The Helinox Chair Zero is one of the lightest portable chairs on the market, ideal for any outdoor enthusiast who cares about weight in their backpack. This Helinox Zero review breaks down all that’s to love, and be aware of, before you reach for your wallet.
Helinox Zero Review
Material quality & durability: 9/10
Ease of use 9/10
Aesthetics: 9.5/10
Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 7/10
Price: 7/10
Reviewers overall score: 9/10
Table of Contents:
Pros:
- Among the lightest portable chairs available
- Very compact and convenient
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
- Constructed with durable, quality materials
- Comfortable for brief stints of sitting
- 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects
Cons:
- Quite low to the ground
- Slightly unstable on wet, soft, or uneven terrain
- Not suited for prolonged use
- Has a premium price tag
A chair was never something on my radar for a multi-day hike. My reasoning? When you’ve got everything on your back, each and every gram counts – a few kilos can be the difference between pain and a happy hiker. I’d only take what I considered to be the essentials, and nothing else. I would simply rather adopt a hiker’s hunch in the entrance of the tent, or even a bum-numbing rock or a tree stump. In my books, a chair seemed a bit of a luxury.
Then I was given the Helinox Chair Zero as a gift. It turns out, a chair to put your feet up and sit comfortably beside the campfire after a hard day of hiking is a bloody game changer. I’ve officially upgraded my comfort.
Utterly lightweight and compact, the Helinox Zero chair is now a staple in my backpack for every multi day hike or bikepack.
So after a few years of owning the chair and trying it on various terrains (even snow!), I thought an honest Helinox Zero review was worth adding to the mix.
Wait Up, Who Are Helinox?
Helinox was established by a South Korean father and son duo in 2008. Now it’s by far one of the leading brands in super lightweight portable chairs as well as camp beds, tables and outdoor equipment. Helinox literally specialise in bringing comfort to camping in a design-focussed model.
Helinox ships worldwide and their products can also be purchased on their store on Amazon or at any good outdoor gear shop.
What is the Helinox Chair Zero Model?
The Helinox Chair Zero is the brand’s most lightweight chair, ideal for anyone who is an ultra lightweight bikepacker, hiker, motorbiker, canoer or any other outdoor adventure. Or if you’re like me, someone who likes to have the lightest backpack possible no matter what the occasion.
The minimalist Helinox Zero model is made to be collapsed down to just 35cm long, and tips the scale at just over 500g.
Following the brand’s ethos, the chair is functional with absolutely no unnecessary features or frills. There’s no cup holders or upper back/head support, but its simplicity is what makes this model stand-out.
Materials & Durability
The frames are DAC aluminium alloy poles, originally engineered for high-performance expedition tents. They’re actually the only chairs in the market to utilise this technology.
Despite their incredible lightness, the metal frames are remarkably sturdy and are joined together through an elasticated shock cord for easy assembly.
As for the fabric, it’s so light it also reminds me of tent fabric – smooth and soft – though it’s made from a more durable rip-stop polyester. This Zero model is available in two colour schemes: a grey seat with a yellow-gold frame, and a black seat with a metallic blue frame – the latter being mine and what I think is the most attractive.
The hubs and joining components are moulded using a high-strength nylon resin and the chair comes in a small packing bag.
Leaving the Chair Zero out in British drizzle/rain overnight won’t cause any harm; it’s robust, UV-resistant and easy to clean. Nevertheless, due to its lightweight design, it’s best to store it away or secure it when not in use, to prevent it from blowing away.
Overall, the materials serve the purpose and feel good quality. In around three years of fairly regular use, I have found that my Helinox Chair Zero has shown absolutely no signs of wear and tear and hasn’t even visibly aged.
Ease of Assembly & Packing Away
I love how easy the Helinox Chair Zero is to set up. It has a clear ‘this side up’ indicator for the chair material and dummy-proof visual illustration on the back of how to affix the poles into it.
It’s not too fiddly even with cold fingers: simply connect the elasticated frame, affix the seat material onto the spokes top to bottom, and you’re ready to sit in about 60 seconds – super easy.
Packing it away is just as swift – reverse the process by taking the material off the bottom first, fold the frame spokes and roll it up with the seat material around it, to neatly stow it away in the provided sack. I’m sure you can do a much neater than job than I have done above too!
Comfort
The Chair Zero’s polyester fabric stretches snug and conforms to your shape, providing supportive comfort. Those with large hips or wider frames might find it a tad constricting however.
The low back design strikes a balance between relaxed and upright seating, making it a pleasant chair to sit for moderate periods of time, though you wouldn’t want to be sat in it all day. It isn’t really suited for extended lounging – there’s nowhere to rest your arms or easily shift your position. Nevertheless, it takes the weight off your feet comfortably for a few hours, which when you’ve been walking all day, is absolutely cushty.
The chair’s low height (11 inches off the ground) may seem too low to some people, but I think it’s a trade-off for its lightness, and I’m sure most hikers are happy to make that compromise.
The only other point to add here is that there are ventilation slits at the base offering breathability. Though of course that means it can be a little breezy, with your backside getting cold in cooler temperatures. Helinox do however make a seat warmer accessory, though it would be just as easy to use some clothing to sit on, so you don’t add on more weight with an accessory.
Stability
The Helinox Chair Zero may lose a few points in stability compared to the other Helinox models.
I weigh around 58 kg and find it perfectly stable on solid ground. However, akin to stilettos on soft turf, the feet can sink if the ground if it’s not solid. And you do need to find fairly flat terrain to put it on.
Helinox offers several accessories to improve stability and prevent sinking, like ball feet and ground sheets. While I haven’t felt the need for these, those frequenting using the chair on sandy or sodden ground might consider them beneficial.
It’s also worth noting that the Helinox Chair Zero can support a person up to 120kg in weight. So anyone heavier than this will not find it stable and should probably look into one of the sturdier and wider models.
Price
Anything with this much care put into the functional design and built with such lightweight materials, will come at a cost – and the Helinox Zero isn’t exactly cheap. But can you put a price on comfort after a long day on your feet?
I personally think it’s worth the investment, but only if you’re an outdoorsy type who’d use it frequently, and can afford to fork out the rather steep £135+ price tag.
The Verdict
The Helinox Chair Zero is a prime choice for a lightweight chair to carry on any human-powered adventure across the UK’s diverse landscapes. Folding up slightly bigger than a water bottle, it can easily slot into a side pocket of a backpack or fit into a pannier.
My review may nitpick on some potential drawbacks, but for my requirements, it’s a perfect fit and has served me well. This piece of gear comes highly recommended from me.
I hope this Helinox Chair Zero review has been insightful for those contemplating purchasing this nifty little camping chair. See you with your feet up around the campfire!
Note: this is a totally independent review and not endorsed by or affiliated with the brand or supplier. The opinions in this article are solely that of the reviewer. See our editorial standards for more.