Helinox Chair Zero Tenting Chair Assessment

Backside Line

In case your high precedence is portability, the Helinox Chair Zero is king. It’s the one chair to make the reduce on each our finest tenting chairs record in addition to our finest backpacking chairs record. The Chair Zero’s been a group fave for years as a result of it’s versatile, comfortable, and long-lasting. CleverHiker founder Dave Collins has used each model of this chair for over a decade – and a whole bunch of journeys – from automotive tenting to backpacking and past. Weighing simply over a pound and packing to the scale of a water bottle, it’s good for any time we’d like a small chair, like garden concert events, seashore journeys and tenting.

Don’t be fooled by its featherlight construct and small dimension. The Chair Zero has a really excessive strength-to-weight ratio and boasts a formidable weight capability of 265 kilos. It’s sturdy because of supplies that resist sagging and warping even after a whole bunch of makes use of. Meeting is easy, too. This seat is continually in our rotation as a result of it’s helpful for a variety of actions, whether or not we’re within the suburbs or on a summit.

Nonetheless, this design comes with trade-offs. It’s a brief chair – solely 8.5 inches off the bottom – so it will not be the most effective for taller people or these with mobility considerations. This mannequin generally is a bit tough to get again within the bag resulting from its chunky bolstered hubs. It doesn’t have handy options we see on different tenting chairs, both, like armrests, pockets, or cup holders. And it’s pricier than chairs 3 times its dimension. However, for those who’re on the lookout for ultralight portability, stable sturdiness, and dependable consolation for frontcountry or backcountry, the Chair Zero is the one chair you’ll want.

Consolation

The Helinox Chair Zero proves that portability doesn’t imply sacrificing consolation. A bucket-style seat product of ripstop polyester is comfortable towards the pores and skin and doesn’t sag, even after a whole bunch of hours. We respect the Chair Zero’s two strategic cutouts within the seat cloth that enables refreshing airflow on heat days. The chair’s 265-pound weight capability makes it a flexible alternative for many physique sizes and shapes, though if you need a barely greater and wider model – with a weight capability of 320 kilos – think about the Helinox Chair Zero Giant.

Senior Content material Editor Ian Krammer loves the aluminum body is has little bit of give so it’s snug to take a seat in upright to eat or cook dinner. However, we love chilling on this one, too. The marginally versatile body and seat are low-to-the-ground, the right top to kick out our legs, put our palms behind our heads, and chill out after lengthy days of mountain climbing or climbing.

This mannequin’s close to the underside of our record, although, as a result of it’s not comfortable for everybody. To trim weight and bulk, it sacrifices commonplace options like armrests, a headrest and lumbar assist. The shallow scoop-style seat and eight.5-inch top could also be one other disadvantage, particularly for those who’re a taller consumer or have mobility challenges. It will possibly take a little bit of effort to get out and in of the chair.

And, take into account the Chair Zero is foremost a backpacking chair. It’s a snug, do-it-all alternative for many who each camp and backpack – nevertheless it’s as minimalist as any chair on our record. When you’re largely a automotive camper, you might need to think about a extra conventional choice that’s taller, wider, and extra supportive.

Sturdiness

Few chairs rival the Chair Zero’s absurdly excessive strength-to-weight ratio. Constructed with high quality supplies and nice engineering, it holds a whopping 265 kilos. Burly plastic hubs lock the sturdy aluminum alloy poles in place, and rubber toes add stability and longevity on most terrain. A few years of testing, from rocky alpine lakes to gritty sandy deserts, exhibits the body holds up effectively for a whole bunch – if not hundreds – of setups and breakdowns.

The material goes the gap, too. Helinox makes use of 100D ripstop polyester that resists punctures and abrasions from garments, rocks, and pokey vegetation. Pole pockets are thick and structured with bolstered stitching to make sure stress factors maintain agency. And the Chair Zero handles climate with ease. We’ve left it out in snow, pouring rain, and lengthy hail storms, nevertheless it sometimes dries inside an hour.

That mentioned, the Chair Zero feels a bit flimsy. Don’t get us improper – it’s very sturdy for such a light-weight design – however in comparison with tenting chairs on our record that weigh as much as a dozen instances extra, it’s restricted. The material is powerful, however not invincible. The 265-pound weight restrict is great for a chair this dimension, however under the 300-pound common of most fashions on our record. We haven’t needed to child the Chair Zero, however featherlight, premium supplies nonetheless require further consideration and care to keep away from pointless put on.

Portability

​​The Helinox Chair Zero earns an ideal rating from our group for portability. Weighing simply 1 pound, 2 ounces, it’s constructed for carrying lengthy distances. Whether or not you’re picnicking within the neighborhood park or mountain climbing for per week within the backcountry, it packs all the way down to the scale of a water bottle. This one takes up little or no house in our gear closet, trunk, and backpacks. The included carrying case is straightforward, with a safe drawstring closure for simple packing and unpacking. 

Nonetheless, it takes a minute to pitch, and it’s not as straightforward to pack. Due to meeting steps, the Chair Zero takes longer to pitch in comparison with easy one-step tenting chairs. We additionally discover the cumbersome plastic hubs make make it a bit powerful to suit again into the case. Nonetheless, the Chair Zero earns an ideal and probably the most transportable mannequin we examined.

Ease of Use

Few tenting chairs mix simplicity and performance in addition to the Chair Zero. Setting it up is a breeze, so you’ll be able to go from packed to perched in solely 30 to 60 seconds. First, snap the aluminum poles collectively and plug them into the plastic hubs. Then, tuck every pole into the 4 coordinating pockets on the seat, and also you’re able to chill out. Helinox features a “This Approach Up” brand with an arrow on the again of the chair to stop confusion.

Nonetheless, for those who’re on the lookout for a chair with plenty of options, this isn’t it. There’s no storage pockets, cup holders, head relaxation, or armrests. Because of this, we set every little thing on the bottom or a close-by cooler – however this design gained’t go well with everybody. Nonetheless, if you need a chair that straddles primary wants in each backcountry and the frontcountry, look no additional. The Chair Zero’s streamlined profile and no-frills design could also be precisely what you’re on the lookout for.

Ought to You Purchase The Helinox Chair Zero?

The Helinox Chair Zero is ideal for people who need a transportable and comfortable seat for each backpacking and minimalist tenting. It’s tremendous gentle and pack small, so it’s an awesome alternative for storing in a gear room, trunk, daypack or backpack with out taking over a lot house. The chair’s stable body helps as much as 265 kilos, making it a superb match for many adults. It’s pretty quick to arrange and affords a superb respite in your bottom when a log, rock, or the bottom simply gained’t reduce it.This Helinox mannequin is a wonderful alternative for anybody who needs a seat that may go the gap with out weighing them down.

Nonetheless, we don’t suggest the Chair Zero for those who’re a automotive camper, have mobility points, or want taller seating choices. Its low seat may be tough to get out and in of, and it takes a bit longer to arrange in comparison with one-step tenting chairs. It doesn’t have a lot of the options of conventional camp chairs like pockets or arm rests or cup holders. And, this one is on the spendy facet. That mentioned, if you need the most effective of the most effective in terms of a minimalist, high quality, ultralight chair, the Helinox Chair Zero is price each penny – and often is the tiny throne of your goals.

What Different Tenting Chairs Ought to You Contemplate?

The Helinox Chair Zero is the one ultralight chair on our finest tenting chairs information, however you’ll discover extra prefer it on our information to the most effective backpacking chairs. When you want a extra conventional tenting chair, think about these alternate options: 

ENO Lounger DL Assessment: The Lounger DL is a low-to-the-ground chair just like the Chair Zero. This one is heavier and bulkier, however its hammock-style design is healthier for lounging, and the adjustable leg lengths present a customized match..

REI Skyward Assessment: The Skyward is a traditional tenting chair with a one-step setup and superior consolation. It’s heavier and bulkier, nevertheless it’s glorious for lengthy sitting periods and prices lower than half of the Chair Zero.

Kelty Low Loveseat Assessment: If you wish to keep low to the bottom however need to share your seat, that is our fave two-seater. It weighs many instances extra – and packs method bigger – than the Chair Zero nevertheless it’s tremendous comfortable and sturdy.