Why we stock Helinox at Crib Goch Outdoor
The problem Helinox solves is specific: how do you carry a comfortable chair over any meaningful distance without it dominating your pack weight and volume? Before Helinox, the answer was that you did not. Conventional camping chairs were either comfortable and heavy or light and barely functional. Helinox's Chair One changed that when it launched. At around 960g it proved that a genuinely comfortable chair with proper back support and could pack down to the size of a water bottle. The key was applying tent pole engineering to furniture: the same DAC TH72M aluminium alloy that makes modern ultralight tents possible, channelled into a chair frame that snaps together in seconds.
The result is a chair that earns its place in a pack for wild camping, bikepacking, birdwatching, festivals, trail running support, lizarding on theb beach, or any use where sitting comfortably at the end of a day matters and weight getting there also matters. The five-year warranty on all Helinox products reflects the brand's confidence in the construction, and the RE range uses recycled materials throughout without compromising that standard.
Which Helinox chair should you choose?
The Chair One and Chair One RE are the place to start for most people: a four-legged folding chair with a proper seat and back, packing down to approximately 35cm, weighing around 960g, and supporting up to 145kg. The RE version uses recycled fabrics and frames. The Chair Zero and Chair Zero LT are the ultralight options, cutting weight to around 510g and 490g respectively at the cost of a slightly more minimal seat. The Chair Zero High Back adds a taller backrest for more support, suited to those who find the standard Chair Zero seat height uncomfortable for longer periods. The Sunset Chair RE is a reclining camp chair with a higher seat position that suits those who prefer getting in and out easily. The Savanna Chair is the most substantial chair in the range: a larger, more comfortable seating option with a higher weight capacity and broader seat, better suited to base camp use than ultralight backpacking. The Ground Chair sits lower to the ground for a more relaxed, reclined position suited to festivals, birdwatching, and situations where a lower seat height is preferable. The Speed Stool is a minimal, lightweight stool for those who want the smallest possible sitting option. Thoughtful accessories including the Ground Strap, Cup Holder, Personal Shade and moreexpand the functionality of the chairs.
Not sure which model suits your use? The chair weight, seat height, and pack size comparison in the FAQs below covers the most common decision points.
Helinox FAQs
Are Helinox chairs any good? +
Yes, and they are the benchmark that every other lightweight camping chair is measured against. The Chair One launched in 2009 and won the ISPO Award for outdoor accessories in 2013. Since then the range has expanded but the core proposition remains the same: a genuinely comfortable, properly supportive chair that packs down to water bottle size and weighs under a kilogram. The five-year warranty covers the frame and fabrics and reflects genuine confidence in the construction. The price is high relative to conventional camping chairs, but the weight, pack size, and longevity justify it for anyone who carries their chair over any meaningful distance.
Is Helinox a Korean brand? +
Yes. Helinox is a South Korean brand founded in 2009 by Jake Lah and his son Young Lah. Jake had already spent decades building DAC, the Dongah Aluminium Corporation, into the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance aluminium tent poles used by The North Face, Hilleberg, Big Agnes, and most of the leading tent brands. Helinox was created to apply that same DAC aluminium alloy technology to portable furniture. The aluminium poles are manufactured in South Korea, with fabrics produced in Vietnam. The name Helinox combines Helios, the sun, and Nox, the night, reflecting the brand's aim to provide comfort from dawn to dusk in any environment.
Is the Helinox Chair Zero worth the price? +
If weight matters to you, yes. The Chair Zero weighs around 490g without the stuff sack and packs to roughly 30cm, making it genuinely packable in a day pack or on a bikepacking setup without meaningfully impacting your load. The trade-off versus the Chair One is a slightly lower seat and a more minimal feel for a saving of around 470g. If you are going to carry it over meaningful distances, that weight difference matters. If you are driving to a campsite and walking ten metres to pitch, the Chair One gives you more comfort for a marginal weight penalty and costs less. The Chair Zero earns its price for backpackers, bikepackers, trail runners, and anyone for whom weight is a genuine constraint.
How heavy is a Helinox chair? +
It depends on the model. The Chair Zero is the lightest standard chair in our range at approximately 490g without the stuff sack. The Chair Zero LT is a newer ultralight version at around 510g trail weight, using a different mesh fabric called GhostGrid. The Chair Zero High Back is around 690g. The Chair One and Chair One RE are around 960g. For the Sunset and Savanna chair weights please check the individual product pages as these vary between versions. The Chair One at 960g packs to approximately 35x13x13cm, which fits in the side pocket of most hiking rucksacks.
What is the best Helinox chair for hiking and backpacking? +
For backpacking and wild camping where every gram counts, the Chair Zero or Chair Zero LT are the right choices. Both pack small enough to sit inside a pack rather than strapping to the outside, and the weight saving over the Chair One is meaningful over a multi-day route. For day hiking and use where you want more comfort at the end of the day without the extreme weight saving, the Chair One gives you a more substantial seat and back for a weight that most hikers will not notice in their pack. The Ground Chair is worth considering for birdwatching and situations where a lower, more stable seat position is useful on uneven ground.
What chair does Joe Rogan use? +
Joe Rogan uses the Helinox Chair Zero on his podcast set, which brought significant mainstream attention to the brand. The Chair Zero is the ultralight option in the Helinox range, weighing around 490g without the stuff sack and packing down to roughly 30cm. Whether podcast studio use is the most compelling endorsement for a camping chair is debatable, but the Chair Zero's popularity extends well beyond that: it is a genuine favourite among ultralight backpackers, bikepackers, and anyone who has worked out that carrying a proper chair into the backcountry is worth the weight when that weight is under half a kilogram. I take mine to the beach to wait for the swell to arrive... It's a long wait in North Wales. We stock the Chair Zero in both standard and high back versions.
Can I try Helinox chairs in store in North Wales? +
Yes. We stock Helinox across our stores in Llanberis and Beddgelert. Sitting in a Helinox chair before buying is worth doing, particularly if you are deciding between the Chair Zero and Chair One, as the seat height and comfort difference is easier to assess in person than from a spec sheet. Come in and we will talk you through the range.