Helinox Chair Zero Tenting Chair Evaluate

Backside Line

In case your high 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 workforce 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 automobile tenting to backpacking and past. Weighing simply over a pound and packing to the dimensions of a water bottle, it’s good for any time we want a small chair, like garden live shows, 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 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 easy, too. This seat is consistently 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.

Nevertheless, 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 of us or these with mobility considerations. This mannequin could be a bit troublesome to get again within the bag as a consequence of its chunky strengthened 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, should 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 fabricated from 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 sizes and styles, though in order for you a barely greater and wider model – with a weight capability of 320 kilos – contemplate the Helinox Chair Zero Massive.

Senior Content material Editor Ian Krammer loves the aluminum body is has little bit of give so it’s comfy to sit down 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 peak to kick out our legs, put our palms behind our heads, and loosen up after lengthy days of mountaineering 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 normal options like armrests, a headrest and lumbar assist. The shallow scoop-style seat and eight.5-inch peak could also be one other downside, particularly should you’re a taller person or have mobility challenges. It could possibly 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 individuals who each camp and backpack – however it’s as minimalist as any chair on our checklist. Should you’re principally a automobile 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 robust 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 nicely for tons of – if not hundreds – of setups and breakdowns.

The material goes the space, 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 strengthened 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, however it sometimes dries inside an hour.

That stated, the Chair Zero feels a bit flimsy. Don’t get us unsuitable – it’s very robust for such a light-weight design – however in comparison with tenting chairs on our checklist that weigh as much as a dozen instances extra, it’s restricted. The material is robust, however not invincible. The 265-pound weight restrict is great for a chair this dimension, however beneath 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 further consideration and care to keep away from pointless put on.

Portability

​​The Helinox Chair Zero earns an ideal rating from our workforce 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 mountaineering for per week within the backcountry, it packs right 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 easy packing and unpacking. 

Nevertheless, it takes a minute to pitch, and it’s not as simple 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 robust 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 Means Up” brand with an arrow on the again of the chair to stop confusion.

Nevertheless, should you’re in search of a chair with numerous options, this isn’t it. There’s no storage pockets, cup holders, head relaxation, or armrests. In consequence, we set all the things on the bottom or a close-by cooler – however this design gained’t go well with everybody. Nevertheless, in order for you a chair that straddles fundamental 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 comfortable seat for each backpacking and minimalist tenting. It’s tremendous gentle and pack small, so it’s an amazing 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 gives a very good respite to your bottom when a log, rock, or the bottom simply gained’t minimize it.This Helinox mannequin is a superb alternative for anybody who desires a seat that may go the space with out weighing them down.

Nevertheless, we don’t advocate the Chair Zero should you’re a automobile 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, in order for you the most effective of the most effective in the case of a minimalist, high quality, ultralight chair, the Helinox Chair Zero is value each penny – and stands out as the tiny throne of your desires.

What Different Tenting Chairs Ought to You Take into account?

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 most effective backpacking chairs. Should you favor a extra conventional tenting chair, contemplate these options: 

ENO Lounger DL Evaluate: 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 best for lounging, and the adjustable leg lengths present a customized match..

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

Kelty Low Loveseat Evaluate: 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 however it’s tremendous comfortable and sturdy.