Chipper Reclaimed Closed-cell Foam Seat

The Nemo Chipper Reclaimed Closed-Cell Foam Seat is a light, folding foam pad that puts a soft, insulated layer between you and the ground wherever you stop, from a lunch break on the track to evenings around camp. It is made entirely from reclaimed PE foam offcuts from NEMO's sleeping pad production, folds flat in a hexagonal nesting pattern, and a removable loop lets it hang off your pack ready to pull out.

Who it's for

Anyone who spends time sitting on the ground: bushwalkers taking a lunch stop on a cold granite slab, anglers on a damp riverbank, parents in the stands at Saturday sport, gardeners kneeling in the veggie patch and festival-goers on wet grass. Hikers on the Overland Track or the Australian Alps Walking Track will find it earns its place at every break, and it doubles as a kneeling pad for pitching a tent or cooking.

Warmth off cold ground

Closed-cell foam holds its insulation in the foam itself, so there is nothing to inflate and nothing to go flat. The contoured surface protects you from the cold of rock, frozen ground and wet logs, which is the part of a stop that chills you fastest. On a minimalist overnight, lay it under your sleeping pad at the hips or shoulders for an extra layer of insulation where you press hardest into the ground.

Comfort and noise

NEMO chose the blend of reclaimed scraps for support and resilience, and the engineered contours give a surprisingly supple feel for a foam pad. The result is a resilient seat that keeps its shape stop after stop. There are no air chambers, so there is no crinkle or squeak when you shift your weight.

Packing and carrying

The hexagonal nesting pattern comes from NEMO's Switchback sleeping pad: the bumps on one panel sit into the hollows of the next, so the Chipper folds into a compact, flat block. Slide it into the back panel of a daypack, strap it under a lid, or use the removable loop to hang it off the outside and lash or stake it in place.

Made from reclaimed foam

Every Chipper starts as foam that would otherwise have been thrown out from making sleeping pads. Because it is built from mixed offcuts in the Wabi Sabi colourway, no two look exactly alike: each one carries its own pattern of colours.

Looking after it

Brush off dirt and sand, wipe it with warm soapy water when it needs it and let it dry before packing. Store it flat or loosely folded, away from campfire sparks and hot stove parts, and it will stay a fixture in your kit.