I have had a Pico for about 5 years now.. wouldnt change it for another chair !
I have even added a little ali shelve for my bits on the side :-)

Yes it was expensive but worth it

Cheers
Geordie aka Will

We are always looking for lighter,better, stronger and now comfort. Our current light weight aluminium stools do not have backs so we are also looking for replacements or even getting backs manufactured and attached. Kermits are just to big and heavy for two up riding and research has led us to the Coleman Woodsman Chair. Has anyone carried/used these for an extended period?

Alite Monarch post trip opinion.

Well Sal and I have just spent 4 weeks travelling the North Island of New Zealand with 2 bikes, and for the first time two Allite Monarch chairs.

We have never packed chairs before and just sat on the ground, but some creature comforts are appreciated and so we thought we'd try them out.

Although we both had our doubts about them pre-trip given that our lounge room testing ended in much over balancing and hilarity, they have proven to be a good addition to our kit. They are for us a good compromise between comfort / usability and weight / packed size and they both fitted neatly into one corner of one pannier.

Our biggest concern about larger chairs (we have 2 Kermits) that inevitably end up strapped to the seat, was security for example while we left the bikes and went bush walking for several hours. There is also the hassle of having to unstrap and bring inside a larger chair when overnighting in a accomodation and the Monarchs obviously eliminated that issue completely. When staying in lodgings our camping kit stays on the bike locked in the panniers and so being able to lock the chairs in with it was a must.

Construction quality is first class and we experienced nor foresee any problems at all with their service life.

I would not like to sit in one for hours lounging around as they tend to put your neck at an odd angle if you sit back into them - a bit like lying in bed trying to read a book perched on your chest. You can sit upright in them but it is not as comfortable as sitting back and is quite low to the ground so cooking is necessarily done at ground level.

So all in all, as a camp chair for cooking, eating, general sitting around etc they proved quite serviceable and surprisingly comfortable - just don't get pissed and try to sit in one.

I bought two picco chairs a bit to big to fit in on or around my panniers.But they can be put up in 10 seconds even when slightly drunk.
and they are very comftable.

Just checked out the Pico chairs.. Pure luxury... but way to heavy and bulky for us. 12 lbs (5.5kg) Our current stools (no back) are aluminium and weigh 500 grms each. May look at getting a fabricator to make a "U" shaped aluminium loop with material a back rest to turn these into the items we need. Thanks for the info.. K & C

I saw someone camping with one like this Alite Monarch Butterfly Ultralight Travel and Camping Chair - YouTube It was a different make but just the same, (just found this one now while looking to post on here) I tried it out and it felt really comfy, just what you need at the end of the day. I was sold on it straight away until he said it cost him 90 euros in Holland but now i've found these i'll look at getting one.

This looks quite trick. It appears to use leg pressure to create a semblance of balance. Could this be tiring over say an hour or more? The vision of a backrest with legs and feet up on a stump is more appealing. Size and weight are perfect but would need to "taste and see" I think. The "Kermit" was really comfortable and the "Pico" looks so luxurious but their size and weight are the issue. Cannot locate the Pico or the Coleman Woodsman in Australia so will check them on our return to the USA.
Thanks... K & C

I've received the Pico chair. Its great quality and for the money I reckon good value.

Im just not convinced though. The size and weight still bothers me. If I was using it everyday then it would make lots of sense. If Im carrying it around on my bike for weeks on end and "might" need a chair then it is too heavy and bulky I reckon.

Kept looking at the Kermit but it looks a bit .... well dated, fiddly and fiddly. If I got one for free I wouldn't complain I suppose.

I've ordered an Alite Monarch. Its a lot lighter than the Kermit by a long shot, and lighter too. OK two legs missing but I reckon a pannier box jammed under the back for occasional support may do the trick. I'll let you know when I receive it.
Cheapest to Australia was amazon.com. total of $64. Other websites wanted around $100 total.

As far as the Pico. I will keep it in the car for those moments when you need a chair ... might even buy another for my wife.

Cheers
Steven

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Steven
Perth to Perth 2012

Having recently spent nearly a month in the desert with a guy with an Alite Monarch chair (recom'd by Mike C), I too can give it the thumbs up.
I was sure it would break but it managed fine (guy was the same weight as me, about 95kg) and it was light (600g) enough to carry by day and fast enough to whip out for lunch. I think the secret may be that there is little or not torsion on two legs on uneven ground compared to 4 or even 3 legs.
Rrp $70 I read, but goes for $50 in the US.
Monarch Chair - Spring 2012 Collection | Alite Designs

I myself used the Exped frame thing to convert my Exped Synmat into a lean back - lovely and cushy but not so good for day use or working on the bike - a hard pannier or stool is better for that.
Next time I think I'd take an Alite and spare the mat.

Chris S

Hi

I have to agree - the Kermit is the dog's. I stopped looking when I got one.

The only drawback as has already been mentioned is being able to safely pack it - it goes in my ortleib tail roll bag OK and is well worth the extra size/weight to some of the cheaper options out there - but Horses for Courses as they say! Good Luck in your hunt!

I love my exped chair conversion its a bed ,a chair and a sun lounger all in one its works perfectly for me as I dont like to carry to much stuff but each to their own

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

Same here.

As a bonus, your butt stays warm while sitting down even in freezing temps and with a howling wind

OK - you've seen the rest, the absolute best by miles IMHO is the Helinox Chair One. i just bought one for myself & 2 for my 2 German friends doing the Australian leg of their world trip. It was designed for hikers, is amazingly light & folds down to a small package you can hold in your palm. It essentially assembles itself with small flexible alloy poles that a cord pulls them into place like tent poles. I've been looking for something like this for ages. It's really comfortable & you can lean back & relax in it. It's very high quality & comes in a great little carrying bag (approx. 12 inches long). Check it out

Nick

Hi

This one looks a great solution, the lightness of the Alite with 4 legs. I was finding the Alite a bit precarious at times and it causes my knees to grumble a bit in my old age.

I've ordered one, lets see how it goes.

Wish I'd seen this before, and its in my own back yard too,

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Steven
Perth to Perth 2012

Camping chairs are reviewed in this months (issue 10) Adventure Bike Rider magazine.

Top marks go to the £32 Sunncamp super deluxe comfly low chair.

others recommended include
£30 Regatta Delux Folding camping chair
£22 Vango Venice chair

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