Folding chairs for river raft trips or car camping comfort

[okieboater]

Many moons ago, my search for a durable comfortable roll up chair to handle the rough and tumble rigors of river tripping started. Cost counts but I have been willing to pay for quality and design.

My home trash can has been filled with units that did not make the cut. I am sure I have plenty of roll up chairs either at the homes of the trash guys or in the trash collector office.

I have spent lots of money for big name chairs and not much money for WalMart specials. None work, all break typically at the plastic connectors and none that roll up support my back and neck. Which makes me think no matter what the cost to buy at retail, these chairs are all made in China or India from the same rip off parts made some where on the cheap.

Lots of roll up chairs hidden around my shed and garage that looked good on the advertisements but failed miserably on construction or comfort - some never passed the back yard test!

The only truely comfortable long lasting river chair I have found is the Lafuma folding recliner. I have had mine for a long time. The suspension cords rotted away and I replaced them with US Army parachute cord and the chair now seems bulletproof. On sale, there are good copies of the Lafuma for less than a hundred bucks. Cabelas and Alps look ok but school's out on durability. The real deal Lafuma original is the bomb when it comes to a frame that lasts. The only problem with the Lafuma recliner is the size and weight. It is ungainly to carry. On the raft I have been able to strap it across the top of the cooler, but it is still ungainly.

I may have found the next best camp chair to the Lafuma that does roll up - albeit the roll is a bit longer than normal.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates ... m23&Go.x=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the chair is a cabelas version probably the original is from Alps Mountaineering but Cabela's is where I found mine and it is on sale. By the way, Alps Mountaineering chairs (next to the Lafuma) seem to be pretty well made and cost much less. Sierra Trading Post and overstock.com often run good sales on Alps gear especially when one of the hooks is free shipping.

Cabela's High-Back Ergo Chair
Item:9IS-519860

Got the chair and did tests in the yard. It looks well built. It is very comfortable. What I look for after construction is something to support my head and neck. This chair does that well especially for a roll up design. In fact, if I support my feet up on something, naps are pretty easy. This chair does not sleep as comfortably as the Lafuma but the cost is much cheaper and it does roll up.

Hope to take this new toy on a few trips and see if it holds up on river trips. The back yard test is only the start, a real honest river trip is the acid test.

Just passing this on for what it is worth.

[Cowper]

Are you secretly on commission with Cabela's?

Or is it just a coincidence that the link says this 49.99 chair is currently on sale for 29.99 ???

[okieboater]

Well, being a fan of Cabelas from my hunting and fishing days, I sure wish I was getting some sort of commission from them just on items I have purchased over the years!!!! Unfortunately, I pay the same as every one else. Just saw this chair in a flyer they send me and for the price decided I would take the bait. As a long time Cabelas customer, they sent me the advertisement and I took the bait and ordered.

Cowper, I know your plan as far as river chairs. That is someone is always gone from their chair and you take advantage of that to keep the seat warm till the owner returns.

I know you have tested a bunch of river chairs, what is your favorite?

[Cowper]

I know you have tested a bunch of river chairs, what is your favorite?

Well, that's easy! The one closest to the margaritas!

[duckieboater]

Dave,
I agree a comfortable, well-made chair is hard to find. I even was down in Austin a few weeks ago and stopped at the Cabellas there to look for chairs. And checked out the model you speak of. Personally, it was ok, but not as comfortable as I was looking for. Maybe if it had been on sale at that time I would have been more lenient in my opinion....

You got any opinion on cots? My current one from the army surplus store got bent up with hardly any persuasion from me.

Brian

[okieboater]

roll a cot wide model is my favorite.

have used surplus army cot many years ago and they are bomb proof or at least the one I had was. mine was a very old WWII version and very well made. I ended up giving it away.

on recommendation from a Grand Canyon veteran boater many moons ago, I got a roll a cot and have been very happy with it. I got the wide model since I have some shoulder issues and need some extra support.

roll a cots are made in USA, may cost a tad more unless you find one on sale. my cot has been used all over for many years and looks and works like new.

do a msg board search and we had a big time discussion on cots a few months ago. I stand by roll a cots for comfort and durability especially made for river trips!!

[Paddlegal]

FINALLY!!


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