REASONS TO BUY
Packs up small
Wide and stable
Comfortable seat
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
No support for your back
Big Agnes Skyline UL Stool Review
If all you need is a simple place to plop your rear, this stool will do the trick
Credit: Jason Wanlass
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ September 28, 2026
RELATED: The Best Backpacking Chairs of 2026
Our Verdict
Once upon a time, the camp stool was defined by a triangular fabric top and three tripod legs. Most were unsteady, unattractive, and uncomfortable. The days of teetering on one of these so-so seats are gone, thanks to the Big Agnes Skyline UL Stool. What sets this perch apart is its wide body, basin-shaped seat, and four sturdy legs. We used the Big Agnes in the wild and found it to be comfortable and easy to sit in. It's also stable. In fact, we had a difficult time tipping it over. If you prefer camp stools over chairs, this beauty is perfect for your pack because it doesn't take up a lot of space and it's reasonably lightweight. This model feels more like a chair, but don't count on the same level of comfort — it still requires a fair amount of hunching over, and there's no support for your back.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Big Agnes Skyline UL Stool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Backpacking Stool |  Best Overall Backpacking Chair | Best Reclining Seat for Ground Dwellers | Best Choice for Minimalists |  Best Bang for the Buck |
| Price | $150 List Check Price at REI | $200 List Check Price at Backcountry | $70 List Check Price at REI | $35 List Check Price at REI | $40 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | If all you need is a simple place to plop your rear, this stool will do the trick | 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 | A featherweight, versatile, and durable foam seat even ultralighters won't leave at home | A bargain basement backpacking chair with a wide seat and comfortable recline angle |
| Rating Categories | Big Agnes Skyline UL... | Big Agnes Skyline UL | Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 | Therm-a-Rest Z Seat | Moon Lence |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Size and Weight (30%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Big Agnes Skyline UL... | Big Agnes Skyline UL | Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 | Therm-a-Rest Z Seat | Moon Lence |
| Measured Weight | 19.0 oz | 29.0 oz | 19.3 oz | 1.8 oz | 38.6 oz |
| Measured Packed Size | 12.5" W x 3"W x3"H | 17"L x 4.0"W x 3.5"H | 16" L.x 3"W x 4"H | 13.0"L x 2.5"W x 2.5"H | 13.0"L x 4.5"W x 5.5"H |
| Listed Maximum Weight Capacity | 250 lbs | 275 lbs | 250 lbs | N/A | 400 lbs |
| Main Material | High-tenacity Robic nylon ripstop, waterproof PFAS-free 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 | Cross-linked polyethylene | 900D Oxford ballistic nylon |
| Measured Seat Height (Ground to Butt) | 12 in | 10 in | 0 in | 0.5 in | 8 in |
| Legs | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Measured Seat Width (At Edge) | 20.0 in | 19.0 in | 16.0 in | 16.0 in | 21.0 in |
| Measured Base Size (Width x Depth) | 14.0"W x 11.0"D | 15.5" W x 13.5" D | 16" W x 14" D | 16.0"W x 12.5"D | 15.0"W x 15.0"D |
| Features | 4 legged stool, color-coded frame, hub-less pole design, self-equalizing center pole helps level chair on uneven ground | Hub-less pole design | Attached roll-up strap, hanging loop | Clip loop | Two storage pockets, carry bag |
Our Analysis and Test Results
We were amazed with the sturdiness and comfort of this seat. Those of us who aren't very big on camp stools, were still quite pleased with the Skyline UL.
Heading out for an overnighter with our Big Agnes in tow. This stool packs up so small that we actually didn't need to strap it to the outside of our pack. A better place for it would have been in the interior. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Comfort
Backpacking stools just can't offer the same comfort levels as chairs, but we think the Skyline UL offers much more cush than most of its peers. This is a far cry from your old-fashioned stool.
The difference between the Big Agnes and other camp stools is size and shape. Typical models have three legs topped with a small triangular fabric top. Generally, these old-school versions are too small, uncomfortable, and they aren't very forgiving if you lean too far back — not so with the Skyline UL. The Big Agnes is perched on four sturdy legs with a stretchy fabric top that is large (20"x16") and comfortable. The seat is also basin-shaped so it feels more like a chair. Even better, leaning back and relaxing won't land you on the ground. A basic run-of-the-mill tripod stool just can't compete with the Big Agnes's sturdiness.
Try doing this on a standard tripod stool. We loved that we could lean back and get in a stretch on the Skyline UL. However, we couldn't maintain this pose for long periods because there's simply no back support. Credit: Jason Wanlass
We liked this seat's ripstop nylon fabric. It's stretchy and accommodating, so it cradles a little better than most camp stools. Credit: Jason Wanlass
We measured the distance from the seat bottom to the ground and found that the Skyline UL Stool kept our rear ends about 10 to 12 inches in the air (depending on individual body weight). This is a decent amount of space, when lounging or leaning back, but many of our testers (especially those that were on the big and tall side) got tired of feeling hunched over. About half complained that they felt like their knees were up under their chins reading a map, cooking, filtering water, or just sitting around.
Although it sits nicely above the ground, our longer-legged testers got tired of their butts sitting much lower than their knees. Sitting this way for longer periods put stress on our lower backs and cut of circulation to our calves and feet. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Size and Weight
Our testing crew had differing opinions about this stool's size and weight. Most of us loved this chair's packed size and overall seat dimensions. We were impressed with its weight, but we felt it was still a little too heavy for a seat without a backrest.
We held back on giving the Big Agnes higher scores because we felt it could be lighter by a few ounces. Our scales showed 19 ounces, an impressive weight for an entire chair, but it seemed a little high for just a camp stool. All complaints aside, the Big Agnes is reasonably lightweight and it packs up smaller than most of the models on our list. After closer examination, we feel its slightly heavier weight is thanks to stronger, bulkier materials — so at the very least, it's durable.
The Big Agnes packs down to the size of a one-liter bottle -- pretty amazing. Credit: Jason Wanlass
The key to its packed size is that its legs pack down really well. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Stability
As mentioned, when compared directly against traditional tripod stools, the Big Agnes leaves the competition in the dust. In fact, we think it's sturdier than many of the full-sized chairs in our lineup.
The feet of the Skyline UL Stool are spaced 14 inches apart, giving it a wide, sturdy footprint. Our testing showed that it does have some sway, but no more than its peers. What impressed us most was our ability to lean backward (almost horizontal) while the Skyline UL remained rock solid. The only thing we didn't like was its lower maximum weight capacity (250 pounds). The other Big Agnes chairs in our lineup can hold more.
Testing our Big Agnes for wobbles. Although it had some sway, we never felt that it lacked stability... even when we were slightly exceeding its weight limit. Credit: Jason Wanlass
We loved this stool's hub-less connection points. Most pole-framed backpacking chairs and stools use plastic or nylon hubs to unite all of the poles into a central point — but not this one.
A closer look at the Big Agnes's hub-less connection point. Credit: Jason Wanlass
What a standard hub connection looks like (black nylon). Credit: Jason Wanlass
This stool's hub-less process allows the poles to directly connect to one another, resulting in fewer moving parts and providing greater strength and stability. That said, we think standard nylon hub systems are quicker and easier than the Big Agnes connection process, so we were a little put off by the extra fiddling required during setup of the Skyline UL stool.
Instead of sliding halfway into a plastic or nylon hub, the Big Agnes poles push all the way through the connection point and then connect on the other side. This process isn't as fast or convenient, but we feel it's more seamless and robust. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Ease of Use
There aren't a lot of moving parts on the Big Agnes Skyline UL Stool, so putting it together or packing it up is easy enough. However, its assembly is slightly different, so it takes a little more time, and has a small learning curve.
Once you get the hang of it, setting up the Skyline UL Stool is fairly intuitive. There's really no wrong way to do it. Most of our testers knocked this process out in about a minute. Packing it up was a little faster. There's plenty of room in the Skyline's stuff sack, so shoving everything into place was no big deal. We also loved that it was small enough to be stored in the interior of our pack. This was a great option because let us keep everything centralized, more balanced, and made the outside of our pack a lot less cluttered.
Setting up our Big Agnes for the first time. The process was intuitive enough that we didn't need instructions, but it does take a little more time and has a slight learning curve. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Should You Buy the Big Agnes Skyline UL Stool?
If you prefer stools over chairs, we think the Big Agnes Skyline UL Stool is one of the best we've found. In fact, it acts and feels more like a chair, so you can't beat its comfort (when compared directly against typical tripod stools). This seat is large, sturdy, and packs up small. We think it works particularly well in settings with limited space or that may require short-term seating.
Getting ready to cook up some grub. If you can't find a rock or log to place your stuff, you'll be required to place things on the ground and hunch over -- a lot. We didn't this very much. Credit: Jason Wanlass
What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?
The REI Co-op Trail Stool is much cheaper and a little lighter than the Big Agnes, but it's also not as comfy, and it's less stable. The Helinox Ground Chair is a nice stool-chair hybrid that you might want to check out. If you like the Skyline UL Stool's design and function but you're not so big on camp stools, we think the Big Agnes Skyline UL is a perfect option for you. It's nearly identical, but in chair form.
—Jason Wanlass
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