The Premium Camp Setup: A Real-World Review of the Kermit Chair
When you live out of a van, every single piece of gear you pack has to earn its keep. Space is at an absolute premium, which means equipment needs to be incredibly functional, highly durable, and easy to stow away.
Last March, while walking around the Overland Expo in Costa Mesa, we had no idea what a Kermit Chair was. As we were exploring the expo, these short wooden chairs caught our attention completely out of nowhere. We were immediately drawn to their design and wanted to sit on them to try them out for ourselves. That single moment sparked an unexpected friendship and completely sold us on both the product and the incredible company behind it.
Here is our honest review of the Kermit Chair, our hands-on testing experience, and why it has earned a permanent home in our rigs.
The Heritage Behind the Chair
As we got to know the team, we fell in love with their story. It all started in 1984 when an avid BMW motorcyclist named Kermit Easterling couldn't find a camp chair that packed down small enough for his bike without sacrificing comfort, so he built one himself.
Fellow riders immediately took notice, sparking a massive cult following in the overland community. Handcrafted in the Nashville, Tennessee area out of locally sourced wood, the company remains an incredibly wholesome, family-run business dedicated to the exact, time-tested quality standards established over 40 years ago.
Meeting the Face Behind the Heritage
While testing the chairs at the Expo, we struck up a conversation with one of the team members there. Learning they were visiting all the way from Tennessee, we handed them a business card and invited them to come check out our garage.
A few days later, they took us up on the invitation.
They showed up at the shop with multiple chairs in hand so the entire team could try them out. Within minutes, the whole crew was sitting out front of the garage in the parking lot, testing different models and swapping travel stories. The company is incredibly wholesome, family-oriented, and deeply passionate about the quality of their craftsmanship.
They left us with a few chairs to put through rigorous field testing on our own camping trips, and the consensus across our entire team was unanimous.
Space-Saving Efficiency and Real Durability
From a mechanical and spatial standpoint, these chairs are an asset for any van build.
Effortless Travel & Storage: Whether heading out on an extended cross-country expedition or a quick weekend getaway, these are the easiest chairs to bring along. They pack down into a sleek, compact carrying bag that slides effortlessly into tight garage compartments, drawer systems, or exterior storage boxes.
Ultralight and Portable: The frame architecture strikes a perfect balance between weight and structural integrity. They are exceptionally light to carry around the campground, to the beach, or down to a riverbank, requiring zero heavy lifting.
Rugged Material Strength: The size and construction are incredibly durable, allowing them to handle the outdoor elements with ease during long or short trips.
Minimalist Aesthetics and Fireside Comfort
Beyond the structural metrics, visual design matters. The minimalist, beautiful wooden construction brings a high-end, timeless look to any campsite setup. The rich wood grain paired with their classic, beautiful color options looks great parked next to a modern rig, and we consistently get compliments from fellow campers everywhere we unpack them.
Most importantly, they deliver on comfort. The low-slung, stable stance places you at the perfect height for sitting around the fire with friends, providing great support for long evenings spent unwinding outside.
The Good Van Take
The Kermit Chair lives up to the expectations. It is a piece of gear built by great people who stand entirely behind their product. For travelers looking to maximize their interior floor plan by investing in compact, highly durable, and aesthetically beautiful gear, this chair is a definitive win.
At The Good Van, we appreciate precise craftsmanship because we practice it every day. Whether you need a custom garage layout engineered to hold your premium camp gear, a robust off-grid electrical system to power your basecamp, or high-performance suspension upgrades to smooth out your highway transit, we handle it all.
