REASONS TO BUY
Fairly comfortable
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky
Thinner padding
ALPS Mountaineering Weekender Seat Review
A small price tag and simple design make this a good introductory backpacking chair
Credit: ALPS Mountaineering
Price: $50 List
By Elizabeth Paashaus ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 6, 2020
RELATED: Best Backpacking Chair of 2024
Our Verdict
The ALPS Mountaineering Weekender Seat is a pretty awesome bang for your buck. While its comfort doesn't compare to most of the tent-style chairs in our review, it is one of the least expensive of any products we tested and ranks in line with its direct competitors. Nothing about its performance is exceptional, but the low price tag makes it stand out as a great option for those who want to pick up a basic chair with minimal investment. Plus, we appreciated the bonus features like stadium straps and large pockets not provided by any other model we tested.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Weekender is a great buy. For an exceptionally affordable price, you get a fairly comfortable seat with top-notch versatility. We appreciate its thoughtful design, geared toward durability and user-friendliness.
Performance Comparison
The ALPS Weekender is a great budget option with moderate comfort, a low price, and bonus features.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Comfort
While the back of the Weekender isn't as high nor the foam as plush as some models, the seat is an appropriate height for the typical back. The side straps are placed at an excellent height, allowing the arms to spread out. Surprisingly, we didn't feel too cramped in this chair, though the 16-inch width is on the narrower side and could be a concern for some users.
The thinner and more compressible foam on this chair means you do feel more of the rocks and sticks where you sit — so choose your location wisely. The buckles on the side straps are easy to reach and adjust, something we found necessary in this style of chair. As with other foam style chairs, expect some rib-squeezing when sitting in the Weekender. It ranks about average among the models we tested.
When sitting on a bench using the stadium straps, the thin foam buckled over the edge, reducing the support of the chair. Just don't lean too hard!
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Size & Weight
At 26 ounces, the weight of the Weekender is in line with similar chairs. it is a bulky rectangle of foam, as you would expect of any taco-style chair, but the fact that the foam is thinner gives it a slight advantage: you can roll it for packability. It doesn't roll as well as others, but with a good strap, it's possible to fold it and strap it to the top of your pack.
Taco chairs from left to right: Crazy Creek PowerLounger, Kelty Camp Chair, ALPS Mountaineering Weekender, Crazy Creek Original Chair.
Credit: Lauren DeLaunay
Stability
When you are sitting on a rectangle of foam on the ground, there isn't really anywhere to fall. The stability of the Weekender ranks highly, similar to the other foam chairs we reviewed. In reality, the stability depends more on the user's ability to get up and down off the ground while holding the chair open than the chair itself.
The Weekender's buckles are easy to reach and the side straps provide plenty of wiggle room.
Credit: Lauren DeLaunay
Ease of Use
If you can get on and off the ground easily, then you can use the Weekender without a problem. The straps adjust easily, allowing you to fine-tune your sitting angle — an important feature on a taco-style chair where body tension and angle are what keeps you upright.
We appreciate the bonus features included on this budget model, such as straps under the seat. ALPS Mountaineering promotes these for attaching to stadium benches or canoe seats, and we love this feature for picnic tables as well. While we wouldn't recommend leaning your full weight back when relying on the stadium straps, they do allow you to sit more comfortably at a picnic table.
The rear pocket is also a nice feature for stashing a book. When grabbing the Weekender to go read by a lake, you can securely stuff your book and a small water bottle in the pocket and carry it all with the attached handles.
No other model we tested offers stadium straps. This feature allows you to add comfort and support to any bench seat.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Value
This chair is one of the least expensive in our entire review, and it's also highly versatile, so we consider it a good value. For a little more money, you can buy yourself more comfort, but this chair works well and is a low-risk investment.
Conclusion
There is a lot to appreciate about the ALPS Mountaineering Weekender. From its decently comfortable cushioning to its handy pockets and straps, we believe this product will stay with you for years to come. Long-term thru-hiking? Well, maybe not. But for everything else, the Weekender can't be beaten.
The Weekender has a perfect pocket for toting along notebooks, sunscreen, and other small accessories for a minimal added weight and bulk.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
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Elizabeth Paashaus
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