The Catamarca Sofa - A space saving double seat
We try the Outwell Catamarca Sofa, a double-seat camping chair that doesn't take up twice the space that two singles would.
Review Score
Our Score: 8.5/10
We've given the The Catamarca Sofa - A space saving double seat the Thumbs Up award.
Value for MoneyComfortPracticalityQuality
The good
- Small pack size for a double chair.
- Includes carry bag.
- Bottle/can holders in chair arms.
The not so good
- Obviously, slightly heavier than carrying a single.
- Shop around to get a good deal.
This was a hands-on product review. The product was supplied to us to test and conduct the review.
Price Guide
The Catamarca Sofa - A space saving double seat has a recommended retail price of £67.00.
The best price we've found so far is £39.99. That's £27.01 off the RRP of £67.00.
The Catamarca Sofa - A space saving double seat Videos
The Catamarca Sofa - A space saving double seat Photos
Outwell Catamarca in tent porch
Catamarca folded
Bottle Holder
In the tent at night
Unpacking the Catamarca
Trying the Catamarca
Catamarca inside the tent
Our Review
One of the great things many of us like about camping is the social aspect.
There is more opportunity to sit around and chat without the usual distractions (TVs, Xboxes, etc.). That might be with friends, extended family, or just in your family unit.
And though we could all sit on the floor, the camping chair is the defacto tool you need for this! ;-)
We've reviewed many camping chairs over the years, from the big and luxurious to the small and lightweight.
A new chair I spotted this year is the Outwell Catamarca. It looks like a regular camping chair, but it's a double. But is it any good? Fortunately, Outwell agreed to send me one to have a closer look :-D
The Outwell Catamarca
The Outwell Catamarca has two seats, just like a regular folding camping chair. I admit a double-seated chair is not amazing. However, what caught my eye, is that when folded, this double seat is a very similar size to a regular folding chair.
Making more space in your car boot
Camping chairs take up much space in your car boot or camping trailer. Especially if you need a lot of chairs. We've been using the smaller lightweight Robens chairs for many camps as they are easier to fit in the car.
However, since the Catamarca is not much bigger than a regular folding chair, you can get more bums on seats for less car boot space! :-)
This is why I thought this chair looked particularly interesting to us family campers. Two Catamarca chairs will not take up much more space than two regular camping chairs, but instead of just seating for two, you will have seating for four.
For a double seat, the Outwell Catamarca folds up to about the size of a single chair.
Comfort and using the Outwell Catamarca
Comfort is very subjective, but in my view, the chair feels like a regular camping chair. Not an uncomfortable one, mind you, but one you can easily sit on without complaints. Outwell, call this the Catamarca Sofa. I wouldn't say it's as comfortable as a sofa, but it's good for a folding camping chair. :-)
In each arm, you'll find a can or bottle holder. Now, on some cheaper chairs, I found that a full can or bottle could be catapulted out from the chair if you sit down too fast. Fortunately, this wasn't the case with the Outwell Catamarca, and it didn't eject your drink when someone sat in the seat next to you.
For us, the chair is plenty wide enough that you do not feel squashed together when two sit it in. It is like a regular good-sized camping chair, but just as a double.
Practicalities....how easy is it to set up and fold away?
Simple.
Easy.
No instructions required.
It is very easy. Just take it outs its carry case (which comes with a shoulder strap), and the chair easily unfolds. There's no clipping anything into place. Just unfold and sit.
Putting away is just as easy :-)
When folded the pack size is just 24 x 17 x 96 cm.
For comparison, the single-seat version of this chair is 15 x 14 x 86 cm.
The downsides?
Well, being for two people, it does have more material and metal legs than carrying a single camping chair, and so is a little bit heavier at 5.4kg. Not too heavy, but you'll notice the difference compared to single camping chairs. And although the bag does come with a shoulder strap, you might not want to walk too far with it.
The RRP is £69.99, so a bit more expensive than just a single seat. It could be more expensive than two single seats! So you save on space, but not on money. However, shop around, as you can find the Catamarca Sofa for less than the RRP.
Verdict?
The biggest downside is the cost, but if you can get a good deal, one or two of these chairs could save you space and make life easier when setting up camp, so we've given it the Thumbs Up Award.
Details
| Attribute | The Catamarca Sofa - A space saving double seat |
|---|---|
| RRP | £67.00 |
| Best Price | £39.99 |
| Product Info | Brand Web Page |
| Year Introduced | 2020 |
| Season |