Gear Review: Alite Mayfly Chair

A packable, comfortable camp chair that's not tippy.

Verdict

Campground comfort often comes with a space and weight penalty, but the Mayfly is so packable (think of a fat foot-long from Subway) that I even carried it on several Vermont overnight hikes. This comfy, contoured, sling-type chair is made from thick aluminum poles and 210-denier ripstop nylon with two mesh side panels that offer ventilation on hot nights. The Mayfly stood up to major thrashing from my two boys around plenty of campfire rings and a dozen early-season Little League games, too. Cool feature: You can rig it as a rocking chair (omit the front stabilizer pole) or a solid, low-to-the-ground perch that sets you up for ergonomic (no slouching) stove fiddling, marshmallow roasting, and s’more assembly. $100; 1 lb. 10 oz.; alitedesigns.com

Best for

Comfort-seeking campers

Tester Data

Kristin Hostetter

When Feb. to May

Where All over New England

“It’s more stable than other chairs of this type because it has two long crossbars that maintain contact with the ground—no tippy little legs.”

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