Zen X Carbon Seat

The Zen X Carbon Seat is a Kickstarter project from Danish-named maker Sitpack ApS. Rather than a conventional folding chair, it is a compact, single-leg support seat intended for moments of standing or waiting: on a station platform, at a bus stop, in a park, at a sports event or out on a trail. According to the maker, it folds down small enough to slip into a backpack.

Comfort and fit

The maker says the seat uses memory foam and a "hammock-style" seat shape meant to conform to the user's body, with the goal of reducing strain on the lower back and spine during longer sits. A height adjustment lets the seat be set to suit the user's build and the situation.

What changed from the previous model

• Aluminum reinforcement in the leg, which the maker says makes it sturdier than the earlier version
• A locking mechanism now made from POM (polyacetal), which the maker says passed durability testing of more than 2,000 cycles
• Revised foot grip designed to hold on varied terrain as well as slippery floors and station platforms
• A newly added storage pocket for carrying the folded seat, addressing the lack of a case on the previous model
• A new button mechanism that releases the seat in one touch for one-handed folding

Health claims and materials

Sitpack ApS positions the seat as posture-supporting. The maker claims that encouraging correct posture can ease lower-back strain associated with sciatica, that the single-leg design distributes weight to reduce stress on knees and ankles, and that the small balance corrections it requires engage core muscles. These are the maker's claims and have not been independently verified here. The maker also states that part of the seat uses recycled plastic.