Sometimes you don’t need a whole camp chair, just somewhere to sit while you cook, pull your boots on or watch the kettle. This collapsible camping stool squashes down into a disc 6.5 cm thick, and pulls up into a seat up to 45 cm high. It’s rated to 180 kg and costs about $20.
We took it to Coorongooba Campground in Wollemi National Park, where it sat on the grass below the sandstone cliffs. You’ll find the campground with our other NSW trip guides.
What’s in the box
One black stool made of thick polypropylene, with a webbing strap around the rim. Folded, it’s a round disc about 25 cm across and 6.5 cm thick, so it slides in beside the drawers or under a seat in the car. It’s sold by Qiguet on Amazon, among other brand names on what looks like the same stool.
What we like
- Folds into a 6.5 cm disc
- 12 heights up to 45 cm
- Rated to 180 kg
- Strap doubles as a handle
- Cheap at about $20
What we don’t
- Hard seat, no back
- Small base needs level ground
- Heavier than a tripod stool
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Qiguet |
| Material | Polypropylene |
| Colour | Black |
| Weight | 1.04 kg |
| Max load | 180 kg |
| Seat height | 6.5–45 cm12 levels |
| Packed size | 25 × 25 × 6.5 cm |
From flat disc to seat
The stool is a stack of plastic rings that slide out of each other like a telescope. Pull the seat up and the rings come out one by one, so you can stop at one of 12 heights, from a low perch for the fire to a full 45 cm, about the height of a camp chair. Folding it is the same in reverse, and it’s done in a few seconds.
The webbing strap around the rim buckles the disc shut for the drive and doubles as a carry handle.
Sitting on it
It’s a stool, so there’s no back to lean on, and the 25 cm round seat is hard plastic. For a few minutes at the camp kitchen or while you sort gear that’s fine; for a whole evening around the fire you’ll want a proper chair. At full height it felt solid on the flat grass at Coorongooba, with no flex in the rings.
The base is the same size as the seat, with grippy pads underneath. That’s a small footprint, so it’s happiest on level, firm ground, and on soft sand or uneven rock you need to find a flat spot first.
How it compares with our other stoolsStool comparison
We’ve also tested the Wanderer Lightweight Tripod Stool, a classic three-legged stool with a fabric seat, and the Naturehike YL06, a light folding chair with a high back. The telescopic stool is the most compact and the strongest, but the Wanderer is lighter and its fabric seat is kinder to sit on.
This one Collapsible Stool | Backrest Naturehike YL06 | Lightest Wanderer Stool | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backrest | No | Yes | No |
| Frame | Telescopic rings | Folding chair | Tripod legs |
| Seat height | 6.5–45 cm | 41 cm | 42.5 cm |
| Packed size | 25 × 25 × 6.5 cm | 36 × 12 × 10 cm | 57 × 10 × 10 cm |
| Weight | 1040 g | 1303 g | 802 g |
| Max load | 180 kg | 150 kg | 90 kg |
| Price | $20 | $75 | $25 |
| Our score | 8.1 | 9.2 | 9.0 |
Conclusion: Qiguet Portable Collapsible StoolConclusion
This collapsible camping stool is a clever spare seat. It folds into a 6.5 cm disc, pulls up to any of 12 heights up to 45 cm and takes 180 kg, for about $20. The seat is hard and has no back, and the small base wants level ground, so it won’t replace your camp chair. As an extra seat that takes up almost no room in the car, it’s worth having.
A clever spare seat that folds into a 6.5 cm disc.
It pulls up to 12 heights up to 45 cm and takes 180 kg, for about $20. The seat is hard with no back and the small base wants level ground.
- Car campers
- Anglers
- 4WD tourers
Yes, as a spare seat. It costs about $20, takes 180 kg and packs flatter than any stool we’ve tested. For long evenings, a chair is more comfortable.
