Wherever you end up, you'll have a place to park it. Photo: Fredrik Arnell/Getty Images When you head out into backcountry, you have to find the right balance between being prepared and carrying the lightest load. And camp chairs—often bulky and cumbersome—are usually the first items to be jettisoned. But there’s a new breed of lightweight, compact chair that was born for backpacking. So whether you’re trekking into the wild or just planning a summer backyard-barbecue circuit, you won’t regret taking these comfortable seats along. Best for: Backpacking and bike touring Weight: 1.97 pounds with tote bag The Helinox Chair One has won two of the most coveted awards in the outdoor industry, and for good reason. The Chair One’s poles are made from the same TH72M aluminum-based alloy found in the world’s best tents and hiking staffs. With shock-cord technology, the self-locating poles automatically pop into place. All you have to do is slip on the mesh seat cover, and you’re ready to relax.
Chair One can hold more than 300 pounds, but weighs less than two. When collapsed in a bag, it’s about the size of a shoe. Helinox also makes a portable camp table from the same materials. Best for: Backpacking and music festivals The Monarch is not your standard four-legged chair. In fact, it’s not a four-legged chair at all. This seat’s innovative two-leg design lets you use your center of gravity to either sit still or rock back and forth. It works on any terrain. At 1.5 pounds, the Monarch is a very lightweight chair, yet it can hold up to 250 pounds. We reviewed this product a few years ago and it’s still one of the best and most innovative camping chairs around. Coleman Oversize Quad Chair with Cooler ($35) Best for: Car camping and tailgating This chair has the same general design as your standard folding camp chair, but with some nice extras. Though fairly inexpensive ($35), it’s more durable than a cheap chair you might get from Walmart. While the Oversize chair is well built and functional, the feature that really sets it apart is its storage space: there’s a built-in cooler bag that can accommodate five beers and some ice.
A storage flap on the other side will hold your keys, camera, snacks, and magazines. Best for: Backpacking, camping, watching a game Everyone should have Kelty’s folding camp chair in their vehicle’s trunk. Simple design and versatility make this a worthy seat. Basically a sleeping pad, its closed-cell, Therm-a-Rest-style foam padding will insulate your bottom from the frozen ground. What raises the chair to furniture status, and not just that of a pad, though, are its internal composite stays (which give it structure) and its adjustable straps (which let you adjust your sitting position). Chaheati Four-Season Heated Chair ($72) Best for: Cold-weather camping and ice fishing This all-season chair has a built-in heater that will keep you warm during those cool spring nights. It uses a lightweight lithium-ion battery (no cords!) that can be recharged in the car as you drive. The Chaheati, which can go up to 145 degrees in less than 20 seconds, uses a single button for switching among four heat settings.
Its battery lasts up to six hours, so you can spend a whole day ice fishing next winter without worrying about a frozen butt. Do keep in mind, though, that this chair is too bulky to bring on a backpacking trip. Lafuma Futura Air Shell Zero Gravity Camp Chair ($240) Best for: Car camping and stargazing This is the perfect perch to watch the sky from. All you have to do is lean back to recline, and resistance levers keep you in position. The chair’s ergonomic design and extended leg support render it the most comfortable on our list. A single-thread weave of Batyline material makes up the breathable, durable mesh. For added comfort, there’s a mattress that clips to the chair and that, along with the 3-D mesh, can be removed and washed. Photo: Eagles Nest Outfitters Best for: Backpacking and camping Have you ever wanted to sit and read a book while hanging directly over a rushing backcountry stream? Then you might want to check out the Lounger. Eagles Nest, which makes some of the most popular camping hammocks on the market, has remained true to its history with the Lounger, a hanging seat you can set up just about anywhere.
When teamed up with a carabiner and a strap, the Air Craft aluminum frame can hold up to 250 pounds. The adjustable angle-of-recline and dangling-footrest features let you customize whatever space you choose to occupy.Patio Wicker Storage Cube $69 ShippedThis is the best price online by $30. It can double as a storage unit and a table. It has a rust resistant steel frame and an espresso finish. It comes fully assembled and ready to use. Accessories and pillows shown in the picture must be purchased separately. More than 30 reviewers give it 4.7 out of 5 stars. Sales tax is charged in most states.Sales tax is charged in most states.You’d be forgiven for thinking every day this month is Black Friday. With Americans expected to spend an average of $935 on holiday shopping this year, retailers have been trying to lure shoppers in with sales all November. If you’ve made it this far without splurging on a new HDTV or drone, you’re in luck: Many retailers are offering better deals on Black Friday itself than they did in the weeks leading up to the big event, a NerdWallet study finds.
Deals at Best Buy and JCPenney, for example, should be worth the wait. A Black Friday survival tip: Research bargains now (see below) and stick to your list. “The stores are so crazy and busy that all your shopping strategies and research can go out the window,” says Courtney Jespersen, NerdWallet’s retail and shopping expert. Otherwise, she warns, if your top choices sell out, you might get roped into buying a different model that isn’t much of a bargain. When to Buy Airline Tickets to Get The Cheapest Fare The Best Credit Card for You Why Your Credit Score Counts, and How to Boost It If you can help it, avoid physical stores altogether. “A lot of retailers are bringing their best deals online,” Jespersen says. And of course, just like last year, Cyber Monday will bring more deals. Still, check the fine print of any Black Friday ads you come across to make sure that you’ll actually be able to get the discount online. Start here: We’ve compiled a list of some of the best deals out there: Best Buy (BBY): Black Friday sales begin at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and run until 1 a.m. Friday.
Stores will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday offering the same deals. Toshiba 49” 2160p 4K HDTV (Model No. 49L621U): $199.99 (was $499.99) Samsung 55” 2160p 4K HDTV (Model No. UN55KU6270FXZA): $479.99 (was $799.99) Microsoft - Surface Pro 4 - 12.3” - 128GB with Keyboard (Model No. DQS-00001): $599.99 (was $999.99) Garmin - Vivosmart HR Activity Tracker (Model No. 010-01955-06): $69.99 (was $149.99) eBay (EBAY): Like many retailers, eBay has deals available before Thanksgiving rolls around, but here are some you can get only on Black Friday itself. Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer, Glass Carafe, and Cookbook (Model No. (AMZN): Amazon is offering Black Friday deals all week, and more on Cyber Monday, particularly on its own items: Amazon Echo: $139.99 (was $179.99) TCL 32-Inch 720p Roku Smart LED TV (Model No. 32S3800): $125 (was $169.99) Sears (SHLD): Sears stores open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (although some will remain closed, check with your local Sears location). Doors reopen for patrons at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
on Thanksgiving all day, with free-shipping starting at 6 p.m. GE Appliances Freestanding Gas Range (Model No. JGB660EEJES): $599.99 (was $899.99) Kenmore 73045 25.6 cu. Ft French Door Refrigerator w/Bottom Freezer - Stainless Steel: $999.99 (was $2,199.99) Craftsman 13-Drawer Heavy-Duty Ball-Bearing 3-piece Tool Chest Combo (Model No.: 113606). $299.97 (was $649.97) Target (TGT): Doors open at 6 p.m. Thursday to 12 a.m. on Saturday. Online sales start Thanksgiving morning. Samsung 55” 4K Motion Rate curved Ultra HDTV (Model No. UN55KU6500): $697.99 (was $1,199) iPad Pro 9.7 starting at $449 (save $150.99) Sonos Play: 1 Compact Wireless Speaker (Model No. PLAY1US1): $149.99 ($199.99) Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) will stay open for 24 hours starting 6 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day. Hatchimals (Model No. 555378921): $48.88 (was $279.95) Fitbit Alta (Model No. 555932590): $99 (was $129) Xbox One S White 500GB Battlefield Bundle (Model No. 556478001): $249 (was $299) Phantom 3 Standard Drone with 2.7K Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal: $369 (was $499) Kohl’s (KSS) Black Friday deals start in stores and online at 6 p.m. on Thursday and continue until 1 p.m. Friday.
More than 500 deals available online beginning Monday. Sony PlayStation 4 Slim (PS4) Uncharted 4 Bundle + $75 Kohl’s Cash: $249.99 (was $299) Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera Zoom Kit and $135 Kohl’s Cash: $449 (was $749.99) Apple Watch Series 2 38mm plus $105 in Kohl’s Cash: $369 (no discount, but you get Kohl’s Cash) Toys “R” Us will open Thursday night at 5 p.m. ET to midnight. Check out your local store’s hours here. Online deals start at 9 p.m. Wild Thing by Power Wheels – Orange (Model No. 517013), Pink (Model No. 517018): $199.99 (was $299.99) Odyssey Neptune FLX Rolling Quadcopter Drone with 3D VR Headset + Bonus X6 Nano Drone (Model No. 655366): $39.99 (was $79.99) Big Backyard Premium Charleston Lodge Wood Swing Set (Model No. 410750): $799.99 (was $1,599.99) J.C. Penney (JCP) will open at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Sales will be available on its Website starting midnight Wednesday, but in-store shoppers will be given coupons that will basically make some items free. The coupons will be for either $10 off any item that costs $10 or more, $100 off $100 or more, or $500 off $500 or more for purchases made in-store or online.
Stores will pass out another round of coupons on Black Friday at 6 a.m. and will stay open until 11 p.m. T-Mobile (TMUS) has several deals for Black Friday weekend beginning Thursday. Samsung Galaxy Tab E tablet or LG Gpad X 8.0 is free with a 24-month financing agreement and an eligible data plan. Savings: about $150 for the Tab E and $240 for the LG Gpad X. Samsung Galaxy S7 - Trade in a GS6, GS6 Edge, GS6 Edge+, Galaxy Note 5 or an LG G5 for a free Galaxy S7, normally $689.99. The catch: you also need to sign up for a 24-month financing agreement. Sprint (S) Pre-holiday deals on phones, tablets and accessories are available now online, in stores and if you call, but look for more beginning Thanksgiving Day. HTC Bolt: Get the high-definition smartphone for 50% off Thursday and Friday, but only if you activate or upgrade service and sign up for a 24-month financing agreement. Available on online, by phone and at some stories. Mophie powerstation mini 3000, $29.99 or $2.50 per month for 12 months.
LG Smart TV: 43-inch 4k UHD with webOS (usually $449) free if you buy an LG V20 at Sprint retail locations from Thursday through Sunday. To get the deal you also have to activate service, get a new line or upgrade with a 24-month financing plan. LG 32-inch LED HD Smart TV (normally $199.99) free if you buy an LG G5, and activate, add or upgrade service with a 24-month financing plan. Customers who sign up for Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom plan will get their third, fourth, and fifth lines of unlimited data, calling, and texting for free. You’d pay just $100 a month for a family of five. The deal goes live on Black Friday and continues through Dec. 1. The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais — $10.28 paperback. Also available on Kindle for $10.99. Richard Morais spins a yarn about a lowly Indian cook from Mumbai who becomes a three-star chef in Paris. An international bestseller, the book was adapted by DreamWorks into a 2014 movie starring Helen Mirren, and produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Juliet Blake.
Simple & Profitable Answers to Life’s Tough Financial Questions by Jack Otter — $17.92. Also available on Kindle for $12.99. Jack Otter simplifies real-world financial dilemmas and breaks the answers down into simple “do this, not that” solutions. Six basic topics as seen on Fox and CBS include: Getting Started, Shelter, Automotive, Investing, Family Matters and Retirement. A great gift for recent grads, this book is the Swiss Army knife of personal finance. The Indomitable Investor: Why a Few Succeed in the Stock Market When Everyone Else Fails by Steven M. Sears — $19.95 paperback. Steven Sears gives a “how to” lesson on improving returns and avoiding losses with disciplines deployed by people who almost always do exactly the opposite of what Wall Street says to do. Missing Reels by Farran Smith Nehme — $15.95 paperback. Also available on Kindle for $15.15. Nehme’s novel tells the story of a woman who seeks to uncover a long-forgotten silent film, and discovers a host of characters—including a love interest—along the way.