37 replies to this topic

[JIL316]

Hello,

 

I was looking to see what the best type of lounge chairs for handheld viewing. This would be primarily for astronomy but would hopefully be versatile enough for other scenarios as well. It would also need to be an all weather chair.

 

Any recommendations would be appreciated! 

[Jethro7]

Hello,

 

I was looking to see what the best type of lounge chairs for handheld viewing. This would be primarily for astronomy but would hopefully be versatile enough for other scenarios as well. It would also need to be an all weather chair.

 

Any recommendations would be appreciated! 

Hello JIL316,

It does not get better than an old fashioned Lawn Chaise. Unfortunatly Lawn chaises are not that good for tripod mounted scopes but that's where my Starbound observers chair comes in handy. 

 

https://www.amazon.c...434423374&psc=1

 

Or maybe a more modern take that is cushioned.

https://www.wayfair....r-jadg1036.html

 

HAPPY SKIES TO YOU AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Edited by Jethro7, 29 May 2023 - 08:45 PM.

[ShaulaB]

Some of my friends really like the "zero gravity" chaises for binocular viewing.

[Mark Y.]

I use a cushioned folding chair....The ones the mahjong players sit on....Light,comfy and strong.

[JIL316]

Also I only use my Canon 15x50 IS, so no tripod to factor in

[sevenofnine]

There are many options but the zero gravity type chair is what I recommend. It leans much further back than a regular lawn chair. This is handy   for looking at zenith. This is similar to the one I use:

 

https://www.amazon.c...c0-4513d670b6bc.

[Dale Smith]

I lucked out last year and picked up a nice, used ZGC for fifteen bucks at a neighbor's yard sale. Really pleased with it. Great for binocular viewing.

[jcj380]

I use a folding REI reclining chair that has a sliding headrest.  It doesn't go all the way flat but reclines enough that zenith viewing is pretty easy.  No leg / foot rest, but the smaller size and weight makes up for that.  Good for camping, hanging out in the backyard, watching kids' soccer games, etc.

 

I had a couple of king-hell zero-G chairs that were very comfortable, but they were so big and heavy that I rarely dragged them out or took them anywhere.  They now reside on my daughter's patio.

[Scott99]

another good discussion of this topic:

 

https://www.cloudyni...g-chair-option/

[gwlee]

I am pleased with the two LaFuma recliners that I have been using for about 15 years. Some people them zero gravity chairs. 
 

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by gwlee, 30 May 2023 - 01:35 PM.

[edwincjones]

The adirondack chairs are also good- at least for handheld.

 

edj

Edited by edwincjones, 31 May 2023 - 04:43 AM.

[Harry Jacobson]

I’ve a couple of LaFuma chairs, one I’ve used since circa 2000 and the other I inherited from my mother-in-law when she passed last year. I replaced the fabric on mine last year. 
 

Though more expensive than others I consider it a good investment. I’ve taken it on vacations camping and left it outside for seasons. LaFuma offers the replacement fabric kits. The pivot points on one are a little stiff; I’m going to try zapping them with a little WD-40.

Edited by Harry Jacobson, 31 May 2023 - 09:03 AM.

[gwlee]

I’ve a couple of LaFuma chairs, one I’ve used since circa 2000 and the other I inherited from my mother-in-law when she passed last year. I replaced the fabric on mine last year. 
 

Though more expensive than others I consider it a good investment. I’ve taken it on vacations camping and left it outside for seasons. LaFuma offers the replacement fabric kits. The pivot points on one are a little stiff; I’m going to try zapping them with a little WD-40.

Heat destroyed the elastic lacing material (bungee cord) that connects the fabric to frame after a few years, so I replaced it with parachute cord that’s much longer lasting. That’s the only problem I have had with with my LaFuma recliners. I have a large and a small. The small fits my 5’9” 150# bod better than the large. 

[Harry Jacobson]

Heat destroyed the elastic lacing material (bungee cord) that connects the fabric to frame after a few years, so I replaced it with parachute cord that’s much longer lasting. That’s the only problem I have had with with my LaFuma recliners. I have a large and a small. The small fits my 5’9” 150# bod better than the large. 

My chairs are Futura XL’s. Their attachments are molded elastic, not elastic lacing.

[MT4]

I have limited space on my balcony so did't want a zero-gravity chair.  I opted for the Nemo stargazing chair instead.

https://www.nemoequi...ning-camp-chair

[dnayakan]

The Nemo does work very nicely. My dream chair would be something that let me lie back and rotate so I could access different parts of the sky but I haven’t found something like that.

[f18dad]

The Nemo does work very nicely. My dream chair would be something that let me lie back and rotate so I could access different parts of the sky but I haven’t found something like that.

https://orbitbeachchair.com

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=Zn6dIACEZpg

[Freezout]

That's not really a chair, but I use this:

 

https://www.decathlo...8572900&c=BRUIN

 

I use it with this travel neck pillow: https://www.reisarti...content=product

This makes binocular astronomy way more comfortable. No neck pain.

 

You cannot make lighter. It takes almost no space. I attach it on my backpack where the binoculars go. It can go full flat on the ground to observe at zenith.

Edited by Freezout, 01 June 2023 - 06:44 AM.

[Erik Bakker]

A good zero gravity chair is great for backyard use. Pick one you feel is comfortable for you. Having tried several, I use a Lafuma Evolution Air Comfort with great pleasure with my 7x15-18x70 binoculars hand held, though mostly with my 7x50 and 10x70.

[Erik Bakker]

The Lafuma Evolution awaiting light from dimmer stars:

 

 

[f18dad]

The Lafuma looks plush and comfy! I have a good clone but the padding is not as clean as the Lafuma. I wish there was a way to raise the armrests or attach after-market armrests to support elbows and arms for longer and more comfortable viewing.

Any ideas?

[Harry Jacobson]

The Lafuma looks plush and comfy! I have a good clone but the padding is not as clean as the Lafuma. I wish there was a way to raise the armrests or attach after-market armrests to support elbows and arms for longer and more comfortable viewing.

Any ideas?

I understand your want to raise the armrests for longer and more comfortable viewing. My solution, for years, has been to mount my binoculars on a collapsed monopod, Finn-stick style, with the base of the monopod at my belt. This increases the duration with which I can hold the binoculars without reducing where I can point them. It eliminates, for me, the need to raise the armrests.

I should say that I hold the monopod, not the body of the binoculars. The binoculars rest against my eye sockets. My hands are therefore positioned lower down. YMMV.

[dries1]

Hello JIL316,

It does not get better than an old fashioned Lawn Chaise. Unfortunatly Lawn chaises are not that good for tripod mounted scopes but that's where my Starbound observers chair comes in handy. 

 

https://www.amazon.c...434423374&psc=1

 

Or maybe a more modern take that is cushioned.

https://www.wayfair....r-jadg1036.html

 

HAPPY SKIES TO YOU AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Wow, that one from Wayfair has a 440 lb weight capacity, that is the highest capacity I have seen.

[f18dad]

The one I have is 440 lb capacity. I purchased it online a couple of years ago. Not Wayfair, not Amazon, not eBay...I don't remember. The frame profiles are not round. They are rectangular and perhaps thicker. It may be heavier than other models.

[Jethro7]

Wow, that one from Wayfair has a 440 lb weight capacity, that is the highest capacity I have seen.

Hello dries1,

Yeah I like the beverage tray. If you going to invest in a  observing chair, you owe to your self to be comfortable. 

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro