Kijaro Dual Lock Chair

A day at a crossing or on a platform is mostly standing, and a chair with a firm, upright seat gives you somewhere to sit without wrestling a carry bag. Because the frame locks closed and the chair carries on a shoulder strap, it can ride on your back while your hands hold a camera or a tripod. The maker describes it as locking in the folded position for easy portability without the carry bag.

OutdoorGearLab's testers describe a taut, non-slouchy seat with an angled back and one of the tallest seat heights of the chairs they tried, which makes it easy to get in and out of. Once locked closed, one tester found it easy to hoist and carry with no storage bag. The same test warns that the folded package is just shy of four feet long, which matters when loading a trunk. Check that chairs are allowed where you plan to sit, and keep your seat well back from the track and behind any fence or line. The maker describes no-sag seating with a breathable mesh back in diamond ripstop polyester, and a side organizer with a mesh pocket and zippered storage. The test credits the upright, ergonomic support, in contrast with designs that promote slouching, and says earlier versions had made the testers wary of durability.

Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab: OutdoorGearLab named it the best budget chair for firm support, praising its taut, supportive seat and locking frame, and warning that it is not overly durable, stains easily and packs very long. Read the review

It suits a lineside photographer or trainspotter who wants a firm, upright seat with an attached carry strap at a modest price tier. Anyone who wants a padded, roomy seat, or who needs more than 300 pounds of capacity, should look elsewhere. If the chair will ride in a trunk with other gear, its length when folded is the point to weigh.

The ALPS Mountaineering King Kong is the padded, roomier pick of the same test, rated for 800 pounds by its maker, but it weighs 13 pounds and packs bulkier. The Yeti Trailhead is that test's upgrade pick.