Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit
We designed the Trekker Chair Kit to transform your self-inflating sleeping pad into a stable, supportive camp chair without adding significant weight to your pack. The kit weighs just 11 ounces and packs smaller than a water bottle, making it an easy addition for backpackers who value comfort at camp.
Our powder-coated aluminum frame creates a stable seat structure that works with most 20-inch and 25-inch wide sleeping pads. Whether you're enjoying a trail meal, reading at dusk, or simply resting tired legs, the Trekker Chair Kit brings the comfort of your pad into an upright position. The kit breaks down in seconds and stows in its included stuff sack, so setup and teardown become second nature after the first use.
What's included & specifications
How the Trekker Chair Kit works with your pad
The Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit uses a three-pole frame that slides through sleeves in the included attachment system. You inflate your sleeping pad, wrap it inside the attachment sleeve, and secure the pad with the integrated straps. The frame creates a rigid backrest while the pad provides cushioned support.
We color-coded each pole section to eliminate guesswork during setup. The system works best with our self-inflating pads like the ProLite or BaseCamp series, though any 20- or 25-inch wide pad will function. The attachment sleeve’s elastic edges grip the pad without requiring additional fasteners, so you can transition from chair mode to sleeping configuration in under a minute.
Weight & packability for backpacking
At 11 ounces, the kit adds less than a water bottle’s worth of weight to your overnight or multi-day pack. We designed the poles to nest inside one another, collapsing to 13 inches in length. The stuff sack compresses the entire kit to roughly the diameter of a standard fuel canister.
Backpackers often debate whether camp furniture justifies the weight. Our Trekker Chair Kit leverages gear you’re already carrying—your sleeping pad—rather than adding a standalone seat. Many thru-hikers and lightweight campers carry the kit on trips where they know rest days or long evenings at camp will benefit from upright seating. The same aluminum construction our engineers use across the camp furniture collection ensures the frame tolerates repeated assembly cycles without fatiguing.
Assembly & adjustment
First-time setup
Slide the three pole sections together by matching the colored ends—red to red, blue to blue, black to black. Thread the assembled pole through the sleeve channels on the attachment system. Inflate your pad to your preferred firmness, then wrap the attachment sleeve around the pad and fasten the hook-and-loop closures.
Angle & firmness
The chair’s backrest angle is fixed by the frame geometry, but you control seated firmness by adjusting your pad’s inflation level. A firmer pad creates a more supportive seat, while slightly softer inflation allows you to sink into the cushion. We recommend starting at three-quarters inflation and adjusting based on personal preference and ground conditions.
Portable seating & rest solutions for camp
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Questions about the Trekker Chair Kit
The kit is designed for inflatable and self-inflating pads that can bend and conform to the frame. Closed-cell foam pads are too rigid to wrap inside the attachment sleeve, so they won't work with this system. Inflatable models provide the flexibility needed for proper fit.
We don't recommend leaving the frame installed overnight or during travel. The poles can stress the pad fabric if weight shifts during packing, and the pad won't roll or fold as compactly with the frame inside. Disassembly takes less than a minute and protects both the pad and the kit.
The frame supports up to 250 pounds when used with a properly inflated pad. Heavier users should inflate the pad to near-maximum firmness for optimal support. The aluminum poles are tested to withstand this load without bending under normal seated use.
The compressed kit measures 4.5 inches in diameter and 13 inches long, similar in size to a one-liter water bottle. Most backpacks with side or exterior pockets designed for water bottles will accommodate the stuff sack. Internal storage works equally well if exterior space is limited.
The attachment system works with any inflatable or self-inflating pad that measures 20 to 25 inches in width. Therm-a-Rest pads are optimized for fit, but other brands' pads in that width range will function. Tapered pads should have a shoulder width within the 20 to 25 inch range for secure attachment.
Measure your pad's width at its widest point. If it falls between 20 and 25 inches and is an inflatable or self-inflating model, it will work. Pads narrower than 20 inches won't stay secure in the attachment sleeve, and pads wider than 25 inches will bunch and create an unstable seat.
All Therm-a-Rest products carry our limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. If the frame develops structural issues or the attachment sleeve fails under normal use, contact our warranty team for evaluation. Damage from misuse or accidents is not covered, but we offer replacement parts at cost.