GCI Trail Sling Ultralight

[headdoc427]

I purchased this chair only a few months ago. My wish was to obtain a lightweight, easily packed chair that could be used at campsites. I was hoping to find a good compromise between cost, comfort, and packed size. This chair comes close. It does pack very small, about 15"x4"x3". Its quite light, my guess is it's only a couple pounds, but it is also very small once readied for sitting. Much more complicated to set up the most "folding chairs" there are a number of slides, pop-ups, and insertions that need to be made. It actually is two separate parts, a frame, and a fabric sling attached to three tubular support members. Fumbling through assembly can take three or more minutes and it requires about the same amount of time to dissemble and render it back to its small packing size. Its a bit awkward to locate ones self in the sling as it sits low, about 8" off the ground and you lay back at a fair angle. I could never get in or out of the chair gracefully, all exists and entries require a "ape-like" fist to the ground to assist one's self in and out. Nevertheless, once located in the chairs it is moderately comfortable. The top part of the sling hits me (5'11", 220#) just below the shoulder blades. It allows for a nice, gentle, gliding motion back and forth which can be a bit soothing after a long day's ride. I rarely use campfires when I camp and doubt this would be very friendly to sitting at a campfire. It locates one's feet and shins close to the fire and upper body areas slanted well away from the fire - allowing for great star gazing, but allowing little benefit from the ambient heat of the fire. The literature with the chair indicates that it is good for up to 275#, this seems a bit optimisitic. Due to its "laid back" nature it does not lend itself well to assisting with dressing, nor does it appear to do well on very rocky or uneven surfaces. It does work great inside my tent for watching movies on the laptop.

Conclusions: High-tech chair (looks like you're putting together a radio telescope when you set it up), comfy within limits, very small pack size, light weight, bordering on the flimsy, good price ($19.97) here (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39192811&memberId=12500226).

[Mellow]

That's pretty cool... when you sit on it do you sit on the diagonal bar? Do you ever touch it with your back? Also, does it come with a separate bag?

[headdoc427]

That's pretty cool... when you sit on it do you sit on the diagonal bar? Do you ever touch it with your back? Also, does it come with a separate bag?
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When you sit your butt is in the sling (literally). The bottom bar is about mid-thigh, as I recall, but you don't touch it if your feet are planted flat on the ground (knees are up in the air, a bit). If you stretch out, your thighs will be touching the bar, but there's not much weight placed on the bar, so I don't remember it being particularly uncomfortable on the thighs. Your back is definately against the top bar below the shoulder blades. The top bar is padded so there isn't any undo pressure there. It comes with a neat bag that is divided into two sections. The smaller section is for the sling and the three lower support bars (these are all attached to each other) and the larger section for the rest of the frame (again all attached).

[headdoc427]

I noticed in the picture the top part of the sling/chair is labelled as a "padded headrest" there is no-way anybody's head is setting against that bar (their label, not mine). One should think of it as a "padded backrest" as your head will be about a foot above that bar. Hope that clarifies the attached picture.

[Mellow]

That makes more sense.. I was wondering how something that big could fit in a small package...

[headdoc427]

...when you sit on it do you sit on the diagonal bar? Do you ever touch it with your back?
******

Oh, now I get what your asking. Guess I should read carefully, before I go off answering. I never have noticed touching that diagonal bar. You can kinda rock back and forth, using your feet, it seems likely that when doing so you might contact the diagonal bar. To some degree you can adjust your seating position, but its design keeps you from getting very upright.

[Mellow]

I like it.. I currently have a couple of the GCI packseat (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86) and it's alot more comfortable than I thought. I think the sling would be better.

Thanks!

[headdoc427]

I like it.. I currently have a couple of the GCI packseat (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86) and it's alot more comfortable than I thought. I think the sling would be better.

Thanks!
*****

I'm betting the stool is better for around the fire and the sling better for general relaxing. I'm thinking of getting a stool, too.

[Mellow]

*****

I'm betting the stool is better for around the fire and the sling better for general relaxing. I'm thinking of getting a stool, too.

I have two of the stools, only need one, I'll sale you my other one real cheap..

[headdoc427]

I have two of the stools, only need one, I'll sale you my other one real cheap..
*******
I'll PM you.

[headdoc427]

Thanks for selling me the stool. It arrived today. It is more comfortable than you might think. Definately a different seating experience that the Trail Sling. But both are small enough I'll take them both along. Together I think they take less space than the common folding camp chair. I haven't tried yet, but I see myself lounging on the sling with my feet up on the stool - Now thats relaxing. :cool:

[Mellow]

Thanks for selling me the stool. It arrived today. It is more comfortable than you might think. Definately a different seating experience that the Trail Sling. But both are small enough I'll take them both along. Together I think they take less space than the common folding camp chair. I haven't tried yet, but I see myself lounging on the sling with my feet up on the stool - Now thats relaxing. :cool:

Glad you are satisfied. It's a nice small package and at some campsites the fire ring is so far from the picnic tables you end up standing around all night trying to stay warm near the fire.

[headdoc427]

Heres a pic of one in use. Not mine, someone else's pic:
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