Helinox Upgrades Their Iconic Chair One With a [Re]boot

You can’t reinvent the wheel. But can you reinvent the chair?

Turns out you can, and on multiple occasions, 13 years apart. And in doing so, you can improve upon an already great product with a few simple innovations that make it that much better.

I’m talking about the new Chair One [re] from Helinox, a brand that has become synonymous with lightweight, packable outdoor gear. Chair one started it all in 2012 and now, in 2025, they finally have a version 2.0.

If anyone has tried the Chair One (or any of its many copycats of the past decade) you will know that it’s a step above in comfort and portability for a camping chair. It was so successful it basically set a new course for design. But is the new redesign worth the hype? Well, our family has been testing the chair for the past few months and I can say that the new features are more than simple bells and whistles. Read on to see what the changes are.

Chair One [re]: First Impressions

Weight:
Capacity: 320 lb
Seat Height: 28 in
Materials: Recycled Polyester and aluminum
Price: $129

Pros: More comfortable and durable than the original.
Cons: A bit too heavy for the ultralight crowd. Side holes might prove to have more wear over time than the first design.

At first glance, the new chair looks pretty similar to the original. The shape is roughly the same and it uses roughly the same frame and seat design. But on closer look, it’s the subtle differences that add up and make this chair that much better. We will get into more detail further down.

The big distinguishing difference that I noticed right away is the seat height is 2.5 inches (or 30%) higher than the original Chair One. This is a good thing for people who are getting older (like the dad who is writing this now) or people who are tired after a long day at the office. The difference is subtle enough to not take away from a good quality sit, but noticeable enough to remark upon in a review.

Basically every component of the chair and what makes it unique got a big upgrade. One big comfort item that may be difficult to put your finger on why it’s so much more comfortable is that they have added a second tension line around the perimeter of the seat, meaning weight is distributed more evenly. This allows them to make some modifications in the fabric, like cutting out holes in the butt cheek area to provide a more custom fit.

Chair One [re] Vs The Original Chair One: A Comparison

Notable Features of the Chair One [Re]

You may or may not know that the Chair One is the original design of the camp chair renaissance that has occurred over the past decade. It’s a welcome innovation over the ever-prevalent fold up chairs that were awkaward to carry and left your lower back feeling disfigured. Those chairs never left, but with the new redesign that the Chair One spearheaded, camp chairs have a whole new level of portability and comfort.

Speaking of portability, that’s probably the standout feature of this design. It packs up small enough to fit in the water bottle compartment on the side of a daypack, and setup is quick and easy.

The big additions to the redesign are some of the subtle differences providing not-so-subtle results. One is the socket joints that attach the seat to the frame. That is probably the area of highest wear on our original Chair One, so it’s nice to see that they have addressed this issue with something more durable and long-lasting.

Another bonus is the hubs on the frame are reinforced, giving even more durability and quick assembly time, adding value to the investment over the long haul.

Helinox also is one of the industry leaders on more sustainable materials. All the materials used are either recycled or repurposed, making sure that less harm is done to the environment over the long run. The Polyester fabric will undoubtedly shed microplastics, but it’s durable enough to do so much slower than cheaper materials.

Drawbacks to the Chair One [Re]

At 2.25 lbs, it weighs a tad more than the original which clocks in at just under 2 lbs. This 8 ounce difference is negligible to some, and a dealbreaker to others. But those people are probably going the super-ultralight route and opting for the Chair One Zero or another lightweight (albeit less comfortable) chair.

With the extra holes, the new seat design has the potential for more rips and tears and things to go wrong. I suppose it will depend on your kids, and

While we as parents in our 40’s enjoyed the extra seat height, it also provides a higher center of gravity over the Chair One. This can be troublesome if you have a kid like our 10 month old who loves to climb anything within reach. He learned pretty quickly how to tip the chair over, but has yet learned how not to. So we’ve made a habit of leaving the chair on its side if we’re not sitting on it to lower his level of temptation. We also have Helinox’s Beach Chair, which is a bit lower to the ground and safer for our creepy crawly.

Final Thoughts

The new Chair One [Re] is a significant upgrade. Fans of the Chair One (and Helinox products in general) probably won’t need this review to know that the chair will be well designed and made from quality materials. They’ve earned their reputation over the past decade as a leader in reliable portable camp furniture.

Is the redesign worth the extra 20% on the price tag? I’d say so due to several standout features such as the improved socket joints and extra line of tension. Those features alone will make the chair last much longer over time, thus makeing it a better investment in the long run.

If you have a Chair One now and are satisfied, you can probably wait until you need another. But if you’re buying out of necessity and can afford the extra $20, it’s worth it to have extra comfort and durability, and an improvement on a product that set a new trend on outdoor camping comfort.