Helinox Chair One Review
The Helinox Chair One is more or less the chair that started the whole "lightweight camp chair" category, and it's still one of the best-known names in it. It's the chair you see folded onto the outside of packs at festivals, campsites and trailheads across the UK, and after using one across a few seasons of car camping and trail trips, we understand why it's held its position for so long.
What it is
The Chair One is built around Helinox's signature design: a frame of thin DAC aluminium alloy poles (the same poles used in a lot of high-end tent designs) that tension a piece of ripstop polyester fabric into a surprisingly supportive seat. The whole thing weighs around 0.9kg and packs down to roughly 11.4 x 11.4 x 35.6cm in its stuff sack — small enough to strap to the outside of a rucksack or throw in a car boot without a second thought. Assembled, it measures about 54.6cm wide, 52.1cm deep and 64.8cm tall, with a seat height of around 25.4cm, and the frame is rated to hold up to 145kg.
Setup is genuinely fast: the poles are linked internally by a single shock cord (the same idea as a tent pole set), so you unfold it, click the sections together, and the frame more or less assembles itself in under a minute. No separate parts to lose, no tools, no instructions needed after the first go.
Pros
- Very light for how supportive it is — around 0.9kg
- Packs down small enough to strap to a backpack for multi-day trips, not just car camping
- Fast, tool-free setup thanks to the shock-corded pole design
- 145kg weight rating is generous for the chair's size and weight
- Genuinely comfortable — the fabric tensioning gives real support rather than a flimsy sag
Cons
- Low to the ground (25.4cm seat height) — not the easiest chair to get in and out of for anyone with knee or hip issues
- No armrests on the standard Chair One (Helinox sells a separate Chair One with armrests if you want them)
- Price is high for what is, mechanically, a fairly simple pole-and-fabric design
- Legs can sink into soft ground or sand without the optional ground sheet/feet accessories
Who it's for
It's an excellent fit for backpackers and wild campers who want actual seating comfort without carrying a heavy folding chair, and equally good as a grab-and-go option for car camping, festivals or beach trips where pack size doesn't matter as much but convenience does. If you mainly camp from a car and don't care about weight, a bulkier folding director's-style chair with armrests and a higher seat might suit you better; if packed size and weight matter at all, the Chair One is hard to beat.
Our verdict
The Helinox Chair One justifies its reputation — it's light, packs impressively small, sets up in seconds and is genuinely comfortable to sit in for an evening at camp. The price is the main sticking point, but for anyone who's carried a heavier folding chair on a long trip, the weight and pack-size saving here is easy to justify.