I bought those smallest of chairs from Walmart, in the camping section. They’re around $25. At the fancy camping stores that style of chairs are crazy expensive, like around $150.
I have had a similar problem with the Helinox styled chair, and also found that they sink into softer turf very easily. Solving the size/comfort paradox is a challenge! At 5'6 and 153, the issues can't be attributed to user mass. Right now, I will keep watching surveys like yours. The Bauer chair does look like a possibility. Thanks again for making clear, succinct episodes.
Hi Mame - I didn't even get into the sinking into the soil aspect of the various chairs! my bad ! It is an issue with the smaller chairs . And I want to thank you for your gentle turn of phrase - I am glad it is not just user mass that contributed to the chair failure :-) I'll keep you posted on how the Bauer chairs work out this summer.
@@averysmallcampervanwondering how tall you are and what's your weight for reference? Am pretty bulky at 165lbs and 5'3 so I wonder I should get Eddie Bauer or not
Comfort is key for me. I would go with a regular chair even if it took a little more space. Those low ones looked like they'd kill my back getting up and down. You need a comfy bed to sleep and a good chair to sit. Then you can handle everything else. 😃
Thanks for this review! Concise and informative as always. For longer trips I am using 2 full height flat-folding chairs, carried on a bike-rack. The comfort justifies the carrying arrangement, in my mind. For shorter trips, though, a low small chair works, and gets stored on the bed.
I’m also about your size. I purchased a marchway light camping chair couple years ago on amazon. It has high back and very comfortable. Very light weight. You put it together but pretty easy when you are used to it. I love it
We've been looking at getting some new camping chairs too for our microcamper and it's not easy to find something that fits in such a small space. We've been using low-to-the-ground beach chairs that we purchased from REI about 20 years ago, and they are quite comfortable, but we were hoping to find something that fits a bit better in the camper (right now we always struggle to get them to fit into the space we've allocated for them). But we have similar concerns to you with the super compact chairs - they don't seem very durable or comfortable for sitting around the campfire. Your recommendation on the new Nature Hike chairs seems interesting though - thanks for sharing!
Thanks you two! It is a concern for smaller campers, especially in your case with the Honda pilot! It seems that with just a bit of tweaking those ultra lite campchairs could be a bit more comfortable...
I travel in a 2012 Ford Transit Connect, so space is a premium. But even given that, I much prefer using a folding metal chair. Have tried a number of chairs similar to the ones you’re showing, but found they’re usually not as comfortable when I’m sitting, or as durable. I can leave my steel chair out in the sun and not worry about the sun destroying it.
Hi Jonathan, when you say a metal folding chair do you mean like the ones you would find in an office or school? That is an interesting idea: they fold pretty flat, so should be reasonable to store and pretty much unbreakable.
@@averysmallcampervan Yes, exactly. A little more weight, but a lot more sturdy. I find by strapping it on top of a couple of military duffel bags I use to store my clothes and winter gear, it stays put and doesn’t rattle around. I’m an amateur astronomer, and carry two small telescopes and accessories with me. For use when I’m viewing with the scopes, I also travel with a hydraulic drummers stool. So I actually have two seats with me.
@Jonathan Hansen oh that is so cool! And especially important to have a good seat it you are star gazing. The closest I come to that is that I have a red flashlight for walking at night to I down mess up my night vision, to better see all the stars that are invisible in the city.
I have the same exact chair as the striped blue and white chair, but mine is pink. I fit in it great and it has a cup holder for my ice tea. It's the only chair I found to be most comfortable for me.
Your assessment is very thorough but for one thing-- someone with orthopaedic problems such as knees, are gonna find much difficulty with anything so low.
Hi Beth, yes, such a low chair is not for everyone, but in my case it will help with mobility since it will force me to get down and up for there. It is part of my campervan yoga - the other part involves putting long pants on while inside the van.
@@averysmallcampervan u are one incredible lady, u have got to know that. And by the way, your family is one lucky FAM to have u ,and they've got to know that. Thankyou for the reply.
Pico chairs are to best for folding up small and they are sturdy directors chairs, but at a bit over $100 a piece, they are out of many people's budgets.
These ones? www.gcioutdoor.com/directors-chairs/pico-arm-chair-telescoping-directors-chair/ They are the same brand as my folding table which has held up great and is super compact too. Similar telescoping leg system. They look good and are not that much more expensive than some other choices. Thanks for the tip dawn!
@@averysmallcampervan Yes. I was with some friends at a classic car event and they had 2 of those chairs. They liked then because they fold to briefcase size and they could store them easily out of sight in their show car. I like them because I am a bigger girl and the seats don't sag down like the umbrella chairs, which results in the edge of the seat digging into the back of my legs. I got mine from QVC.
I have the large one with bag, and still chose that one over the other for it's comfort. Yes tbey're pretty big and long. But the comfort is just to nice to change it to the smaller one . I bought 2 of those new naturhike for my daughters to save place in my van tho.
I use Strong Back, low gravity chair (on Amazon). It is low, but quite beefy with a lumbar support…..I have a bad back, so this chair is the only chair I can tolerate. I’d love a smaller one, but my so far nothing is as comfortable as this chair.
for me, i don't care about back support while camping. i just got a bamboo bench with folding legs. 2 chairs in one. and we can snuggle. but i do throw it in the skybox. with the screen tent. so not really very "very small camper van"-ish. although my van is a nissan nv200 which iiis a very small camper van.
Interesting! Most of the time a stool or bench would do the job but I do sometimes want to relax and then I want a back rest. And yes, a roof box solves a lot of problems! Thanks for the feedback Stephen!
We have the large style in the bags and my 2000+lb hubby has a hard time getting out of them, too slouchy for us and im 100lb with clothes on. Lol. I tend to just stay in the van. :/
That's what we will see this summer - I am of two minds - one is I will need a taller chair cause it is too hard to sit down and get up from such a low chair - or - I SHOULD be able to get up from a low chair, so this will be a good exercise! I'll let you know how long it takes for me to crack!
I'm using one called "Lake and Trail Low Profile Hard Arm Mesh Event Chair," which I bought at Meijer and which has apparently disappeared from the internet. This is the closest I found: www.target.com/p/kijaro-dual-lock-low-profile-hard-arm-chair-hallett-peak-gray/-/A-80418729 Mine is shorter than that one, but a bit taller than the Eddie Bauer one, and the arm shape makes it easier to get up out of it, even though it's pretty low (which is nice for lounging). I store it vertically in a little gap behind the passenger seat between my bed and the side door. I'd also been looking for the perfect comfortable minivan chair, but figuring out a place to store it vertically made it easier for me.
Hmmm... vertical storage is a good idea. I can think of a spot by the doors which might work - if the eddie bauer chair is too low. Thanks so much for the feedback, it is soooo helpful!
@@averysmallcampervan I secure mine with a strip of velcro through the grab handle near the door, but I don't use the door on that side, so that makes it a bit easier to use that space for dedicated vertical storage for the chair and a dirty clothes bag. Thanks for all your ideas from prior videos!
