Review: Helinox Chair Zero LT and Universal Helinox Ground Strap

The Helinox Chair Zero LT is the newest chair in the Chair Zero product line. It weighs a wee bit more than the original Chair Zero and includes the new Helinox Ground Strap, which is compatible with all Helinox chairs and tables. The Helinox Ground Strap addresses one of the biggest issues with most lightweight backpacking chairs: the legs sink into sand, mud, or grass. If you already own a Helinox chair, regardless of model, the $25 Ground-strap (0.7 oz) is a nice upgrade. It’s not perfect, but as long as you keep your chair level, it limits the amount of sinkage.

Helinox Chair Zero LT Specs

• Weight: 17.7 oz (1 lb 1.7 oz)
• Seat Height: 7 inches
• Weight Capacity: 265 lbs
• Frame: Aluminum
• Sling Fabric: Monofilament grid ripstop
• Helinox Ground Strap: 0.7 Included, also sold separately

I never used to think a backpacking chair was an essential, and I guess it still isn’t. But if you’re backpacking a trail without wooden lean-tos, picnic benches, trees, or rocks to sit on, it’s pretty nice to have a chair to sit on in the evening instead of sitting in the dirt or in tick-infested grass. Plus, with the lighter gear weights we’re all carrying, adding a chair to your load is easier than ever.

There are a few important variables to consider when choosing a lightweight backpacking chair:

• Gear weight – the minimum weight of the chair and its components
• Weight capacity – how much load can it handle
• Seat height – how hard is it to stand up from

Reduced Seat Height

The Helinox Chair Zero LT has a minimum trail weight of 17.7 oz (minus the carry bag or ground strap), which is a little more than half an ounce more than the original Chair Zero. It’s strong enough to hold individuals weighing up to 265 lbs and has a seat height of 7″, which is 2″ less than the original Chair Zero.

I happen to think that height reduction is a big deal, since the original chair required a certain amount of agility to stand up from. If you have balance issues or find getting up from the ground difficult on your legs, I’d recommend sticking with the original Chair Zero or considering one of the Chair Zero LT’s closest competitors: the NEMO Moonlight Elite and the REI Flexlite Air, which have much higher seat heights.

New Fabric

Besides the different seat heights, the primary difference between the Helinox Chair LT and the original Chair Zero is the fabric you sit on. The Chair LT uses a very strong and abrasion-resistant monofilament grid ripstop that Helinox claims is more durable than the aramid polyester ripstop fabric used in the original Chair Zero. It’s hard to verify claims like this, or to determine whether they make any difference to most users. While monofilament fabrics are often stronger than multi-filament fabrics and may even be recyclable (which Helinox does not claim), this strikes me as a feature that Helinox product engineers care about more than end users.

The Final Word

I’m reasonably agile, but I still prefer the original Chair Zero for its higher seat height. From my perspective, the only advantage of the Helinox Chair Zero LT over the original Chair Zero is that it comes bundled with a $25 Ground Strap, whereas you need to buy one separately for the original Chair Zero. Given that Helinox intends to continue selling the original Chair Zero, I’d recommend buying it and the new Ground Strap, instead of the Chair Zero LT. The cost of the original Chair Zero and the Group Strap comes to $165, compared to the Chair Zero LT ($160), which includes the Group Strap. If you ask me, those extra two inches of seat height are definitely worth the extra $5.

Disclosure: Helinox donated a chair for review.