Naturehike YL01 Ultralight Chair Review: Fast Setup, Fair Price, Honest Trade-Offs

Introduction

Folding camp chairs built for backpacking always involve a trade-off. Shed weight and the weight capacity usually drops with it. Speed up the frame and the price tends to climb. The Naturehike YL01 Ultralight Chair takes a practical position in the middle: an instant-setup frame, a 441 lb weight capacity, and a 2.8 lb carry weight that already includes the storage bag.

It is not the lightest chair on the market, and it does not pretend to be. What it does well is get you off a wet log or a wet rock in seconds, then pack away without a fight. For a lot of trips, that combination matters more than shaving a few more ounces.

Who the Naturehike YL01 Is For

This chair suits backpackers, campers, and overland travellers who want a genuine seat at camp without paying a premium for every gram saved. It works well on short and mid-length trips, on car camping weekends, and in vehicle-based setups where packed size matters more than the final few ounces.

Very large users may still be better served by a bigger, heavier chair built for car camping, and long-distance backpackers who count every ounce will want to look at lighter options. For most people in between, the YL01 covers the essentials without asking much in return.

Main Strengths

Three things stand out on this chair: the frame, the seating position, and the build quality relative to the price.

Instant Setup Without the Usual Fuss

The frame locks into place as you open it. Spread the legs, let the joints click home, then set the seat on top using the small cups on the underside that fit over the pole ends. Setup takes seconds rather than minutes, and the frame design is genuinely new rather than a variation on the usual folding pattern.

Breaking the chair down takes a little longer, since a few poles have to be unfolded first, but the process stays simple and predictable. The storage bag helps here. It measures 15 x 5.5 in when packed, yet there is enough room inside that the chair slides in and out easily, with space left over for small items. Two grab handles and a single zipper across the top complete the package.

Comfort That Sits You Up, Not Back

The seat uses a moon-shaped cut, and the practical difference shows up in posture. Many folding camp chairs leave you reclined far enough that sitting up to do something becomes awkward. This one keeps you more upright, which matters when you are cooking, reaching for a stove on the ground, or working at a small table beside you.

The change is noticeable rather than revolutionary, but it is a real improvement over the usual slouched position, and it makes the chair comfortable to sit in for long stretches.

Materials, Weight, and Packed Size

The frame is aluminum alloy, the seat is 600D Oxford polyester, and nylon mesh is used in the construction. Set up, the chair stands 28.9 in high, measures 21.3 in wide, and has a total depth of 21.1 in.

On a scale, the chair weighs 2.8 lb together with its storage bag. The weight capacity is 441 lb, which is high for a folding camp chair of this type. Build quality holds up well for the money: the stitching is clean, there are no loose threads, and the fabric and frame both look properly finished. The chair is available in grey, black, and green.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two small issues are worth knowing about before you order. The first is that the chair does not include anti-sink feet. On soft ground and gravel the legs press into the surface, which is a genuine annoyance on wet terrain. A set of wider feet would solve it, but they are not part of the package, so plan accordingly if you camp on soft ground often.

The second is the side pocket. It is very tight, barely fits a hand, and anything stored in it ends up pressed against you while you sit. It adds a small amount of weight without adding useful function, so treat it as a non-feature rather than a reason to buy.

Buying Advice

At $60 on Amazon, with a 10% off coupon available at the time of writing, the value here is strong. Under 3 lb is an important threshold for folding camp chairs, and once a chair drops below it, prices tend to climb quickly, with each saved ounce costing a disproportionate amount.

That is where the YL01 makes its case. It trades a few ounces against a much simpler setup, a higher weight capacity, and a storage bag that actually works. For trips where every ounce counts, Naturehike also offers the lighter LY08 at 1.9 lb, although its setup and breakdown are more involved and its weight capacity is lower.

For everything else, the YL01 is the more pleasant chair to live with. Overland trips, weekend camps, and shorter hikes all benefit from a seat that goes up in seconds and comes apart without a wrestling match.

Conclusion

The Naturehike YL01 Ultralight Chair gets the fundamentals right. Setup is exceptionally quick, the seating position is more upright than most folding camp chairs and comfortable for long stretches, the build quality is solid, and the price stays reasonable. The missing anti-sink feet and the impractical side pocket are minor complaints that are easy to work around.

If you want a lightweight chair that sets up almost instantly and does not punish you on price, this is an easy recommendation. If you are heading out on a long-distance backpacking trip where every ounce is counted, a lighter option will serve you better.