Helinox claim to make the lightest, strongest and most portable camping chairs in the world. I can’t tell you if this is true but I can tell you about the testing of two camping chairs, the Helinox CHAIR ONE and the Helinox CHAIR TWO.
Helinox CHAIR ONE
The Helinox CHAIR ONE is said to be “smaller and lighter than a bottle of wine”. It weighs 2.1lbs (953g) and the packed size is 10cm x 10cm by 35cm. It can hold a person up to 320lbs (145kgs).
- Cost: £89.99
- See Helinox.
- Buy on-line or from outdoor and camping stores.
Apparently a full bottle of wine weighs 1.05kg to 1.65kg so the Chair One is lighter than a bottle of wine. But the packed chair does not look smaller than a bottle of wine. It’s fairly small, however, and if you are on a car-to-campsite trip it will not take up too much space in the boot.
Hubby G and his climber pals have been testing the chair. They enjoyed sitting in the chair while hanging out at a crag in Perthshire.
Their thoughts:
“It packs up small.”
“It’s far sturdier than it looks.”
“It’s really easy to assemble. Just shake it out of the bag and it almost puts itself together.”
“The poles are all in one piece so you can’t lose any sections.”
“The reinforced pole sockets are great because it makes the chair more durable.”
“The fabric is quick drying if it gets wet.”
“I’d be happy carrying he chair in a backpack.”
“It’s a good piece of kit and very handy.”
You can buy a “seat warmer“, which is basically an insulated cover, that offers more warmth when you sit down.
Helinox CHAIR TWO
A taller version of the Chair One, the Helinox Chair Two is still lightweight and sturdy but has more back and neck support. It weighs 1080g and packs to a size of 46cm x 13cm x 12cm. The maximum load is 145kg.
Cost: £109.99
See Helinox.
Buy on-line or from outdoor and camping stores.
The climbers said:
- “Easy to assemble and to pack up.”
- “Great to have a longer back and a head rest.”
- “Higher off the ground so it’s easier to get in and out of.”
- “Also has a durable design.”
- “If you are looking for a it more comfort when sitting down the extra cost and weight might be worth it.”
Also see Helinox UK sales.