A zero gravity chair works best to meet all of the requirements for a comfortable fully functional binocular chair. From our experience, most other chair styles will have one kind of limitation or another. It is important to understand these zero gravity chair recommendations. It can be a little tricky to shop for an appropriate zero gravity chair unless you are prepared. A appropriate sturdy chair is a very important part of your bino-chair design, and minimizing the chair’s cost should not be the top priority.
The backrest tube frame: The upper areas of the left and right sides of the backrest frame should have no obstructions with backrest fabric (see below). This is where a bino-holder mount can be clamped and can slide up and down to match the heights of various users. It’s good if the head cushion is not be attached to the backrest frame, but instead to the backrest fabric. If the head cushion slides on the backrest frame, then it should be possible to slide it up or down on the frame, so that there is room remaining for the bino-holder mount. Incidentally, later during use another cushion can be tucked under the chair’s head cushion, to support the nape of your neck, for high elevation viewing.
A standard width chair is recommended; see “Specifications” section below.
Non-zero-gravity chairs: Some may wish to rotate their chair by pushing with their feet on the ground instead of using a hand driven wheel. In this case, any standard tube frame chair can be used, as long as your feet stay on the ground comfortably. Again, there should be open steel tubing, with no attached backrest fabric, at the tops of the sides of the chair’s backrest. There will be a limitation to the comfortable viewing elevation when using these chairs. This would be a good choice if the intention is for daytime nature viewing only, since not much elevation is normally needed for this. One can avoid building the entire rotating azimuth control component by using a swiveling “orbit-beach-chair”. However there would be significant instability and viewing elevation limitation. Tipping over backwards is even possible without counterbalancing at the front of the chair.
A chair-front counterweight should be used for any bino-chair which reclines substantially. This will help prevent it from tipping over backwards, and will assist when returning to an upright position. A padded surface on a counterweight board can also act as a comfortable leg rest (see below).
Conclusion: It’s best to use an appropriate zero gravity chair. It can tilt back very far, as your legs rise comfortably. If you want to view all the way up to zenith, you then just arch your neck a little. The nape of your neck can be supported by adding a large cushion. The front of the chair extends out, and is great for a counterweight because of the leverage.
Specifications: The “W” width in a zero gravity chair spec often refers to the distance between the outer edges of the armrests. A standard 30″W or 31″W chair typically has seat fabric which is about 24″ wide. The typical sized zero gravity chairs can be called XL, XXL or “oversized”. Typical sized chairs have a base frame about 27″ wide and about 30″ from front to back. The extended length is typically 72″. It should be able to recline close to 170°. For sturdiness, the chair should be rated for at least 350 lbs. and the chair’s weight should be at least 20 to 22 lbs. A higher weight rating should translate to more stability, regardless of your body weight. Often included is a tray table, and small levers under the armrests to lock the tilt of the backrest. A padded backrest is good.
Some zero gravity chair models to consider: Online comparison of the specs is highly recommended and likely to be easier. This is even more true when in-store choices are limited during off-season.
- Portal: 350 lbs rating — 30″W between outer edges of armrests — open upper areas of the backrest frame — get the padded back not the mesh back — fully tested and recommended
- Timber Ridge: 350 lbs rating — 31″W between outer edges of armrests — many have open upper areas of the backrest frame — Amazon: B08F57JS96 — untested — if the frame is wider at the front than at the back, contact us regarding a build plan change
- Timber Ridge’s larger chair with the 500 lbs rating — 33″W between outer edges of armrests — many models have open upper areas of the backrest frame — Amazon B08FJ998C3 — untested — the build plans may need to be upsized for this bigger chair — if the frame is wider at the front than at the back, contact us regarding a build plan change
- PHI VILLA XXL: 400 lbs rating — 30”W between outer edges of armrests — since the headrest slides on the backrest frame, slide it above or below the bino-holder mount — padded — Amazon: B08LMT7YDM — untested
- Cabela’s Big Outdoorsman Lounger: 400 lbs rating — ~31″W between outer edges of armrests — open upper areas of the backrest frame — untested — since the frame is likely wider at the front than at the back, contact us regarding a build plan change
These types of zero gravity chairs may result in some bino-chair limitation:
- chairs under 20 lbs with a weight capacity rating under 350 lbs
- chairs that are smaller and not described as XL, XXL or oversized
- chairs without open steel tubing near the tops of the sides of the backrest
- chairs that are much wider than 33″ between outer edges of armrests
- chairs that don’t recline back close to 170°
- chairs under 72″ long when extended
- mesh back summer chairs with open mesh backrest fabric are less insulated and less padded
Special request: if you come across other suitable zero gravity chairs, especially chairs that have over 72″ extended length, please add a comment below.
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