Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair – Ultralight for Backpackers

This Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is from a new series of ultralight chairs for backpackers and hikers without plastic hubs.

Key features

What this is about

Big Agnes has launched a new series of chairs for this 2019 season. They all are collapsible and nicely packable. The design is similar and the main differences among them is in the backrest support. So the smallest and lightest is the Skyline UL Stool and the biggest is the Big Six Camp Chair.

What makes this series different from all other chairs on the market is their patented design without plastic joints. You can see in the picture below how this looks. So it is less bulky but the time will show if this design is better than the usual with plastic (nylon) hubs.

Who is it for

The weight: This is an exceptionally light chair and the weight is its best feature. With 1 lb 11 oz (765 g) of weight, it deserves to be in my list of ultralight backpacking chairs.

But the packed size is also impressive, see the chair below packed in its nice carry bag. The dimensions are only (L x D) 17 x 3.5 inches (43 x 9 cm).

Capacity-wise it is quite typical, and you will see this also from the comparison table below. The declared capacity is 275 lb (125 kg).

Dimensions: The seat is 15 inches (38 cm) above the ground, so it is not too low. It is also quite wide, 21 inches (53 cm), and you have a backrest which goes up to 26 inches (66 cm) above the ground, see the side view of the chair:

So this chair is very light and the packed size is great, you can carry it attached to the backpack and also transport on a bicycle or on a motorbike. This is a versatile item indeed.

Materials and construction

So the frame is all one single piece with shock-corded tubes and this is an ultralight aircraft-grade aluminum. Some tubes are curved to give more comfort and stability.

The other piece is the sling, an ultralight nylon 70D Robic with nylon 66 rip-stop for extra tear strength. They claim that the high-tenacity Robic yarn used here is 25% – 30% stronger than a regular yarn in the same denier. There is also a waterproof UTS coating applied here and it gives the fabric a soft feel.

Please see more in this short video, both Stool and the Chair from the Skyline sub-series are presented:

My rating, pros & cons

This chair is on the market with the price shown in the link. So it is expensive but there are even more expensive items out there that are not at the same craftsmanship level. Please see how I rate it:

Specifications

• Weight: 1 lb 11 oz (765 g).
• Capacity: 275 lb (125 kg).
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 21 x 17.5 x 26 in (53 x 44 x 66 cm).
• Seat height: 15 in (38 cm).
• Seat width: 21 in (53 cm).
• Packed size (L x D): 17 x 3.5 in (43 x 9 cm).

Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair vs Competitors

I show this Skyline UL Chair side by side with its cousin Skyline Stool, and also the Helinox Chair Zero. Both of these are currently the lightest on the market, so you can have a clear idea about the features of this chair.

So the Stool doesn’t offer any back support, but you have it in the Helinox Chair Zero. But the latter is much lower than the Skyline UL Chair and this is why it is lighter. Please follow the links for more.

Final thoughts

Check on Amazon

Check at REI
If you need something different, please check in the category Camping Chairs here in the site, you will find them in hundreds.

This is not a sponsored text and I have no relation with the brand. Please use the comment box below in case of questions or comments. Have a nice day.