Helinox Chair One (re) Review
The Helinox Chair One (re) ($120) brings subtle upgrades to the category-defining original Chair One, offering impressive comfort for such a compact, lightweight package. We appreciate this chair’s refined weight distribution and snug feel, though the lack of armrests and mediocre durability are compromises that come with this chair’s portability. Still, the Chair One (re) is a strong pick for campers, luxury-minded backpackers, and anyone trying to save space without completely forgoing the appeal of a comfy seat.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Weight
2 lb. 7.4 oz.
Dimensions (W/D/H)
22.5 x 20.5 x 28 in.
Seat Height
15 in.
Weight Capacity
320 lb.
Pros
Cons
Helinox Chair One (re)
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Camping Chairs.
The Helinox Chair One (re) is a fresh take on the brand’s well-known Chair One, which helped shape the lightweight camp seat category. This version makes some changes that, while fairly subtle, still make a difference. Designers made the seat 20% larger, strengthened the frame and corner pockets, and added a second tension line for a sturdier, more stable feel. The Chair One (re)’s scooped shape gives it a relaxed feel, with a nice balance between support and give. I was able to lean back comfortably around a campfire or at the beach, but also sit up to read or work on my laptop without feeling too slouched. The mesh paneling on the chair’s sides adds breathability and a bit of contour, helping the chair feel tailored to my body without feeling restrictive. Once seated, I dropped a few inches into the cradle of the fabric, but the weight distribution felt natural, not saggy.
Even after hours of use, I didn’t experience any aches or pressure points—well, aside from a minor one around my shoulder blades, where the seat fabric’s upper corner pockets connect to the frame. A padded strip helped there, but people with broad shoulders may still notice it. The Chair One (re)’s seat height put my thighs and feet at a natural angle, and despite being one of the lowest chairs I’ve used, it didn’t feel too difficult to get in and out of. That said, sitting in this chair is a very different experience from traditional models like the Kijaro Dual Lock or the Alps Mountaineering King Kong. Those heavier, larger chairs offer wider seats, armrests, and more upright postures, which I still prefer for all-day lounging. But for a compact chair, the Helinox Chair One (re) punches above its size.
For such a low and lightweight seat, the Chair One (re) holds its ground surprisingly well. Its outward-angled legs and rubber feet create a decently broad base, and I never felt off-balance when turning to chat or reaching down. Even on uneven terrain—soft sand at June Lake in the California Sierra or slanted granite slabs in Joshua Tree—the feet gripped well and the chair stayed planted. That said, it’s not rock-solid: When I really shifted my weight side to side, I felt a little sway, and the frame would move slightly under aggressive movement.
Compared to the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Boss, which has a front-to-back crossbar, the Chair One (re)’s horizontal crossbar felt more stable when I was getting in and out. Its low center of gravity also helped it feel more secure than taller compact camping chairs, like the Big Agnes Big Six. Still, it doesn’t match the sheer groundedness of full-size models like the Yeti Trailhead or the Alps King Kong. (Keep in mind, though, that you can’t walk any real distance while carrying those chairs.) The Chair One (re) is stable enough for casual use, but it’s not the chair I’d pick for fidgety sitters or, say, a kid who’s sitting close to a campfire.
I’ve been impressed with this chair’s build quality so far. The Chair One (re)’s proprietary DAC aluminum frame, silicone shock cords, and nylon resin hubs all feel sturdy, and the 300-denier polyester fabric has held up well after multiple trips. The seat shows no signs of wear so far, and the reinforced corner pockets give me confidence that high-stress areas won’t fail anytime soon. I even tossed it in a backpack for a 4-mile hike to an alpine lake, and it looked brand new after the outing.
That said, the 300-denier fabric is half the thickness of the original Chair One’s 600-denier seat. While I haven’t noticed any durability drop, it’s worth noting for campers who are especially hard on their gear. Compared to heavier camping chairs like the Dual Lock or the REI Co-op Campwell (both of which actually have lower weight limits), the Chair One (re)’s 320-pound capacity gives it a leg up. And it definitely feels more robust than the Flexlite Camp Boss, which shares the same denier but lacks the reinforced detailing.
Setting up the Helinox Chair One (re) isn’t hard, but it’s not instant. You first assemble the frame—easy thanks to the self-locating shock cords—then slide each of the four corners of the seat fabric over the poles. I found it worked best to start with the bottom corners and finish with the top, which required a bit of force (but nothing too taxing). Packing the chair away requires you to do the reverse, and once I got the flow, the whole process took me about a minute.
Compared to the Flexlite Camp Boss, the experience felt nearly identical. But next to fold-open chairs like the King Kong or the Dual Lock, the Chair One (re) does take more effort and time. From a user-friendliness standpoint, it doesn’t have armrests or cupholders—both features I missed, although obvious concessions to its lightweight design. There is, however, a small elastic mesh pocket on the right side. It’s handy for a phone or a book, but less useful for drinks.
This is easily one of the most portable chairs I own. At 2 pounds, 7.4 ounces, and about the size of a small firewood log when packed, it’s small enough to toss in a daypack or tuck in a corner of your car’s trunk. I carried the Chair One (re) to an alpine lake with no issue, though I wouldn’t bring it on a long backpacking trip unless I was willing to carry a few extra ounces. Still, for hiking, concerts, beach days, or vanlife, it’s compact enough to disappear.
The stuff sack also deserves a shout-out: It opens clamshell-style across the top, making it way easier to repack than the drawstring styles that require careful stuffing. It also has grab handles and daisy chains, so you can carry or lash it easily. Compared to larger compact camping chairs like the Big Six or the Helinox Sunset, the Chair One (re) is lighter, smaller, and more space-efficient.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
Amrests, Cupholders, & Pockets
The Chair One (re) doesn’t load up on extras, but it nails a few simple conveniences. There’s a single elastic mesh pocket on the right side, big enough for a paperback, your phone, or a snack. I wouldn’t trust it with a soda can or anything open, but for essentials you want to keep close while lounging, it’s great. This feature sets it apart from the older Chair One, which lacked storage entirely.
While there are no armrests or cupholders—standard omissions in ultralight designs—I still wished for at least a small place to rest my arms. That said, the frame has a bit of natural sway, which gives it a pleasant, relaxing feel even without built-in motion. It’s not a rocking chair, but it isn’t stiff, either.
Helinox Chair One ($100): The O.G.
If you’re especially hard on your gear or just want a more durable chair, the original Chair One boasts a 600-denier polyester body that’s twice as thick as its successor’s material. The Chair One also trims off 5.5 ounces and packs down smaller, making it even more portable than the already compact Chair One (re). However, by choosing this older version, you’ll miss out on a few key improvements. The (re) is a larger overall chair, with wider poles, reinforced corner pockets, and an additional tension line for better weight distribution. And while both models sport a minimalistic aesthetic overall, the (re) adds an elastic mesh pocket for small essentials you want close at hand. Considering you only need to pay about $20 more for these perks, the (re) is well worth the extra cost for most people—except maybe backpackers who are sensitive to weight and packed size.
Helinox Sunset ($170): High Backrest in a Compact Frame
The Sunset boasts a highback design to help those with longer torsos lounge comfortably. It also expands on the Chair One (re)’s single pocket by adding one to both sides of its seat, along with an adjustable flap on the headrest to hold a jacket, blanket, or its carry case. On top of that, its 600-denier polyester is double the thickness found on the (re). These additions make the Sunset slightly heavier and bulkier, but it still folds down small enough to fit in a backpack or tote. That said, its significant recline makes it more difficult to sit upright, and it has a seam you can feel through thin clothing. But if you’re unbothered by these minor drawbacks and willing to spend a few extra bucks, the Sunset delivers more support and an improved lounging experience, while still maintaining most of the packability of the Chair One (re). For more, read our review of the Sunset.
The Chair One (re) improves on its predecessor in several ways, particularly in the comfort department. It still lacks nice-to-have features like armrests, but campers who prioritize a lightweight option that fits easily inside a daypack or a tote bag will love its portability.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
The Chair One helped revolutionize what a portable and lightweight camping chair could look like. While its minimal design isn’t for everyone, it’s still a great choice for folks who are looking for a compact, supportive, and durable seat.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
With the Sunset, Helinox expands on the standard camp chair design by adding comfort-focused features such as a high back. We appreciate this chair’s durable and stable build, but some campers may balk at its deep recline and potentially annoying seat seams.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Is the Chair One (re) for You?
If you want a compact, comfortable chair you can carry to just about any campsite save for far-flung ones in the backcountry, the Helinox Chair One (re) is a strong contender. It’s a great pick for hikers, beachgoers, vanlifers, or anyone who wants to lounge comfortably without their chair taking up much space. While the low seat and lack of armrests won’t suit everyone, especially if you’re used to traditional folding chairs, its snug fit, improved structure, and compact packed size make it one of the best options in the lightweight chair category.
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