OK, we?ll let the -3 guys read this as well?.but NONE of those pesky side-by-side or ?family model? folks need proceed any further!!
OK, are we alone? Good! Let?s face it guys (and gals) ? we have a problem when it comes to going to camp-outs, fly-ins, or Oshkosh. The problem? How the heck do you carry a chair along?! One of the few issues I have with our Tandem designs is that no matter how hard you try, you can?t get a ?regular? sized folding chair to fit into the baggage compartment. Sure ? you can get one in if you let it protrude into the rear seat area (the RV-3 guys are going ?rear seat? What?s he talking about??). But if you are taking someone along, that?s just not an option?..
Oh yeah, there are the really cheap folding chairs that don?t have any arms ? Walmart carries them this time of year for about $6 each. We have a pair, and they DO fit cross-wise in the forward baggage area ? but they aren?t very comfortable, and the stiching tends to rip out pretty quick. I consider them to be disposable, and for emergency use only. The standard folding chairs with arms? Too long when folded to fit. I have done a lot of shopping around, and even when you look in the backpacking world, you?re pretty much out of luck?.almost?.
I must give credit to Louise for this find ? the "Alite Monarch Chair". She ran across them on her last shopping expedition through the REI catalog, and they were just intriguing enough that we bought a pair ? one red, one blue (they match our airplanes). They certainly meet the criteria of ?small? when packed ? just 13? long, and 4.5? in diameter. And they certainly are ?unique? ? only two points of contact with the ground, and you just lean back and balance in them. Which, when you think about it, is what a lot of us do in a four-legged chair when we want to be comfortable. Built very rugged, like good mauntaineering gear.
We haven?t used them for a long period of time yet, but they sure seem relaxing, and beat the heck out of sitting on the ground, kneeling, or crouching. I am looking forward to trying them out at Oshkosh ? they are easy enough to clip on your belt and pop them out when you want to sit and watch airplanes! And best of all, they can fit just about anywhere in a Tandem (or single seat) RV, so we don?t have to stand around admiring the Barco-loungers brought in by the wide-body crowd?.(I can say that ? we do have the -6 in the family?.)
Pictures:
All packed up ? you can hang it on your belt!
A little Aluminum/Nylon Origami and it goes from the bag to a chair!
I recommend looking at the instructions for the boarding procedure!
Is it Comfortable? Works for me!
Paul
For Tandems Only!!!
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