When it comes to motorcycle camping, it is all too easy to overpack and bring more gear than you really need. It tends to be a constant learning experience to figure what is essential and what can be left behind. One item that may not be essential, but can make the camping experience much more enjoyable, is a camp chair.

After a long day on the bike, a comfortable camp chair is nice for relaxing by a campfire and helps you recover for the next day of riding. Lightweight backpacking chairs have been around forever, and you can find them in various sizes from a variety of different manufacturers. Typically, the lighter and smaller they are, the more expensive. As motorcyclists, we don’t necessarily need the lightest backpacking gear. What we do need is something that will pack down small, won’t be too heavy, and durability is a nice bonus as well. Tusk, a Rocky Mountain ATV/MC house brand, has recently released two new motorcycle camping chairs with similar features to other backpacking style chairs but at a more affordable price.

Tusk compact camp chairs come in two sizes – Medium and Large. We got a chance to take the Medium on a couple camping trips to see how it compares with similar designs. I’m one of those people that doesn’t mind the extra weight and bulk of carrying a comfortable, compact backpacking chair on motorcycle trips. The last thing I want to do after a long day is sit on a uncomfortable rock or even worse, having to stand until it’s time to retire for the night. So how does this one match up?

Tusk Camp Chair Setup

The Tusk camp chair offers sturdy construction with 7075 aluminum tubing and 600 Denier reinforced fabric.

The Tusk Camp Chair comes with a storage bag that has webbing loops on the ends for carrying and a strip of webbing along the length of the bag that allows you to strap it onto your luggage. At 14 inches long when packed, it fits in most panniers or tail bags. Once you take the chair out of the storage bag, you unroll the fabric and expose the frame tubing. The frame is made out of 7065 Aluminum tubing and snaps together easily with the help of shock cord through plastic junctions. Once the frame is assembled, the seat fabric can be mounted on it. The seat is made of a 600D reinforced Oxford cloth with mesh sections and pockets at each corner that slip over the frame. The entire chair takes less than a minute to assemble and disassembly and packing takes about the same amount of time.

Tusk’s camp chair has a reasonable seat height and the drink holder is a nice convenience.

How It Performed

Once set up, the Tusk Camp Chair offers a comfortable and stable place to sit. One thing that you will notice right away is that this chair sits low to the ground. You sit around eleven inches off the ground, which is a good height for relaxing but it can be a little difficult to get back out of. If you are taller than average or maybe not as limber as you used to be, you may want to consider the Large version with a taller seat height.

Having a camp chair in your kit can make a big difference in comfort, especially when camping in winter-like conditions.

The top of the seat goes up to roughly around your shoulder blades and the bottom to about the mid-thigh area. A drink pocket on the right side holds a beverage, snacks or other small items. An additional bonus of the pocket is that it helps you orient the chair when you are assembling it. The mesh sections keep your back from getting sweaty in warm weather as well. One of the unique features of this chair that I really like are the wide plastic feet on the bottom of the legs. These feet help keep you from sinking into softer ground and make the chair more stable and easier to get out of.

The ‘Large’ Tusk camp chair offers a taller and roomier perch with a pack size that is 3.5″ longer and 1.5″ wider.

Previous to this, I’ve used the REI Co-op Flexlite backpacking chair on my rides – which has a similar design. While the REI chair is a bit lighter (6 ounces less), it is made out of materials that may not hold up as well as those used on the Tusk chair. The REI chair’s pack size is also a bit larger and it costs more than twice the price. Even worse, it doesn’t come with a beer holder! What it really comes down to is how much you value weight savings versus price. Most adventure riders will probably appreciate the extra durability of the heavier Tusk chair and the cost savings.

This similarly designed REI backpacking chair (right) may save a few ounces but costs more than twice as much.

Who is it for?

For those who like to relax and enjoy their camping experience, but still want to pack light and avoid extra bulk. If you aren’t scared away by a few extra ounces and you like to save a few bucks, this might be a nice addition to your moto camping kit.

Our Verdict

At just 30 bucks, you are getting a compact and comfortable motorcycle camping chair that won’t take up a lot of space or add a lot of weight to your kit. Comfort level is pretty high – it really doesn’t have any pressure points that cause discomfort. The materials and construction are good quality and it should last for a long time. This camp chair is going to weigh a bit more than the typical name brand backpacking models, but unless you are counting ounces there really isn’t a valid reason to spend the extra money.

What We Liked

● Compact package that makes it easy to pack.
● Good all-around comfort.
● Costs a lot less than most lightweight backpacking chairs.

What Could Be Improved

● Could be a bit lighter.
● A few inches taller seat height might make exiting easier.

Tusk Camp Chair Specs

Shopping Options

Photos by Chad Berger and Stephen Gregory

Author: Chad Berger

He’s a freelance journalist, photographer and tour guide from Wisconsin. Since 2004, Chad has been riding dual sport and adventure bikes all over the Midwest, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Moab, Baja, Alaska and many other places in between. He shares his experiences through the photography, videos and stories he produces from his trips. In 2008, Chad created a 600-mile dual sport route called the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail (TWAT), which eventually led to his becoming a tour guide for RIDE Adventures.