Camping, Gear

Field Tested: Strongback Elite Chair

/ January 19th, 2017

While walking the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, a guy at the Strongback booth lassoed me from the crowd and confidently said, “Hey man, sit in this chair.” I paused and asked what made his chair different from the dozens I’ve used. His response, “It won’t wreck your back.” I took a seat. Although I like flop-like-a-sack-of-potatoes sling-style chairs, the Elite’s wide stance, firm back and seat, and lumbar support captured my attention.

Strongback Chair 006

The frame is engineered with ergonomics in mind; uprights press the padded material near the small of your back forward while not making you feel like you are sitting at attention. The horizontal section where you place your derriere is equally firm yet comfortable, and padded armrests support the elbow like a good office chair. Crafted from heavy-duty 600D polyester fabric and a powder-coated steel frame, it is easy to deploy and stow, and the sturdy carry bag has a long shoulder strap that allows for hands-free portage. Capacity is 300 pounds, and lest I forget it has a drink holder for your coldy.

Strongback Chair 005

Strongback Chair 003Strongback Chair 004

Strongback Chair 007

I have since added an Elite to my kit and used it during trips through Nevada, Utah, and Baja, Mexico. It has been a comfortable place to rest my bones at the end of along day on the trail. Money back guarantee. strongbackchair.com

Chris spent his formative years riding dirt bikes with his dad in the deserts of Southern California and Baja, Mexico, which led to a lifelong quest for adventure. He is handy behind a viewfinder and at the keyboard, and brings four decades of international travel experience to Overland Journal as Editor-in-Chief. His career, which includes work for National Geographic Adventure, Four Wheeler, Hot Rod, and Autoweek, has taken him through 50-plus countries and to every continent. He has also served as correspondent to magazines in a dozen countries and in as many languages. In 2013 he was part of the Expeditions7 team that crossed Antarctica and he has recently been inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame as a pioneering journalist. When not behind the camera Chris can be found on The Office (his sailboat), or undertaking meticulous “research” for upcoming articles in locales such as Tequila, Mexico.