Alite Designs Mayfly Camping Chair

First of all I have eyed the Helinox chair and prefer the design over previous Alite Monarch Chair (which has to be balanced as you sit). However the shortcomings that I could foresee in camp grounds that have wet ground, or surf fishing by the beach is that the pointed legs of the Helinox chair could sink into any soft surface too easily.I put off the purchase for a few months and along came this new arrival from Alite that allows the front legs to be removable for conversion to a rocking " balance" chair. I knew that with the chair legs sitting diagonally flat on any surfaces, it would minimize sinking into soft surfaces and without hesitation, I bit the bullet and bought it.I did spend a bit of time looking for reviews but didn't have much luck as the product was new.Well after receiving it, I have to admit that this is one piece of well thought out product and very ergonomic as well. The legs are made of solid light weight aluminium and snaps into each other easily to form the frame as it has stretchable cords in the core -much like tent poles. The material were very well stitched with heavy reinforcements for the frame eye sockets. It's even colour coded.Assembly was very easy, sat in it and just immediately realised how comfortable the chair can be. Its stable with all legs installed and allows you to rock a bit if you choose to - thanks to the ball feet on the back legs. Get rid of the front legs and you can rock even harder.Centre of gravity is very low for this chair and your legs will be in a stretched out position which will be good for resting after long hikes. Being low to the ground is often better when you are hiking as it allows you to cook easily off the ground ( no tables... remember!)It's also very lightweight which gives me a nagging feeling that I will lose this chair to the wind one day!Packing was even easier, just unhook the frame, collapse and roll it in the chair covering. The stuff sack is just perfectly sized to be very accommodating in packing the chair back in. No dramas there at all!Two improvements that I would hope to see is that :- the front leg eye socket on the chair needs to be a little bit longer to prevent the front legs frame from slipping slightly and wobble. This small problem goes away once your full weight is on it and the chair is miraculously stable.- an add-on accessory for your head to tilt back and rest. Especially great if you are waiting for a fish to strike and you decide to take a snooze. The chair currently hugs your entire upper body comfortably and is even wide enough for your arms to rest against it but offers no support for the head or neck.I'm probably trying to perfect what is already an absolutely brilliant product so pay no heed to my product improvement recommendation.In summary, if there is one light chair you need to go for, and would like to be able to still use it in soft grounds without sinking in. This will be it! In my mind, this is probably one of the better lightweight chair design out there to challenge the current market.It's got so many "kudos" to it that I felt compelled to write a review on it! Your body will melt into this chair and you will learn to love it over time!Highly Recommended!!! Well done Alite! This is a winning product here!

We live in New Orleans, and among other festivals, we attend two weekends of Jazz Fest every year. We're close enough to walk to the festival, but even a short trek with sunburn can lead to discomfort when you're lugging a big chair. Since the grounds are often wet, we've learned it's nice to have a boost, but I hate the big camping ones with arms that wing out and you can't walk past because you get caught. The Mayfly was my ticket!We've just tested it out for the first weekend and was able to experience all the elements — rain, heat, wind, slush.1. Rain: PRETTY GOOD. the chair does catch a lot of water in the bucket part. Perhaps a little riveted rain hole would be handy. And disassembly is a pain when you're trying to beat the rain. It would be nice if it could just fold up like traditional portable chairs.2. Heat: AWESOME. the chair keeps you really cool because it's so low to the ground, the space below creates a nice little a/c effect — perfect for storing your overheating iPhone or flask.3. Wind: FAIL. Our biggest disappointment. Because the chair is sooooo light.... it flies away! You have to weigh it down with something, or perhaps there's a way to anchor it in the future.4. Slush: GREAT. We were worried that we'd sink in the ground too much with the chair, but so far, we've been fine.Overall, the chair can be difficult for older folk to get in and out of without a slight spill. But seriously, I love how light and compact it is. I stuck it in my purse and didn't even have to take it out for the security check.So, if you're at a fest, plan on camping out with some chair anchors because it's a little too time-consuming to assemble and take apart every time you switch stages. And as crowded as it is at Jazz Fest, you can't just carry it.

Initial: 04/28/2014Purchased 2 Orange Mayfly from ALKAM Inc. One said "ALITE" and the other said "Mayfly Chair" on the black tag on the cloth portion. The cardboard product information tags were also different especially in the specification where one says "1.4lbs" and the other says "1.6lbs." If you notice, the Amazon product page also lists the spec. as 1.4lbs; however, upon weighing the products with the cover, they both weighed approximately 1.6lbs.Other wise I noticed no difference in 2 chairs and performed as expected.Sufficiently comfortable for the small package size and weight.Update: Only after a few use, one of the chairs broke. One of the yellow-tipped pole of the main frame where the detachable foot attaches is completely sunken into the pipe. I can use a plier to pull it back up, but it goes in again. Other one works fine so if you are going to get one, put it to a stress test as soon as you purchase to see if yours is OK. Just push the yellow-tipped portion of the main frame against a hard surface to see it will withstand your weight and abuse. It broke even though both my wife and I weigh less than 150lb each.

This is a lightweight chair you can carry in a rucksack, so perfect for taking out on a walk. It fits together easily enough, though I would recommend watching a YouTube video first [...] The main framework simply snaps together using elasticated bands inside aluminium tubes. The front leg section is slightly more awkward and attaches to the main framework by a swivel head which needs to be correctly aligned. Once this is done the fabric section can be stretched over the frame (the frame itself is colour coded to the fabric and I'd recommend fitting the yellow sections together first), and the chair is ready for use.This is a low chair (the seat is around 40mm from the ground), so possibly not suitable for those who struggle to stand from a low sitting position. It is very comfortable, with a high back and generous width, sturdily manufactured, and which weighs just 728 grams (1.6 lbs) minus the handy bag with which it is supplied. Once bagged, the unit measures around 30cm x 10cm. The chair can take the weight of 113 kg (= 250 lbs, or nearly 18 stone). Perfect for watching wildlife, having your lunch, or just resting your feet for a while.

I expected a lot from this chair based on reviews and price but am thoroughly disappointed. Unless on absolutely level and hard ground I am literally sitting on the floor. On perfectly level and hard ground the clearance from floor is about a centimetre. I weigh 76 kilos so surely not overstretching the material, but this is exactly what it feels like. On it's maiden voyage on a recent kayaking exped I was the laughing stock of the group! We all tried everything to make this work, thinking that perhaps I had read the instructions wrongly. No success! I resorted to putting something under the chair so the fabric would not be destroyed by my weight rubbing it into the ground. Having a back support was better than no chair. With the chair sitting so low by design I cannot see how it does work in the field where absolutely level and hard ground is not guaranteed in all but a few cases.Shame. I like the look of the chair and the quality feel of material and poles but that is neither here nor there if I end up sitting on the floor.

I took this with me on a recent cycling tour in France-- the rest of my group all tried it and a few of them have since ordered the same chair! It's light and easily packed- at the end of a long day's cycling it's a godsend!

haven't used it camping yet, but reasonably light, and feels sturdy and comfortable.

I would not recommend this chair for anyone older than 40 . The sitting position is over reclined and will mess you up after a hard hike. Make sure you have an appointment with a chiropractor after using this chair several times. Set up and take down is awkward, so you will not use it for a short break. I prefer my Walkstool and will purchase a second one for my teenager . He does not like the Mayfly chair either and takes my Walkstool instead on his Earth Quest trips.