REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair Review

The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair is a lightweight camp chair that delivers excellent comfort in a small, portable package.

I recently purchased the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair specifically for a 7-day whitewater rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. After testing it in sand, cobbled rock, hard-packed dirt, and then on a local swim beach, this is what we learned:

REI Flexlite Camp Boss Chair Review

The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair is one of those under-appreciated pieces of gear that deserves a bit more attention. I used to take the predecessor of the Flexlite Camp Boss Chair — the Flexlite Macro Chair — pretty much everywhere and it held up well for three years. Because it was so packable, it earned a near-constant spot in my pickup. I took it camping, fishing, hunting, and to most every beach. After campfire embers burned holes in its mesh seat, I repaired some of them with AquaSeal, but the fabric will soon tear for good. The frame itself is still going strong, and I tried to find a replacement fabric seat at REI, but alas REI doesn’t sell one.

So I upgraded to the new and improved REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair in advance of the Middle Fork of the Salmon rafting trip. The overall packability and comfort is hard to beat.

 

Proven Design

The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair has a proven design. Basically, it features two heavy-duty polymer leg and support joints that aluminum poles fit into. A curved ripstop polyester seat attaches to four pole ends. It all weighs just 2 lbs 14 oz and seems like it would blow away in a gust of wind.

When you sit in it, though, it feels surprisingly stable. Plus, it has a rated weight capacity of 300 lbs, which is why I like it. For reference, I’m about 6’3″ and 220 pounds.

The biggest benefits to the design is the relaxed seating style. The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair is meant for relaxing in a slightly reclined position. You can scoot your butt back and lean forward to eat a meal around a campfire, of course, but I like to use the Flexlite Camp Boss to relax. It’s a great chair for kicking back, chilling with your friends, and looking at rugged rocky cliffs as the sun rises or sets.

Flexlite Camp Boss vs Flexlite Camp Chair

If you’re wondering which ‘Flexlite’ chair to buy, choose the Flexlite Camp Boss if you’re a larger person. The Flexlite Camp Boss is 20% larger in all dimensions than the standard Flexlite Camp Chair. This results in greater comfort and more room to adjust your position to match the terrain or scenery.

Even if the increased weight capacity doesn’t matter to you, I think most campers will appreciate the slightly taller seat height. The Flexlite Camp Boss seat height is 14 inches while the standard Flexlite seat height is 11 inches. The higher seat height doesn’t reduce your relaxation but it does make it easier to sit down and stand up — particularly when you’re holding a plate of food.

The Flexlite weighs about a pound less than the Boss version and is very slightly more packable. However, at 1 lb. 11 oz, the Flexlite is still too heavy for most backpacking situations. If you truly want an ultralight chair, the REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair (full Air Chair review here) weighs just a single pound. It works well and has never failed me, but fellow campers and backpackers do find it amusing to see my rather large frame sit in it.

Meanwhile, REI does offer yet another Flexlite chair option — the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Dreamer Chair. It’s basically a Flexlite chair with a high-back for increased comfort while kicking back.

 

A Desirable Seat

You know you have a good camp chair when your friends and family choose to sit in it more often than not. Uncomfortable camp chairs fill last. On the aforementioned Middle Fork rafting trip with 17 members in our group, I had to nab the Flexlite Camp Boss Chair fast.

To increase the comfort, REI upgraded the seat shape with two oblong holes. REI says the new shape eliminates tension zones to provide greater comfort for a wider range of body sizes and shapes.

It sure seems to work: The REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair is very comfortable.

Drawbacks

The biggest drawback to the REI Flexlite Camp Boss Chair is the lack of cupholders. It doesn’t have any cupholders at all, nor does it have a fabric pocket for stowing your phone, keys or odds or ends.

I do wish REI included a couple of fabric pockets on either side, one big enough to fit a 32-oz Nalgene-sized water bottle and another sized for typical beer or soda cans.

The seat legs have rugged ends, but they’re relatively small, which means they tend to sink into sand. While we find this mildly annoying, it’s not a deal-breaker for us.

Shop the entire REI Co-op Flexlite chair series at REI!

Competitive Alternatives & Options

There are many camping chair options available these days. The trick is finding the right blend of comfort, portability, and cost to fit your needs. If you’re interested in the REI Flexlite Camp Boss, these alternative options might also work for you:

NEMO Moonlite Reclining Camp Chair — The NEMO Moonlite Reclining Camp Chair has a similar design to the REI Flexlite series, but NEMO’s chair is lighter with a competitive weight capacity. The biggest benefit is the adjustable side straps that let you recline farther or lean forward with better support and comfort.

Helinox Savanna Chair — The primary benefit of the Helinox Savanna Chair is that it gives you a super-comfy high-back option for improved relaxation wherever you are. Plus, it comes with a mesh cup holder! The weight capacity is 320 lbs and the seat height is 14″. The biggest drawback is the increased cost over the Flexlite Camp Boss, but Helinox boasts an impressive 5-year warranty. Check out the Helinox Chair One XL for a low-back design more similar to the Flexlite Camp Boss Chair.

Cascade Mountain Tech Camp Chair — The biggest benefit of the Cascade Mountain Tech Camp Chair is its lower price point while keeping a high-back design. The biggest drawback is the lower rated weight capacity of 250 lbs.

YETI Trailhead Camp Chair — If you’re considering the REI Flexlite Camp Boss Chair, the YETI Trailhead Camp Chair is likely far off your radar; however, it’s so comfortable and rugged that it’s worth being aware of. If the YETI Trailhead Camp Chair were more portable, we’d take it everywhere. Read our full Trailhead Camp Chair review if there’s a spot in your camp chair quiver for rugged awesomeness.

The Bottom Line

All-in-all, the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair is a lightweight, packable camp chair that delivers surprisingly good kick-back relaxed comfort. We like it best when space savings is important, and because it’s so packable — but is still bigger than the standard REI Flexlite Camp Chair — it ends up going with us on most of our outdoor adventures. Very highly recommended. 

Get the Gear:

• REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss Chair
• REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair
• REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair
• REI Flexlite Camp Dreamer Chair