The Most Portable YETI Chair Yet: Trailhead Field Chair Review

YETI is certainly not known for shedding ounces or improvements on packaging. But that’s the story behind its latest camping chair, the Trailhead Field Chair. A clear evolution of the brand’s first category, the Trailhead Camp Chair, the Field Chair is a simple, stripped-back way to stay outdoors.

Softer and lighter than the original, the Trailhead Field Chair looks and feels as close to minimalist as the Austin brand can get. It does away with creature comforts like armrests and cup holders, and trades the tough but breathable “FlexGrid” mesh of the Trailhead Camp chair for traditional synthetic fabric.

The result is a basic, lightweight – but slightly sturdy – car camping or day trip chair.

In summary: The YETI Trailhead Field Chair ($225) is under the chair for those counting ounces (or rather, pounds), and an additional option for those looking for a more affordable offering from YETI. While the Trailhead Field costs 25% less than its predecessor, it also cuts back on features and amenities. If you don’t mind rolling up your arms and putting your drink down, the Trailhead Field is acceptably light and still very comfortable – with typical YETI muscle.

Check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Camp Chairs.

YETI Trailhead Field chair review

The chair is almost as easy to set up as we review. The product comes with a shoulder sling bag, from the double shoulder strap, the original Camp Chair backpack-carry. Unzip the top and remove the 9-pound seat.

It folds the same way as a heavy duty Camp Chair, using the YETI “Crossover” design. This is similar to most car camping seats, which fold inwards. Unlike the previous seat, the Trailhead Field seat does not use tensioners, and has no striking or locking parts. He just opened it and sat down.

Trailhead Camp vs. Field Chair

There are so many similarities between Trailhead Field and Camp seats that it only makes sense to stack them together.

Comfort

The biggest difference is the seat. The original Camp Chair uses FlexGrid mesh, while the Field chair uses the rarer – and less breathable – TWILITE synthetic fabric. Both are comfortable and have their ups and downs.

TWILITE’s Field Chair fabric has a bit more, but less than the trampoline springiness of the Camp Chair. It is also more comfortable on the skin – say, if you are wearing short shorts or swimming trunks.

Setup, Portability

The Field Chair is a clear winner here. It is 4 pounds lighter than the Camp Chair, which equates to a 30% weight reduction. The low weight also allows the Field Chair to use a conventional single arm sling for portability.

Despite YETI’s marketing of the Field Chair as “suitable for tough trips to basecamp,” this is not a great chair for long hikes. It is designed mainly for walking up and down the beach looking for a good place to set up a basecamp.

The Field Chair also wins in setup. Short of a standard chair that needs nothing, this is as easy to set up as you’ll find in a folding chair. No clips, nothing to assemble — just spread the thing open and sit down.

Accessories

As the saying goes, everything always comes out in the wash. This is where the weight savings and lower price manifest themselves in the user experience. Unlike the Camp Chair, there are no armrests and no built-in cups. It’s a step down from simplification, and I think it’s a noticeable loss.

You can buy a substitute for around $20, but this seems like a miss to me. It is very simple to build on, but it adds a lot of convenience to the user. Making it a standalone piece is a tough pill to swallow. But that’s me; others may enjoy the extra savings on the front sticker price and enjoy holding their drink or placing it in a cooler.

Conclusion: For Whom?

To me, the Field Chair represents where we are economically: less expensive, and smaller. It is a modified version of a rich chair that tries to give people something simple. This is where you sit when you have to tighten the proverbial belt.

But at the same time, it’s tough. YETI has not compromised its strong foundation; found a way to reduce weight and lower the sticker price, without making something smaller and cheaper. This is a simple outdoor chair that is comfortable but not bad.

The weight and price means you can buy two instead of just one, throw them in the bed of your truck, and keep them around for a bonfire or tailgate party. It’s a simple, sturdy chair – no more, no less.