The YETI Hondo Beach Chair Will Make Your Summer Better
“YETI’s got a beach chair now?” my wife queried. “What does it cost, like $250?”
I raised my eyebrows and pointed to the sky. “Keep going.”
The first thing that needs to be discussed about the new YETI Hondo is that it costs $400. Which is undoubtably a lot for a beach chair. But since we can’t argue about the facts of the unit’s pricing—there’s only question that remains: is it worth it?
Let’s dig in.
Speaking of digging, it’s been said that parents go to the beach to relax—but kids go to work. Yes, while moms and dads pack chairs, blankets, snacks and beach-books to our sandy shores—with hopes of doing less rather than more—our children suddenly become professional sandcastle contractors.
They dig impossibly deep holes. Redirect creeks. Sculpt castles of driftwood, rocks and eternally crumbling sand. This goes on for a long while.
Which is kind of the point.
But it also means we adults need to settle in and get comfy. So, it’s not a wild idea to invest in a chair that’s going to be cozy for a few hours.
That’s where the Hondo comes in. As with anything we’ve seen from YETI—it’s built tough. The chair weighs 5.4 kilograms, light enough to pack easily, but the powder-coated aluminum frame is solid and doesn’t even flex when I loop my dog’s leash to it and he lunges at a seagull.
The mesh is a quick-dry FlexGrid fabric that can hold 159 kilograms (350 pounds) without losing elasticity. The fabric is both UV and salt-resistant, two of the primary factors in the degradation of any beach chair. As such, the Hondo should enjoy a lifespan well beyond your average nylon unit. And it comes with a shoulder strap and cupholder—which works even better as a phone holder—plus it’s collapsible and adjustable to four angles of recline.
You can dig into the full specs and dimensions here. Needless to say, it leaves nothing to want—except perhaps backpack straps over the shoulder strap. (Backpack straps are an optional add-on.)
But what’s the user experience like? In short, it’s astounding. And I don’t use that word lightly.
YETI has thoughtfully crafted a chair that is worthy of hours of your time. The mesh has just enough spring to be both cozy and supportive. The four recline positions are handy, though you’ll likely find one that suits you best and return to it again and again. The chair also locks together for pack-up. The low leg-height allows for a near horizontal stretch if you feel like it—at maximum upright position, it’s only 77 centimetres from the bottom of the leg to the top of the chair-back.
The ergonomic curve at the top of the chair-back is tremendously well-thought-out—it facilitates a head position relaxed enough to nap on, but also not so lounged to make it challenging to keep your eyes on the little ones.
We love this chair. It’s actually enhanced our family beach outings in a way only a few items ever have. Having a luxury chair means that one parent is pleased to watch the sandcastle-building while another can slip out for a SUP or a swim, guilt-free. It means that after three hours on the beach with the kids, we’re rejuvenated, not exasperated.
And after half-a-summer of regular use, there’s no discernable wear-and-tear other than some scratches on the bottom of the legs where it grinds against the coarse Pacific Northwest shores.
So, yeah, it’s worth the $400. Except that’s a bit misleading. Because right now, we only have one. And it’s a hot commodity.
If you’re a two parent household—I have some good news and bad news. The good news is that this beach chair will make your summers better than ever. The bad news is that you need two. That means it’s actually an $800 investment, if you want one in each colour (navy and seafoam).
Still worth it.
Find the YETI Hondo Beach Chair HERE.
