REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair Review

Overview

The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair is a tent-pole-style packable seat that sits between two worlds: lighter than most camping chairs, heavier than the truly ultralight options. At 765g (27 oz / 1.7 lbs), it’s the middle child of REI’s own Flexlite lineup — heavier than the Flexlite Air (~16 oz) but a good bit more comfortable and roomy. It’s best suited to weekend backpackers, motorcycle campers, and car campers who want to shed bulk without going full ounce-weenie.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	765g (27 oz / 1.7 lbs)
Weight Capacity	250 lbs
Seat Height	11 in
Unfolded Dimensions	25 × 20 × 20 in (H × W × D)
Frame Material	Aluminum (pole-and-hub)
Seat Material	Ripstop polyester, DWR finish (PFAS-free, bluesign®)
Price	~$90
Comparison	See how Flexlite Camp Chair compares to similar gear

Performance

Setup & Packability

Setup is one of this chair’s genuine strengths. The shock-corded aluminum poles snap together into plastic hubs in a V-shaped base — anyone who’s pitched a tent will feel right at home. Most users report getting it up in under a minute on the first try, and well under 30 seconds once it’s familiar. Packed down, it’s roughly the size of a loaf of bread — easy to lash to a pack, toss in a trunk, or stuff into a pannier.

Comfort

The Flexlite sits you 11 inches off the ground in a hammock-style taco seat. That design cradles you in a relaxed recline, and several reviewers have noted it as one of the more comfortable options at this weight class. The deep seat means you’re not going to feel like you’re sliding forward, and the sides sit low enough that arm movement is unrestricted. The ripstop polyester — updated from the older open-mesh fabric in recent versions — feels solid and breathable enough for warm-weather use.

That said, this is not an ergonomic throne. The low seat height (11 in vs. a typical camping chair’s 14–16 in) can be a real problem for taller users or anyone with knee issues. The hammock-like suspension also puts your lower back into a rounded position — fine for an hour at camp, less ideal for a full afternoon of hanging around a base camp. There are no armrests.

Stability

Here’s where the Flexlite earns its most consistent criticism. The narrow pole feet are among the smallest footprint of any tent-style chair out there, and they will sink into soft ground — sand, wet soil, thick grass — quickly. On uneven terrain, the wobble gets noticeable enough to make you conscious of how you shift your weight. A common trail hack is slipping wide trekking pole tips or even golf wiffle balls over the feet to prevent sinkage. It’s an inelegant fix for a chair at this price.

To be fair, this is partly a physics problem. As weight decreases on this style of chair, stability is the first thing to go. The Flexlite is noticeably more stable than the stripped-down Flexlite Air, but it’s not going to feel planted on a rocky campsite the way a heavier, wider-stance chair would.

Durability

The ripstop polyester seat itself is well-made — reinforced pole pockets, tidy stitching, and a DWR coating that sheds moisture and resists staining. The aluminum poles feel appropriately stiff without being flimsy. The weak point, reported consistently across user reviews, is the plastic hub joints. Some users have seen these crack after as few as 10 trips, often at weights well within the 250-lb rating. That’s not a universal failure mode — many owners report years of trouble-free use — but it’s a pattern worth knowing about.

On the upside, REI sells replacement seats for $20, which at least gives the chair a repair path that many competing products lack.

Weight Context

At 765g, this chair is a borderline proposition for backpackers. The Helinox Chair Zero comes in around 17 oz and is a genuine rival in this space. Within REI’s own lineup, the Flexlite Air saves roughly 300g over this model — significant if you’re counting every gram. If you’re on a strict sub-10-lb base weight, neither this chair nor any other chair belongs in your pack. But if you’re running a more moderate 12–16 lb base and spending multiple nights at a base camp, 27 oz for an actual seat starts to feel like a reasonable trade.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fast, intuitive tent-style setup — familiar to any backpacker
• Hammock-style seat is genuinely comfortable for its weight class
• Ripstop polyester seat is durable and moisture-resistant with PFAS-free DWR
• Replacement seats available for $20, extending the chair’s lifespan
• Competitive price compared to Helinox and similar alternatives
• Packs small enough for motorcycles, bikes, and moderate-volume packs

Cons

• 27 oz rules it out for serious ultralight lists; the Flexlite Air saves ~300g
• Narrow feet sink into soft ground — a real issue and a known complaint
• Plastic hub joints are the reported weak link; some break after moderate use
• Low 11 in seat height is tough for taller users or those with bad knees
• No armrests; hammock-style position rounds the lower back over time
• Wobbles on uneven or soft terrain

Who Should Buy This

The Flexlite Camp Chair is best for weekend backpackers and lightweight car campers who want a real seat — not a stool, not the ground — without hauling something massive. It excels on trips where you’re spending multiple nights in one spot: a river camp, a beach setup, a festival, a base camp below a peak. If you’re a committed gram-counter on a thru-hike, look at the Flexlite Air or skip the chair entirely. If you’re a larger-framed person (over 6 ft or near the 250-lb capacity), also consider stepping up to the Camp Boss for more room and a higher weight rating.

Verdict

The Flexlite Camp Chair hits a real sweet spot for the “lightweight but not obsessive” crowd — good comfort, reasonable packability, and a price that undercuts many competitors. The sinking feet and plastic hub durability concerns are genuine, but they’re manageable with simple workarounds and not universal failures. For a weekend warrior who wants a comfortable perch at camp without blowing their weight budget, this chair earns its spot.

Rating: 7/10