Helinox Chair Zero Tenting Chair Evaluation

Backside Line

In case your prime precedence is portability, the Helinox Chair Zero is king. It’s the one chair to make the minimize on each our greatest tenting chairs checklist in addition to our greatest backpacking chairs checklist. The Chair Zero’s been a crew 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 tons of of journeys – from automotive tenting to backpacking and past. Weighing simply over a pound and packing to the dimensions of a water bottle, it’s excellent for any time we’d like a small chair, like garden live shows, seashore journeys and tenting.

Don’t be fooled by its featherlight construct and small measurement. The Chair Zero has a really excessive strength-to-weight ratio and boasts a powerful weight capability of 265 kilos. It’s sturdy due to supplies that resist sagging and warping even after tons of of makes use of. Meeting is simple, too. This seat is continually in our rotation as a result of it’s useful 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 might not be the perfect for taller people or these with mobility considerations. This mannequin could be a bit troublesome to get again within the bag on account of 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 measurement. However, when you’re in search of 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 tons of of hours. We respect the Chair Zero’s two strategic cutouts within the seat cloth that permits refreshing airflow on heat days. The chair’s 265-pound weight capability makes it a flexible alternative for many physique styles and sizes, though if you need a barely larger and wider model – with a weight capability of 320 kilos – contemplate the Helinox Chair Zero Giant.

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

This mannequin’s close to the underside of our checklist, 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 help. The shallow scoop-style seat and eight.5-inch peak could also be one other downside, particularly when you’re a taller person or have mobility challenges. It might take a little bit of effort to get out and in of the chair.

And, take into accout the Chair Zero is foremost a backpacking chair. It’s a snug, do-it-all alternative for many who each camp and backpack – but it surely’s as minimalist as any chair on our checklist. If you happen to’re largely a automotive camper, you could need to contemplate a extra conventional possibility 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 ft 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 properly for tons of – if not 1000’s – 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 crops. 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, but it surely usually dries inside an hour.

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

Portability

​​The Helinox Chair Zero earns an ideal rating from our crew 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 dimensions of a water bottle. This one takes up little or no area in our gear closet, trunk, and backpacks. The included carrying case is easy, 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 essentially the most moveable 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 possibly can 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 loosen up. Helinox features a “This Method Up” brand with an arrow on the again of the chair to forestall confusion.

Nonetheless, when you’re in search of a chair with a lot of options, this isn’t it. There’s no storage pockets, cup holders, head relaxation, or armrests. Consequently, we set all the things on the bottom or a close-by cooler – however this design received’t swimsuit 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 in search of.

Ought to You Purchase The Helinox Chair Zero?

The Helinox Chair Zero is ideal for folk who need a moveable and cozy seat for each backpacking and minimalist tenting. It’s tremendous mild and pack small, so it’s an incredible alternative for storing in a gear room, trunk, daypack or backpack with out taking on a lot area. The chair’s stable body helps as much as 265 kilos, making it a very good match for many adults. It’s pretty quick to arrange and provides a very good respite to your bottom when a log, rock, or the bottom simply received’t minimize it.This Helinox mannequin is a superb alternative for anybody who needs a seat that may go the gap with out weighing them down.

Nonetheless, we don’t advocate the Chair Zero when you’re a automotive camper, have mobility points, or favor taller seating choices. Its low seat may be troublesome 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 aspect. That stated, if you need the perfect of the perfect in the case of a minimalist, high quality, ultralight chair, the Helinox Chair Zero is value each penny – and will be the tiny throne of your desires.

What Different Tenting Chairs Ought to You Think about?

The Helinox Chair Zero is the one ultralight chair on our greatest tenting chairs information, however you’ll discover extra prefer it on our information to the perfect backpacking chairs. If you happen to favor a extra conventional tenting chair, contemplate these options: 

ENO Lounger DL Evaluation: 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 Evaluation: The Skyward is a basic tenting chair with a one-step setup and superior consolation. It’s heavier and bulkier, but it surely’s wonderful for lengthy sitting classes and prices lower than half of the Chair Zero.

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