Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re) Evaluation

Backside Line

The Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re) adeptly balances the 2, making it a chair versatile sufficient for enjoyable on each automobile tenting and backpacking journeys. We examined the Helinox within the high-desert foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada, utilizing it in circumstances starting from scorching, sunny days to chilly evenings, and in locations as different as yard hangs to secluded BLM tenting areas. 

For these with restricted mobility or who want further cushioning, the minimalist design and low seat top of the Chair One won’t be preferrred. Nonetheless, with a complete weight slightly below 3 kilos, which retains the load gentle, the Helinox encompasses a excessive again design that makes it comfier than the common ultralight chair. Totally collapsible, packable, and simple to hold, it’s a cushty seat that’s simple to take wherever. 

Consolation

The Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again could also be gentle sufficient to take into the backcountry, however it doesn’t sacrifice consolation within the title of shedding ounces. The defining facet of the Chair One is its high-backed design, which provides it an edge in rest over different minimalist chair choices. We cherished that we may absolutely chill out within the chair and have our backs supported, in contrast to with low-backed chairs, the place we had to sit up or fear about tipping over if we leaned too far again. Our 5’ 7” tester discovered the chair prolonged to a clumsy spot on the again of her neck, which, when leaned again, felt considerably uncomfortable. However total, the excessive again was an added luxurious for an ultralight chair. 

The Chair One Excessive-Again additionally has an additional flap of cloth on the prime of the seat again that opens and closes with Velcro, permitting a pillow or jacket to be secured in place and function a neck cushion. Helinox suggests stuffing a jacket into the chair’s carry pouch to create a makeshift pillow, and we admire gear that has a number of makes use of. The DIY cushion heightens the One’s consolation, with the added bonus of including no weight to the chair’s construct. 

Since Helinox tendencies in the direction of light-weight minimalism, the chair’s physique is unpadded, and there aren’t any armrests. Nonetheless, we discovered the seat on the Chair One fairly snug. Neither too free nor too tight, it’s roomy sufficient for somebody with a bigger body, and we appreciated the wiggle room, which this model of chair generally lacks. 

There are cutouts and mesh vents on each side of the chair, which permit for breathability and airflow. We used this chair on sunny days within the excessive desert of California, and in sweaty temperatures, and we by no means discovered ourselves melting into the Helinox.

Sturdiness

The Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re) focuses on light-weight consolation, however Helinox’s consideration to supplies and design make it a sturdy choice as properly. 

Made with aluminum alloy, the body is sturdy and powerful. In testing, we slammed ourselves into the chair, and it absorbed the sudden drop in weight with out challenge or misery. Moreover, we manually twisted the chair and tried torquing the body, however it didn’t bend or warp. The Helinox has a 320-pound weight capability, which, though within the midrange among the many chairs we examined, nonetheless speaks to its skill to resist tough use and put on. 

The factors on the seat cowl the place the body posts join are probably the most susceptible facet of the chair’s design, as a result of excessive stress exerted there to maintain the chair taut and keep its form. To fight the potential weak point of those factors, Helinox makes use of strengthened stitching for the highest nook sleeves and extends the sleeve size to extra deeply encase the body posts. On the backside of the chair, plastic hubs join the seat cowl and body, making a strengthened attachment level designed to resist cracks or degradation. 

The primary physique of the chair options recycled 300D polyester, a burly, waterproof cloth that’s robust sufficient to resist tears and abrasions whereas nonetheless remaining clean and versatile. 

Made with hardy supplies and a design geared up to deal with each weight and tough utilization, the Helinox Chair One is hard sufficient for any tough circumstances you may encounter in your adventures and showcases how light-weight doesn’t imply short-lived. 

Portability

Chairs are made to be sat in, and the Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re) — constructed for max portability — ensures you’ll be able to carry a seat to any vacation spot. At 2 kilos, 8.8 ounces, it’s one of many lightest chairs we examined, due to its collapsible aluminum alloy body and versatile cloth seat cowl. As described above, the Chair One’s materials elements are designed to resist tough circumstances and heavy use, whereas sustaining a lighter weight and excessive packability. 

We skilled some robust mountain winds whereas utilizing the Chair One and found it’s a bit too moveable when picked up by a robust breeze! When not in use, we advocate stowing the chair away or putting a heavy object on it in these circumstances to keep away from undesirable chair motion. 

The chair itself is gentle and easy to maneuver round, however what units it aside from different choices is how simple it’s to carry to your vacation spot. Whether or not touring by automobile or on foot, Helinox makes transport easy. The Chair One’s items bundle right into a compact zippered pouch. Its slim rectangular form makes it endlessly packable, in a position to squeeze into the tight corners of a pack or a loaded automobile trunk. In contrast to a stuff sack, the pouch forces the chair items right into a tighter, neater pack and retains its profile as minimal as attainable. The pouch has handles on each ends, however we’d like an extended strap for an over-the-shoulder carry choice.

Ease of Use

Like different light-weight tenting chairs, the Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re) consists of a body whose items are shock-corded collectively (like tent poles) and a seat cowl that stretches over the body. Establishing the chair is a reasonably easy two-step course of. Because of the shock wire, the body items snap along with little or no help, however we discovered it took a little bit of muscle to slip the body posts into the seat cowl pockets. 

Perched on 4 slim legs, the Helinox feels considerably wobbly, and we truly most popular utilizing it on uneven terrain, the place the ft may be dug into the bottom for higher stability. When assembled, although, the Chair One is sturdy, and it by no means felt just like the items have been at risk of coming aside or disconnecting. 

The chair sits barely decrease than different choices, and we discovered getting out of it to be barely awkward, because of scrunched knees and our butt being sunk deeper into the chair. For these with mobility points, having somebody’s hand to stand up may show needed. 

The Chair One doesn’t have any cupholders, however it does have a stretchy mesh pocket on one aspect with room for stowing smaller objects, like a telephone or sun shades. Sadly, the pocket doesn’t have area for something too large, and until the container is sealable, it could possibly’t be used as a cupholder due to its diagonal orientation.

It could not have all of the options of different tenting chairs, however as a backpacking choice with a extra minimalist design, the streamlined setup and its skill to deal with rougher terrain make the Helinox Cahir One higher fitted to the backcountry.

Ought to You Purchase The Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re)?

For these in search of further consolation within the backcountry, the Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re) is a light-weight chair that gives a soothing place to sit down. Its compact and moveable design makes it extremely simple to take alongside in a automobile or on foot, whereas its excessive again — a novel function amongst light-weight chairs — makes the expertise of sitting within the Chair One much more pleasant. 

In an effort to reduce weight, the Chair One favors a stripped-down model and lacks options like cupholders or armrests. For the adventures the place it’s not essential to hold ounces to a minimal, it could be preferable to go for a chair with extra cushioning or equipment. Nonetheless, we discover it a superb choice for maintaining issues quick and lightweight, all whereas retaining a consolation that’s value the additional ounces in your pack.

What Different Tenting Chairs Ought to You Take into account?

Unsure concerning the Helinox Chair One Excessive-Again (re)? Head over to our information to one of the best tenting chairs for extra choices and to see the way it compares to the others. And take into account these different chairs:

REI Flexlite Camp Dreamer Evaluation: One other scoop-seat tenting chair, the Flexlite appears to be like similar to the Helinox, however with an excellent increased again and removable neck cushion. The Flexlite is sort of an entire pound heavier than the Chair One, however with a barely lower cost tag, it’s an amazing choice for these in search of light-weight consolation. 

Helinox Chair Zero Evaluation: One other providing from Helinox, the Zero is lighter than the One and packs right down to the dimensions of a water bottle, making it even simpler to carry alongside on backcountry adventures. In shedding kilos, although, its design is extra minimalist than the One and never fairly as snug. 

ENO Lounger DL Evaluation: If most consolation is the target, then the hammock-style ENO Lounger is an ideal decide. Geared up with a cushioned headrest and a floaty bucket seat, the ENO options an prolonged seat again with two adjustment factors for deep rest. At a number of kilos heavier than the Helinox, it’s not the lightest choice for longer days on the path, however its skill to offer laid-back seating makes it the final word consolation selection.