A Chair with a View – The Helinox Chair Zero Backpacking Chair

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Why I use a Backpacking Chair

My butt sent me a memo. After years of squatting on logs, perching on questionable boulders, and pretending I can sit cross-legged, my butt had had enough. It went to HR, along with my lower back, to demand better treatment. And as a result, I bought a Helinox Chair Zero backpacking chair.

Better Than a Sit-Pad

For short hikes, I still use the Klymit V inflatable sit pad. It’s a great product that I enjoy. But sit pads have their limits. They provide no back support, you must use your muscles to sit upright, and it’s difficult to stretch your legs because you’re sitting on the ground.

A camp chair provides back support. So you don’t need to engage muscles to sit upright. You’re off the ground, which is a great psychological boost. And you can stretch your legs out in front of you. A camp chair lets you to relax and stretch while keeping you off the ground.

The Helinox Chair Zero is a game-changer.

The Helinox Chair Zero

The Helinox Chair Zero is a game changer because it is compact and lightweight. You can finally take the weight off your feet without putting extra pounds on your back. In the past, camp chairs were heavy and bulky. My 20-year-old self would scoff at me for carrying such a luxury. But the Helinox weighs only 18 ounces (1 lb 2 oz)! This is lighter than my guilt about carrying it! And its packed size is only 4×14 inches. The comfort of a chair no longer costs weight and bulk!

The reduced weight and size of the Helinox lets me use the chair in ways I never anticipated. It can fit in my daypack to use at my “sit spot” for observing wildlife. And I can use it for birding as well as for soaking my feet in a cool brook on a hot day.

The Helinox Chair Zero along with a one-liter water bottle.

Vital Statistics

The Helinox Chair Zero is made from a DAC aluminum alloy with silicon shock cords, resin hubs, and rubber feet. The seat is made from 100D abrasion resistant aramid polyester ripstop. And it comes with its own stuff sack made from 50D nylon ripstop. I have had no problems with the chair since I purchased it. But Helinox provides a five-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects.

	Assembled	Packed
Height	25 in. (64 cm)	4 in. (10 cm)
Length	—	14 in. (35 cm)
Width	20 in. (50.5 cm)	4 in. (10 cm)
Depth	18 in. (46 cm)	—
Weight	1 lbs. 2 oz. (509 g)	1 lbs. 2.5 oz. (531 g)
Capacity	265 lbs. (120 kg)	—

I can carry my Helinox Chair Zero to my favorite lakes in the Sierras.

How to Set it Up

When folded, the Helinox Chair Zero is slightly longer than a one-liter water bottle. I usually carry it inside my pack. But you can attach it to the outside of your pack because it is so light. The included stuff sack will protect it from trail dust and grime.

Helinox Chair Zero packed and one-liter water bottle

The size of the Helinox Chair Zero when it is packed is comparable to (but larger than) a one-liter water bottle.

The Helinox sets up faster than you can say “Indiana Jones.” All the poles are shock-corded to a central crossbar. Many fall into place as you drag it from the stuff sack.

The Helinox Chair Zero weighs only 18 ounces and packs to a compact size.

The poles are attached to hubs on either side of pole that runs under the seat.

Once you assemble the frame of the chair, you place the nylon seat onto it by slipping “corners” sewn into the back of the seat over the ends of the poles.

The Helinox Chair Zero frame

The nylon seat has corners that fit onto the end of the poles.

The chair assembles in seconds.

For Humans, Not Hobbits

Because it’s an ultralight chair, the Helinox Chair Zero has a weight limitation of 265 lbs. (120 kg). This shouldn’t be a problem for most people.

The chair seems to fit a variety of body sizes. I’m short of stature. So, on a recent backpacking trip I asked others to try my chair. Here are pictures of two teaching assistants from a local college. They were camping at a local trail camp while helping with an outdoor skills class. Katie is several inches taller than I am. And Ryan is significantly taller and heavier than me.

They both fit comfortably in the chair. But older hikers may have to practice sitting down and getting up, as the seat height is low to the ground. It took me two outings to be able to rise from the chair without thinking about my balance. This is a good reason to try before you buy. You need to be sure you can get in and out of the chair easily.

The chair volunteers.

Katie was able to stretch out comfortably.

Reclining into the chair is wonderful after a day of hiking.

Ryan had no trouble fitting into the chair.

Most people will have their knees slightly above the level of the chair when their feet are flat on the ground. Notice the sleeves that I placed over the feet of the chair (discussed below).

A Problem – But it Doesn’t Sink the Chair

The biggest shortcoming of the chair is the way it rests on soft ground. All the weight is concentrated on the four small feet. So the chair may gradually sink into sand or soft dirt.

Helinox sells a nylon “floor” or “groundsheet” that clips onto the feet. The increases surface area on the ground and prevents the chair from sinking. I found this accessory effective, but heavy in proportion to the weight of the chair.

So I purchased two “sleeves” made of Dyneema from ADOTEC GEAR. These slip into the stuff sack easily and weight next to nothing (see picture above). I do not see the sleeves currently advertised by ADOTEC, so you may need to contact them directly to purchase them. There are also vendors on Etsy that sell products like the Helinox ground sheet, but made from Dyneema. This also looks like a good solution.

Q: Why did the chair go to therapy?

A: It had too many emotional support issues.

Sit Before You Buy

The most important factor when purchasing an ultralight camp chair is fit. I chose the Helinox Chair Zero because, for me, it was a dream to sit in. I passed on a competing chair that cost less and was slightly lighter in weight. The competing chair just didn’t feel comfortable. So try before you buy. The best chair for me may not be the best chair for you.

Another reason to try a chair before purchasing is to make sure you can get up after sitting. These ultralight camp chairs are low to the ground. And older hikers may need to practice getting up from them. It will eventually become second nature.

All in all, the Helinox Chair Zero is well-built and comfortable. But check to make sure it fits your body.

The Price

The Helinox Chair Zero is both lightweight and strong. In order to get these qualities, the chair is not cheap. As of this writing, the MSRP from Helinox is $139.95 USD, which includes shipping. However, I was able to use the Capital One Shopping Tool to find prices as low as $97.97 for the one with a white seat. Here are links to the Helinox Chair Zero with a black seat and the Helinox Chair Zero with a white seat. Both prices are significantly less than MSRP.

But even at full price, the expense is worth it. There is an old saying in bushcraft that I have learned to be true.

Don’t skimp on anything that comes between you and the ground.

The Helinox Chair Zero keeps you off the ground, is easy to carry, and lets you relax comfortably at camp. With the Helinox Chair Zero, you will be sitting pretty!