REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Spacious
Tall back
Accessible height
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Heavy
Bulky
Takes more time to set up
Big Agnes Big Six Review
Part backpacking chair, part car camping chair, this seat is tall, wide, and comfy
Heavy or not, sometimes bigger, brawnier chairs make for the most comfortable, especially if you're planning on staying put for a while.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
By Elizabeth Paashaus ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ September 11, 2026
RELATED: The Best Backpacking Chairs of 2026
Our Verdict
The Big Agnes Big Six is somewhat of a crossover. It offers a unique blend of a backpacking chair and a comfy car-camping chair. We wouldn't want to lug this thing for long distances, we do think it's a great option for very short backpacking trips, where the goal is to set up a base camp for hiking or climbing. The Big Six sits high off the ground and it's super comfortable, but it's also heavy (over three pounds), despite being significantly more compact than our favorite car camping chairs. The thing we loved the most about this chair is its wide seat and high back. Yes, it's heavy and expensive, but its sheer comfort trumps many of this chair's negatives.
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 This Product
Big Agnes Big Six | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Backpacking Chair | Best Reclining Seat for Ground Dwellers |  Best Backpacking Stool |  Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $250 List Check REI (on sale!) | $200 List Check Price at Backcountry | $70 List Check Price at REI | $150 List Check Price at REI | $40 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Part backpacking chair, part car camping chair, this seat is tall, wide, and comfy | An excellent combination of comfort, weight, and stability for your next backcountry excursion | A true lounger that lets you lean back and chill for as long as you want | If all you need is a simple place to plop your rear, this stool will do the trick | A bargain basement backpacking chair with a wide seat and comfortable recline angle |
| Rating Categories | Big Agnes Big Six | Big Agnes Skyline UL | Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 | Big Agnes Skyline UL... | Moon Lence |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Size and Weight (30%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Big Agnes Big Six | Big Agnes Skyline UL | Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 | Big Agnes Skyline UL... | Moon Lence |
| Measured Weight | 51.0 oz | 29.0 oz | 19.3 oz | 19.0 oz | 38.6 oz |
| Measured Packed Size | 21.5"L x 5.5"W x 5.5"H | 17"L x 4.0"W x 3.5"H | 16" L.x 3"W x 4"H | 12.5" W x 3"W x3"H | 13.0"L x 4.5"W x 5.5"H |
| Listed Maximum Weight Capacity | 300 lbs | 275 lbs | 250 lbs | 250 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Main Material | High-tenacity Robic nylon with polyester ripstop and waterproof UTS coating, aluminum frame | High-tenacity Robic nylon with polyester ripstop and waterproof UTS coating, aluminum frame | 210-denier ripstop nylon with PFAS-free DWR | High-tenacity Robic nylon ripstop, waterproof PFAS-free UTS coating, aluminum frame | 900D Oxford ballistic nylon |
| Measured Seat Height (Ground to Butt) | 12 in | 10 in | 0 in | 12 in | 8 in |
| Legs | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Measured Seat Width (At Edge) | 21.0 in | 19.0 in | 16.0 in | 20.0 in | 21.0 in |
| Measured Base Size (Width x Depth) | 18.0"W x 16.0"D | 15.5" W x 13.5" D | 16" W x 14" D | 14.0"W x 11.0"D | 15.0"W x 15.0"D |
| Features | Color-coded frame, hub-less pole design, head rest | Hub-less pole design | Attached roll-up strap, hanging loop | 4 legged stool, color-coded frame, hub-less pole design, self-equalizing center pole helps level chair on uneven ground | Two storage pockets, carry bag |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The biggest thing that the Big Six has going for it is… its bigness. Unlike most chairs designed to be compact and lightweight, this model is wide, tall, and even has a headrest, all qualities that make it one of the most comfortable ones we tested. It may not qualify as a true backpacking chair, but we think it's perfect for folks who don't mind carrying extra weight.
A desert view can be enjoyed longer in a nice comfy chair that keeps the cactus pokers from working their way into all your clothing. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Comfort
The Big Six provides major comfort. Its wide seat feels spacious and cozy for smaller users and is more accommodating to larger users. Big Agnes uses a wide base plus bent poles to offer the largest seat possible. We also love the super high back with a headrest, something no other chair in our test has.
The height off the ground is another feature that makes the Big Six unique. A standard dining chair is 18 inches off the ground, and the Big Six measures in at 12 inches high. Our older friends and those with creaky knees find this trait desirable. It's considerably easier to get in and out of this chair than the shorter models we tested. Though the height is a bonus for most people, folks under 5'5" or so may find the edge of the seat digging into the backs of their knees because it is so high off the ground and the seat is so deep.
Medium-sized folks can comfortably tuck their arms inside but on warmer days, you still may wish there was somewhere else for them to go. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
On the flip side, we do not like how high the sides are. Your arms may feel trapped in this chair because you'll either have to tuck your elbows in with you or rest your arms on a ridge of fabric that isn't soft and can dig into your flesh. Additionally, the bum-pocket doesn't put your back in the optimal position — some users noticed curving of the lower back — but it's not far off of a perfect score.
If you are going to plop down in a backpacking chair with a full rack still attached, the Big Six is the one to do it in! No other chair has the size to accommodate the extra bulk nor the headrest to let you lay back and watch the next climber. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Size and Weight
Because this review is specific for backpacking, our testing team knows that every product has to be suitable for carrying long distances. The Big Six, while fairly small in folded size, has consistently been one of the heaviest chairs in this review.
It is still significantly more compact than a camp chair in its bag at 21.5 inches long with a diameter of about 6 inches. We managed to fit it in the side pockets and strap it to the side of some backpacks, but we don't think this should be your first (or second, or even third…) choice if your goal is to tote it into the backcountry on your pack.
This chair is more dense and heavier than most but well worth the extra work for comfort if you can deal with the weight. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
On the other hand, if you are searching for the best backpacking chair to be a compact option for travel rather than carrying on your back, the Big Six more than meets those needs, and we love it for popping it at car camping sites.
Not to say that you should, but you can fit the chair into the side pocket on packs with extra-large side capacity. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Stability
The Big Six is incredibly stable despite its height and achieves our highest score in this category. We worried that being so far off the ground would make tipping easier, but we never found that to be true.
The feet are spaced apart nicely, making a base of 18 inches by 16 inches — significantly larger than other models in this test. This base size makes it difficult to tip over in any direction, even when leaning out to pass a beer to your buddy. The frame is made of aluminum poles of a larger diameter than other backpacking seats, reducing the bendy feel you get in other, smaller chairs. When you take a load off in the Big Six, you can feel confident.
The long center bar gives the chair width, and the long bent poles offer even more space. The larger diameter poles mean you don't lose any stability with this increased size. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Ease of Use
Big Agnes' unique hub-less pole design allows the Big Six to pack down much smaller than models with hubs, but also requires a little extra time and focus to set up. The notch in each pole needs to be lined up and threaded through a matching hole. We aren't talking about an extra 10 minutes of setup time, more like an extra 30 seconds, but you need to pay attention and deliberately place each pole where it goes.
We like that the Big Six has instructions printed on the inside of the bag, even though the setup really doesn't require them. However, the top of the chair fabric must be attached to the poles before the bottom or you won't be able to stretch it hard enough to insert the top pieces. We found that even when setting it up according to instructions, the sheer size and strength of the materials cause the Big Six to require a little more force than others we tested. The other aspect that is a bit tough is getting the chair back in its narrow bag. If the fabric isn't wrapped just right around the chair, the rigid parts make it hard to zip the bag closed.
The hubless design helps keep the chair stable and compact but takes a little more focus to thread the notched poles through the corresponding slots. Credit: backpacking chairs, big agnes big six
Another aspect we factor into ease of use is how much of a struggle it is to get into and out of the chair. With a butt-to-ground height of 12 inches, very few users will have a hard time standing back up after a long day's hike — at least not because of the chair height.
You gotta stretch that fabric over strong poles that don't bend like the poles on ultralight models. Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Should You Buy the Big Agnes Big Six?
If you spend a lot of time wandering the backcountry, the Big Six is not your best option. It's simply too heavy for long days on the trail. However, if your knees or lower back need a bigger, better chair when you're in the wild, we think it could be worth the effort of thinning down your pack weight to accommodate it as your luxury item. Likewise, if your adventures often involve shorter jaunts into the woods to establish base camps, we think strapping the Big Six to your pack would be a solid option. However, you don't have to hike or carry a backpack to enjoy the Big Six. It packs down small, but acts like a regular camping chair, which makes it great for van lifers seeking a comfy chair that packs away small to help maximize vehicle space. If convenience and packed size are an important consideration for any of your outdoor ramblings, you should consider the benefits of this chair.
What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?
We think the Big Agnes Skyline UL is another great option if you're looking for a larger chair, specifically for backpacking. On the other end of the spectrum, the Helinox Chair Zero LT is about as lightweight as you can go, while still enjoying the benefits of a traditional backpacking chair. Lastly, the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 is about as good as it gets when it comes to lightweight, packable comfort, but it sits directly on the ground, so it requires a fair amount of agility to get into and out of.
—Elizabeth Paashaus
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