ProView – Grand Trunk Monarch Chair Review
I had a blast testing out the Alite Monarch Chair by Grand Trunk while doing some early season car camping trips in Colorado. The easy set up was appreciated after a long drive, and the space I saved due to how compact this chair packs down was awesome. Looking forward to more camping and backpacking trips with this compact, comfy chair!
Grand Trunk Monarch Chair
Product Name: Grand Trunk Monarch Chair
Product Description: The lightest chair in our furniture family, the Monarch Chair is the original tent-pole chair that brought Alite to fame. Balancing on two legs allows you to rock forward and back. The two legs also allow for sitting (and rocking) comfortably on uneven terrain and hillsides.
Offer price: MSRP: $99
Currency: USD
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Quality
(5)
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Durability
(5)
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Features
(4)
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Packability
(5)
Summary
Overall, the Monarch Chair is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a lightweight, portable camping chair that is easy to set up, comfortable to sit in, and durable enough to withstand the rigors of outdoor life. Its unique design and features make it stand out from other camping chairs on the market, and it’s high-quality construction will provide comfort on many more adventures!
Overall
4.8Pros
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Comfortable
- Easy to set up
Cons
- None!
Weight/Packability
The Monarch Chair is a lightweight, extremely portable camping chair that has been designed to be the perfect addition to any camping trip, hiking excursion, or outdoor adventure. With a weight of only 1.3 lbs, this chair is one of the lightest in its class, making it easy to pack and transport. While it’s still a little too early in the season for backpacking in Colorado, I already know this chair will get a lot of use this summer in the backcountry.
Features
The chair’s unique design, which features two legs instead of the traditional four, allows for a comfortable rocking motion that is perfect for relaxing after a long day on the trail. I was a little hesitant at first about a 2-legged chair since I’d have to use my own two legs to make it a proper 4-legged chair. Turns out … having two legs allows you to rock back and forth (incredibly fun by the way) while around the campfire, and makes it possible to use the chair comfortably on uneven terrain, which is a huge advantage for when you just can’t find a flat place to sit out in nature. There are a few instances where I missed having a 4-legged chair – sitting down feels like a mini trust fall, and getting up out of the chair can be a little awkward.
One of the standout features of the Monarch Chair is its quick and easy setup, thanks to the aluminum hub and pole system. This means that you can have the chair assembled and ready to use in under a minute, which is especially convenient when you’re tired after a long day of hiking or driving to camp. It took me a little bit longer to set it up the first couple times, but with some practice I have better dialed in my set-up routine and it truly does take less than a minute from bag to butt in the seat. Another thoughtful addition was the set-up instructions on the outside of the storage bag.
Durability/Construction
The chair’s lightweight fabric and breathable mesh panels make it comfortable to sit in for extended periods, and the chair’s compact size when packed down means that it can easily fit in a backpack or camping bag without taking up too much space. The Monarch Chair has a weight capacity of 250 lbs. The folded dimensions of the chair are 12.5 x 4 x 4 inches, making it incredibly compact, while the setup dimensions are 21 x 21.5 x 21.5 inches, providing ample space to sit comfortably. All in all, this chair packs up to be a little larger than tall Nalgene. The Monarch in the ‘Horizon’ color is made from high-quality materials, with the frame constructed from 7000 series aluminum and the seat made from 450D Poly, ensuring that it is both lightweight and durable.
The Final Word
Overall, the Monarch Chair is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a lightweight, portable camping chair that is easy to set up, comfortable to sit in, and durable enough to withstand the rigors of outdoor life. Its unique design and features make it stand out from other camping chairs on the market, and it’s high-quality construction will provide comfort on many more adventures!
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About the Gear Tester
Allison Lano
Meet Lano, the plant-loving, bread-baking, bike-riding, backpackin’ Customer Service and Operations Manager at Outdoor Prolink. When she's not getting other outdoor pro’s stoked on some new gear, you can find her out in nature, cleaning up the trails and chasing the sun. She's a green-thumbed guru who's not afraid to get her hands dirty, and is passionate about getting others outside.
