Periodically I post some crazy notion or thing I came up with for backpacking/camping. My backpack has a pocket in it for a frame and I wanted to make a lightweight frame that doubled as something else because I feel like everything I carry on my back needs to be multi-purpose.  I have been looking at backpacking chairs but hated the fact that they would take up important space, add weight and only serve one purpose.  So I decided I'd come up with a chair/frame.

This is an incredibly solid prototype made out of crappy American plywood with carbon shafts to create the supports - I'm 200 lbs and can sit in it with my feet lifted off the ground.  But it folds flat and measures 11" x 22" x 3/4" and weighs 2 lbs.

Now I'm working on a stronger version made out of Finland Plywood that eliminates the carbon shafts and should have it done this weekend.

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If you put the supports on the top and bottom instead of front and back you could use cables/ropes instead of solid shafts. Might be able to get away with just along the bottom.

That's what everyone tells me but the back leg would snap in half because it's such crappy plywood.  I'm having a new set of wood run tonight out of Finland Plywood (19 plys in 3/4" thick) that I should be able to secure the bottom of the front leg to the bottom of the back with an adjustable strap and it should be strong enough to hold my weight.  

Ultimately I'm not making these to make money as I don't believe anyone would buy them, so difficulty/time of assembly means nothing to me.  I can put this together in about 1 minute and pack it up in maybe 2.  

Thanks for the feedback.

I was thinking more for your production model that would be made from plastic or carbon fiber.

Modified star gazer design. Nice!

had to look that up, but yes, it is 100% inspired by those.  Just made small enough to fit in a pack.

I only ever heard those referred to to as hillbilly recliners

The 18th century wants their chair back. Lol
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We used chairs of that design all the time in rev war reenacting.

Neat adapting it as a pack frame as well though.

I would make the tail of the seat a little longer so the back stands just a bit more upright. That would make the whole thing stronger because of less lateral load on the main support.

I bought three of these for $6 each. I take one with me 'yote hunting. I can sit on it for hours comfortably.


Fits in my 5.11 rush24 pack, and weighs next to nothing.