Camp chairs run from cheap and flimsy to comfy and huge, and few get the balance right. The Naturehike YL06 does: a high-back chair with a headrest that weighs 1.3 kg, packs to the size of a loaf of bread and snaps together in under a minute. We’ve used ours at six campsites around NSW, from a windy coastal camp in Bouddi National Park to Coorongooba Campground in the Capertee Valley and Jounama Creek in the Snowy Mountains. It cost us $75.
What’s in the box
A folding chair with a 7075 aluminium frame that clicks together with shock-corded poles, like a tent, and a 600D Oxford seat with mesh side panels and a high back. It has no armrests or cupholder. The seat sits 41 cm off the ground, the back reaches 98 cm, and it holds up to 150 kg. It all packs into a tough carry bag with a handle loop.
What we like
- High back with a headrest
- Light: 1,303 g
- Packs to 36 × 12 × 10 cm
- Sets up in under a minute
- Strong 7075 aluminium frame
- Wide feet on soft ground
What we don’t
- No armrests or cupholder
- Snug fit
- Not for sprawling
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Naturehike |
| Model | YL06 |
| Material | 7075 aluminium frame600D OxfordMesh side panels |
| Colour | Army green |
| Weight | 1,303 g |
| Max load | 150 kg |
| Seat height | 41 cm |
| Height | 98 cm |
| Packed size | 36 × 12 × 10 cm |
Comfort
The high back is what sets the YL06 apart from most light chairs: it supports your whole back and your head, and the angle is relaxed enough to lounge in yet upright enough for a meal or a chat by the fire. The seat supports your lower back better than we expected, sitting somewhere between a rigid upright chair and a saggy one, and the mesh sides keep you cool on warm afternoons. The fit is snug, though, and with no armrests it isn’t one for sprawling.
At camp
Two of them came with us to Jounama Creek, where we set them up around the fire pit in the late afternoon. Even after long use the chairs stayed taut and upright, with no sagging, and the wide feet kept them steady on the bumpy, uneven ground. On a damp morning pack-down the fabric wiped dry in seconds, and it sheds mud better than we expected. The 41 cm seat is also the right height for our Kings folding table.
Setting up and packing
Setup is quick: the poles click together with their shock cord, the hub takes them, and the seat stretches over the frame with a little tension. The first time took some trial and error; after that it’s under a minute. Packed, it weighs 1,303 g on our scale and is about the size of a loaf of bread, so it fits a backpack side pocket or a drawer system. The carry bag is tough, and its handle loop straps onto MOLLE webbing or a pack’s daisy chain.
Build
The 7075 aluminium frame, the same type of alloy used in trekking poles, is a good mix of strength and weight, and it’s rated to 150 kg. The 600D Oxford seat resists abrasion and water, and after many setups and pack-downs ours shows no wear or loose seams. The feet are well thought out: grippy on rock and logs, and wide enough not to sink into sand or soft dirt.
Naturehike chairs comparedChair comparison
We’ve now reviewed three Naturehike chairs. This one, the YL06, is the only one with a high back: a full back and a headrest. The YL08 and the YL01 are low chairs with a pouch under the seat, and the YL08 is the lightest of the three.
This one YL06 |  YL01 |  YL08 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Lounging | General camping | Ultralight backpacking |
| Back support | Full back, headrest | Mid-back | Mid-back |
| Seat height | 41 cm | 38 cm | 34.5 cm |
| Overall height | 98 cm | 73.5 cm | 71 cm |
| Weight | 1.30 kg | 1.42 kg | 1.05 kg |
| Max load | 150 kg | 200 kg | 120 kg |
| Price paid | $75 | $70 | $60 |
| Our score | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.9 |
Vs our camping stoolsStool comparison
Next to our telescopic camping stool and the Wanderer tripod stool, the YL06 is a proper chair, with a back to lean on. The stools are lighter or pack smaller, for when you only need a quick seat.
| This oneNaturehike YL06 | Compact Collapsible Stool | Lightest Wanderer Stool | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backrest | Yes | No | No |
| Frame | Folding chair | Telescopic rings | Tripod legs |
| Seat height | 41 cm | 6.5–45 cm | 42.5 cm |
| Packed size | 36 × 12 × 10 cm | 25 × 25 × 6.5 cm | 57 × 10 × 10 cm |
| Weight | 1303 g | 1040 g | 802 g |
| Max load | 150 kg | 180 kg | 90 kg |
| Price | $75 | $20 | $25 |
| Our score | 9.2 | 8.1 | 9.0 |
Conclusion: Naturehike Camping Chair UltralightConclusion
The Naturehike YL06 is the light camp chair we’d buy again: a high back and headrest for real comfort, a 7075 aluminium frame that hasn’t sagged or slipped at six campsites, and a 1.3 kg pack the size of a loaf of bread. There are no armrests or cupholder and the fit is snug, but for $75 it’s a strong, no-fuss chair that sets up in under a minute.
The light camp chair we'd buy again.
Its high back and headrest are properly comfortable, the 7075 aluminium frame hasn't sagged or slipped at six campsites, and it packs to 1.3 kg, the size of a loaf of bread. There are no armrests or cupholder, and the fit is snug.
- Campers
- Hikers
- 4WD tourers
Yes. $75 gets you a high-back chair with a headrest at 1.3 kg, with a strong 7075 aluminium frame. It has no armrests and fits snugly.
