STRONGBACK Low Gravity Beach Chair Heavy Duty Portable Camping and Lounge Travel Outdoor Seat with Built-in Lumbar Support

When pricing good beach chairs that I thought may also double for concert,park, etc, chair I suddenly found that what I wanted was $100 plus at the local beach shop (yikes). After doing some research I came across these Strongback chairs. From the reviews for the "standard" chair design, it looks like due to the height and high center of gravity multiple reviews have noted failures at leg weld points. For this reason I passed on the "Standard" design and targeted the "Low Gravity" design (the Low Gravity "2.0" (not sure what the 1.0 was), and the recliner designs).The only other chair that made my list was the very well liked Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair which can be had pretty cheap (I think $25) at your nearby Costco (though I think the Costco brand is suppossedly inferior to the stock Tommy Bahama one which sells for $80 if you can find it).Since I was already at the beach and really impressed with the Stongback beach chair concept (I've got a bad back and am 260lbs) so I thought WTH and got both the 2.0 and the recliner designs shipped to the beach house and decided to do a head-by-head comparison at the beach. What I found is that essentially these two chairs are the same chair exept that the "recliner" design has front legs that can extend using a pivot mechanism making the chair have a steeper front angle (i.e. recliner). It should be noted that you cannot manually adjust from standard to "recliner" while seated. You either have to decide you want it in the standard position or the recliner before you sit in it.The pics attached compare the two chairs (2.0 on left and recliner on right). Below are the strengths and weaknesses ot the Strongback Low Gravity Chairs in general (both designs):Pros:1. Does indeed provide good back support and forces one to sit with good posture so that your back doesn't tire out as easily over long sitting periods2. Seems pretty durable in construction. Double stiching used with the HD fabric and the frame material seems a decent gauge metal3. I like the lever lock design in the back of the chair which creates a tight lumbar support and ensures the chair will stay in the position when in useCons1. Pricey for what it is. I really envision the sweet spot for this kind of chair to be between $40 to $50.2. The cup holder is flimsy and cheap but servicable. You can fit something slightly larger than a 12oz can in this3. Little difficult to collaspe (maybe this will get easier once I break it in)4. The accoridan collasping design is crappy and is hard to transport without the bag compared to backpack chairs or chair with a built in carrying straps5. The carrying bag is atrocious, very thin, cheap and the close string constantly gets stuck on the legs when trying to put the chair into the bag. The materials should have been similar to what the chair fabric is (polyester 600D tear and wear resistant fabric) and wider to make it easier to insert the chair into it6. The chair is pretty heavy for it's size (12lbs)7. One less year of warranty if purchased on Amazon (3 year if purchased directly from Strongback)8. The chair is very low to the ground, but you can "launch yourself" to a standing position by pushing off on the "padded arms" without too much difficulty. Would have liked the chair to be a little taller but its low height wasn't a deal breaker for meWhen choosing between the 2.0 design and the recliner design I decided to go with the recliner design for $10 more. Using the pivot legs to slightly increase the height causes you to fall back into the lumbar support even more (due to the angle) which I think is more comfortable and provides more back support. The short extension legs are housed in a plastic pivot housing which may fail at somepoint. I would have rather hoped this housing is steel/metal vs. plastic but my initial thought was the housing was relatively durable.So in closing. I like the Strongback chairs even though they are a little too pricey for my blood. The accesories (cup holder and bag) that come with the chair are cheap compared to the chair's overall constrution. Personally I liked the recliner design over the 2.0 design and felit like it gave very good support to the lower back.As mentioned you can get this chair directly from the manufacturer and get an additional year of warranty. They ship tax free and with free shipping so that might be the best way to go if you really are sold on this chair. I choose to purchase on Amazon due to how quickly I could get the chair shipped to me (2 days) and their flexible return policy.I hope this review has been helpful.

//Edit December 2020I did it. I broke the chair!I shouldn't be excited about that, but it almost feels like an accomplishment. It took over four years of daily (ab)use. By use I mean near continuous sitting in it along with getting in and out of it to stretch about 30 times a day.The solid steel rivets eventually wore through as the steel bracket around them slowly chewed down their diameter. To be fair, One of the legs is on a wooden block that isn't as tall as the other three legs. Where it is in my RV it's up on a "party floor" as they are called. One of the legs stuck off the side so I stuck a 4x4 wood block I had laying around under it. It was close, but a little short. Thus there has been additional stress on the joints.I pulled the two parts together with a zip tie and kept on. Now finally my weight bearing down on the left arm rest bar each time I sat down finally did the same on the left joint. This time though the plastic connection point split in half. Again, I threw on 5 or so zip ties and I am keeping right on using it.This is the absolute strongest folding chair EVER. I'm going to order another and keep it as a backup for the day that the chair becomes unusable in the future. This chair is required in my living situation, even one day unable to use my computer or sit at all (it's the only seat/chair I have for myself in my tiny RV) would be unacceptable.//EditStill going strong (ahem) July 28 2019.Dirty, slightly frayed from my boots rubbing the corner as I get in and out of it, but absolutely no tears or structural wear whatsoever. Impressively, the legs and foot pads of this chair have actually worn into my floor from use, and yet the chair is still standing immortal. Immune to my abuse. Defying time itself. I don't know who designed this object, but it is clear that they had a mission to create a time piece by which the age of the universe could be dated in the far future. When nothing else is left standing on this Earth, there will be this lone strongback chair resisting the solar radiation and sheilding other planets behind it. Or perhaps every one of these ever build will remain, clinging to each other to hold the planet together when all else is gone.//Original review below;Toughest and best designed folding chair I have ever used. Amazing, still like new after a year of daily use @ 330lbs. Wow.I sit in this thing all day every day as an office chair in a strange situation in a very small RV.I also weigh in at 330 lbs. I've been using it for over a solid year like this. It has no rips, no bends, and no wear. HOLY CRAP.I thought I would be buying a new one every few months at best. This chair is worth every penny and more. It's not even expensive given the quality and good design. Most folding chairs would have bent and broken rivets within a week or two with my weight. This one is still like new!Now I am eyeing their taller version of this chair. I wonder if it would be as strong since the longer legs mean more leverage.I think I will get one and find out, since I am 280% impressed with this chair.

I was really excited to purchase this chair as we have an older one we found left behind at a beach. I love the design, back support and overall sturdiness of the construction. Love the lime green and carry bag as well. Only disappointment is the stitching on the outer seat seam. The entire 12" of mesh was missed in the finishing and I worry that it will fray. It's a pain to send back, plus I've already used it so just want to give a heads up to the company and appreciate any feedback on how to make sure this is a trivial issue.

Llegó antes de lo esperado y me gustó mucho, es cómoda tanto para mi espalda como para mis piernas que las puedo mantener estiradas o cómodamente dobladas, es resistente y de buena calidad. La uso con una mesita plegable ahora que hago home office y me quedó justo a la medida. Fue buena compra =)

As a senior, this is a bit too hard to get in and out of. Need something at regular height. However, once in it is comfortable. Gave to friends who love it.

This is a great chair, very sturdy and very comfortable, I really liked the lumbar support and would recommend purchasing it.

As advertised. Comfortable and seems durable.