Most of the gear review articles you’ll read on Utahoutside.com showcase the latest and greatest in outdoor goodies, and for good reason. We all salivate over the newest and techiest gear whether we end up buying it or not. But what about a piece of gear that’s remained largely the same since its introduction? Would some improvements to said item be enough to make a worthy gear review? After toting around an upgraded classic all camping season, my answer is “yes”. If you haven’t owned a Crazy Creek camp chair I bet you know at least a couple people who have, and the Hex 2.0 chair is absolutely a great twist on this well-known piece of gear.
What’s new with the Hex 2.0 chair
The Hex lineup has always featured Crazy Creek’s lightest and most compact chairs, and are beloved by campers everywhere. With the Hex 2.0, I enjoyed improvements like the beefed up EVA foam (now an 8mm, high-density layer) and the upgrades to the structure of the chair. Crazy Creek reinforced the wing connections, improved the carbon-fiber stays, and used burly 210D ripstop nylon for the outer shell. All of this adds up to a simple, lightweight butt-rester that is ready for any outdoor conditions.
Rest your buns anywhere
Why are these simple chairs seen in the wilderness so often? Simple: they are affordable, durable, and just comfy enough to appeal to almost anyone. All of this is true with the Hex 2.0 chair. Whether resting on grass, granite or good old dirt, my booty was content. There was no surface that the Crazy Creek couldn’t upgrade, and no terra too tough to rip the heavy nylon. The inner surface is also rugged enough to withstand any elements, even wet ground. This chair is made to sit anywhere. It cleans up easily after dirty excursions, and I have yet to find a single tear in the nylon or the webbing on the arms.
Perhaps the biggest improvement, though, is the addition of the attached hanging loop. My wife even exclaimed “Hey! Mine doesn’t have that” when she saw me attaching the Hex 2.0 to my backpack. Ah, to be envied. The roll-up strap and loop make it easy to tote the chair on the outside of a pack, and since it weighs so little I hardly noticed it was there. In camp, I could lounge all day and then hang it from a tree at night.
Basic is OK
No, the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 chair isn’t some revolutionary piece of gear that will change the way you camp. But this new version is absolutely an improvement on a time-tested favorite. Sure, the Hex is basic, but it’s also versatile as all get-out. There are scores of uses for it besides just sitting down. Want to go lightweight? Throw it under your sleeping bag as your summer pad. Planning a long day in the backcountry? Snow won’t penetrate the nylon, and in an emergency the Hex 2.0 could be used as a splint. Peak-bagging in the winter…why not skitch down on the Crazy Creek and keep your clothes dry? The list goes on, but the bottom line is this: Crazy Creek chairs have been around forever because they are awesome, and the Hex 2.0 only adds to the legacy.