Helinox Chair Zero

When the great outdoors is your backyard, Chair Zero makes a damn fine patio chair. The weight is the first enticing spec: it clocks in at a single pound. It also packs down to the size of an XXL burrito (13.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches… okay, that’s a fairly big burrito), making it easy to bring on day trips, short hikes, or trips to the beach. When deployed (which is a cinch, by the way), the chair is on the tiny size—it’s comfortable but it’s not exactly spacious, and it does feel tippy on uneven terrain. Helinox claims the DAC poles can withstand 265-pounds (a frankly surprising amount of weight), but if you’re upwards of 200 lbs, you may want to look elsewhere, or at least purchase this from a store with a reputable return policy. All told, for being a single pound, this backpacking chair is well-built and thoroughly well-loved by our test team. 

Tester Comments:
“It’s not the most comfortable camp chair I use, but it is the lightest. I never bring a chair backpacking—it’s just not worth the weight—but if any chair makes the case, it’s this option from Helinox.”

Bottom Line:
Lightweight and compact, this simple camp chair is a fantastic addition to any road trip.