The Ultralight Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair Review

Are you tired of hauling a heavy chair into the woods, riverbanks, beach or even a campsite? The easiest way to lighten your load is by carrying a camping chair meant for backpacking. This is where the Skyline UL Chair from Big Agnes can help – it’s light enough to help reduce the strain on your back from carrying heavy gear.

This lightweight and portable chair is designed to provide you with the utmost comfort, durability, and versatility – but does it really? In this review we’ll be exploring the Big Agnes chair’s design, features, and value, as well as outlining its pros and cons to help you decide if the Skyline UL Chair is perfect for all your outdoor adventures.

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Introduction: Overview of the Skyline UL Chair

Portability and function are the keys to any outdoor gear in general. If you can also get comfort, you’ve found a real gem! That’s where the Skyline UL Chair by Big Agnes comes in.

The Skyline UL Chair is part of Big Agnes’ ultralight lineup, which means it’s specifically engineered to minimize weight and bulk without sacrificing performance. With its compact size and minimalist design, the Big Agnes Skyline UL chair is an outstanding option for hikers, backpackers, cyclists, bank anglers and other minimalist packers who need to keep their gear-load light.

Specifications: Size, Weight, and Materials

The Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is small, but mighty and it’s extra light. As per Big Agnes, here are the specs of the Skyline UL chair:

Size:

Weight:

Materials:

As you can see, the Skyline UL Chair is designed to be highly compact and lightweight, making it easy to pack and carry. Despite its lightweight (under 2 lbs), the chair can support up to 275 pounds, which is sufficient for most people – even for the occasional couple of snugglers.

Known for its strength and durability, the frame is made from a high-quality aircraft aluminum alloy. The soft feel fabric is a nylon ripstop material which just can’t be beat. The mesh sides help reduce the chair’s weight and provide breathability and support.

Whether on the move or for storage, the included pack size stuff sack is a nice touch, making it easy to pack the Skyline chair away.

Design and Features: Breakdown of the Chair’s Functionality

The Skyline UL Chair is designed with a minimalist approach that prioritizes weight and portability. What that means, and perhaps its only con, is that you won’t find armrests, cup holders and the usual goodies that most camping chairs have.

In our family, we compensate for that by having a similarly made table from Burton called the Helinox x Burton Table One, which we will review one day. This table, of course, has endless uses, especially when camping. The big takeaway here, however, is that extra features are sacrificed for portability, and that will determine the right buyer for this chair. If you are overlanding and have ample room and weight allotments, you will want the most comfortable, decked-out chair on earth, like the Kuma Lazy Bear Chair.

However, Here’s a Little Food for Thought: Overlanding mentioned above is when you take your car to go camping and hiking is not required. Pay particular attention to the ample room part. Our family went to Bonnechere twice last summer. Once with a trailered boat, which became storage for all kinds of things, including big, comfy chairs! But the other time was just the Jeep. If you are camping for a week with a family of 4 in an average-sized vehicle, you DO NOT have room to pack big, puffy, armrest-style chairs. It’s worth noting that there is always a use for an ultralight, ultra-packable and ultraportable chair, especially one that packs down to a backpack size.

Assembling & Disassembling the Big Agnes Skyline UL Camping Chair

Now, let’s get to the juicy part. The Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair easily pulls out of its stuff sack. The frame pieces are held together with a shock cord and assembled fully in less than a minute. Our yougeon, with no knowledge of gear can do it! The best part, there are no tabs or buttons to fumble with.

The four-legged chair frame is designed to create a stable and supportive base for the seat and backrest. The fabric is a one-piece fabric. In other words, it attaches in seconds. Assembly and disassembly is a breeze. The camping chair is built in a manner that makes assembly fun every time instead of being a chore!

Disassembly is simple, and the steps are the exact reverse of assembly.

Overall, the Skyline UL Chair’s design and features are well-suited to its intended purpose as a lightweight and packable outdoor camping chair. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of some heavier and bulkier chairs, it more than makes up for it, in terms of portability and ease of use.

Further Reading: Camping Gear Essentials: The Ultimate Checklist

Comfort: Evaluating Seat and Back Support

When it comes to outdoor chairs, comfort is key, right? So, how does the Skyline UL Chair stack up in this regard?

Here is part of the review where I note that the Big Agnes chair has been in our family for two years. No one sent us one for free in exchange for a glowing write-up, and what you see here is a simple, honest review based on real-world usage.

I should also mention that my family went to an outfitter in pursuit of a lightweight, backpackable camping chair, and luckily, they had several to choose from. It was a unanimous decision that this was the most comfortable camping chair! And coolest! 😉

Here is the part where reviews suck. Comfort in many aspects of life (such as a chair) is subjective to the person! What may be comfortable to me may not be to you. Granted, the more comfortable people feel, the better the odds are. Now that we’ve identified and covered some opinions, let’s get to the facts.

Factual Design Features in the Comfort Department

Here’s the good news: Ultralight chairs generally sit on four little legs, which can cause sturdiness and stability issues. Needless to say, comfort is immediately out the window if you feel like you’re going to fall! None of this is a problem with the Skyline UL, as the chair feels solid and stable. So much so, that it instills confidence that you are securely seated in a solid product.

By design, the chair also curves and moulds to you. Essentially, you are sitting in a suspended piece of fabric. If you have ever heard people fondly describe their favourite blanket that “hugs” their body – well, this is exactly what this chair does.

It was mentioned in the specifications that the sides are made of mesh. While it reduces weight, it allows for and increases breathability, which is especially helpful in hot weather. And let’s face it, most people will use this chair far more often in the hotter months. If it’s winter use you seek, such as ice fishing, you’ll have so many clothes on it won’t matter what chair you have.

Lastly, the chair’s low profile and reclined angle allow for comfortable lounging, but may not be ideal for those who prefer an upright seating position.

Overall, the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair provides a comfortable seating experience. While it may not be the most luxurious or supportive chair on the market, it is well-suited to its intended use.

Portability: Ease of Packing and Transporting

One of the key selling points of the Skyline UL Chair is its portability. So, how easy is it to carry with you on your outdoor adventures? With it being under 2 lbs and disassembly into a tube-like shape that’s 3.5″ in diameter, it doesn’t get any better! The chair can find a home inside the pack of any one who requires going ultralight.

Take that a step further, and you will ALWAYS find an available nook or cranny for your chair, whether it be your car, boat, tent, deer blind, ice hut and so on.

The included stuff sack allows you to pack the chair away quickly and easily. It makes for a one-hand grab and helps keep the chair well-protected.

Further Reading: JetBoil Flash Java Kit: Hot Water Under a 100 Seconds. Really?

Durability: How Well Does the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair Hold Up Over Time?

Our gear takes a beating from transporting and rough terrain, not to mention the elements. It’s not fun replacing costly gear, and it’s doubly not fun when it fails when you need it most – and in the middle of nowhere!

Already established, the Skyline UL is made from high-quality materials. While that’s never a guarantee, it’s the first place to start.

The second thing to look at is the warranty. Big Agnes lifetime warranty applies to all their products. They don’t cover normal wear and tear, which is fair. 

Let’s be honest, nothing lasts forever. Oddly, Big Agnes offers repair services for a modest fee, and who better than the manufacturer as a trusted source to keep your beloved gear in service? Ask yourself how many manufacturers are eager to help you keep your products longer. Last time I checked, most just wanted to sell you something else! Full details are on Big Agnes’ warranty page.

Longevity

Many fellow users have used their chair for multiple seasons without any problems, and the reviews are phenomenal. Even after two years of regular use, our Skyline UL Chair is in almost new condition. I say almost, as a small piece of amber has landed on the seat and burned a hole through the fabric. Seeing as our chair gets heavy use, the burn hole is the same size and we can happily report that there are no tears around it.

Maintenance

Big Agnes did their part with fantastic durable materials. You also need to do your part. In order to keep your Skyline UL Chair in good condition over time, giving the chair a quick wipe with a damp cloth is all you need to do. For heavier stains, we use baby wipes or a light soapy, wet cloth. When not in use, pack the chair away to help prolong its lifespan.

Value: Is the Skyline UL Chair Worth the Price?

The Big Agnes UL Chair is a high-quality piece, but is it worth the investment? Here’s what we think:

When compared to other high-end camping chairs like the Helinox Chair One, the Big Agnes Skyline is competitively priced and offers excellent value for the money.

Concluding the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair Review

While it may be on the more pricier side, the Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair provides tremendous value. Not only does the Skyline fit into your pack, it’s quick assembly will have you enjoying your outdoor activity that much sooner. Not only that, you will be comfortable doing so.

If you’re ready to lighten your gear load, try the Big Agnes Skyline UL today.

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