Image: Therm-a-Rest · source
Therm-a-Rest · Mid-range
The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat is a 2 oz accordion-fold camping seat of molded closed-cell cross-linked polyethylene foam, made in the USA of US and imported materials.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link, opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How we pick our gear
We have not tested it ourselves: strengths and weaknesses below come from the tests cited.
Platforms, embankments and station forecourts rarely come with somewhere comfortable to sit, and a long wait for one train can turn into hours. Therm-a-Rest describes the Z Seat as an ounce-counter's solution to on-the-spot comfort, ideal for backpacking, ski touring and relaxing on rough terrain. A railfan can use it as a seat that packs beside a camera and scanner and unfolds on a hard ledge or damp ground. OutdoorGearLab, which bought and tested it, measured 1.8 oz and a packed size of 13 x 2.5 x 2.5 in, small enough for a pack side pocket next to a water bottle.
The seat unfolds like an accordion to 13 x 16 inches and is 0.75 inch thick. Packed, the maker lists 12 x 2.5 x 2.75 inches, and a bungee closure keeps it folded. The fill is molded closed-cell crosslinked polyethylene foam, so there is nothing to pump. Therm-a-Rest says the Blue and Limon colours carry its ThermaCapture treatment, which reflects radiant heat, and that the Coyote / Gray version lacks it. OutdoorGearLab's testers report that the closed-cell foam, the same kind used in sleeping pads, insulates against a cold rock and keeps the sitter dry on muddy ground. They also found that a puncture does not hurt it, and that rips, tears and duct-tape repairs do not change how it performs. On a four-year-old pad the egg-carton bumps had flattened slightly but it still insulated and padded. Two handling points from the same test: the pad is light enough to catch the wind, so it must be held down while sitting on a windy day, and it should be strapped down well when carried because a loss may go unnoticed.
Strengths
Weaknesses
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2 oz (0.06 kg) |
| Material | Cross-linked Polyethylene |
| Foam type | Molded closed cell |
| Seat height | 0.75 in (2 cm) |
| Seat dimensions | 13 x 16 in |
| Packed dimension | 12 in x 2.5 in x 2.75 in |
| Country of origin | Made in USA of US and Imported Materials |
Anyone who wants to sit down on a hard ledge, kerb or damp ground during a long wait and give up almost no pack weight or space. OutdoorGearLab describes it as designed for ultralight backpackers, budget-conscious hikers and minimalists, and its verdict is that it suits those who do not mind sitting on the ground or finding a rock or log. It is a foam pad, not a seat with back support.
Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat: a self-inflating seat whose page lists 1.5 in (3.8 cm) thick foam, firmness you adjust, and an integrated bungee loop that keeps it rolled up, for anyone who wants more cushion than 0.75 in of closed-cell foam. NEMO Chipper: OutdoorGearLab calls it similar to the Z Seat, made of reclaimed closed-cell foam, and measured it at 3.3 oz against 1.8 oz for the Z Seat.
Image: ALPS Mountaineering · source
ALPS Mountaineering · Mid-range
A large steel-framed camp chair with a padded seat, two cup holders and several pockets, rated by its maker for 800 pounds.
Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab, May 2026
Image: Cascade Mountain Tech · source
Cascade Mountain Tech · Budget
A 7-pound folding camp chair that sits 5 inches off the ground, which OutdoorGearLab tested and named its best low-budget low-profile pick.
Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab, Aug 2025
Image: GCI Outdoor · source
GCI Outdoor · Mid-range
The GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker is a folding outdoor rocking chair with spring-action rocking, a built-in cup holder, a mesh backrest and a stated weight capacity of 250 lb.
Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab, May 2026
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How we pick our gear
Compare all seats & comfort.
