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Deal Details
REI has Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Backpacking Chair (White) for $90.89. Shipping is free.
REI also has Helinox Chair Zero Highback Ultralight Backpacking Chair (Grey or Black) for $123.39. Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member scholar26 for finding this deal.
About this item (standard back):
REI also has Helinox Chair Zero Highback Ultralight Backpacking Chair (Grey or Black) for $123.39. Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member scholar26 for finding this deal.
About this item (standard back):
- Seat is 8.5 in. off the ground
- Thanks to anodized DAC aluminum poles, Chair Zero is strong enough to support up to 265 lbs.
- High-performance 100-denier aramid ripstop fabric is lightweight and abrasion-resistant
- This high-tenacity fabric is strong and durable, preventing tears and holes from ripping further
- Single shockcorded pole structure makes for easy setup
- Compact size makes it easy to pack and carry
- Stuff sack included
- To sit above snow, sand, or muddy ground, pair it with the small Helinox Chair Groundsheet (not included), which secures to the feet and distributes weight to a larger surface
Editor's Notes
Written by johnny_miller | Staff- Please see the original post for additional details & give the forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
REI has Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Backpacking Chair (White) for $90.89. Shipping is free.
REI also has Helinox Chair Zero Highback Ultralight Backpacking Chair (Grey or Black) for $123.39. Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member scholar26 for finding this deal.
About this item (standard back):
REI also has Helinox Chair Zero Highback Ultralight Backpacking Chair (Grey or Black) for $123.39. Shipping is free.
Thanks to community member scholar26 for finding this deal.
About this item (standard back):
- Seat is 8.5 in. off the ground
- Thanks to anodized DAC aluminum poles, Chair Zero is strong enough to support up to 265 lbs.
- High-performance 100-denier aramid ripstop fabric is lightweight and abrasion-resistant
- This high-tenacity fabric is strong and durable, preventing tears and holes from ripping further
- Single shockcorded pole structure makes for easy setup
- Compact size makes it easy to pack and carry
- Stuff sack included
- To sit above snow, sand, or muddy ground, pair it with the small Helinox Chair Groundsheet (not included), which secures to the feet and distributes weight to a larger surface
Editor's Notes
Written by johnny_miller | Staff- Please see the original post for additional details & give the forum comments a read for helpful discussion.
Community Voting
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Top Comments
If you're car camping, skip these entirely. If you're not hauling the chair on your back, there's no reason to sit on 4 pegs and a piece of fabric. If you're in the back country, these will feel like luxury, but compared to a legit chair, they're really not that great.
Community Reviews
The Chair Zero is a true ultralight backpacking chair, with its main appeal being a roughly 1 pound carry weight that matters on long hikes and multi day trips. It is praised for camp lounging, cooking, and eating, and the Helinox build is described as durable enough to last for years, with warranty support replacing a broken chair. The tradeoffs are its narrow seat, limited comfort for larger bodies, and a price that feels high next to cheaper Amazon lookalikes and other similar chairs. It makes the most sense when every ounce counts.
Common Questions (4)
It makes sense for backpacking because the Chair Zero weighs about 1 lb, so shaving weight matters on multi-day hikes and long carries. For car camping or sporting events, cheaper chairs around 2-3 lb are easier to justify and often more comfortable.
Yes. Similar or apparently identical chairs are available on Amazon under other brands for roughly half the price or less, and some Costco/Aldi-style versions have been seen for around $35 or $15, though they are much heavier at about 3 lb packaged.
It is narrow and not very comfortable for larger people, and one report says it broke on the John Muir Trail before being replaced under warranty. Another report says it has held up for years, including use by rough kids and adults up to 225 lb.
A broken chair was replaced after warranty support was contacted, so the company did send a replacement in that case. That makes the warranty a practical plus if you plan to use it hard in the backcountry.
AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago
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31 Comments
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EDIT: Looks like someone else beat me to the recommendation.
I'll add a deal watch for the black one though. I love that color blue on the poles.
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I find the Chair Zero more comfortable for sitting with legs splayed out, while the Flexlite is more comfortable for sitting upright. YMMV. Both will tip if too weight is improperly distributed. Highly recommend going in store to try them for yourself.
How to say 'I'm a car camper and don't carry my gear very far' without saying it.
This chair deal is worth it if you actually are a backpacker who carries your pack more than a few miles.
Budget chairs that look the same almost always weigh 2lbs. There's a few that weight 1.5lbs, but they're not 'half the price' and who knows on quality. Hike alot of weight over 20+ miles or up a couple thousand feet of elevation and you'll learn even ounces/grams can count. Most people who who hike their gear over long or difficult trails end up trying to cut weight and either ditch the chair or spend more for 1lb ones.
There's a whole group of folks called ultralighters that aim to have their base load out (tent, backpack, sleeping bag+pad, etc) < 10 lbs. So a 1lb delta is 10% more carry-weight.
I spent close to $700 on a <2lb tent, saving maybe 1-2 lbs relative to a standard backpacking tent. So $50 or so to shave off 1lb here is in comparison a huge bargain.
If you're car camping, skip these entirely. If you're not hauling the chair on your back, there's no reason to sit on 4 pegs and a piece of fabric. If you're in the back country, these will feel like luxury, but compared to a legit chair, they're really not that great.
This chair deal is worth it if you actually are a backpacker who carries your pack more than a few miles.
Budget chairs that look the same almost always weigh 2lbs. There's a few that weight 1.5lbs, but they're not 'half the price' and who knows on quality. Hike alot of weight over 20+ miles or up a couple thousand feet of elevation and you'll learn even ounces/grams can count. Most people who who hike their gear over long or difficult trails end up trying to cut weight and either ditch the chair or spend more for 1lb ones.
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Or maybe still carry the chair but not use it to challenge yourself somehow?
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