My whole life, I’ve hiked hard. The thrill of hiking was less about stopping to smell roses, and more about racking up the miles as quickly as possible. In my early 20s, I was forced to slow down my pace due to a medical condition which leaves me tired and sore if I do not keep my activity levels within my limits.
Finding the right tools to help you adapt to a new mobility is an enormous relief. The tool that helped me was my trusty Helinox Speed Stool. The tiny stool is so small that it has lived in many of my homes. hiking packsTotes sling bags Since I first got it, I’ve been using it every day. I’ve taken it with me on vacations to relaxing mountain towns. multiday backcountry adventuresI sit down in quiet store corners whenever I want a moment to myself.
Helinox Speed Stool
Amazon
Prior to finding the Speed Stool, it was difficult for me to find a balance between comfort, size and ease of usage that met my needs. Many camp chairs The chairs on the market look great and are perfect for sitting in front of the fire, but not all bags can fit them. Even though I had tried smaller options, the time it took to set them up kept me from using them unless I was in a hurry.
That’s the beauty of the Speed Stool—when you pull it out of its carry pouch, a quick shake is often enough to encourage the stool’s internal bungee cords to practically assemble itself. It’s an amazing feature that makes it easier to use on a public sidewalk. No more fiddling with poles or locking mechanisms while people are pushing past. If I want to sit, I will sit. I don’t have to spend mental energy on setup, so I can enjoy myself more.
Helinox Speed Stool
Amazon
It’s worth repeating how small the stool is. Hardly tipping the scale at just a pound, Helinox itself says its stool is around the size of a small baguette, and I’d say that’s about right—for around the size and weight of a sub sandwich, you can sit anywhere without hassle. It’s much more comfortable to sit on this stool than I ever thought a baguette would be. The fabric is just the right amount of stretch and it’s the perfect height.
Helinox also designed this product with long-term use in mind—an important consideration when looking for accessibility solutions. This stool is built to last. It has sturdy aluminum poles from DAC, the same company that makes the poles for many of my favorite camping tents. The seat is UV-resistant and made of high-denier ripstop fabric.
GCI Outdoor Portable Camping Stool
Amazon
Amazon has a number of affordable and great options for those on a tight budget or who want to see if a stool is the right mobility aid. This is the best budget-friendly choice. portable camping stool from GCI—it packs down to just about the same size as Helinox’s stool and only weighs a third of a pound more.
This tripod stool is easy to set-up, and the shock cords on each leg make it so they can be easily popped into place to take a break. This tripod stool wobbles on uneven surfaces, but GCI’s clever fabric wrap around the legs prevents it from doing so.
The stool also comes with an attractive drawstring bag. You’ll probably throw this stool in your bag whenever you leave home. If your bag is already stuffed, it comes with a handy carabiner that will allow you to attach the pouch to the outside.
A reviewer who was elderly and had mobility problems appreciated that this stool “sets-up in a blink” and added “I can clip the carabiner onto my crossbody bags and the weight increase is negligible.”
If you want to be able to move around the world more easily, these stools are for you. See below for more great accessibility aids.
Amazon has more camping stools to shop:
Lfsemini Camping Stool
Amazon
Mooncy Camping Stool
Amazon
Big Agnes Skyline UL Camping Stool
Amazon
Hillsound Btr camping Stool
Amazon
Koksry Camp Stool
Amazon
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