GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker Chair: Perfect Camp Chair?

It’s July in Alaska and we’re finally into the Summer season. And the hunt for a new chair started earlier this Spring when we were sent the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker Chair.

So far, this amazing folding pod-style camp chair has been a huge hit for all of our testers. Myself included. We’ve had this chair out in the field since the snow melted here in Alaska. That’s roughly 3 months of use.

Our reviewers have used the Pod Rocker Chair at youth baseball games, family campouts, early-season salmon fishing trips, and more than half a dozen BBQs and fire pits. So it’s had a fair amount of use. And to date, the chair has been holding up extremely well. Let’s take a look at the numbers and specs.

GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker Dimensions

Expanded:

• Seat Height: 20.4″
• Seat Width: 30″
• Seat Depth: 28.2″
• Back Height: 34.7″
• Chair Weight Rating: 250 lbs
• Chair Weight: 11.7 lbs

Collapsed:

• Height: 40.2″
• Width: 6.5″
• Depth: 5.5″

GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker Materials & Features

• Seat: Nylon with mesh slots for ventilation
• Frame: Aluminum with polymer feet
• Rocker feature with strut
• Phone pouch
• Carry bag
• Available in Blue or Red
• $75.00 without sunshade Amazon $70
• $95.00 with sunshade Amazon $79.99

Field Use Findings

The GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker sets itself apart among the field of camp chairs this summer. All of our testers thoroughly enjoyed having a chair with great supporting undercarriage married to a rocking mechanism. The low height of the chair was welcomed by all but one of our testers. This particular evaluator is 66 years old and disabled with back issues. So we graded his review on a curve somewhat. Most found getting into and out of the chair to be very easy. One thing that struck us is while sitting in the Pod Rocker, there’s no strain on the back of your knees or thighs.

While testing the rocking feature of this chair we also noticed that the back and leg bracing was quite stout. Allowing the chair to dig into the rock, dirt and grass surfaced we were testing it on. With virtually zero slipping or wobble of the chair or occupant. It just settled in the surface below and made us love the chair even more. This is due to the placement of the feet and the way GCI Outdoors designed them to not slip out from underneath the user.

Best Uses and Target Audience

Make no mistake at just over 11 lbs the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker is not built to be a backpacking chair. This chair features a heavy aluminum frame and high-quality nylon fabric that can support over 250 pounds. It’s designed to take some abuse yet provide years of service to its owners. This chair is best suited for use around the house, camping, overland travel, or tailgating. It’s not a negative comment on the chair, it’s just the facts of the situation. We found the chair, frame, and carry bag to be much higher quality than the cheap Wal-Mart chairs that have plagued us for years. But not quite the same quality as the Yeti Hondo or Trailhead chairs

Showing off the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker at all of these events created a good deal of questions about the company and the rocking mechanism. GCI Outdoors manufactures 11 different styles of chairs in addition to the Pod Rocker. All of them feature this style of rocker mechanism so if you’re interested in a rocker but a pod style might not be your “thing”, don’t worry GCI Outdoors has you covered. Seven of these chairs feature arms and side tables. So be sure to check the GCI Outdoor link here.

The Future of the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker in Alaska

I can tell you with 100% certainty that the GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker will be in my primary camping and recreating vehicles for the rest of the summer.

It has proven itself on the shores of the Pacific Ocean near Kachemak Bay, Alaska. To the foothills of the Denali National Park in Talkeetna. If we are going to have to sit down, this chair will be stuffed in its bag and tossed with the rest of our gear.

We received this as a dealer sample chair to keep after the review, but I like the GCI Outdoor designs so much that we ordered one of their other chairs at our own expense. If that’s not a solid endorsement from myself and my family then I don’t know what is.

We want to thank GCI Outdoor for providing us with the Pod Rocker for an extended test & evaluation period. Be sure to get outside this summer, hike, camp, explore and have fun. Be safe and check back with The Gear Bunker for more real-world reviews on guns, gadgets, and outdoor gear you can count on.