GearJunkie names Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 "best ground chair" for backpacking
GearJunkie awarded the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Original "Best Ground Chair" in its guide to the best backpacking chairs of 2026.
GearJunkie’s testers have been testing and reviewing backpacking chairs for years. For this update to the guide, they researched, field tested, and ranked 14 chairs, hauling them on camping trips, climbing trips, and 21 overnights with a crew of three backpackers. Each chair was scored on comfort, stability, size and weight, ease of setup, and build quality.
The testers note that the Hex 2.0 needs no legs, poles, or complicated setup, which makes it a natural fit for uneven ground and easy packing. Just unfold it, sit down, and tighten the side straps to your preferred recline. GearJunkie clocked setup at about 30 seconds.
The review highlighted the Hex 2.0’s durability and construction, which includes an 8-mm high-density closed-cell foam for insulation, reinforced strap connection points, and a tough 210-denier ripstop shell. The testers say they've owned many Crazy Creeks over the years, and every one has proven impressively durable. They summed up the Hex 2.0 as “an indestructible choice for those who hate setting up a chair.”
GearJunkie's buyer's guide made the case for going legless, too. Ground seats like the Hex 2.0 offer the highest stability of any design, with zero tipping risk on loose sand, rocky ledges, steep slopes, or snowpack. And because it rolls up instead of folding into a stuff sack, it can slip into a pack's hydration sleeve or strap to the outside, saving room inside your pack.
Want more cushion? GearJunkie also featured the Crazy Creek AirCliner, which rolls to just 2.7 inches in diameter and inflates in a few breaths. The AirCliner doubles as a sleeping pad with shoulder-to-hip coverage, making it a two-for-one for overnight trips.
Two chairs, one goal: a comfortable seat anywhere the trail takes you. The Hex 2.0 rolls up tight when every ounce and inch of pack space counts, and the AirCliner shows what's possible when you'll trade a few ounces for serious cushion.
Shop the Hex 2.0 Original or the AirCliner.
