Alite Monarch Chair

One of most innovative and popular accessories of recent times, the Alite Monarch chair is a hot item that you'll probably want to add to your camping kit.

I really love this chair and it always becomes the center of attention on my trips, inspiring everyone to have to try sitting in it and at least one or two to go home and buy one.

I was an early adopter when I tried one at REI last summer...it was just so comfortable and unique. I thought the price was steep then and since it's gone up $20 in retail. But I'd still have to say it's worth it. The chair's popularity speaks volumes...100s of reviews and videos online, and good luck finding a used one on ebay.

If you can try it out first, do so because it's not for everyone. But it does make many happy and is quite versatile, despite what some say. For instance, it's performed reasonably well even in sand (yes, it does sink some but placing flip-flops under the legs will prevent this). And even though I usually pack pretty light, I've found the excuse to take this along on short backpacking trips. It is my one luxury item, and it sure is nice to have in camp.

I have used mine so much that I've already had a mishap...while cooking my dinner, I got up to get something and the wind blew the chair over my stove. Luckily my dinner didn't spill but the chair suffered two small burn holes. Oh, that was painful but the sling still holds me with no problems and the ripstop fabric has prevented the holes from getting bigger (going on 5 years!). Now the chair has character.

My main point to this story is that I contacted the company and they sent me a new sling, just in case...for that reason alone I will be buying more of these chairs as gifts for friends. So don't worry about having issues because Alite stands firmly behind their products. (I have no relation to the company.)

Awesome Sauce. No more ants in your pants and hard rocks imprinting contour maps on your glutes. Pops together in seconds with no instructions needed! Super light and worth every bit of these 18oz.

This was my first foray into bringing comfort on the trail. The hike was a strenuous 12 miles in rugged Henry Coe Park in Morgan Hill, CA.  5 miles of single track down hill then a constant 3 mile 1300' climb to the ridge line and it was time for a rest.  

Two oddly convenient rocks provided a good resting spot. Legs were burning, breathing was rapid, rocks were hard!   Ants were sizing us up and the ticks were migrating in. I pried myself from the  jagged rocks feeling every the indentations for dozens of sharp edges. I whipped out my brand new, never used Alite Monarch Butterfly Chair.  

Amid curses by my hiking pal, I quickly figured out how to assemble it. The supports practicably snapped themselves in place. A few seconds looking at the nylon material and I figured out it was easily color coded, with well chosen colors for my color blind self, where to put the aluminum rods.

Within a minute, I was resting comfortable in seat back mode. That is, rather than balancing on the two legs, turn it around and place the back on the ground and the seat is a backrest. The trail was much softer then the rocks but still not enough so I switched to chair mode. No special acrobatics needed. I was rewarded with pure bliss. I struggle with lower and mid back pain. When hiking hard hikes like this, I am stuck with hours of pain.  This chair gave me 30 minute of pure pain relief! 

The Alite Monarch is super comfortable. The 30 minute on the trail were a huge relied on my legs, rear end and back. There was no uncomfortable seam across my quads and nothing me poking me under my arms. Really a delight to have on the trail and so light I forgot I had in in my day pack.

If you are sick of sitting in the dirt, on hard, sharp rocks and tired of being a day trip for ants and other bugs, get yourself an Alite Monarch Chair and enjoy something special on the trail.

This was quickly coined the "stupid chair" after I excitedly showed my dad my cool, new chair and he responded: "That's stupid." Here are all of the reasons it's not...

First of all, these chairs are a lot of fun. I don't think you can buy one without a sense of humor. It's pretty interesting to watch people try to sit down in them. Once you figure out how (hold the chair up to your butt as you sit down instead of trying to balance it on the ground), you begin to see the practicality of it.

The most attractive feature for me is the weight/strength ratio. At 22oz, it can go virtually unnoticed in a pack or in the back of an airplane. Yet, it will hold 250lbs. I've never tested it past that limit, but it has never wavered within those margins. 

Some people have trouble getting past the idea of two legs, but it comes in handy if you're not on a completely level surface (even a hillside or stairs...though I don't recommend the stairs). I prefer to be able to rock a little bit if I've been on my feet for awhile, and after you're in it, it really doesn't feel unstable. 

Pay attention to how it's folded as you unpack it because it can be tedious getting it back into the bag. That's probably my only real caveat--that and don't drink and chair...or maybe try it on your friends first. It does pack down quite small, but it is hard to justify the space on overnight trips.

I recommend it for day hiking, car camping, climbing, or just lounging in general. They're great to have around when weight is a factor. 

It's super light for what it provides. And what it provides is a comfortable place to sit down, off the ground, that collapses into a size not much bigger than a Nalgene.

I had seen the Alite chairs in use on a trip to Nicaragua and been jealous of my friends' ability to whip them out of a backpack pocket and have a place to sit that didn't require becoming muddy. After picking one up I still have only good things to say about them.

The chair is durable (hasn't shown any wear over my two years of use). The small pack size for a comfortable chair that gets you off the ground is amazing. The name of the company definitely applies to their product..it's quite light (IMO) for what you get. The mesh on the seat provides nice breathability and the color scheme is definitely unique.

The only thing that I would change (and they have by adding a new model) is having only two points of contact. Having to keep your feet out in front of you or leaning up against something is usually not a big deal but sometimes circumstances make it such that a third leg on the chair would be nice.

On the other hand only having two points allows you to use/balance the chair in many spots where you couldn't get three points to rest on the ground and have the chair be level.

All in all a great chair and one worth investing in (or asking for as a gift:).

I will never again have to search for that perfect backcountry site with a good log to sit on now that I have this chair!

I am no ultra light hiker by any means. So when it comes to comfort or weight, I go with comfort almost every time.

This chair is always in my pack now. It is lightweight and packs up good. It takes a little getting use to getting in and out of. With two legs it can be a little unstable if you're not used to it.  

The first time I carried this on a trip with me (Savage Gulf, TN) I pulled out my chair after I set up my tent and put it together. As soon as I sat down it was like I had carried my recliner from home with me. It was so comfortable.

That was two years ago and it goes with me on every hike now, but be warned if you get out of your seat for any reason, when you come back, your seat will have someone else in it (that's the way it goes for me anyways). It is that comfortable. Now all my hiking buddies have one since sitting in mine.

Your wilderness Lazyboy recliner and a must have luxury item.

If a person wants to carry a Thermarest pad and use that company's chair kit it's fine--it is a fine combo. However in going ultra light I gave up that heavier pad so I had nothing for my campchair either until I found this butterfly chair.

Now it doesn't matter if I'm going for one night or 8 nights, this chair is the one luxury item I refuse to leave behind. I think of it as my Lazyboy recliner for the wilderness. After a hard day of hiking I like to be able to sit comfortably and on a log or on the ground doesn't do it for this 60-year-old body.

So this chair at 18 ounces is worth the weight. I get into it and proceed to cook and eat from it. Great back support and if you lose your balance for some reason you're close enough to the ground you're not going to get hurt.

The only drawback is being balanced you have a hard time staying upright if you fall asleep in it.

I take it on every trip! No more wet butt.

I love this chair! I take it on every trip with me, even when the family heads off to the park for an afternoon. 

It's quick to set up with color coding on the pole assembly to help make it super easy. It's really light and compact so there is always a place for it in your pack, which I can't say about the Crazy Creek style chairs.

Sitting in the Monarch takes some getting used to because you have to lean back some, trust the chair, and find the sweet spot. If you are too far forward, your legs can't relax. Too far backwards and you flip over.  But once you find the sweet spot, the miles melt away. I've actually nodded off while sitting in the chair.

Getting up out of the chair also takes some practice, but can be entertaining to watch for your trail mates. It's all about making sure you press down in line with the feet. When you get up, just make sure you secure it so it doesn't fall over in mud or get blown away if there is any significant wind.  

With a little adjusting, I can sit more upright and even cook my lunch or dinner.

The main reason I purchased this chair was because it keeps me off the ground.  It allows me to sit down in rocky areas or after a rain storm without getting my butt wet or laying down tarp.  

All in all, a very versatile, compact, light chair that has become one of my essential pieces of gear.

Tired of sitting on the ground or searching for a dry place to sit at camp after a long hike? This chair fits in your backpack, is quick to set up, and is quite comfortable.

Started carrying this chair a few years ago and now I carry it on every trip I take—you know, never leave home without it.

It has a very small footprint and fits nicely stuffed in the corner of my backpack, packed in the quick access top pocket or in one of the side mesh pockets. It has a slightly bigger diameter and longer than a standard Nalgene bottle. The chair and legs fit neatly in a provided stuff sack. The chair is made of a nylon and acts like a sling once attached to the aluminum poles—super easy setup and break down.

Nylon chair is very durable and has been used many many times. I've even loaned to a friend to take on a trip. Aluminum (elastic) poles are lightweight, durable and supportive. Once assembled, you use the two chair legs and your legs to balance the chair. I find this very comfortable as I can stretch out or pull my legs in close.

The chair also sits low/close to the ground not putting pressure on your legs as you sit. This also makes it very convenient as you prepare your favorite meal using your backpacker stove.

This chair has performed well on dirt, sand (beaches), gravel (sandbars), snow, and hard rock surfaces.

I love it! Lightweight can go anywhere. Wish I had this chair when I was young, perfect for festivals and concerts.

I used my REI pts and a Teacher of the Year giftcard to buy myself something I really wanted. Had seen the chair earlier and loved it so when the opportunity came to purchase I was right on it! I took it on the beach with me and it worked perfectly on the packed sand , softer sand I did sink a bit.

I like it because I can throw my legs out in front and stretch out. I did a most important test ...opened a beer,  called my dog Bax to jump in my lap and did not tip over or spill the beer. I guess good knees are important for getting up...but if you needed a little help, perhaps keeping your walking stick close by would work.   

It is light enough that I take it on trails with me and when I come upon a view that deserves more than a pass I get our the chair, pop it together and soak up the scene. I am 54, love being outside, can't afford too much fancy stuff..but know good tents, good pads, good cooking gear and good chairs make the difference.

Used this chair for a weekend of Boy Scout Training. It's very lightweight, which is a must for backpacking. It's also very comfortable and gives you that rocking chair feeling. Way better than sitting on a log or the ground!!!

The chair's legs are very strong. I dropped into it several times as I was sitting down into it, and yes it's an art to get into it, and it held up, and I'm about 220.

After I figured out the best way to get into it, it was a breeze. Getting out is the same way. I like that you can rock in it, and have very good back support. You are able to slide back in it if you were to roasting something over a fire, or you can totally drop down into it and get really comfortable.

Very nice chair, although a little pricey. Although I have found that you get what you pay for when it comes to lightweight backpacking gear. 

No "killer" review here, just a picture, as requested. The info from the previous reviewers says it all. Except...

I found if I crossed my legs at the ankles and brought them in closer to the chair than what you see pictured I could reach a very stable equilibrium. It was so stable it allowed me to doze off!

Lightweight and very portable! Perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities!

I absolutely love this chair! Lightweight and easy to bring along on backpacking trips. It made my recent overnight trip in WV so much more enjoyable.

You can set the chair up just as quickly as you can tear it apart making it perfect for shorter rest stops or hanging out around the campfire. Weighs less than 2lbs...carrying the extra weight was worth it!

I highly recommend getting one!

Light and fast.

Love it! Takes up minimal room in pack. Sitting comfortably is a must for me at 49, well worth the little bit of weight compared to other packable chairs — no comparison, this is the one to get.