YETI’s Most Portable Chair Yet: Trailhead Field Chair Review

YETI certainly isn’t known for shedding ounces or advancements in packability. But that’s the story behind its latest camping seat, the Trailhead Field Chair. A clear evolution of the brand’s category debut, Trailhead Camp Chair, the Field Chair is a simpler, stripped-down approach to outdoor seating.

Leaner and lighter than the original, the Trailhead Field Chair looks and feels about as close to minimalist as the Austin brand is likely to get. It does away with creature comforts like armrests and cupholders, and trades the firm but breathable “FlexGrid” mesh of the Trailhead Camp chair for a more traditional synthetic fabric.

The result is a basic, no-frills — but no less durable — car camping or day-tripping adventure chair.

In short: The YETI Trailhead Field Chair ($225) is less a chair for those counting ounces (or rather, pounds), and more an option for those seeking a less expensive offering from YETI. While the Trailhead Field costs 25% less than its predecessor, it also trims features and conveniences. If you don’t mind folding your arms and putting your drink on the ground, the Trailhead Field is acceptably light and still plenty comfortable — with the typical YETI muscle.

Check out the GearJunkie guide to Best Camp Chairs.

YETI Trailhead Field Chair Review

The chair is about as simple to set up as it is to review. The product comes with a shoulder sling carry bag, a departure from the double-shoulder strap, backpack-carry of the original Camp Chair. Unzip the top and remove the 9-pound chair.

It folds identically to the heavier Camp Chair, using YETI’s “Crossover” design. This is similar to many car-camping chairs, which collapse inward. Unlike the previous chair, the Trailhead Field chair does not utilize tensioners, nor does it have any parts that snap or lock into place. Just unfold it and sit.

Trailhead Camp vs. Field Chair

There’s so much in common between the Trailhead Field and Camp chairs that it only makes sense to stack them against one another.

Comfort

The biggest difference is in the seat’s material. The original Camp Chair uses FlexGrid mesh, while the Field chair uses a less exotic — and less breathable — TWILITE synthetic fabric. Both are plenty comfortable and have their own ups and downs.

The Field Chair’s TWILITE fabric has a bit more give, but less of the trampoline springiness of the Camp Chair. It’s also a little more comfortable against the skin — say, if you’re wearing short-shorts or swim trunks.

Setup, Portability

The Field Chair is a clear winner here. It’s 4 pounds lighter than the Camp Chair, which equates to about a 30% reduction in weight. The lower weight also allows the Field Chair to employ a more traditional single-arm sling for carrying.

Despite YETI’s marketing of the Field Chair being “ideal for tough treks to basecamp,” this is still not a great chair for long hikes. It’s very much designed for walking up and down the beach looking for a good spot to put down a blanket basecamp.

The Field Chair also wins on setup. Short of a standard chair that requires nothing, this is as simple a setup as you’ll find on a folding chair. There are no clips, nothing to assemble — just spread the thing open and sit down.

Accessories

As the saying goes, everything always comes out in the wash. Here is where the weight savings and lower price reveal themselves in the user experience. Unlike the Camp Chair, there are no armrests and no built-in cupholders. It’s a step down in overall convenience, and I think it’s a noticeable loss.

You can buy a cupholder that snaps into place for $20, but this seems like a miss to me. It’s a very simple accessory to build in, but it adds so much more convenience for the user. Making it a sold-separately piece is a tough pill to swallow. But that’s me; others might appreciate the extra savings on the up-front sticker price and be happy to hold their beverage or set it atop their cooler.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

To me, the Field Chair represents where we’re at economically: it costs less, and it is less. It’s a pared-down version of a more feature-rich chair that attempts to give folks something simple. It’s where you sit when you have to tighten the proverbial belt.

But at the same time, it’s robust. YETI did not compromise its durable foundation; it found a way to trim weight and bring the sticker price down, without making something flimsy and cheap. This is a simple outdoor chair that’s plenty comfortable but not cushy.

The weight and price mean you could buy two instead of just one, toss them in the bed of your truck, and keep them on hand for a bonfire or tailgate party. It’s a simple, solid chair — no more, no less.