs folded).  Second, the seat height of 13.5 inches vs. the Lafuma's 8.5 for me makes all the difference in how gracefully one can get up out of the chair.  One of my 6'5" friends agreed, the seat height really helps.  If the Lafuma gets better points, it has to be in the feet.  If the ground is mushy, I think the rounded feet of the Lafuma will hold better than the sharp points of the legs on the Lafuma. 

Specifications from ScoutStuff:

The BSA UL chair in its bag.

Best Use: Backpacking Chair
Frame Type: DAC Aluminum Pole Technology
Pack Weight: 2 lbs / 900g (actually 1.88 lbs packed 1.7 unpacked)
Pack Size: 14" H x 4" W x 5" D / 35 × 10 × 12 cm
Assembled Dimensions: 26" H x 21" W x 20" D / 65 × 52 × 50 cm
Seat Measurements: 13.5"/ 34 cm from ground; 13.5"/ 34 cm deep
Load Capacity: 300 lb/ 136kg

Here is a puzzle, the BSA chair looks exactly like the Big Agnus Helinox, but the specifications seem to be a bit different, for example the BSA chair is rated for 300 lbs, the Big Agnes at 350 lbs.  I have included a link to the BigAgnus Helinox so you can see for yourself.  Also, my favorite store REI carries a REI branded Flex Lite Chair that looks just like the BSA chair, but is rated for 250 lbs.  It lists 1 lb 12 oz weight which is consistent with ours.  I think a road trip to REI is in order to try theirs out.  The REI and Big Agnus Helinox are both more expensive than the BSA chair.  Good job BSA!The advantage of spending more is you can get them in their offered colors.  For example here is the red one at our store.

Steve and Kimberly Myers

Our 100 Liter Duffel Bag by REI and the Osprey Transporter BSA Jamboree Edition

Update:  May 23, 2013 I actually packed the bag with all I want to take and it is HUGE (see here).

Republished and upgraded (from July 2012):  For those that asked to see our 100L duffel bags.  Here is the link to REI Cargo Adventure Duffel. (That link is no longer at REI, here is a close substitute at REI)  It is huge and also convenient. Best parts: large expandable side pockets and the backpack straps zippered away on the bottom. Somewhat awkward to carry on your back, but so much easier than lugging it at your side. Highly recommended for car camping and regular travel.  We took these to the Summit Shakedown since they require one duffel and one day pack for each participant.  Additional great feature is our Lafuma chairs (see our review)fit inside since they are only 29" long.  The National Jamboree will provide a duffel to all participants.

Update:  While the REI is our personal duffel, the National Jamboree will provide one made by Osprey (see a picture of the 115L duffel here).

From blog.scoutingmagazine.org, Photos by W. Garth Dowling/BSA

Second Update: On February 7, 2013 Byran at Scouting Mag posted a link to the actual Osprey Transporter BSA 115 liter duffel. And here it is ... (size corrected -- see response from Bryan below)

From the blog: "The bag measures 27 by 18 by 12 inches (length, width, and depth). The capacity is 5,797 cubic inches, or 95 liters. There are three compartments: the main pocket, one at the top that also holds the backpack straps, and another on the flap of the main pocket."  [Response from   Bryan February 7, 2013 @ 9:15 am
Good news — I measured wrong! Bigger is better, and these are definitely 115-liter bags. Thanks for pointing that out, Steve.]  Yeah!  [But Chris on the same site posts a link to something that looks the same.  (Osprey Transport 95).  So time will tell.

We will have more comments when ours arrive. The first comment is our 29" chairs will no longer fit inside.  I know leaders can take a chair to the Jamboree now, so that is not a real problem, but a disappointment all the same. Still two more packs to hang in the closet with care. 

S&K Troop B326 and Crew F610

Lafuma Micro Popup chair

Super comfy Lafuma Micro Popup chair

Worth every dollar.  This little chair fits in the duffel and on the side of a day pack  and is ultimately comfortable.

 2013 Update:  Still love the lafuma chairs, but there is a new winner for our pack backs.   See our new blog entry on the BSA UL chair.

2012 Update:  Having these at the 2012 Summit Shakedown @bechtelsummit made a world of difference. Light enough at 2.5 pounds to carry strapped to the day pack or to a meeting where standing or hard chairs are available.  We got tons of complements and "where did you get those" questions.  The answer is at REI.com, however we have a direct link to Amazon which sells them as well.  (Steve has decided that if it ever breaks he is ordering another that very moment.) They seem very strong and sturdy.  The chair is surprisingly easy to get up from compared to the pad type on-the-ground chairs.  Putting boots on and changing socks from this chair is a breeze.

See more pictures after the jump including an update.