The great outdoors has so much to offer: breath-taking views, exciting activities but rarely a comfortable area to park your backside. I’m not one to complain but get your act together nature! In the mean time there is always the option of taking a chair out with you, but who wants to lug a large camping chair around with them?

The Walkstool Comfort is a three-legged telescopic stool offering two sitting heights in a compact package. Available in four different heights: 45, 55, 65, and 75cm, with seat sizes growing from 35 to 37.5 and 40cm for the two taller models. The smallest version weighs 825g with the largest weighing 1050g; for something they suggest you can carry on your belt, it could do with shaving off a few grams. The Comfort can handle between 200kg and 250kg depending on the size and can be used, if the man on the website is to be believed, in four different ways but more on that later.

Created in the Walkstool factory in Sweden, the aluminium telescopic legs slide out quickly and seamlessly click in to place - may I add here that it is the only three-legged telescopic stool in the world with patents and trademark protection? Well done Walkstool! The Comfort features large rubber feet for a stable foundation, and an ergonomically-shaped mesh seat that offers some ventilation and allows it to become compacted when packed down. When on the move you have few carrying options: it comes in a mesh bag that can be carried on the shoulder or across the body, there is a loop that you can use to attach it to a bag, or you can slip the Velcro wrap-around strap on your belt or belt loop.

The legs need to be twisted into the lock position so that they are parallel to prevent them from accidently extending. However, they can easily fall out of this position and slide out a little - if there is a mechanism to retract the legs, it seems sensible to have a mechanism to extract them too, therefore preventing them from sliding out whilst carrying the chair.

So, back to the position. Firstly, there is the extended leg position: this is the most stable by far, however the stiff material makes finding a comfortable position across the back of your legs more of a challenge. The second is with the legs retracted, putting you at a lower level, but you will need a degree of balance for this one. The third is to aim the point of the seat down at the ground and lean your back against it whilst you sit on the ground, and the last is to use it as a head prop whilst laying on the ground. Having two heights to sit at is a good idea and the different length options means you can find the right size for your height, and its good to take a load off your feet for a while. However, due to the limited comfort three poles and a strip of mesh can provide, I wouldn’t recommend it to long periods of time. RRP: 45cm ($86.49), 55cm ($94.95), 65cm ($106.66), 75cm ($114.99)

3.8 out of 5

Current Cheapest Price

Pros

Telescopic legs to two height positions

Strong and durable

Three carrying options

Mesh seat for ventilation

Compact and portable

Cons

Legs can slip out when carried out of the bag

Edge of seat can dig into legs

Could be lighter