Walkstool Comfort 75XXL Review

Review by Gary Wolstenholme

A large part of the joy of photography for many is getting out into the great outdoors with the wind in your hair. Once you've got to your desired location, one problem that presents itself is where you can plant your behind comfortably while waiting for the right light/wild animal to appear. The Walkstool Comfort is a lightweight and compact solution to help take the weight off your aching legs.

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Specification
We were supplied with a Walkstool Comfort 75 XXL, which is the largest available. I'm 5' 11” and found this stool a bit tall for my height, as my feet were dangling about 10cm away from the ground with the legs extended. There are other sizes available as detailed below:

Walkstool Model	Comfort 45L	Comfort 55XL	Comfort 65XL	Comfort 75XXL	Basic 50M	Basic 60M
Ext. Height	45cm	55cm	65cm	75cm	50cm	60
Folded length	28cm	33cm	37cm	44cm	30cm	36cm
Seat size	35cm	37.5cm	40cm	40cm	32.5cm	32.5cm
Weight	725g	800g	850g	930g	650g	725g
Maximum load	200kg	225kg	250kg	250kg	150kg	175kg
Feet type	Rubber	Rubber	Rubber	Rubber	Plastic	Plastic
Manufactured	Sweden	Sweden	Sweden	Sweden	China	China
Price	£56.35	£62.10	£67.85	£73.60	27.60	27.60

For someone my height, I'd recommend looking at the Comfort 55XL or the Comfort 65XL. Tall people will be glad to see they are accommodated by the larger size.

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Features
The Walkstool is a simple concept. Three telescopic legs are held together by a central pivot and a heavy-duty nylon seat. A tether is also supplied to tidy up the seat when the stool is folded. To unfold, you simply extend the legs and pull the legs apart, place it on the floor and finally plonk your posterior on the stool. As you sit down, your weight pushes the legs apart, making the structure more rigid.

All the premium comfort models are supplied with a handy carry-bag, made from heavy-duty, yet lightweight nylon material, which does help with carrying it about even though it's not heavy.

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Build Quality
The stool supplied for review is very sturdy indeed. The legs are made from strong, yet lightweight, aluminium tubing, which does not flex or creak under load. Red buttons indicate that the legs are firmly locked in place making it easy to put up safely in a hurry and the pivot feels reassuringly well put together. Large wide rubber feet aid stability without sinking into soft ground, while also providing extra grip on hard slippery surfaces. I have to say, I'm very impressed with the way this stool is put together.

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Performance
To give the stool a proper test, I took it along to a music festival I worked this summer. Having nowhere proper to sit for an entire weekend can really take its toll, especially when it rains and everything is muddy, wet and smelly.

Over the course of the weekend, it proved its worth. Attention to detail in the design of the stool was much appreciated, especially when it rained and I realised why the seat is made of a net-like material, instead of a normal sheet of nylon weave. It meant I could sit on it at any point, without fear of sitting in a puddle.

For such a tall stool, the model supplied is surprisingly stable. I even got my colleague to attempt to tip it over, which he managed eventually, with some difficulty. When seated on the stool without the legs extended, it's a different story. It has a tendency to tip you off

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Verdict
Those who spend a fair bit of time out in the countryside will certainly appreciate a Walkstool. It's smaller and lighter than most tripods, yet sturdy and comfortable enough to use all day.

I suppose the only niggle is the price. If you subscribe to the 'buy cheap, buy twice' train of thought, then you'll understand why the price is higher than other similar products, as I can't see it needing replacing in a hurry.

I enjoyed using the Walkstool and will probably consider purchasing (well, maybe a smaller one) in the future.

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Plus points
Sturdy build
Stable on most surfaces
Lightweight
Great attention to detail in design

Walkstool Comfort 75XXL: Minus points
Care should be taken when choosing the correct size for optimum comfort.
Can be unstable when used with the legs not extended.

FEATURES

BUILD

PERFORMANCE

OVERALL


The Walkstool Comfort 75 XXL costs around £74 and is available at various retail outlets. Flaghead are the UK distributor and can direct you to a nearby stockist.

Walkstool Comfort 75 XXL