A good camp chair can make or break the moment when relaxing around a campfire, fishing next to a mountain stream, or just enjoying the sights, sounds, and scents of nature. The adventurer’s chair needs to be comfortable and durable enough to hold up to the elements under continuous use. It must also be supportive and suited to securely rest on relatively uneven terrain. Fortunately, the Australian-based company, Darche, has a true contender in the realm of camp chairs with its Vipor XVI.
The Vipor XVI is a comfortable and stable chair with a steel frame and a thick 600D Polyester bucket seat for extreme durability. It’s rated to hold 330 pounds (150 kilograms), and its wide, flexible frame provides a sturdy footprint on most terrain. The chair offers an array of features, including a detachable storage attachment with multiple storage pouches, one of which is big enough to hold an insulated water bottle. In addition to the generous side attachment, the Vipor XVI is equipped with a retractable drink holder that perfectly holds a canned or bottled beverage. Another helpful feature from the engineers at Darche involves stashing the included carry bag in a compartment on the top of the chair back, giving the user a convenient place to put the carry bag as well as yielding better upper back support. This feature is entirely optional and depends on the user’s preference. For storage, the top of the chair detaches and folds into the seat; this requires comparatively more time to set up and take down the chair. When stowed in its carry bag, the Vipor XVI is rather heavy at 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms), and its large size (115 x 25 x 25 centimeters) may make it less appealing to those tight on extra space.
Overall, the Vipor XVI is a quality camp chair that is great for those who do not have to set it up far from their rig and have the space to make its bulk practical. The chair’s tall seat (46 centimeters) and back (106 centimeters), along with its 50-centimeter-wide seat, make it better suited for taller explorers. The Vipor’s weight and size, when collapsed, made me wish that the chair’s carry bag had a shoulder strap as the bag only has two handle carry straps. When collapsed and in its carry bag, the chair is not perfectly rectangular, so it takes up slightly more space when stored. Altogether, the Vipor XVI is the right purchase for one who values comfort and durability and is willing to sacrifice some of the convenience of size and weight.
$169 | gtfoverland.com
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