Serious backpack hikers frown at the idea of carrying anything more than they absolutely have to. Often, great extremes are gone to in order to keep the weight at a minimum. However, this weight reduction is often at the expense of comfort and relaxation. When in the wilderness, and particularly at altitude where the terrain is barren, it is often impossible to sit and relax around the camp site at the end of the day’s hike, because there is usually nothing comfortable to sit on! Even contoured rocks don’t hack it!! One of the things that we learned is that back support is absolutely necessary when sitting at the campfire to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The Trek-or-Chair provides both the seat and the back support. And when your ready to go the next day, the chair disassembles in minutes and becomes your trekking poles. All of the seat structure conveniently stores inside the poles, thus minimizing stowage space. The only portions that need to be put into the backpack are the canvas seat and back, a matter of a few ounces.

The beauty of the concept is that the majority of the additional weight involved with the seat structure is transferred directly to the ground through the hiking poles, and not to your back. Here is how it works: Consider how you use your trekking poles. As you step forward, you usually swing one of your hiking poles forward as well. It stays planted on the ground for your full step distance, until you are ready to take another step, when you swing the pole forward for the next cycle. Our study of this process indicates that typically, the pole is planted on the ground for at least 60% to about 85% of the cycle. Try it yourself with a pole and you will see what we are talking about! Thus, the additional ounces of weight incurred with the seat structure are for all practical purposes, “invisible” to your total pack weight. Only the weight of the necessary canvas seat and back contribute to your pack load. If you already use trekking poles, those poles probably weigh somewhere between 9 and 12 ounces, each, depending on the brand. So, for a few ounces more, why not carry the Sierra Trek-or-Chair and get the benefits of a true seat with back support? It's not a bad trade-off for comfort in the wilderness!

What about the trekking poles? Are they compromised? We don’t think so! One of the most important functions of the trek pole is to provide additional support and balance when hiking over rocky, washed-out trails, or fording tricky flowing streams. Sometimes, this requires applying force onto the poles to scramble over rugged terrain. To accommodate this additional force, each pole is fabricated from hardened aluminum rod and tubing for strength and ruggedness. A nylon impact head engages the earth, and the pole length is adjustable to accommodate different height users. Part of the seat assembly also doubles as a handle and, with a contoured rubber cover, provides a comfortable and functional hand-grip.

Conversion into the trail chair configuration will take only minutes once you are familiar with the process. First, the lower pole extensions are removed from the pole configuration, to be used later in the assembly process. Next the contents of the pole storage area are removed. This consists of two combined seat structural assemblies and two aluminum braces. The combined seat structural assemblies and braces are attached to the two remaining pole sections, and the previously removed lower pole extensions, using thumb-screws and wing-nuts. The canvas seat cover is next slipped into place as well as the canvas back support. All wing-nuts and thumb-screws are tightened finger tight, and the chair is ready to use.

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Minimum pole length: 36 inches.
Maximum pole length: 49 inches.
Individual pole weight without seat structural parts stored inside: 11 ounces.
Individual pole weight with seat structural parts stored inside: 14.5 ounces.
Seat back material weight: 1.7 ounces.
Seat material weight : 2.8 ounces.
Estimated pole compression loading before fastener failure: 300 pounds.
Actually tested seat support load: 265 pounds.
Max. recommended seat support load: 250 pounds.

Materials used: Anodized and painted aluminum tubing and rod, nylon impact head and pole bushings, steel thumb-screws and wing-nuts. Seat and back support are fabricated from sunlight and water tolerant cordura.

United States Patent Pending on this product
“Trek-or-Chair” is a Trade Mark of National RF, Inc, Sierra Mountain Products Division

BELLS AND WHISTLES FOR THE SIERRA TREK-OR-CHAIR

For those hikers who don’t mind and extra ounce or two in their pack, Sierra Mountain Products sells separately two devices that attach to the Trek-or-Chair, to make life easier in the wilderness. We call them Bells and Whistles as they are not really needed, but very nice to have!