Gold Standard in Packable Camp Chairs Gets an Upgrade: Helinox Chair One (re) Review

They say you shouldn’t reinvent the wheel — but what about the chair? Simple things ought to be simple, I thought to myself while breaking out the new Helinox Chair One (re) while camping recently. And chairs? Assuredly, we’ve got them down at this point. 

Apparently, I was wrong. Success is a process, and while the original Chair One set the standard in the backpacking chair scene, the updated (re) version tweaks the dials and pushes the right buttons to make this packable chair even better. How? By thinking of it like a tent.

The new chair’s architecture plays with tension in a big way. It adds a second “tension line” to the edge of the bucket seat, eliminating the awkward squeeze that some camp seats can suffer from. Add to that some new recycled aluminum DAC poles, and the Chair One (re) became my new backpacking lounger this summer.

In short: The updated Helinox Chair One (re) didn’t reinvent the lightweight camp chair, but it did refine it. The new version makes strides in creating a more robust structure, while adding savvy recycled components that ensure this chair looks forward instead of backward. This is what I learned about the Chair One (re) in my half a year with it so far.

Looking for a new place to park it while backpacking? Check out how the Chair One (re) compares to the rest of the options out there in GearJunkie’s Best Backpacking Chairs Buyer’s Guide.

Helinox Chair One (re): Review

At this point, the original Helinox Chair One is near-archetypal (and still available!), so revising it was no small feat. That said, it only takes a few minutes of sitting to realize that it’s a better chair than its contemporary. I took this chair on overnight whitewater kayaking trips, a few bikepacking forays, and set it up around many campfires to get a good feel for it. 

A (Re)fined Architecture

Most backpacking chairs these days draw pretty heavily from the original Chair One design: A deep bucket supported by four struts that reach to the four corners of the seat. This does create a snug saddle to settle into, but for some, it’s a squeeze. 

The new (re) version softens the transition between the bucket and the outer edge, adding a second angle to the mix and placing some more of the weight-bearing on the perimeter, where it’s better supported. That’s all a lot of product-design-speak to say that the Chair One (re) is more comfortable.

The way that the DAC poles interface with the seat is also updated. Instead of the lo-fi pole end sleeves that most chairs use (including the OG Chair One), this new version uses nylon resin hubs to catch the poles. These pads spread the force around the seat sling much better, and are really what allows the two tension lines to form.

The chair is also now 30% taller (which equates to around 2.5 inches of added height in the seat). This makes getting in and out of the saddle easier, and puts you in a much better position for sitting at a camp table or leaning over to tend a fire. 

The four-leg design still struggles with sandy soil, as I found when camping next to the Nooksack River in Washington State this summer. A little site scouting can help to work around this, or Helinox sells a ground sheet for the updated (re) chair that’ll increase your footprint.

(Re)purposed Aluminum and (Re)cycled Polyester

The Chair One (re) also revised its material list to lean into the future and pack in as much recycled content as possible. The big news on the updated version is the aluminum DAC poles that use reclaimed scrap from the factory floor in the alloy.  

The fit and finish on DAC poles has always been good, and there’s no difference here. One small design tweak outside of the updated aluminum choice I appreciated quickly was the formed and fixed crossbar on the pole set. This is updated from the full round version in the initial version, which could twist during assembly and create a headache.

The sling is also equally eco, and is a recycled and Bluesign-certified 300D polyester that feels robust in the hand. It’s noticeably thicker than other options out there, like the REI Flexlite Air. Long-term durability still needs to be tested, but this seat sling should outlast the ultralight options out there, making it highly sustainable.

Smart Storage

If you’ve ever struggled to stuff a backpacking chair back into its too-small stuff sack, you know the frustration it brings. Thankfully, the Chair One (re) totes around in a zip case that easily wrangles all of the components — no stuffing required. This case also sports a webbing daisy chain, which made strapping the chair down on a bike simple.

The chair itself also has a little storage tacked on, located on the side of the right hip. This stretch-mesh panel is big enough to securely wrangle your phone, keys, or headlamp and angled to prevent items from hopping out on their own. Accessing it from a seated position is natural, with no awkward bending to get to it.

It would be easy to think that a second stretch pocket on the other side of the chair here would make this a better seat, but I appreciate the restraint here. There’s really no need to saddle down the pockets with trinkets, and the single sleeve is more than enough.

Is It Backpackable?

At 2 pounds, 8 ounces packed, the Chair One (re) does land on the heavier side of backpacking chairs. Real lightweight seats typically slide in around 1 pound (Helinox’s own Chair Zero is 1 pound, 2 ounces, and REI’s Flexlite Air is 1 pound even). That said, there’s a conversation to have about what you’re really after in a backpacking chair.

If I want a lightweight camp seat, I typically bypass all of the “ultralight” camp chairs in favor of a simple Gossamer Gear Thinlight Sit Pad. Which means that if I’m bringing a backpacking chair, I don’t mind a few extra ounces — so long as it does its job correctly. The 5 ounces separating the original Chair One and the (re) model, then, doesn’t amount to much in the long run for me.

Still, for some, the weight and bulk may knock the Chair One (re) out of the running in favor of something a bit more svelte. It’s well worth the weight when I’m committed to bringing along a little comfort.

Helinox Chair One (re): Conclusion

Helinox took years of feedback into account when revamping Chair One (re), and I’d argue it’s been well worth the wait for the updated seat. The backpacking chair that started it all has still got it.

It’s comfortable above all else, simple to assemble and pack away, and light enough to actually bring along with you when you deem the luxury worth it. I typically won’t bother with a backpacking chair unless I know I’ll be basecamping a good bit, but this chair has come along with me on many more trips than expected this summer.

Is it worth the extra $20 compared to the original? Easily. The better seating position alone justifies the spend. That said, it is on the upper end of what you’ll typically expect to spend for a backcountry seat. A $65 Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Chair (or even a $22 foam Gossamer Gear Thinlight Pad) will get the job done, but if you want something you’ll genuinely look forward to sitting in when you hit camp, it’s got to be the Chair One (re).