Helinox Chair One Review

Our Verdict: Helinox Chair One

The best balanced packable chair, light enough to backpack and tough enough to last years, if you accept a low back and feet that sink in soft ground.

Genuine DAC aluminium poles and thick 600D fabric are what the premium buys.

What's the bottom line?

Helinox markets a seat weight near 1 pound 9 ounces, but on a real scale with the sack expect about 2 pounds.

It packs to roughly 14 by 4.5 inches, a little larger than a one litre bottle.

This is the chair I reach for first, light enough to carry all day and still going strong after years. The low back leaves my shoulders unsupported though, so it is a half hour chair for me, and the feet sink on soft ground unless I fit the ball feet.

Shaun, Top-Notch field tester

Reasons to buy:

• Genuine DAC aluminium poles and thick 600D fabric
• Packs smaller than a one litre bottle and sets up in under a minute
• The 9 inch seat is easy to get out of
• Field repairable with a 5 year warranty and spare parts

Reasons to avoid:

• Low back leaves the shoulders and neck unsupported
• Feet sink in sand and soft ground
• Comfort fades after about 30 minutes

Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results

The Helinox Chair One scored 89 out of 100 overall.

It is strongest on pack size and weakest on comfort.

Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.

Value for Money

It lists around 100 dollars and often drops to about 70 on sale.

A near identical looking clone costs half as much, so the real question is what the extra buys.

You are paying for genuine DAC TH72M aluminium poles, real quality control, and a 5 year warranty with individual spare parts you can fit yourself.

If you weigh under about 100 kilos and use it occasionally, a budget clone will likely last hundreds of nights too.

Value for Money	Rating
Best in test	10/10
Helinox Chair One	7/10
Category average	7.8/10
Worst in test	6/10

Comfort

The seat sits 9 inches off the ground in a shallow bucket.

The backrest stops around your shoulder blades, so your shoulders and neck get no support.

You might be wondering:

There is no padding, and the low bucket makes you slide forward and reset every so often.

In testing we would not sit in it much beyond 30 minutes at a stretch, fine for a meal or a campfire but not a long afternoon.

It fits people up to about 6 foot 1 best.

Comfort	Rating
Best in test	9/10
Helinox Chair One	7/10
Category average	7.8/10
Worst in test	7/10

Pack Size

Helinox markets a seat weight near 1 pound 9 ounces, but on a real scale with the sack expect about 2 pounds.

It packs to roughly 14 by 4.5 inches, a little larger than a one litre bottle.

The lighter Chair Zero saves about 0.8 pounds but sits lower and uses thinner poles and fabric.

Setup takes under a minute, with one fiddly final corner that needs a firm push.

Pack Size	Rating
Best in test	10/10
Helinox Chair One	9/10
Category average	7.6/10
Worst in test	4/10

Durability

The frame uses DAC TH72M aluminium, and this original model wears the thicker 600D fabric.

Owners report the chairs ageing well, with hubs that do not stretch and fabric that stays taut for years.

The main failure, when it happens, is a support arm cracking at the hub, which is field repairable.

Warranty cover is real and spare parts exist, but some owners were asked to ship the whole frame for one broken pole.

Durability	Rating
Best in test	10/10
Helinox Chair One	9/10
Category average	8/10
Worst in test	7/10

Versatility

The narrow rubber feet sink on sand, mud, or soft grass, and the low seat makes standing back up awkward once they do.

Helinox sells Vibram ball feet and a ground sheet that spread the load, and the classic free hack is a slotted tennis ball on each foot.

On firm, uneven ground each foot finds its own level, so it copes fine.

An empty chair is light enough to blow over in wind, though it is steady once you sit in it.

Versatility	Rating
Best in test	9/10
Helinox Chair One	8/10
Category average	7.3/10
Worst in test	6/10

Should You Buy the Helinox Chair One?

The best balanced packable chair, light enough to backpack and tough enough to last years, if you accept a low back and feet that sink in soft ground.

It is best suited to backpacking and camp use as a one chair for everything.

Want to know the best part?

The big win: Genuine DAC aluminium poles and thick 600D fabric.

The main compromise: Low back leaves the shoulders and neck unsupported.

We scored it 89 out of 100.

What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?

Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.

The Helinox Chair Zero is our best lightest hiking chair. The chair to buy when every gram counts, packing near a soda can weight, as long as you accept a lower seat and thinner poles you must treat gently.

The Big Agnes Skyline UL Chair is our best most versatile backpacking chair. The comfort and durability pick, with a taller supportive back that beats the Helinox for long sits, at the cost of extra weight and pack bulk.

The MARCHWAY Lightweight Folding Camping Chair is our best value backpacking chair. The clone that gets you 90 percent of the Helinox experience for around a third of the price, and for occasional trips that trade is hard to argue with.

Specifications

Weight	about 2 lb with the sack
Packed size	about 14 by 4.5 in
Seat height	9 in
Capacity	320 lb
Frame	DAC TH72M aluminium
Fabric	600D recycled polyester
Warranty	5 years with spare parts
Price	about 100 dollars, often 70 on sale

Conclusion: Helinox Chair One

After testing it against the other top backpacking chairs, the Helinox Chair One earns its place as our best backpacking chair overall pick.

Its standout strength: Genuine DAC aluminium poles and thick 600D fabric.

So:

The main thing to weigh before you buy: Low back leaves the shoulders and neck unsupported.

If you want backpacking and camp use as a one chair for everything, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.

Still comparing? See exactly where the Helinox Chair One ranks against the full field in our 10 Best Backpacking Chairs guide.

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