Hillsound BTR Stool Review

The Hillsound BTR Stool uses lightweight materials with a telescoping and folding design that makes the BTR a seat you really can take anywhere. It features aluminum alloy legs, a nylon seat, and beefy plastic swivels, and it offers a 240 lbs weight capacity. The BTR, which stands for ‘Better Than a Rock,’ is the ultimate lightweight and packable tripod stool for your outdoor adventures. A simple elastic Bungee cord hook system keeps the BTR closed down tightly when it’s not being used.

It comes in two sizes, 14″ and 17″, Black, Alpenglow Orange, and Glacier Blue color schemes, and retails for $55 (14″) and $59 (17″). I tested the 17-inch version with the Alpenglow Orange highlights.

Features

The legs are constructed with 7001 Aluminum Alloy poles made by Yunan Aluminum company, while the seat uses a durable 100% nylon mesh. The robust alloy legs, mesh seat and reinforced plastic swivel system gives the BTR a 240lb (110kg) load capacity. It features the Phantomlock technology that locks the legs in place when spread out in the tripod mode, so there is no need to bother with any levers, clips, or locking devices.

BTR – the lightest and most packable camping stool on the market.

The 17″ model weighs 399 grams, measures 3″ x 3″ x 13.6″ folded, and when erected its 14″ x 13″ x 17.5″. The 13″ version weighs 346 grams, measures 3″ x 3″ x 11.4″ folded, and when erected its 12″ x 11″ x 14.4″.

The seat tabs/buttons can be twisted to remove the mesh seat entirely so that you can wash and clean it if it gets dirty or if it needs a repair replacement.

Easy setup

• Undo the hook of the elastic cord to free up the system.
• Pull out and fully extend the telescoping legs.
• Twist and spread the legs out from its center axis.
• Once twisted open, the legs lock.
• Put the tripod legs on a stable and uniform surface.
• Sit down.

Impressions

It was an effortless operation to put the BTR up: pull out the telescoping legs to their full extension, twist the legs at their middle swivel point, push out two of the corners of the seat, and then sit down! The BTR was decently comfortable for its minimalistic spartan design and somewhat small surface area to sit on. Compared to sitting on a rock, a log, or the ground, the pliable and forgiving mesh seat offered a much nicer place to sit your tush, especially for longer periods of time. The height of the BTR provides a much more functional placement for doing activities, whether that’s just sitting, reading, eating, putting on shoes, hanging out, and cooking.

It has some functional plastic feet with an angled shape with some knurling, which offers a better grip on the ground. Due to the tripod design, you need to make sure the feet are on a somewhat stable and uniform surface so that the load is evenly distributed. And it’s not meant to be leaned over severely on one side.

The stool’s compact shape makes it easy to tuck it directly inside a backpack, cargo hold, a side pocket, and sleeves. Not having any bags to lose and extraneous straps to get caught when placing it into a carry system makes an ideal travel companion. The BTR is optimal for a wide array of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, rock climbing, backpacking, hunting, fishing, bikepacking, and photography work. I toss mine into the backseat of my truck and use it as a stool to put my mountain bike shoes on and hang out for a post-ride refreshment. I’ve taken it on a hike, an overnight bikepack trip, and car camping, and it was an ideal stool for those activities. It’s obviously not a full-on chair, but it’s lightweight and compact, making it optimal for forays where you don’t want to carry a heavy or bulky item. It might also be handy for outdoor concerts, festivals, picnics, and airports.

The tested 17-inch model weighed in at 14.2 ounces/403 grams, right on the mark for its specified weight.

Bottom Line

The Hillsound BTR Stool is Better Than a Rock, and its compact and lightweight design, and surprising comfort, make it ideal for a variety of outdoor activities. The easy setup is pretty nifty, extend the telescopic alloy legs, twist to lock the legs via the innovative PhantomLock system, spread out the mesh seat, and sit down. When done, reverse the process to have a compact and packable entity, ready for any adventure where an instant seat could be handy.