Sitpack Campster II
The Sitback Campster II is a relatively lightweight chair with a thoughtful design and is surprisingly comfortable for its size. Since 2014, Sitpack founder Jonas Lind Bendixen has focused on portable seating. The Campster II carries some design credibility, with the Campster II receiving a Good Design Award. This is not trying to be the lightest backpacking chair ever made. It is meant to be the chair that disappears into your kit, opens fast, and still feels like a proper seat once you land in it.
Set up and day to day use
This is where the Campster II really shines. Sitpack built it as a one-piece chair, so there is no bag of poles, no wrestling the seat onto a frame, and no moment where you wonder which tube goes where. Undo the strap, let the frame open, pull the telescoping sections out until the buttons click, and you are done. This isn't common with lightweight chairs and is one of the biggest benefits with this chair. It is quick, foolproof, and easy to carry because the chair removes just enough friction that it becomes something you use for random stops, not just planned camp time. That difference is bigger than it sounds. Gear that is easy to use gets used far more often than gear that feels like you're trying to pitch a six man tent.
Comfort
What stands out to me in terms of comforts is that the Campster 2.0 is not trying to force an ultralight seating position. The seat is set around 12 inches off the ground and has a relaxed cradle to it, which makes it surprizingly comfortable for the size. The relaxed angle is pleasant while still feeling upright enough for camp chores like stove use. That said, if you plan on spending hours at a track and field event or if you want to spend the day at the campsite sitting in your chair, you might consider a bigger, heaver chair. This one is great for an hour or so rather than an all day lounger. So I would call comfort a real strength here, but you have to keep the size and weight in mind and be realistic with what to expect.
Weight and packability in the real world
The Campster 2.0 sits in an interesting middle ground. At 3.2 pounds with a packed size of about 14 by 3.2 by 3.2 inches, it is compact enough to be kept in a car bin, day bag, canoe, or beach tote without complaint, but realistically it's too havy to pass as a true ultralight backpacking luxury. It is really intended for car camping, picnics, beach days, and canoe trips. This chair is portable in the daily life sense, not the gram counting sense that backpackers usually do. It is the chair I can picture by a lake, at a soccer field, or in a microcamper much more easily than halfway through a long mileage day backpacking
Stability and seat height
The move from the old three leg concept to a four leg frame was the biggest change Sitpack took with this chair. It is stable and the low center of gravity keeps the chair planted without making it awkward to get out of. Realistically the extra leg is worth the added weight because the chair is just so much sturdier. There is still a bit of movement in the seat, but that is to be expected for a lightweight chair. It almost has a hammock aspect to the seating feel. The only terrain caveat is the usual one for compact chairs, which is that soft sand still benefits from the optional ground sheet.
Materials and build
Sitpack lists an aircraft grade aluminum frame with an Oxford 600D ripstop nylon seat, and it has powder coated legs and anodized upper tubes. It feels well made and sturdy, and the stitching and finish are made to last. The carry bag even has a thoughtful design, which is more important than it sounds because that is often the first thing cheap chairs get wrong. I also like that the chair has mesh in the back and sides rather than relying on a solid sling. It keeps the seat from feeling sweaty in warm weather.
Living with it after the honeymoon
This chair is great for regular outings and just to keep in your car should you have a spontaneous trip to the park or nearby hiking trail. That feels like the real personality of the Campster II. The side pockets are appreciated for snacks, sunglasses, a phone, and other small gear, and there is an included S-carabiner for clipping a bottle or the optional insulated holder. Sitpack also offers a seat warmer and a ground sheet for soft surfaces, which are both great additions depending on how you plan to use it. The chair is airy and relaxed out of the box, so one extra layer helps in cold weather and the other helps on loose ground. I would not call those add ons essential for everyone, but I can see why beach users and people who camp in cooler weather would get real use from them.
Compared to Helinox
Compared with the new Helinox Chair Zero LT, the Sitpack is playing a different game. The Helinox packs into a very small case, weighs a little over a pound, and sits very low to the ground. That chair is built for people who count ounces first and are willing to accept a lower seat and a more involved pole assembly to get there. The Campster II is significantly heavier, but it also sits higher, carries no loose parts, and gets into action much faster. Relative value comes down to which pain point annoys you more. If you hate bulk and setup fuss, the Sitpack makes a convincing case at a lower asking price than the Chair Zero LT. If you hate extra weight, Helinox remains the premium benchmark. I would also say the Campster II feels closer to a lifestyle compact chair than a backcountry chair.
Vetted Verdict
Most chairs this compact either chase the ultralight crowd or feel too compromised to sit in for long. This one seems to thread the gap. It is more comfortable than many tiny chairs, steadier than the original concept, and compact enough to be the chair you actually bring. If you're looking for a reasonably lightweight chair that is easy to carry and can be used comfortably on most occasions, this is about as good as it gets.
