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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2733
Loc: Brockport, NY
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I find an observing chair an essential piece of gear. Unfortunately, when I observe grab and go style, an observing chair is not part of the equation. It's hard to find something that does the job, but is small enough to easily carry along with scope, mount and other accessories.
I was wondering if anyone has tried something like this: https://www.fashionablecanes.com/88502.html
It has only one leg, but hey, I have two of my own to contribute to stability.  Grab and go is always a compromise. This seems like it would support most of a person's weight while observing and, while not as good as a regular seat, would be a lot more comfortable than hunching over an eyepiece.
Wouldn't be much value with a big dob, but for an SCT, it has 7" of adjustment which should be adequate.
Anyone with experience with these?
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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cuzimthedad
Just Be Cuz
Reged: 04/09/06
Posts: 3714
Loc: Sonoma, Northern California
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Hi Dan. I just use my Stardust observing chair for everything, grabngo included. It folds up and stows nicely and carries nicely as well.
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Dan
20" f/5 Obsession
Antares 1529
TV102
Various Naglers, Ethos, UO Orthos and TV Plossls
The Off Fisher Lane Irregulars
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b1gred
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 15703
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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Ya, I don't find my chair too big or awkward for GnG.
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / W0RDR
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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Steve Fisher
"Curmudgeon in Training"
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 1728
Loc: Utah
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I use a Starbound chair and don't leave home without it. It is not all that portable for grab and go but it works for me.
As far as your choice in the single leg chair all I can say is that I guarantee you will be more comfortable in the long run if you can sit and observe.
I'm just afraid as I stand up to move the scope or change the eyepiece a single leg chair would be awkward.
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Steve
8" f/12 D&G Achromat Refractor Delivered 08/27/09
6" D&G f/12 Achromat Refractor
66mm f/6.1 William Optics Petzval
6" f/8 Celestron Starhopper
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"Never try to teach a pig to sing, It wastes your time and it annoys the pig". (Robert Heinlein)
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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2733
Loc: Brockport, NY
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[qoute] I'm just afraid as I stand up to move the scope or change the eyepiece a single leg chair would be awkward.
Hmmm ... good point. The thing would just fall over. I could strap it on, but that would put it in a difficult position to adjust the height when needed.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40138
Loc: montana
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I would imagine that this one-leg seat would be more of a bother, than a help. Everytime you got up for something it would fall over. There are many lightweight observing chairs on the market that fold up, easy to carry, & much more stable for observing.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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This is a great topic, one that I have recently been exploring for travel as well as grab-n-go. If people have ideas, please post a source or pic, I have found other than camp chairs, there aren't alot of options that I have found...
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2733
Loc: Brockport, NY
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Quote:
There are many lightweight observing chairs on the market that fold up, easy to carry, & much more stable for observing.
I haven't really seen any. To me, "grab and go" means one trip by hand (no carts), and "observing chair" means easy/quick height adjustment. If I'm carrying a scope, mount, and a few accessories, the only thing I've seen in a chair that's lightweight enough are those three-legged fold up camp stools which are too short and not adjustable.
The only true observing chair that is close to grab and go that I've seen is this one: http://tinyurl.com/yfhu3b7
It's relatively small and lightweight and adjustable like a good observing chair should be. But, when you're carrying a load of other stuff, another 10 pounds is a lot, and even folded up, it's 3 feet long making it cumbersome to carry along with everything else.
The chair/cane I linked above weighs less than 2 pounds and folds into an 18x7" bag with a strap. Definitely qualifies as lightweight and easy to carry. Unfortunately, it has other limitations as you point out. You could put a strap on it (through the two handle openings) and strap it around your waist so that it would stay with you when you stand up. But that would make it hard to adjust the height, not to mention making you look ridiculous! 
Sigh ... there's just appears to be no perfect answer here.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40138
Loc: montana
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That's the chair I have (Smart Seat II).
For my grab n go, I have to make two trips anyway, so the chair wasn't an added burden.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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That(smart seatIII) is what I'm talking about! Nice, small affordable, had not seen this before...something that would fold smaller and lighter would be better still.
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
Edited by t.r. (11/05/09 10:16 AM)
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Scott99
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/07
Posts: 696
Loc: New England
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Check out Berlebach's wooden observing chairs. They are expensive but also the lightest ones available. Even the heaviest one is lighter than any others that I've seen.
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8x22 Steiner Safari binos
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SteveG
sage
Reged: 09/27/06
Posts: 235
Loc: Seattle, WA
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I have the Starbound but I have to admit that the Stardust chair looks really excellent. I like having a padded seat and the idea of a foot rest sounds great:
http://auroraastro.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2569&zenid=4f622c9d515772d55b7d93c167ec1981
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WO Megrez 110 ED on SP Mount
10" Meade LightBridge
Orion ED 100 on Polaris Mount
6" f8 Edmonds reflector on GP Mount
4.5" F8 Orion EQ Reflector
Astroscan
Meade 226 2.4" f11.7
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Ragaisis
super member
Reged: 05/16/08
Posts: 183
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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I just use a good quality drummer's throne. Easy transport. Easy set up (if you actually bother to take the seat off). And lots of adjustable height.
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Televue TV85 APO on a Half-Hitch alt-az mount
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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2733
Loc: Brockport, NY
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Hi Ragaisis,
I have a posing stool which is very similar to the drummers throne. Yes its easy to transport. But easy to transport is not the same as grab and go. Too heavy and bulky to carry along with scope, mount, yadda, yadda, all in one trip by hand.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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cuzimthedad
Just Be Cuz
Reged: 04/09/06
Posts: 3714
Loc: Sonoma, Northern California
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Hey Dan, perhaps something like This or like This A budy of mine uses one similar to the latter without the seat back. I've used it and it's quite comfortable and stable.
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Dan
20" f/5 Obsession
Antares 1529
TV102
Various Naglers, Ethos, UO Orthos and TV Plossls
The Off Fisher Lane Irregulars
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bkruschwitz
member
Reged: 04/15/09
Posts: 38
Loc: Waco, TX
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Dan, I use a folding chair like the first one (This) but without the cooler bag. (The bag might carry your charts, eyepiece case, etc.) Mine was much cheaper, weighs about 1 pound, and is comfortable for a couple hours if you 'fit' (so to speak) between the aluminum poles. There is no height adjustment, but it's about right for using my dob for observing between 25 and 70 degrees altitude. Higher or lower, and I have to stand up and bend over to the eyepiece.
Bob
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Orion XT8
Hyperion 8x24 zoom
Bushnell Legend 8x42
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