I like to consider myself a pretty savvy online shopper, which is where I purchase most of my bigger ticket items. I research before I buy, I read online reviews with a grain of salt, and I ferret out the best price I can find from a reputable retailer before I pull the trigger.
But every once in a while I see something that strikes a tingly spot in the pleasure center of my brain and I fall hopelessly in purchase-lust with an item that may or may not warrant my affection. Like the chair you see below.
This is a folding loveseat made by the outdoorsy folks at Kelty.
My kids sat on one a couple of weekends ago when I was shopping for a new family kayak at a local outfitter.
They immediately fell in love with the study little twin-seater, and wanted to purchase it on the spot.
We actually need a couple of new chairs to take to the lake, but with its $89.99 price tag and the fact that it can’t be paddled across water (we were kayak hunting after all), I waved them out of it and pushed deeper into the store to find something more buoyant.
Since then, I’ve been thinking about this little guy, because we still need lake chairs and they’d obviously be pleased to have it. Plus, I like to buy quality folding chairs. I get so annoyed when the cheaper ones have a metal tear or lose a rivet that makes them perfectly unusable while still looking brand new.
Fast forward to today when I was cruising around on the Austin Canoe and Kayak website, and happened to once again run across the Kelty loveseat, which I didn’t have the chance to inspect closely at the store.
As I clicked through the pictures to see the details, I lit up with joy when I saw the close-up of the double cup holder. Any beer geek should be able to recognize this handsome fella, even if it’s just the tip-top of the can:
It’s Dale’s Pale Ale, my go-to beer when I’m at the lake. Yay!
Upon seeing this picture, my head suddenly filled with images of sun-hazed summer evenings by the water, Me sitting with Kelty, Dale and my lovely wife, watching our daughter hurl herself off the high dive and our son playing pickup basketball across the beach.
I suddenly felt a kinship for Kelty, who clearly have a handle on things – if they know how to choose a beer, they OBVIOUSLY make quality outdoor equipment. 🙂
Anyway, a single glance quickly galvanized into an affinity with the Kelty brand and this loveseat in particular, although I think I prefer the taller one, which is a better match for 6’5″ frame if I wind up sitting on it.
I haven’t purchased it yet, but when the time comes to pull the trigger on new outdoor seating, chances are good it’ll be this little folding bench, and all because a can of beer.
And because the taller version is currently enjoying 4.9 our of 5 stars from 15 user reviews.
Hey, love ain’t totally blind, at least when it comes to gear!
.
.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Kelty generally makes good stuff, but I’d recommend checking Consumer Reports first. 🙂
I think their picture has a Bud Light Lime in the cupholder, a CR Best Buy for artisanal fruit beers!
Try one of those old-fashioned walking sticks in which the handle folds down into a seat–bet you could strap one of those to your kayak.
Sounds…uhh…comfy, Wayne.
Obviously you haven’t met my wife!
Actually it is reasonably comfortable. Its certainly sufficient for a trail stop to ingest some gorp.
If you Google the terms walking stick seat, you’ll find pics of the older version plus many contemporary upgrades.
Do the upgrades include “massage”?
I don’t know, you’d have to ask them? But I suspect it would be “batteries not included.”
Kudos for those guys for being savvy or lucky enough to have had the right can lined up for picture day. That said, I think the stovepipe can would allow easier access – you wouldn’t have to deploy the 3 finger pickle prong to fish it out.
Cheers!
Deviant Dale’s to the rescue!
My backpack is a Kelty. Absolutely love it. Look at you getting all outdoorsy and such…too cute!
I currently have a kayak rack on top of my car – I feel like Bear Grylls!
Can’t do THAT with a Mini convertible!
All the predictions from the ‘Carousel of Progress’ are coming to pass. And so it was written that Shock Top would become a best buy of craft beers, while Dale’s Pale Ale stands in as a product prop for folding chairs. Just look at the way it is constructed with exotic polymers and non-ferrous alloys, it would be just like drinking a beer…. in space. Which is something that Neil Armstrong and his ironically named partner failed to do. There’s just one more convenience to make the next trip to the lake perfect:
The UroClub – just like the astronauts used (well, Alan Shepard at least!).
Hey Jim,
Please send me an email if you can.
Cheers!
Fredrik
We have recently launched a new magazine called Craft Beer Magazine:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/craft-beer-magazine/id643848007
Any way I could reach you?
Thanks,
Fredrik
You’ve shocked me again, Jim. I always pictured you as about 5’9″!
Hey Jim! I work for Oskar Blues actually (I have that exact Kelty chair, we do promos with them all the time, it’s a killer camping chair and I’m 6’2″) & we’re literally brewing a beer RIGHT NOW with Brew Dog out at their place in Aberdeen. Wanted to reach out and see if you’d be interested in some pics and info to blog about. We’re out there until this Saturday, brewing today and hitting a bunch of their pubs this week. Shoot me an email and I can get you more info.
Jeremy