Architect Alejandro Aravena designed Chairless for Vitra as a seating solution for the modern nomad. Designed for portability, this strap is supposed to allow for comfortable seating in any location, indoors and out. Though the manufacturer claims the strap relieves strain on the spine and legs while freeing hands to handle a book or electronic device, we aren't 100% sold on this creation.
Chairless was inspired by a similar seating solution created by the Ayoreo tribe in northern Paraguay. What do you think? Is Chairless the perfect solution for urban dwellers? Will it replace bulky folding chairs and floor cushions? Or is it just a weird gimmick? The first batch of Chairless sold out online- has anyone seen one of these seating straps in action or even tried one out?
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And here I was wondering why AT had a bondage post...
Not.
Um. Sorry this is stupid.
the nada chair has a similar concept. we tried that one, and it's pretty comfy.
hi, i already have enough belts.
Uhm, I would suggest that the chairless modern nomad should sit cross-legged; it seems healthier and more dignified.
Seriously NOT! I saw this yesterday and thought how ridiculously stupid it looked. But hey, I'll definitely get a good chuckle out of it if I see people using them.
http://www.nadachair.com/
works just fine.....i only use it outdoors though.....
Maybe when I was in my teens or twenties. My nearly 50 yr old bones need a bit more than a strap around me.
I invented car-less. Just hold your hands in a "10 minutes past 10:00" position, and say "vroom, vroom".
Only works when your knees are pulled up to your chest - so when your butt gets sore and your legs lose circulation due to being folded up, what then?
Oh, you go get a real chair!
I thought April Fools was on the 1st?
looks good for camping. That's about it
If it's not for you, then it's not for you but don't call it stupid or useless based upon the fact that it's something that you wouldn't use, thats just ignorant, especially if you haven't tried it out yet, you wouldn't be giving it a proper review or even thought, now that's stupid.
However, if it does do what it says, then I would imagine it would be a pretty good thing and idea, for those that said, sit cross legged, it can cause and lead to a lot of knee problems, I've heard.
I wonder how much they'll be over-charging for this?
Available from Vitra for $999.99
Is there any way to use this without looking like you've escaped from Bellevue?
I want three choices:
*hot
*not
*hilarious
I cant believe how much press this thing has gotten, seems to be on every _blog_ i read, and thats ... suspicious ...
HAHAHAHA... GreatFriend; you so funny.
kneel
cross your legs
squat (more than half the world does this comfortably)
lie down
is this a serious post?
this is one of the dumbest things i've ever seen... i would love to see my guests' faces when I offer them a strap to sit in!
I vote Naughty.
I used to put by knees inside of an over sized pajama shirt and sit like this as a kid. I don't think i would do it as an adult.
Only for the if you were going for the straight jacket chic look .
I would find using this thing anatomically impossible at this stage of the game.
That looks like a bad idea for your knees over extended periods. ... and let's not even mention how uncomfortable it would be to sit on a hardwood floor.
Why not get something like this
http://www.gcioutdoor.com/bleacherback.html
or this, which could double as minimalist guest bedding ('cause they're thermarest mattresses folded for chairs)
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/seating/trek-and-travel-seating/trekker-chair/product
I can see the strap being cool for all of maybe a month for someone in the undergrad/don't have room for anything set, but otherwise, it's totally impractical and uncomfortable.
As seen in almost any yoga studio! Great for yogis, not so great for guests.
I'm totally going to make one with some seatbelt strap I have at home. THis would be great for Movie night in Dolores Park here in San Francisco. It's kinda hard to sit criss cross apple sauce (like my PC phrase? eh? eh?) for an hour and a half. I could see how this would take the strain out of my back.
Oh for the love of God. Click to the link--it's worth it.
Looking forward to going to yoga class this weekend, so I can further strengthen my body to be able to sit in a variety of positions on the floor without needing one of these things...
A chair does a lot for you, including putting cushioning under your butt (not all do, of course), supporting your back, keeping your knees and hips at a comfortable angle, etc. No way can this thing do all that. And no way can this 45-year-old arthritic person sit for long on a wood floor, strap or no strap.
actually, it does work.... but being unnecessary , totally!!
Not only is this a silly product, I can't believe nobody else has commented on the guy in the picture. That beard! The hair in the eyes!
I'm waiting for the miniature.
Does it come in a barstool?
I could never see that taking off in a home setting - however it may find a niche market among the backpacking crowd. A lightweight & portable seating solution when you're in the middle of nowhere.
Oh, for Pete's sake!
I've tried a nadachair before, and they are comfortable and supportive of the lower back. They're pretty nerdy, though.
These straps seem silly, but the Paraguayan Indians seemed to have found a need and met it when they created the prototype.
I agree that it's intended to be a travel/backpacking/camping device, and not home furniture.
Yeah, like the guy doing back-country skiing is going to sit down, take the thing out of his pocket and strap it on to look out at the beautiful scene....
I can imagine the look on my mother's face when she comes to visit and I offer her a strap to secure her legs while we chat.
Maybe this design should be seen as a different view at sitting, in stead of a actual seat. All the "smart" remarks only show that you people don't understand what design is all about... changing the things we know and surprising the world with a fresh view.
Oh, all the haters...
I would guess this wasn't designed to be used inside a home. However, I think it would be very useful for hiking, outdoor festivals, etc where you can sit on soft grass rather than the hardwood floors everyone keeps fretting over.
It's featured inside a home, in use, so I presume that's the premise of its invention.
And then the phone rings...
Death trap!
to all you ridiculous hobby design critics, just have - or even discover - a great and simple idea by yourself!
chairless is really nice and comfortable, even for tall people - and it costs not 999 but 19.90 euros.
@ lisa_oak: how arrogant. it's just any guy. where's your pic?
The only thing funnier than this glorified belt is the indignant comments from some of its few supporters. Oh, and the barstool comment from p2. Classic.