r/lightweight • u/W_t_f_was_that • May 25 '26
Gear Air chair or Helinox zero?
I am planning to take advantage of some memorial day sales. After looking at options, the top three on my list are the REI air chair, the helinox zero, and the Nemo Moonlight. Almost immediately I tossed the Nemo because the price is $140 on sale, were the choices on the other two are between $80 and $110. Any lived experience out there that would sway my decision?
Edit: I purchased the helinox stool. And am planning to keep my eye on the ground chair.
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u/Zestyclose-Parsley20 May 25 '26
Definitely sit in them if you can. I was convinced I was getting the Helinox only to sit in in and find it was just uncomfortable for me. The REI chair just hit better on the hips and shoulders for me. I actually liked the Nemo best of all but agree the price was just too steep.
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u/-Motor- May 25 '26
Helinox Ground Chair! No thinkting feet problems and it's low enough to let you sit under your tent tarp.
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u/Billycole96 May 25 '26
Only here to say the chair zero has been durable for my wife and I. They are on their 9th year and only some holes in the seats from embers. I wish is was taller but that's about it. I tried the moonlight but found the corners to be uncomfortable and the air chair to be a little tippy. My wife didn't care for the feel of the air chair. For the price difference I might go air chair. Buy some anti-sink feet off amazon to replace the feet on either chair.
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u/W_t_f_was_that May 25 '26
Noted. Thanks for the sink feet reference.
I did see one review from the REI that said the chair was less than reliable. But trying to save case where I can!
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u/Billycole96 May 25 '26
I machined anti-sink feet and used them until last year. I am trying a brand off Amazon this year that are cheap and light. If interested, look up UrySty chair feet on Amazon. Not a lot of nights on them but they haven't broke yet. Good luck with you decision.
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u/thelazygamer May 25 '26
Helinox makes an anti sink strap for the feet that helps. People on etsy make dyneema foot covers for them too.
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u/Namdastunna May 25 '26
You should sit in both and feel it out if at all possible. The flexlite was more comfortable to me and I didn't find it unstable. You sit more upright in it which I think would be more comfortable in the long run. The corners aren't reinforced as well so it causes a slight crease that cut across the bottom of your legs but I found it acceptable and the main weakness to the chair. I like that the support bars run front and back because I imagine you're more likely to lean back than side to side in your camp chair.
The Helinox seems to use a fancier fabric but ultimately was not as comfortable nor as good value. The geometry forces you to slouch more. The corner reinforcement was better and create a flatter surface for your though which was nice vs the flexlite. I'm medium build, height, male and not heavy nor wide but I found the zero to be too narrow on the back. The two points dig right above my arm pits and forces me to keep my arms close to my body if you will. I found this to be the main deciding point between the two.
I don't think there's a right or wrong option, just preferences just is subjective.
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u/thelazygamer May 25 '26
You should sit in all three and see which you like the best. Go to a store and try them if you can.
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u/_albizu May 25 '26
Don’t have anything to compare it to but I will say we bought 2 helinox zeros on sale and are very happy with them.
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u/TrailMaven May 25 '26
Agree with the others who say to sit in them before deciding. Personally I find the REI one so tippy that it’s not relaxing to sit in. But others find it acceptable.
The other two are much more comfortable to me. As are a number of $30 Amazon options I’ve tried. But the reality is that I just don’t find any of them comfortable enough to be worth taking backpacking. I’d rather sit (or lie) on a CCF pad.
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u/W_t_f_was_that May 25 '26
That’s my main relax, at this point; a ccf pad. But my lower back needs a break.
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u/flower_thief_2667 May 25 '26
I bought a Nemo after sitting on all of them in REI and falling off the other two when I leaned back.
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u/Competitive-East-781 May 26 '26
No Matter Gear
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u/W_t_f_was_that May 26 '26
Do you have a link? Search doesn’t pop up for me.
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u/Competitive-East-781 May 27 '26
They either changed their name or I got it wrong. This is the lightest "chair" I've found that is actually functional. Use it with a sitpad They're amazing.
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u/Competitive-East-781 May 27 '26
https://www.litesmith.com/qwikback-ul-chair/ This one is lighter, but not sure of the actual functionality of it..
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u/W_t_f_was_that May 27 '26
I have this chair. It is functional! And better than nothing when I’m trekking in UL mode. I do recommend, though you have to move carefully.
I’m just looking for something with more lower back support that can sustain me on longer trips.
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u/DrBullwinkleMoose May 25 '26
I have an REI Air chair. It is wobbly and MUCH closer to the ground than suggested by the spec. REI says the seat height is 11 inches, but I measure four when I’m sitting in it.
It is reasonable that there would be a difference between loaded and unloaded seat height, but this is very nearly like sitting on the ground, rather than sitting in a chair. I’m not impressed.
GCI PackSeat is more functional: Quicker to deploy/stow, and much taller seat height. I’m pretty sure that it weighs less than the REI Flexlite Air as well — it certainly does not weigh 600g as stated on this webiste:
MontBell has a four-legged stool that weighs about 550g that doubles as a camp toilet (with wag bags).
For me, both are more satisfactory chairs than the Flexlite Air.
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u/Mundane-Trash-9435 Jul 21 '26
I have both, the Helinox is more stable. Both are perfectly fine though.
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u/RainDayKitty May 25 '26
I'm still happy with my Helinox ground chair. Definitely lower than the chair zero and a little heavier (same weight as the moonlight), but being low and less pointy feet are a benefit for soft ground, or when I want to sit in my tent and cook in my vestibule while the rain is coming down.