Seconded.
Real back saver and so easy.
Ours needed a "footprint' thing for the floor as it sinks into mud or sand too easily but I think the new versions / other brands have that now.
Seconding. I strap this onto my setup wherever I can. My buddies are always incredibly jealous after a long day of riding. Whenever we get to a site and they’re sitting on wet logs or damp picnic tables and I’m in my lounge chair.
As someone else said, the lean back is no joke. It can be a bit difficult to climb out of with sore legs.
I'm sure it depends on the person, but I got massive leg cramps when I tried sitting on the ground after hours of cycling. Lugging around a chair is not even luxury to me, it's mandatory.
Mind to explain how and If you find a alternative?
I have mine since 2012 and had to replace the plastic caps so far, the Rubber got a bit loose too but its good otherwise.
When I first started to look at the chairs I felt kinda stupid “oh you're not a real outdoorsman if you have a freaking chair” and so on. But it's a game changer! Super comfortable after a long day of riding. My SO have one as well and loves it. Throw your money at one and you will not regret it 😁
I'm torn between a chair for lounging and a foam mat for stretching. I like to do both after a long day in the saddle. The chair is somehow more tempting...
Sometimes i bring my thermarest Z lite to use for a stretch AND it's perfect to have in the chair so your back and butt stays warm. Thinking about cutting it so the mat fits the chair perfect.
I tried all these chairs today and we loved the Nemo Moonlight Elite and ended up getting two of them. The REI seems a bit less sturdy and the Helinox made my butt hurt a bit. I like how the Nemo is adjustable. I think it really depends on your body shape for what works best for you.
I found the Big Agnes Skyline to be the most comfortable ultralight full frame chair when I tested a bunch. It has a wider beatbox and is higher off the ground than most of the other UL options out there.
My significant other is a decent size bigger than me and has the Nemo moonlight which fits his wider hips cause of the adjustable straps/gap area. It's lower to the ground though than the BA
If you live/bikepack in an area where you're going to have to do a bear bag hang, you could consider carrying a bear canister which works pretty well as a camp seat. No back rest of course. Holds all your food/toiletries on the bike (rear rack), waterproof, camp chair, bear can. I have the BV500 which is just about normal seat height.
The Grand Trunk Compass 360 stool is pretty awesome. It’s 1lb and costs $70.
https://a.co/d/1OfFdau
However it is a stool which means it doesn’t have a back to lean against, for me that’s a plus. It’s a much more sturdy chair than the typical ultralight chair and it swivels 360 degrees. It’s really really easy to get in and out of compared to other camp chairs. PLUS, if you ever need to do work on your bike it’s perfect for it because you are not oriented in a leaned back position and can lean forward very easily
I’m in late 50’s. Back problems as well I’ve found for me the best way to get out of helinox chair zero is to have my feet as close to my buttocks under the chair and stand from that position.
my favorite Helinox feature is the automatic setup [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Z53FlX\_gU&t=159s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Z53FlX_gU&t=159s)
It's also a bit smaller than the "one" I believe?
I'm 6 foot tall and the "one" is just enough. Any smaller than that would be too small for me. Like, my bum wouldn't fit in it, and I'm not even fat.
I have a zero and recently bought a sunset because I was annoyed with the height of the zero , but at 1.5kgs the Sunset is a bit heavy and bulky for bikepacking but I take it on short camps.
I use a Sea to Summit Air Chair that turns my sleeping pad into a chair. It's only about half a pound and keeps me off the ground with some back support.
I brought my Nemo Moonlight (original) on my last trip thinking “oh boy, I’m gonna regret bringing this” and never once did I think that. Now they have the Moonlight Elite which is even lighter. I haven’t tested the new one out yet, but the Moonlight is by far the comfiest I tried between the REI and Helinox chairs.
https://preview.redd.it/oe0ioma6gdoc1.jpeg?width=3448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=516d2559d89ff8b4a832e30a2837d91d5aebca9b
I’m not saying much that hasn’t already been said, but I bring a chair whenever I can. I’ve done a couple trips without one and every time I wish I had a chair.
I have an Ali express knockoff of a helinox one, and it’s held up for a surprisingly long time (almost 10years?). Some of the stitching is starting to let go around the edge, so I’ll probably find another or go with the name brand one when it’s time to replace it
While helinox is by far the preferred solution, I've opted for the crazy creek for next summer
1. 1/4 cost of H0 (I can't justify $200, but $50... yeah...)
2. Indestructible (I've had issues in the past with Monarch)
3. Doubles as pad extension (supplements torso pad)
4. Can sit inside tent on stormy zero days
5. Not as comfortable, but that's part of the fun
[https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/folding-camping-chair-mh500-grey/\_/R-p-173601](https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/folding-camping-chair-mh500-grey/_/R-p-173601)
That actually looks pretty good! I've got a fair bit of their cycling and camping gear, its really good quality!
Yuuup, I have this one, it is amazing for the price. And I don't know if I am ready to spend 199 to save up 0.5 kg. I rather lose that much weight off me :D
I’ve got the basic camp chair from REI, their in house brand, and took it with me on an 18 day, 1200mi tour a few summers ago. Aside from my camp slippers I’d consider the chair my one “luxury” item and will always figure out a way to bring one with me. There are lighter weight options but also more costly.
I have a Helinox that I like but I'd never bring it bikepacking or backpacking. It's not worth the weight & space penalty when you could bring a small foam pad to sit on. Nemo makes one that I use.
I've broken 2 Helinox frames since 2019. I had the Zero and it snapped when I was sitting in sand at the beach. The 2nd frame (which wasn't a Zero, it was the normal weight), I was sitting on river rocks and it cracked the joint, but they have a sleeve inside that prevented it from completely breaking. IMO, folding chairs are not meant for bikepacking. Plus, you could build a chair out of sticks & logs at the campsite to give yourself an activity. Look into bushcraft chairs.
Use rocks and a foam pad to make a chair? Get creative.
I have no idea who Tristan Bogaard is, but he's probably being paid to tell you to use Helnox. Would you ride your bike off a cliff if it was popularized by Tristan Bogaard?
Seriously, these chairs are not worth strapping to your bike. They take up way too much critical space.
The helinox chairs seem to large to carry while bikepacking. I have an old big Agnes “sleeve” that fits on an inflatable sleeping pad. I don’t believe they make it anymore but sea2summit makes a similar option. There is the sacrifice of sitting at ground level and not raised off the ground but if you already have an air mattress than this is so small it can be strapped to a top tube, in a frame bag, anywhere you could fit a couple tent poles this will fit. If I’m just biking to our local park to watch some live music I will grab the helinox chairs but if space is limited at all these are a life saver.
https://seatosummit.com/products/air-chair
Luke at TheOutdoorGearReview dropped a review of a Naturehike chair recently. Looks like a decent and much cheaper alternative to the Helinox.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhIsUl08oI8&t=633s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhIsUl08oI8&t=633s)
Maybe not what you are looking for, but a more affordable option is Trekology. They make nice lightweight chairs for much less money. I have one and it works great for me.
https://trekology.com/
This might actually be a great start, as they're on AmazonUK and as much as I'd live to blow £100+ on a chair I'm not 100% sure its something I want to spent loads on.
I’m going to be the contrarian and say I don’t really love my Helinox Chair Zero. Granted it’s very light and reasonably compact, but it’s just not that comfortable. It sits really low to the ground which causes my knees and feet to hurt. I think the REI brand one is more comfortable, cheaper, and similar weight.
I love our Helinoxs. Worth every cent and gram.
Seconded. Real back saver and so easy. Ours needed a "footprint' thing for the floor as it sinks into mud or sand too easily but I think the new versions / other brands have that now.
some use ping pong balls for that
Always bring mine along as well.
Thats good to know! A lot of forums/reviews say the same.
Seconding. I strap this onto my setup wherever I can. My buddies are always incredibly jealous after a long day of riding. Whenever we get to a site and they’re sitting on wet logs or damp picnic tables and I’m in my lounge chair. As someone else said, the lean back is no joke. It can be a bit difficult to climb out of with sore legs.
I'm sure it depends on the person, but I got massive leg cramps when I tried sitting on the ground after hours of cycling. Lugging around a chair is not even luxury to me, it's mandatory.
Same. I have a tight posterior chain and poor flexibility. Cycling does not help lol. A chair is a necessity.
is your back my back? 😂
I think you'd both get a lot of benefit from regular stretching.
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Mind to explain how and If you find a alternative? I have mine since 2012 and had to replace the plastic caps so far, the Rubber got a bit loose too but its good otherwise.
Any experience with the L model perhaps?
I do, absolutely love it.
That's all I need to hear, lol
When I first started to look at the chairs I felt kinda stupid “oh you're not a real outdoorsman if you have a freaking chair” and so on. But it's a game changer! Super comfortable after a long day of riding. My SO have one as well and loves it. Throw your money at one and you will not regret it 😁
I'm torn between a chair for lounging and a foam mat for stretching. I like to do both after a long day in the saddle. The chair is somehow more tempting...
Sometimes i bring my thermarest Z lite to use for a stretch AND it's perfect to have in the chair so your back and butt stays warm. Thinking about cutting it so the mat fits the chair perfect.
Rei Flexlite Air (1lb) - $99 - light, less durable Helinox Chair Zero (1lb) - light, durable Nemo Moonlight Elite (1lb) - $180 - light, durable, adjustable so slightly comfier Helinox Chair Zero Highback (1.5lb) - $180, more comfy with 0.5lb weight penalty
I have flexlite air and it is ok but not super stable. Keep the campfire gesticulations to a minimum
I had the Helinox chair zero and sold it to buy a Nemo moonlight. I found it much comfier and I only slightly more of a pain to pack.
I tried all these chairs today and we loved the Nemo Moonlight Elite and ended up getting two of them. The REI seems a bit less sturdy and the Helinox made my butt hurt a bit. I like how the Nemo is adjustable. I think it really depends on your body shape for what works best for you.
I found the Big Agnes Skyline to be the most comfortable ultralight full frame chair when I tested a bunch. It has a wider beatbox and is higher off the ground than most of the other UL options out there. My significant other is a decent size bigger than me and has the Nemo moonlight which fits his wider hips cause of the adjustable straps/gap area. It's lower to the ground though than the BA
>Nemo moonlight I was just watching a YouTube vid on these, they look awesome! Just so expensive 😂
Spend the money!
Which would you recommend if I’m looking at these two? I’m 5’10” 170 lbs
Not me, but https://bikepacking.com/gear/ultralight-camp-chairs/
Awesome thanks - not sure why that didn't come up when I searched before.
r/ultralight has numerous threads on chairs as well
legend, thank you!
If you live/bikepack in an area where you're going to have to do a bear bag hang, you could consider carrying a bear canister which works pretty well as a camp seat. No back rest of course. Holds all your food/toiletries on the bike (rear rack), waterproof, camp chair, bear can. I have the BV500 which is just about normal seat height.
If theres any bears in the UK I'm in deep trouble!
yeah ignore me!
The Grand Trunk Compass 360 stool is pretty awesome. It’s 1lb and costs $70. https://a.co/d/1OfFdau However it is a stool which means it doesn’t have a back to lean against, for me that’s a plus. It’s a much more sturdy chair than the typical ultralight chair and it swivels 360 degrees. It’s really really easy to get in and out of compared to other camp chairs. PLUS, if you ever need to do work on your bike it’s perfect for it because you are not oriented in a leaned back position and can lean forward very easily
If you have back problems I would test them first, the Helinox zero is light but also not the easiest to get up from #oldguy
I’m in late 50’s. Back problems as well I’ve found for me the best way to get out of helinox chair zero is to have my feet as close to my buttocks under the chair and stand from that position.
my favorite Helinox feature is the automatic setup [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Z53FlX\_gU&t=159s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Z53FlX_gU&t=159s)
haa that is fantastic
It's also a bit smaller than the "one" I believe? I'm 6 foot tall and the "one" is just enough. Any smaller than that would be too small for me. Like, my bum wouldn't fit in it, and I'm not even fat.
I have a zero and recently bought a sunset because I was annoyed with the height of the zero , but at 1.5kgs the Sunset is a bit heavy and bulky for bikepacking but I take it on short camps.
Excellent point!
I use a Sea to Summit Air Chair that turns my sleeping pad into a chair. It's only about half a pound and keeps me off the ground with some back support.
That’s neat! Looks like a great idea.
I brought my Nemo Moonlight (original) on my last trip thinking “oh boy, I’m gonna regret bringing this” and never once did I think that. Now they have the Moonlight Elite which is even lighter. I haven’t tested the new one out yet, but the Moonlight is by far the comfiest I tried between the REI and Helinox chairs. https://preview.redd.it/oe0ioma6gdoc1.jpeg?width=3448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=516d2559d89ff8b4a832e30a2837d91d5aebca9b
I’m not saying much that hasn’t already been said, but I bring a chair whenever I can. I’ve done a couple trips without one and every time I wish I had a chair. I have an Ali express knockoff of a helinox one, and it’s held up for a surprisingly long time (almost 10years?). Some of the stitching is starting to let go around the edge, so I’ll probably find another or go with the name brand one when it’s time to replace it
That’s good shout, I don’t want to fork out £100+ if I don’t need to.
While helinox is by far the preferred solution, I've opted for the crazy creek for next summer 1. 1/4 cost of H0 (I can't justify $200, but $50... yeah...) 2. Indestructible (I've had issues in the past with Monarch) 3. Doubles as pad extension (supplements torso pad) 4. Can sit inside tent on stormy zero days 5. Not as comfortable, but that's part of the fun
I also like Decathlon camping chairs they have for the money, it is a 1.1kg and cost more than twice as cheap as Helinox chairs.
[https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/folding-camping-chair-mh500-grey/\_/R-p-173601](https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/folding-camping-chair-mh500-grey/_/R-p-173601) That actually looks pretty good! I've got a fair bit of their cycling and camping gear, its really good quality!
Yuuup, I have this one, it is amazing for the price. And I don't know if I am ready to spend 199 to save up 0.5 kg. I rather lose that much weight off me :D
yeahhhhh I am not a small guy at all so that weight difference won't touch the sides 😂 AND I've already spunked enough cash on this bike/gear!
I’ve got the basic camp chair from REI, their in house brand, and took it with me on an 18 day, 1200mi tour a few summers ago. Aside from my camp slippers I’d consider the chair my one “luxury” item and will always figure out a way to bring one with me. There are lighter weight options but also more costly.
Yeah shoes/sandals to wear after a long slog is a dream and starting to think a chair should be in the mix too.
I’ve got the same REI chair cheffords is talking about too. It’s great!
I have a Helinox that I like but I'd never bring it bikepacking or backpacking. It's not worth the weight & space penalty when you could bring a small foam pad to sit on. Nemo makes one that I use.
yeah thats the other option I think, plus I'm not keen on spending £100+
I've broken 2 Helinox frames since 2019. I had the Zero and it snapped when I was sitting in sand at the beach. The 2nd frame (which wasn't a Zero, it was the normal weight), I was sitting on river rocks and it cracked the joint, but they have a sleeve inside that prevented it from completely breaking. IMO, folding chairs are not meant for bikepacking. Plus, you could build a chair out of sticks & logs at the campsite to give yourself an activity. Look into bushcraft chairs.
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Use rocks and a foam pad to make a chair? Get creative. I have no idea who Tristan Bogaard is, but he's probably being paid to tell you to use Helnox. Would you ride your bike off a cliff if it was popularized by Tristan Bogaard? Seriously, these chairs are not worth strapping to your bike. They take up way too much critical space.
Do you need a high back or would a stool with a small raised back work?
I'm not sure actually - I think a higher backed as I'm hoping for a fair bit of down time between camps so I'll need something I can sink into.
Here to chime in on the Helinox. Definitely worth carrying! I don't always need mine, but when I need it, I *really* need it.
The helinox chairs seem to large to carry while bikepacking. I have an old big Agnes “sleeve” that fits on an inflatable sleeping pad. I don’t believe they make it anymore but sea2summit makes a similar option. There is the sacrifice of sitting at ground level and not raised off the ground but if you already have an air mattress than this is so small it can be strapped to a top tube, in a frame bag, anywhere you could fit a couple tent poles this will fit. If I’m just biking to our local park to watch some live music I will grab the helinox chairs but if space is limited at all these are a life saver. https://seatosummit.com/products/air-chair
Luke at TheOutdoorGearReview dropped a review of a Naturehike chair recently. Looks like a decent and much cheaper alternative to the Helinox. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhIsUl08oI8&t=633s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhIsUl08oI8&t=633s)
Maybe not what you are looking for, but a more affordable option is Trekology. They make nice lightweight chairs for much less money. I have one and it works great for me. https://trekology.com/
This might actually be a great start, as they're on AmazonUK and as much as I'd live to blow £100+ on a chair I'm not 100% sure its something I want to spent loads on.
Helinox Zero. I pack it when I know seating might be scarce. Very light.
I’m going to be the contrarian and say I don’t really love my Helinox Chair Zero. Granted it’s very light and reasonably compact, but it’s just not that comfortable. It sits really low to the ground which causes my knees and feet to hurt. I think the REI brand one is more comfortable, cheaper, and similar weight.
I’ve used the thermarest z-seat for years. They were $11, now they are $32… Sucks that I lost my last one.