Walking Equipment and Accessories

Helinox Chair Zero High Back | Review

Looking for a superlight, packable camp chair with a little more comfort and support? This high back version of Helinox’s classic Chair Zero is our pick of all the portable perches currently on the market

Why We Chose The Helinox Chair Zero High Back: Lightweight, portable, comfortable

Helinox has built a reputation for producing some of the lightest yet strongest camp furniture out there. And the Chair Zero is the lightest model in their range – a small but perfectly formed featherweight camping chair that makes a great adventure companion.

Now, if the standard Chair Zero has a drawback, it’s that the relatively low seat height offers limited back support. Which we’re guessing is why Helinox have now released this high-back variant. Admittedly, it is fractionally heavier than the standard Chair Zero, but for us the extra grams are well worth it.

The extended back and added headrest gives a way more comfortable ‘armchair’ feel – the perfect perch to sink into at the end of a long day. Of course, this being Helinox, it’s still light enough to be a viable and practical companion for camping, canoeing and even backpacking trips.

Who Is The Helinox Chair Zero High Back For?

This chair tips the scales at just 690g and has a packed length of just 40cm, which means it should slide easily into a rucksack, drybag or pannier. The weight penalty is also minimal, which means this is a good chair for all sorts of weight-conscious adventures – think backpacking, kayak touring, motorbike touring or bikepacking.

In addition, the high back design is particularly well suited to taller people who might need a bit more back and neck support. The chair can hold a maximum weight capacity of 120kg too (that’s over 18 stones in old money), so it will easily support larger frames.

Materials

All Helinox frames are made from an advanced high-tech, high-strength aluminium alloy developed by DAC, the same company that makes tent poles for some of the world’s leading tentmakers. It’s actually a higher specification than the 7075-grade aluminium used in most camp furniture, which is often referred to as ‘aircraft-grade aluminium’. In contrast, Helinox’s custom alloy goes through over 70 production processes from raw billet to finished pole section. DAC’s aluminium anodising process is also significantly cleaner than many others. Their ‘Green Anodising’ system, which is used to treat all Helinox products, features a water recycling programme in the anodising facility to reduce the environmental impacts of the manufacturing process.

The alloy frame sections are then joined by hubs made from high-strength, fibre-reinforced nylon 66, while the seats themselves use ripstop fabrics, reinforced panels and durable stitching to try and ensure excellent longevity and durability – in fact, all Helinox chairs have a 5-year warranty.

Features

As we’ve already noted, the high back design is what distinguishes this variant from the standard Chair Zero. Other than that, it shares the same DNA, so it just as durable and almost as compact. It also weighs just 180g more than the standard Chair Zero, which is a small penalty to pay given the added luxury this brings to life around camp.

The Chair Zero is surprisingly comfortable and supportive for such a lightweight chair, with an ergonomic design that cradles and supports you when seated.

The other thing we really like is how easy it is to set up. Unlike some other camp chairs out there, the frame is comprised of a single shock corded pole structure. You just take it out of its bag, shake it out and it basically builds itself. Then it’s just a case of slotting the seat onto the four ends of the frame and there you go – job’s a good ‘un.

Conclusion

We’re really impressed with this latest addition to Helinox’s range of ultralight camp furniture. Admittedly, it’s probably not worth upgrading if you already own a standard Chair Zero, unless you really want the added back height. But if you’re in the market for a portable and packable camp companion, there’s probably no more comfortable or supportive chair out there of comparable weight or pack size.