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):
- 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
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.
The Chair Zero's main advantage is its around one-pound backpacking weight.
The chair can work well for camp lounging, cooking, and eating during multi-day backpacking trips.
Warranty support can help when the chair breaks, including replacement after failure.
The chair can hold up under heavier use when handled carefully, including use with kids up to 225 pounds.
The deal is less compelling for car camping because the chair's weight savings matter mainly when carrying it far.
The chair can be hard to justify at this price because the same design is reportedly available under other brands for half or less.
The chair is narrow and may feel uncomfortable for larger people.
The chair may be too heavy for some backpacking goals, even when it is around one pound.
Common Questions (4)
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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