Folding Picking Chair from Canada

[Jim Gallaher]

Every festival season I scour the forums for the best suggestions for folding "picking chairs", but remain unsatisfied with the available designs.

I seek light weight (gotta carry that sucka around the campground), low cost (of course) and comfort (padding is important to this old be-hind). I was admiring a particular design at a festival last week and the owner said he had purchased it from a "Canadian picker" he met at Grey Fox. He thought they were available only in Canada.

A little snooping on the 'Net revealed the item is available at Canadian Tire for only $9.99 Canadian ($9.80 US), but they don't ship to the US. Fortunately, I have a friend in Canada who will be staying at my home in Virginia in a few weeks and she will bring one along.

Check it out...

[John L]

I had one of those bag chairs and the left web armrest ripped. I was just about to throw it out when I decided I could cut the arm support short and move the little plastic cap to the new stump. Now I have a one-armed bag chair with a beverage holder. People ask me where I got it and I tell them it is custom, which it is. Will take a photo some time.

[allenhopkins]

I've been using $18 folding stools from WalMart for years now, with generally favorable results -- though, at 250-pounds-plus, I view all folding furniture with a bit of trepidation.

I did buy a folding stool with a built-in guitar stand, similar to this, used it a few times, then had it "fold" on its own, with me sitting on it, just before an outdoor performance. No injuries, a fair amount of embarrassment, and a valuable lesson for subsequent gigs.

So: folding stools/chairs are cool, and in my case almost a necessity for my gigs, but be careful…!

[Jim Garber]

A little snooping on the 'Net revealed the item is available at Canadian Tire for only $9.99 Canadian ($9.80 US), but they don't ship to the US. Fortunately, I have a friend in Canada who will be staying at my home in Virginia in a few weeks and she will bring one along.

I don't know about you but half the time I am playing on damp ground and those legs will probably sink into the ground. I would think that this one --Lightweight Padded Back Folding Stool Weighs 4 lbs and supports up to 250 lbs -- would be lighter and be a little more stable.

[stevejay]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Wo...Chair/20594115

Nice item to have in the trunk. But on second thought, this is one that will sink quite well.
As I peruse the web, there's actually seems to be quite a few viable choices between Walmart and Amazon alone.

[Bill Clements]

Here ya go!

It weighs about 7lbs.
I suggest substituting a nice single malt for the water bottle.

[Mike Bunting]

Here's what I use, it's a little expensive but I can afford a Blue Chip pick. From Camper's Village.

[Michael Weaver]

Any of you all use this type of seat to play? I find it to be the sturdiest of all. You can also finish an entire tune without someone trying to ask you a question.

[G7MOF]

I've used a shooting stick in the past!

[Tobin]

I've used a shooting stick in the past!

I've considered something similar. While it would be ideal to have a real chair to sit in, perhaps the best compromise between comfort and ease of carrying is a "seat stick" which I've also seen called a "stick chair" or "seat cane". I've tried one of these out, and they're pretty cool. They are lightweight and easy to carry, and make a pretty comfortable monopod-style seat. They usually have a large disk above the spike at the bottom too, so they won't sink into soft ground. The only downside is that I don't think I'd want to spend all day sitting on it, because you can't ever really take the pressure off your legs.

[Elliot Luber]

I have one of these left over from my sons' Boy Scout days. Works pretty well, but I wouldn't use it with the Loar!

[pickloser]

Any of you all use this type of seat to play? I find it to be the sturdiest of all. You can also finish an entire tune without someone trying to ask you a question.

Although the acoustics are great and the privacy is a plus, I find this picking seat can produce numbness in certain extremities.

[Michael Weaver]

Although the acoustics are great and the privacy is a plus, I find this picking seat can produce numbness in certain extremities.

That's why you close the lid and pretend to be "busy" doing other things. The acoustics are amazing and you just play louder when the kids knock on the door.

[Gutbucket]

I had one of those three legged, triangle shaped folding chairs I used it just once for dove hunting. It most definitely isn't made for the male anatomy. Try sitting in it for more then five minutes and you'll see why. It did help me sing those Bill Monroe style high parts at the local jams.

[jake-mando]

I would suggest one like this. Not really an all terrain stool. The ground would have to be level. Very comfortable. $150 at Axe Music in Edmonton. I have a friend with one. He says it's the best stool he's used.

[Tobin]

Geez, for $150 it had better be!

[Charlieshafer]

Yeah, but I like the footrest, and it looks all professional and cool and stuff.

[EdHanrahan]

For about $3, a local yard sale yielded one of those folding bag chairs that came without armrests. Comfortable, barely worn, and fairly stable with all 4 feet. And in a nice shade of blue but, alas, no cupholder. If I interpret the embroidery correctly, it started life as part of an Eddie Bauer edition Ford Explorer.

[lloving]

I would suggest one like this. Not really an all terrain stool. The ground would have to be level. Very comfortable. $150 at Axe Music in Edmonton. I have a friend with one. He says it's the best stool he's used.

I have one of these in a closet somewhere. It weighs a ton. I cant see my self carrying it around, more a studio item.

[the_polish_mandolinist]

Just bought the $10 chair from Canadian tire and it feels great :D

[John L]

I had one of those bag chairs and the left web armrest ripped. I was just about to throw it out when I decided I could cut the arm support short and move the little plastic cap to the new stump. Now I have a one-armed bag chair with a beverage holder. People ask me where I got it and I tell them it is custom, which it is. Will take a photo some time.

Promised a photo - here you go!

[yankees1]

I don't know about you but half the time I am playing on damp ground and those legs will probably sink into the ground. I would think that this one --Lightweight Padded Back Folding Stool Weighs 4 lbs and supports up to 250 lbs -- would be lighter and be a little more stable.

Just ordered this folding stool tonight !! Thanks Jim !

[mandolirius]

Just ordered this folding stool tonight !! Thanks Jim !

I just sold a set of four of those. Thought they'd be great for picking but they weren't all that comfortable. No incline to the back. Well made and very convenient but not designed for sitting on for long periods of time, I don't think.

A retired guy who used to live next door to my folks made a two-piece, armless chair that is two separate pieces. The seat part slides into the back part. Nice recline and very comfortable. I've often thought it a design that should be copied. I'll try and get a couple of pics of it and put them up. Probably fairly simple for someone with woodworking skills (that would not be me).

[mandolirius]

Here's what I use, it's a little expensive but I can afford a Blue Chip pick. From Camper's Village.

Ok for mandolin players......

[John MacPhee]

Hey John L
Reminds me of a sayin "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". You should patent it, love it!
Cheers
John