Best buys · The campsite and the trail

The best camp chair worth buying

Our pick is the Helinox Chair One. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The camp chair

Helinox Chair One

Packs to the size of a water bottle, weighs about two pounds, and is more comfortable than chairs twice its size. The chair that ends up in the car permanently.

Buy it for
Hiking, festivals, kids' soccer on the sideline.
Skip it if
You want a cup holder and a recline. A heavier camp chair does that.

What actually matters when buying a camp chair

  1. Packed size and weight, if it goes further than the car.
  2. Seat height. Very low chairs are hard to get out of.
  3. Feet that do not sink into sand or soft ground.

Either side of the pick