Motorcycle Camping Chairs: Four Types Compared by Packed Size, Weight and Seat Height

The best motorcycle camping chair is the one that fits your luggage and still gets used. For most riders that means a pole-frame backpacking chair, which packs about 14 in long and weighs roughly 1 to 2 lb. If you carry a sleeping pad anyway, a pad-chair kit saves the most space. A folding wooden chair is the comfort pick, but it weighs 5.5 lb and packs 22 to 24 in long.

This comparison is part of our motorcycle camping guide. It covers chairs only. For the rest of the kit, see essential gear for motorcycle camping.

Key takeaways- Measure your free luggage space first. Packed length decides more than weight.- Pole-frame chairs pack about 14 in long; a wooden folding chair needs 22 to 24 in.- A pad-chair kit weighs 10 to 13 oz but sits only 4 in off the ground and needs your sleeping pad.- Check the rated load: the four chairs here range from 265 lb to 350 lb.

The four chair types at a glance

All figures come from the makers' spec pages for the Chair Zero, Chair One, Kermit Chair and Trekker Chair. We have not tested these chairs; field notes will be added from team trips.

One caution on the Chair Zero: its maker's page gives two packed weights, 1 lb 2.5 oz in the spec table and 1 lb 1 oz in the feature text.

Criterion 1: packed length against your luggage

On a bike, length is usually the limit. A chair has to fit inside a pannier, across a tail rack or inside a dry bag.

• The two pole-frame chairs pack to about 14 in long.
• The wooden chair packs 22 to 24 in long and 6 in wide in its own bag.
• The pad-chair kit rolls to 20 or 21 in, but it is thin: 4 or 6 in across.

Measure the inside of your panniers and the free length on your rack before you buy. A chair that only fits strapped high on the rack also puts weight where it can hurt handling; our guide on how to pack for motorcycle camping explains where loads should ride.

Criterion 2: weight

The spread is wide. The pad-chair kit is 10 oz for the 20 in model, the Chair Zero is about 1 lb, the Chair One is 2 lb 2 oz packed, and the wooden chair is 5.5 lb.

Weight matters less on a big touring bike than on a light dual-sport. If you are already near your bike's load limit, the chair is an easy place to save.

Criterion 3: seat height and getting up

Seat height decides how easy the chair is on stiff knees after a long day in boots. The wooden chair gives a seat height of 12.5 to 15 in depending on the version. The pad-chair kit sits 4 in off the ground.

The Helinox pages give overall heights of 25 in and 25.5 in rather than a clear seat height, so sit in one before you buy if seat height matters to you.

Criterion 4: rated load

Check the maker's limit against your weight in camp clothes. The Chair Zero is rated to 265 lb, the Chair One to 320 lb, the pad-chair kit to 300 lb and the wooden chair to 350 lb.

Criterion 5: ground and setup

Pole-frame chairs stand on small feet, and shock-corded poles lock the frame together. On sand, gravel or wet grass, small feet can press into the ground, so look at how a chair's feet are shaped and whether wider feet are offered.

The pad-chair kit only works with a pad that fits its sleeve: it is made for NeoAir and self-inflating pads in 20 in and 25 in widths. If you sleep on a cot or a foam pad, it may not suit you. Our guide to choosing a sleeping bed for motorcycle camping covers pads.

In the video below, a rider compares the Helinox Chair One with the Helinox Ground Chair and shows how both assemble. Watch for his note that the Chair One's feet sink into gravel or wet grass, and treat his comfort verdict as one rider's preference.

Which chair type fits which rider

Riders who cut their kit hard sometimes skip a chair and sit on a log or a picnic bench. If that is you, our guide to minimalist motorcycle camping shows what else to cut. For other comfort items worth the space, see the best gear for motorcycle camping.

A layer for sitting out at camp

Once the sun goes down, you will want a warm layer in camp. A riding vest over a base layer is an easy extra layer that packs flat; you can browse Leather Collection motorcycle vests.

FAQ

What is the best camping chair for a motorcycle?

The one that fits your luggage. For most riders that is a pole-frame backpacking chair that packs about 14 in long and weighs 1 to 2 lb. Measure your panniers or rack space first, then check rated load and seat height.

What is the lightest camping chair available?

We cannot name the lightest chair on the market. Of the four types compared here, the lightest is the pad-chair kit at 10 oz for the 20 in model, because it uses your sleeping pad as the seat.

What are the must-haves for motorcycle camping?

A camp chair is a comfort item, not a must-have. Start with shelter, sleep, water treatment, first aid and tools; the essential gear guide linked at the top of this page covers each one.