>>1754280There are other options. You can sit in the dirt, on logs, on rocks. You can just stand. I find that my pants will get wet more often than not from sitting directly on the ground, even if it feels dry. A sit pad can help with that, either foam, like pic related, or you can even use a padded FedEx mailer. There are also different kinds of contraptions intended to fold a Thermarest into a chair, although I've never found them to be very practical.
The big advantage that a real chair with a backrest offers is the amount of relaxation. For people who have never tried it, they may never "get it." Constantly sitting cross-leg on the ground at camp, you are constantly sitting up. You can lay totally flat on the ground alternatively, but then you're not able to be productive. The chair is incredibly useful in that it allows you to enjoy a campfire, cook your food, talk with other people, all while resting your body a lot more than you could by sitting upright on the ground. The disadvantage is that it's not 100% essential, like a sleeping bag or a tent, but I think it's worth the weight, personally.
>>1754303>I'll just add in a chair because it only weighs 1 pound>I'll just add in some extra fishing gear because it only weighs half a pound>a larger tent is only 2 pounds more and look how much space>a larger backpack is only 1.5 pounds heavier than my smaller backpack and can fit all these other things I want to bringOunces become pounds and pounds become dozens of extra pounds that you feel on your hips, your feet, your shoulders. We've all gone backpacking with packs that were too heavy, and whether people realize it or not, it's just not necessary to be in so much pain when in the outdoors. Cutting out "luxury items" is one way to cut pack weight, although I would NOT advocate for leaving out all so-called "luxury items." I'll gladly take photos with my phone (rather than a DSLR) if it means I can fit a camp chair into my pack for the same weight.
