I attempted to prevent my Helinox from sinking into the sand by placing rocks under its legs. Unfortunately, the rocks gave way, resulting in a comical cartoon like scene where I fell, spilled my coffee and my stove burned a hole in the seat. So far with my Big Agnes I have spilled zero coffee. Big Agnes is for me too.
Another nice thing about that Big Ag, at least on snow trips, is that since the ground points are much farther apart, you can set it up easily on most snowshoes and have them be a platform for the chair.
I’ve added (usually called air flow) hollow practice golf balls to the legs of my Helinox. Stops it from sinking into the ground. Adds very little weight, is easy to clean, remove and replace if needed.
I've got the Big Agnes chair and I love it. The fact there is no plastic pivot joints is some smart engineering.It's so comfortable, I use it at kids sporting events as well as out in the woods.
Traditional hiker here. I carry one of my wood kitchen chairs that goes with my dining table. Sure it’s extremely ungainly, oppressively heavy, but not only sits fine, was essentially free as I owned it already, but can be used as firewood in a pinch.
Traditional hiker here. I carry one of my car seats from my old beater I arrive at the head with.Sure it's extremely ungainly, oppressively heavy, but not only sits fine, was essentially free as I owned it already, but can be used as an emergancy shelter in a pinch.
Traditional hiker here, i have a simple chair, table, backpack, tent, quad bike. Sure, the only hiking I'm doing is into the bushes when I need to "drop some weight", but it was essentially free as I owned it already. I mean, how else am I gonna carry 3 cartons of beer to last me the overnight hiking trip?
I don’t buy many REI branded things, but went with the REI Flexlite Air chair and am glad I did. It weighs a pound and is 2/3 the cost of all three of these chairs. I’ve used it for two backpacking seasons now and have never had an issue.
I'm a big fan of the Big Agnes Mica Basin. While it is significantly heavier than the SkylineUL, it supports much more weight. As a 275lb person with some wider hips, I find the Mica Basin more comfortable and I have no fear of it breaking under me. Very much worth the added weight for me personally!
Get the Chair Zero mat to help prevent sinking into the ground. I’m 5’1”, so the 9” height from the ground isn’t an issue for me. Chair (or no chair) selection is an individual decision. Highlighting three chairs definitely helps to inform your subscribers and viewers. Thank you!
Seconding this. I have the mat and the rubber ball ends, and will bring either depending on where I'm going, and it makes a huge difference. I'm 5'2" and it's a perfect chair height for us shorter folks!
@@vinhcentle3117 honestly I prefer the rubber balls because the mat can be difficult to get on/off but the lower weight of the mat is better for a long hike for me.
i own the nemo moonight and love it It straps to the bottom of my pack really well and I'm not doing any long intense treks so the bit of extra weight doesn't matter to me. its the king of comfort and i bring it with me everywhere, even just little day trips to the park because its so compact.
I bought the skyline based on your reviews. In our backpacking group there were a variety of chairs and my skyline was the clear favorite. Thanks for sharing as this helped me determine the best choice for my luxury item.
Just purchased a Helionox Chair Zero High-back. For the weight (24oz) it is by far the most comfortable backpacking chair I’ve sat in. Any chair is great to get your butt off the ground, but when you can lean back and put your head back, that’s a whole new level of comfort. To be able to sit down and lean back after a long day’s hike is well worth the extra few ounces over the Chair Zero or REI’s low back chair. And even with the high back it comes in at 4 ounces less than the Big Agnes, and 6 ounces less than the Nemo. Once you try it you will not go back to low-back chairs.
Agree I’ve found the high back zero to be great! Was the most comfortable when sat in models at shop. My thermal jug of water feels heavier when take it to the beach. And made a ground sheet for it as worked better than wiffle balls on legs to stop the sinking in sand.
I have the Helinox and use a foot print that is designed to keep it from sinking. You can also drop a rock on the footprint to prevent flyaway in windy conditions.
Top tip to prevent sinking - take a piece of polycro (or a sit mat) and place it under the chair. Just make sure it's larger than the chair's actual footprint to ensure the legs don't slip off 👍 You can even use a trash bag in a pinch!
I debated between the helinox and the REI flexlite. I bought the REI one and I've been happy. I would like slightly higher seat height but for the price and the weight, it's been great!
I have the BA Skyline UL stool and I love it. It's light, much cheaper and does the job for me. No need to recline in most cases for me and if I need to I just lay on the ground.
9” is low but I’m used to it now. Also, the sinking is always fixable with something found at the campsite. The weight and pack size eliminate all the other options presented here. The Helinox chair one is more comparable to these others @32oz. I have one and would never think to bring it backpacking.
One difference that you missed, the Nemo Moonlite doesn’t have sides, so it fits a wider butt. My wife has a big butt, so the other two chairs are too narrow for her. We picked up two of the Nemo Moonlite chairs a few weeks ago from REI for $75. We are very happy with them.
If you get the Helinox Chair Zero. Get the base attachment, it’ll stop you from sinking in. I’ve had mine since they came out with it and I absolutely love it.
The great chair debate rages on haha. Yay, my chair of choice won! I also loved the dan Becker cameo. Great video great analysis and I appreciate the disclaimer at the beginning. I completely agree with you about the skyline, absolutely love that chair.
If you are looking to take that Big Ag chair to the next level when out in cold weather - Goose Feet Gear which is a great little small batch custom down place out of GA, made me and a friend of mine a down under-quilt that fits under it. Huge addition from a cold weather standpoint.... Toasty bum when sitting out and drinking coffee in the cold season. Packs down to about the size of a tent peg bag and of course weighs nothing. Check them out... guy that runs it is wonderful.
Helinox GROUND is the absolute best if you don't camp in snow .. sturdy , light and absolutely comfortable for anyone including myself over 90kg. Doesn't sink of course. 1lb5oz / 615gr , capacity for 120kg
Completely agree. I have both the Chair zero and the BA UL. Chair zero is great for weight but the BA skyline UL is much more comfortable. Wife prefers the BA UL as well. Chair zero is adequate compared to weight but that is it. Agree that if you are going to bring a chair, take the extra weight and get the BA UL. Its worth it.
For a few ounces more to carry, I'm thrilled with my iClimb. At $32, it's much more comfortable for my wallet, and a very stable, great quality chair. Also comes with an additional set of wide feet for sand, snow or soft ground.
Another consideration may be weight capacity. NEMO is a full 300 and BA is just 275. Chair Zero is 265, unless you go up to the Chair Zero L, which has a 320 load capacity.
We have 2 of the moonlight chairs and absolutely love them . We take them every backpacking trip and car camping and have used them at the beach multiple times . You can grab them from rei a lot of the times for 50% off and at that price it's really hard to miss out on such a fantastic little chair
@@DUNGSTA I've used both and the Big Agnes sinks more in sand and soft dirt than the Nemo. Not a deal breaker, but makes a difference for me and as such I prefer the moonlite.
i think the better overall option from helinox in all honesty is the ground chair. it doesnt need the piece to stop it from sinking in and is i would say even a little more comfortable. Unless you camp only on hard ground, that is.
I backpack with Chair Zero because the ground in Alaska is ALWAYS wet. I'm a bit over 60 and have bad hips so its a bit of a struggle to get out of. I have an old Nemo Moonlight, it is a bit bulky but way sturdier. I have the same tent you have and its awesome.. ..it does well in the rain. When its not snowing here, its raining.
All good chairs. I’m still enjoying my Helinox though. It’s fine for my shorts legs. Light weight and I throw my cheep sit pad under it on soft ground to mitigate any sinkage. Great review on all three.👍
Have to use Chair Zero with it's proper groundsheet. Consider it part of the package and not "extra weight". It's only 6.5 oz more and improves the functionality by 100%.
Nemo Moonlight is only an oz.heavier than the Big Agnes. If it’s the most comfortable, it seems like a no brainer to go with that if you are willing to carry the extra weight, or you’re a bigger person. I have an REI air chair. It’s about the same as the Helinox Zero. When I car camp, I go with a full size bag chair.
I believe the packed weight is 4oz heavier, but still. People are WAY too picky about tiny weight differences. The Nalgene bottle of wine I stuff in my food bag weighs a lot more than the difference between these chairs.
Great review, cons to the heli zero are spot on. But as a heli zero user for the last 5 years, while the advantages to the other two chairs are worth considering, the weight trade-off is not worth it to me personally. But good lord I wish helinox would raise their sitting height by just a few inches/ounces for these 62 yr old knees 😂😢😮!
I bought three of the Chinese ones on amazon three years ago expecting them to break, I'm still on the first one. Pretty good for $18 each, I've compared them to helinox, not a lot of difference.
because of this vid, I've purchased the skyline UL. And you are right! Sooooooo much better than the others! love my sky line UL! Paid $120 from amazon (on sale).
Big Agnes are awesome....Have purchased the UL Chair and the UL Stool. Guess what the bag actually works....not as fiddly as some packing chairs i have owned. Fold , stuff and go....! Cheers!
Amen on the chair zero sinking. Some bargain basement Amazon knockoffs have feet with little flanges that don’t sink. I am aware of the mat helinox sells, but come on guys, they can fix the issue for what they are charging already.
Thanks for this video! However, If you use that Nemo chair as a competitor for the Zero, you could have rather chosen the Helinox One for a fair comparison. Also the big agnes. I would chose the Zero because of its packing size and it's overall weight. Saying "you don't really notice those extra 10 oz of weight" is a very bad argument in my opinion, because if you use that argument on all the gear you take with you, you will hike with significantly more weight. Sure, viewed in isolation, that's no difference. But realisticly you rather go for more comfort for your sleeping mat and sleeping bag. That being said: I would buy a groundsheet for the zero. I don't even take mine off and always bring it. This allows for a normal seating experience even in snowy areas and it's way more sinking resistant than those other chairs, that just have inceased foot size.
I own both the Helinox Chair Zero, and the Nemo Moonlite Elite (new version) and did a comparison: The Moonlite Elite comes with the ground sheet which doubles as a carry case for $180. The Helinox Chair Zero has an optional Ground Sheet available for $35, so including the chairzero cost of $150 that's $185. Moonlite Elite is actually cheaper if we look at them on equal terms. What about the weight though? I weighed both of them on my kitchen scale and the Nemo Moonlite including groundsheet Weighs 22.1 ounces (18.6oz for chair only), whereas the Chair Zero weighs 25.4 ounces including it's optional ground sheet (18.8oz for chair only). Conclusion: Nemo Moonlite Elite is lighter both with and without the ground sheet, and cheaper than the Helinox Chair Zero if we price both chairs with the ground sheet. When you also consider the fact that the Moonlite Elite has the adjustable reclining feature it's a no brainer. Maybe it's time to make an update of this video?
A solution I've seen to the Chair Zero sinking in is cutting holes in some ping pong balls or those mini-whiffle ball things. Basically the same concept as the ball addon that Helinox sells, but lighter and cheaper.
The skyline is my go too chair as well. I have the other two as well. I’ve put trecking pole road pads on the chair zero for my girl friend. She loves it.
The etsy shop hikelight makes a dyneema ground sheet that weighs 0.8 oz and doubles as a bag with bungee. Best solution I have found that keeps it from sinking without adding much weight.
I am old and need to sit frequently when hiking. I found a nylon and aluminum camp stool that sets up instantly, is comfortable, sturdy, weighs under a pound, sits fairly high, and costs $5.00. I sat in one for 2 hours at a parade with no fatigue. It is sold at Daiso, a popular Japanese retailer here in So Cal. The chair has no name, but they sell mountains of them, just ask for the camp stool. They have a small camping section with some lightweight and useful items, like anodized aluminum tent pegs. The pegs are nearly identical to MSR Groundhogs, right down to the same notches and nylon loops, for $1.78 for a two pack.
Thanks. Recently upgraded from the less than ideal REI stool. Your thought were very helpful. I chose the Skyline UL and it fits like a glove. Can’t wait to get it out there.
Chair Zero Sinking fix: 4 ping pong balls. I bought them at a Sheetz gas station for a couple dollars, cut an “x” shape, stuck them on, and somehow they’ve stayed on for at least 3 years.
We have or have tried all the chairs you reviewed plus a couple more. The Nemo moonlight did not work for me as the shape tended to cause my legs to fall asleep/made my hips uncomfortable. We use our big Agnes chairs most - just so much more comfortable for all of our shapes and sizes. We use the big Agnes mica basin XL for my husband and the skyline UL for me.
BTW, I think the stool version of the Skyline looks great too. Looks better than the Helinox for those ultralight trips where you're not relaxing as much in camp, more cooking food and stuff.
Helinox Ground is my pick just because it is so stable. I do wish it was a more upright seat and because it is so low if you are wiped out at the end of the day you land up rolling out of it, but it also does not sink into the ground or wobble. I really love to take it for dayhikes where I want to do a watercolour sketch and even find myself just tossing it in my bike bag or in a tote if I am going to a potluck and I'm not sure if I need to bring a chair.
I think the designers for the Helinox never tried the design on soft ground. I tried it out at my local REI along with the NEMO Moonlite Elite, and several REI Co-op chairs. The Helinox was the best. Never knew it would sink though.
Have all three and agree the skyline is the most comfortable. Chair zero is awesome though for the low weight. All three are much better than the wobbly REI chairs.
Devon, could you do a new chair video, and add the new new Nemo chair plus talk about the additional cover for the skyline? I think that would be a really cool video seeing all four, AND showing people the two different Nemo chairs so no one gets confused.
Love my Skyline. Also, Helinox ground chair is my 2nd favorite. So small and light, I keep it in my daypack for a lunch seat. It also doesn't sink in sand like most. I bought a Helinox sand mat for my Skyline. It's a little tight, but it works.
Another plus for the Nemo mesh is that in the morning there is no dew on the chair. Other people we were with there chairs were soaking wet every morning. I guess you could just put them away at night but still.
I had a tough time picking between the Skyline UL and Moonlite but ended up with the Nemo. Both chairs were on sale and I got the Moonlite for $75. I like it a lot but it could do without the recline feature. It's only a small adjustment and I find if I want to sit upright I just scooch my position rather than pulling the straps. A lot of the extra weight of the Moonlite is the seat. Something I saw that I'll probably end up doing is buying a Helinox Chair Zero seat to swap for the Nemo one and that should cut almost half a pound off the Moonlite.
I think you should be sitting in sandy conditions if you’re going to say any of these chairs really doesn’t sink in. My experience is such that all of these chairs will sink into the sand, and the only way to prevent it is to have a rectangle of material with corner “pockets” that the bottoms of the chair legs can fit into. Overall, sandy and soft soils that any of these chairs will sink into are pretty rare, but I visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore frequently and it is definitely an issue there. Secondly, while added height is a benefit for some it gives back pains if you’re cooking on a canister stove that’s sitting on the ground. I’m 6’1” and prefer the Helinox Chair Zero, as a result. The best chair for me is the Helinox Chair Zero Highback. Depending on soil conditions, I may bring a base as well.
I wish I had known about the all-metal frame hubs on the Nemo Moonlite before I bought my latest camp chair. I value robustness over a few extra ounces, and I add a few enhancements (footprint, mesh drink holder, lumbar cushion) anyway.
There's an easy hack to keep chair zero from sliding down in snow/ sand. I bought a mesh netting for $2 that works great. It's designed as under chair stowage are but it just fits around the four feet. It's sold at the Daiso shops for $1.75
I have both the Chair Zero and the Skyline UL. Since getting the Skyline I havent taken out the Chair Zero at all. The increased weight is totally superseded by the giant increase in comfort. If I really dont want the weight, I'll just use a sit pad. The Chair Zero is too low for me and it does sink into the ground more easily than most other chairs I've used. The Skyline does fit in the dyneema chair bag I got the Chair Zero so that shaves some weight off of the somewhat beefy carry bag the Skyline comes with.
Great video! I have the Helinox Zero high-back and have the accessory ground sheet that you can purchase separately and that keeps it from sinking into the ground and because of that and the weight of the chair and comfort, it is my favorite chair. But I also do like that big agnes chair a lot as well.
Helinox Ground chair with the Zero seat material. only 30grams heavier than the Zero, super comfy particularly in recline legs extended mode, the slightly wider footprint gives my butt a bit more room, low to the ground lets me use it under my Deschutes or XMid in the rain and it doest sink because there are no legs!
I'm sorry because I know there's affiliate links on here, but for those not looking at the super-high premium.... I've had the REI Flexlite chair for about 4yrs now. The two that I have are the 28oz. (793g) version, but the new version drops and oz. for 765g. The difference here is the $69.99 pricetag. It's strong, durable, never had it sink too much though the feet aren't splayed a bunch. But at less than 1/2 the price of the other brands and competitive in weight, its a bargain.
Helinox Ground Chair FTW 😂 Sure it's lower but that's part of why it is so comfortable for me. It also doesnt sink much, which is good as there's not much room to accommodate any sinking. Haha
The chair zero is crazy small and very low to the ground, as you say. I had the high back version - I was so fed up with it for precisely the two reasons you say, so I sold it. I really didn’t find it that comfortable, either. If you’re happy to sit so low down use the Thermarest chair converter on your sleep mat. I’ve tried so many chairs and I also settled on the Big Agnes Skyline UL which is not much heavier than the Zero but is significantly more comfortable. It’s bigger and taller. It’s the best chair for me. I also have the Big Agnes stool which is also excellent.
I like the mesh seat but ironically one of the challenges we faced with ours was that we were getting a cold bottom (up here in Canada) and needed to get an insulated pad to sit on the chair. The chair we had (The Sportneer) became unusable after one outing. When I went to sit in it on our next hike the elastic cordage inside went limp and it took two of us to hold the poles in place until I could put the chair on the ground. Another issue I have with these chairs is that they are all built for people who have a BMI under 15. I am hiking to exercise and my weight shows that. I would sacrifice carry weight for a rugged build anyday.
I have all three. However none of them go with me if it's over 15 miles or a multi day. The BA Skyline UL stool is my hands down favorite. So far I haven't missed the backrest, it's that good.
I didn't think I'd like it at first, but boy I was wrong. It's the weight of the Helinox with the height of the Skyline UL chair. A perfect compromise. Comfy too.
I still love my old Alite Monarch Butterfly. A weird two leg system for some, but shifting my leg position let’s me recline and it’s the most comfortable chair for me.
I have the Skyline and love it, when I sit in it I don't feel it wobbling around like the Helinox, when I sit in that chair I always feel like it is going to break lol. And I'm not a weight weenie so the extra 11oz doesn't bother me
Well I just ordered the moonlight because I did get that one for the cheapest and I'm just a sucker for new and innovative desings. I'm also not sure if the highest chair is best for inside a tarp shelter or canvas tent. Helinox is too fragile, but if big agnes had been cheaper it woul'd surely have been a really good option.
47 years of hiking, never felt need to use a chair, I carry 2/3 length pad (3oz) and I can sit or laid down anywhere or on anything, interesting watch though )
I attempted to prevent my Helinox from sinking into the sand by placing rocks under its legs. Unfortunately, the rocks gave way, resulting in a comical cartoon like scene where I fell, spilled my coffee and my stove burned a hole in the seat. So far with my Big Agnes I have spilled zero coffee. Big Agnes is for me too.
😂😂😂
Another nice thing about that Big Ag, at least on snow trips, is that since the ground points are much farther apart, you can set it up easily on most snowshoes and have them be a platform for the chair.
I’ve added (usually called air flow) hollow practice golf balls to the legs of my Helinox. Stops it from sinking into the ground. Adds very little weight, is easy to clean, remove and replace if needed.
Use with cut out hioles tennis balls - more surface area!
I've got the Big Agnes chair and I love it. The fact there is no plastic pivot joints is some smart engineering.It's so comfortable, I use it at kids sporting events as well as out in the woods.
REI Flash Air is what I have. As light as the Helinox but much cheaper. Maybe slightly less comfortable, but worth it for the weight and price.
Traditional hiker here. I carry one of my wood kitchen chairs that goes with my dining table. Sure it’s extremely ungainly, oppressively heavy, but not only sits fine, was essentially free as I owned it already, but can be used as firewood in a pinch.
Traditional hiker here. I carry one of my car seats from my old beater I arrive at the head with.Sure it's extremely ungainly, oppressively heavy, but not only sits fine, was essentially free as I owned it already, but can be used as an emergancy shelter in a pinch.
@@DocumentNegativity Good thinking! I like your style.
@@MrTangent Some people just don't get it bro, it's the simple things in life.
Traditional hiker here, i have a simple chair, table, backpack, tent, quad bike.
Sure, the only hiking I'm doing is into the bushes when I need to "drop some weight", but it was essentially free as I owned it already.
I mean, how else am I gonna carry 3 cartons of beer to last me the overnight hiking trip?
@@brenton2561 Sweeeeet. You’re doing the deuce right, my guy.
I don’t buy many REI branded things, but went with the REI Flexlite Air chair and am glad I did. It weighs a pound and is 2/3 the cost of all three of these chairs. I’ve used it for two backpacking seasons now and have never had an issue.
Absolutely. REI definitely sets the standard for the lightweight chair IMO
I bought the REI Flexlite, used it once and it broke. I’m 6’0” and 180 lbs. Not impressed.
I agree! The REI co-op chair is been my favorite for hiking
6’7”, 210 lbs.
I love the flexlite air.
Gotta treat your equipment with care and it will last for a long time …
I'm a big fan of the Big Agnes Mica Basin. While it is significantly heavier than the SkylineUL, it supports much more weight. As a 275lb person with some wider hips, I find the Mica Basin more comfortable and I have no fear of it breaking under me. Very much worth the added weight for me personally!
Get the Chair Zero mat to help prevent sinking into the ground. I’m 5’1”, so the 9” height from the ground isn’t an issue for me. Chair (or no chair) selection is an individual decision. Highlighting three chairs definitely helps to inform your subscribers and viewers. Thank you!
Seconding this. I have the mat and the rubber ball ends, and will bring either depending on where I'm going, and it makes a huge difference. I'm 5'2" and it's a perfect chair height for us shorter folks!
@@sariannach When would you choose the rubber ball vs the mat? I got a mat and wondered if I could've just gotten the balls.
@@vinhcentle3117 honestly I prefer the rubber balls because the mat can be difficult to get on/off but the lower weight of the mat is better for a long hike for me.
@@vinhcentle3117 Chair Buddies are the best and lightest option for most chairs of this type.
i own the nemo moonight and love it
It straps to the bottom of my pack really well and I'm not doing any long intense treks so the bit of extra weight doesn't matter to me. its the king of comfort and i bring it with me everywhere, even just little day trips to the park because its so compact.
I bought the skyline based on your reviews. In our backpacking group there were a variety of chairs and my skyline was the clear favorite. Thanks for sharing as this helped me determine the best choice for my luxury item.
Just purchased a Helionox Chair Zero High-back. For the weight (24oz) it is by far the most comfortable backpacking chair I’ve sat in. Any chair is great to get your butt off the ground, but when you can lean back and put your head back, that’s a whole new level of comfort. To be able to sit down and lean back after a long day’s hike is well worth the extra few ounces over the Chair Zero or REI’s low back chair. And even with the high back it comes in at 4 ounces less than the Big Agnes, and 6 ounces less than the Nemo. Once you try it you will not go back to low-back chairs.
Love the high back- I have no issues with it rolling or sinking.
6 ft plus there's no way of putting the head back, though...I'm 6.5 and there's no chance
Agree I’ve found the high back zero to be great! Was the most comfortable when sat in models at shop. My thermal jug of water feels heavier when take it to the beach. And made a ground sheet for it as worked better than wiffle balls on legs to stop the sinking in sand.
I have the Helinox and use a foot print that is designed to keep it from sinking. You can also drop a rock on the footprint to prevent flyaway in windy conditions.
I have the Big Agnes Skyline Stool. 1lb and extremely comfortable. I use it for work at times
Top tip to prevent sinking - take a piece of polycro (or a sit mat) and place it under the chair. Just make sure it's larger than the chair's actual footprint to ensure the legs don't slip off 👍
You can even use a trash bag in a pinch!
I have all 3 chairs. Your analysis is spot on. BA Chair is superior and worth the extra weight.
I debated between the helinox and the REI flexlite. I bought the REI one and I've been happy. I would like slightly higher seat height but for the price and the weight, it's been great!
I have the BA Skyline UL stool and I love it. It's light, much cheaper and does the job for me. No need to recline in most cases for me and if I need to I just lay on the ground.
I've been looking everywhere for a comparison between the BA and Nemo! Thank you!!
9” is low but I’m used to it now. Also, the sinking is always fixable with something found at the campsite. The weight and pack size eliminate all the other options presented here. The Helinox chair one is more comparable to these others @32oz. I have one and would never think to bring it backpacking.
One difference that you missed, the Nemo Moonlite doesn’t have sides, so it fits a wider butt. My wife has a big butt, so the other two chairs are too narrow for her. We picked up two of the Nemo Moonlite chairs a few weeks ago from REI for $75. We are very happy with them.
Lucky man 😁
Nice dude
Either that's not your real name or you're already dead.
How did you get them so cheap?
@@JeremyMyrland they were 50% off. They might have been last years colors or something.
If you get the Helinox Chair Zero. Get the base attachment, it’ll stop you from sinking in. I’ve had mine since they came out with it and I absolutely love it.
The great chair debate rages on haha. Yay, my chair of choice won! I also loved the dan Becker cameo. Great video great analysis and I appreciate the disclaimer at the beginning. I completely agree with you about the skyline, absolutely love that chair.
If you are looking to take that Big Ag chair to the next level when out in cold weather - Goose Feet Gear which is a great little small batch custom down place out of GA, made me and a friend of mine a down under-quilt that fits under it. Huge addition from a cold weather standpoint.... Toasty bum when sitting out and drinking coffee in the cold season. Packs down to about the size of a tent peg bag and of course weighs nothing. Check them out... guy that runs it is wonderful.
Helinox GROUND is the absolute best if you don't camp in snow .. sturdy , light and absolutely comfortable for anyone including myself over 90kg. Doesn't sink of course. 1lb5oz / 615gr , capacity for 120kg
Completely agree. I have both the Chair zero and the BA UL. Chair zero is great for weight but the BA skyline UL is much more comfortable. Wife prefers the BA UL as well. Chair zero is adequate compared to weight but that is it. Agree that if you are going to bring a chair, take the extra weight and get the BA UL. Its worth it.
Thank you Devin for sharing your opinion with us.
Thanks!
For a few ounces more to carry, I'm thrilled with my iClimb. At $32, it's much more comfortable for my wallet, and a very stable, great quality chair. Also comes with an additional set of wide feet for sand, snow or soft ground.
Another consideration may be weight capacity. NEMO is a full 300 and BA is just 275. Chair Zero is 265, unless you go up to the Chair Zero L, which has a 320 load capacity.
We have 2 of the moonlight chairs and absolutely love them . We take them every backpacking trip and car camping and have used them at the beach multiple times . You can grab them from rei a lot of the times for 50% off and at that price it's really hard to miss out on such a fantastic little chair
OK but what about the big Agnes?
@@DUNGSTA I've used both and the Big Agnes sinks more in sand and soft dirt than the Nemo. Not a deal breaker, but makes a difference for me and as such I prefer the moonlite.
i think the better overall option from helinox in all honesty is the ground chair. it doesnt need the piece to stop it from sinking in and is i would say even a little more comfortable. Unless you camp only on hard ground, that is.
I backpack with Chair Zero because the ground in Alaska is ALWAYS wet. I'm a bit over 60 and have bad hips so its a bit of a struggle to get out of. I have an old Nemo Moonlight, it is a bit bulky but way sturdier. I have the same tent you have and its awesome.. ..it does well in the rain. When its not snowing here, its raining.
All good chairs. I’m still enjoying my Helinox though. It’s fine for my shorts legs.
Light weight and I throw my cheep sit pad under it on soft ground to mitigate any sinkage.
Great review on all three.👍
Have to use Chair Zero with it's proper groundsheet. Consider it part of the package and not "extra weight". It's only 6.5 oz more and improves the functionality by 100%.
Nemo Moonlight is only an oz.heavier than the Big Agnes. If it’s the most comfortable, it seems like a no brainer to go with that if you are willing to carry the extra weight, or you’re a bigger person.
I have an REI air chair. It’s about the same as the Helinox Zero. When I car camp, I go with a full size bag chair.
I believe the packed weight is 4oz heavier, but still. People are WAY too picky about tiny weight differences. The Nalgene bottle of wine I stuff in my food bag weighs a lot more than the difference between these chairs.
Great review, cons to the heli zero are spot on. But as a heli zero user for the last 5 years, while the advantages to the other two chairs are worth considering, the weight trade-off is not worth it to me personally. But good lord I wish helinox would raise their sitting height by just a few inches/ounces for these 62 yr old knees 😂😢😮!
I bought three of the Chinese ones on amazon three years ago expecting them to break, I'm still on the first one. Pretty good for $18 each, I've compared them to helinox, not a lot of difference.
Link??
because of this vid, I've purchased the skyline UL. And you are right! Sooooooo much better than the others! love my sky line UL! Paid $120 from amazon (on sale).
Thanks! I live in the Sierra and trust me, every chair will sink into the snow.
You need to get the 4 big black balls for the Helinox. Also, just put it on a simple ground sheet, and it won't sink in the ground as much
Big Agnes are awesome....Have purchased the UL Chair and the UL Stool.
Guess what the bag actually works....not as fiddly as some packing chairs i have owned.
Fold , stuff and go....!
Cheers!
Amen on the chair zero sinking. Some bargain basement Amazon knockoffs have feet with little flanges that don’t sink. I am aware of the mat helinox sells, but come on guys, they can fix the issue for what they are charging already.
I found this real cheap and weightless chair while hiking the locals called it a "stump"? Very odd but useful!
Thanks for this video! However, If you use that Nemo chair as a competitor for the Zero, you could have rather chosen the Helinox One for a fair comparison. Also the big agnes. I would chose the Zero because of its packing size and it's overall weight. Saying "you don't really notice those extra 10 oz of weight" is a very bad argument in my opinion, because if you use that argument on all the gear you take with you, you will hike with significantly more weight. Sure, viewed in isolation, that's no difference. But realisticly you rather go for more comfort for your sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
That being said: I would buy a groundsheet for the zero. I don't even take mine off and always bring it. This allows for a normal seating experience even in snowy areas and it's way more sinking resistant than those other chairs, that just have inceased foot size.
Is this setup still lighter than the UL?
Without doubt the best review on these chairs I've seen 👌
I own both the Helinox Chair Zero, and the Nemo Moonlite Elite (new version) and did a comparison: The Moonlite Elite comes with the ground sheet which doubles as a carry case for $180. The Helinox Chair Zero has an optional Ground Sheet available for $35, so including the chairzero cost of $150 that's $185. Moonlite Elite is actually cheaper if we look at them on equal terms. What about the weight though? I weighed both of them on my kitchen scale and the Nemo Moonlite including groundsheet Weighs 22.1 ounces (18.6oz for chair only), whereas the Chair Zero weighs 25.4 ounces including it's optional ground sheet (18.8oz for chair only). Conclusion: Nemo Moonlite Elite is lighter both with and without the ground sheet, and cheaper than the Helinox Chair Zero if we price both chairs with the ground sheet. When you also consider the fact that the Moonlite Elite has the adjustable reclining feature it's a no brainer.
Maybe it's time to make an update of this video?
Yeah a follow up needs to happen!
A solution I've seen to the Chair Zero sinking in is cutting holes in some ping pong balls or those mini-whiffle ball things. Basically the same concept as the ball addon that Helinox sells, but lighter and cheaper.
The skyline is my go too chair as well. I have the other two as well. I’ve put trecking pole road pads on the chair zero for my girl friend. She loves it.
IMO the most versatile camp chair out there is the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0. Super light, bombproof and dang comfy. If you know, you know.
I used a Crazy Creek for years and loved it. It was nice to unbuckle and use under a pad for some added protection/warmth when needed.
The etsy shop hikelight makes a dyneema ground sheet that weighs 0.8 oz and doubles as a bag with bungee. Best solution I have found that keeps it from sinking without adding much weight.
I just put Helinox zero fabric on Helinox chair One frame , in a light weight drybag: total 720g. Works like a charm.
At that point you're within a couple oz of the much more comfortable Big Agnes.
I am old and need to sit frequently when hiking.
I found a nylon and aluminum camp stool that sets up instantly, is comfortable, sturdy, weighs under a pound, sits fairly high, and costs $5.00. I sat in one for 2 hours at a parade with no fatigue.
It is sold at Daiso, a popular Japanese retailer here in So Cal. The chair has no name, but they sell mountains of them, just ask for the camp stool.
They have a small camping section with some lightweight and useful items, like anodized aluminum tent pegs. The pegs are nearly identical to MSR Groundhogs, right down to the same notches and nylon loops, for $1.78 for a two pack.
I have the Big Agnes and love it
main reason is like you said, it is the only chair without the plastic hub
Thanks. Recently upgraded from the less than ideal REI stool. Your thought were very helpful. I chose the Skyline UL and it fits like a glove. Can’t wait to get it out there.
Got the Big Agnes Stool and chair and they are both amazing. Super comfy and they pack so small
I have the nemo and it's by far the most comfortable of the three and it's quality awesome
Chair Zero Sinking fix: 4 ping pong balls. I bought them at a Sheetz gas station for a couple dollars, cut an “x” shape, stuck them on, and somehow they’ve stayed on for at least 3 years.
I have that Big Agnes chair it is absolutely fantastic
We have or have tried all the chairs you reviewed plus a couple more. The Nemo moonlight did not work for me as the shape tended to cause my legs to fall asleep/made my hips uncomfortable. We use our big Agnes chairs most - just so much more comfortable for all of our shapes and sizes. We use the big Agnes mica basin XL for my husband and the skyline UL for me.
I bought this chair because of this review! Love it. I'll try to cut off the weight surplus compared to the Helinox somewhere else!
BTW, I think the stool version of the Skyline looks great too. Looks better than the Helinox for those ultralight trips where you're not relaxing as much in camp, more cooking food and stuff.
Helinox Ground is my pick just because it is so stable. I do wish it was a more upright seat and because it is so low if you are wiped out at the end of the day you land up rolling out of it, but it also does not sink into the ground or wobble. I really love to take it for dayhikes where I want to do a watercolour sketch and even find myself just tossing it in my bike bag or in a tote if I am going to a potluck and I'm not sure if I need to bring a chair.
Love a low light chair with back support
I think the designers for the Helinox never tried the design on soft ground. I tried it out at my local REI along with the NEMO Moonlite Elite, and several REI Co-op chairs. The Helinox was the best. Never knew it would sink though.
Have all three and agree the skyline is the most comfortable. Chair zero is awesome though for the low weight. All three are much better than the wobbly REI chairs.
I just picked up the BA in bright yellow on sale yesterday from my local sporting goods store. I love it!
Devon, could you do a new chair video, and add the new new Nemo chair plus talk about the additional cover for the skyline?
I think that would be a really cool video seeing all four, AND showing people the two different Nemo chairs so no one gets confused.
Love my Skyline. Also, Helinox ground chair is my 2nd favorite. So small and light, I keep it in my daypack for a lunch seat. It also doesn't sink in sand like most. I bought a Helinox sand mat for my Skyline. It's a little tight, but it works.
Another plus for the Nemo mesh is that in the morning there is no dew on the chair. Other people we were with there chairs were soaking wet every morning. I guess you could just put them away at night but still.
I had a tough time picking between the Skyline UL and Moonlite but ended up with the Nemo. Both chairs were on sale and I got the Moonlite for $75. I like it a lot but it could do without the recline feature. It's only a small adjustment and I find if I want to sit upright I just scooch my position rather than pulling the straps.
A lot of the extra weight of the Moonlite is the seat. Something I saw that I'll probably end up doing is buying a Helinox Chair Zero seat to swap for the Nemo one and that should cut almost half a pound off the Moonlite.
So you settled for 2nd best?
Does it fit?
I think you should be sitting in sandy conditions if you’re going to say any of these chairs really doesn’t sink in. My experience is such that all of these chairs will sink into the sand, and the only way to prevent it is to have a rectangle of material with corner “pockets” that the bottoms of the chair legs can fit into.
Overall, sandy and soft soils that any of these chairs will sink into are pretty rare, but I visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore frequently and it is definitely an issue there.
Secondly, while added height is a benefit for some it gives back pains if you’re cooking on a canister stove that’s sitting on the ground. I’m 6’1” and prefer the Helinox Chair Zero, as a result.
The best chair for me is the Helinox Chair Zero Highback. Depending on soil conditions, I may bring a base as well.
I wish I had known about the all-metal frame hubs on the Nemo Moonlite before I bought my latest camp chair. I value robustness over a few extra ounces, and I add a few enhancements (footprint, mesh drink holder, lumbar cushion) anyway.
I prefer Heliox Ground Chair. No sinking, smaller, lighter, and I like being low to the ground because it fits in a shelter easily.
I combined a Helinox Chair One frame with the Chair Zero nylon and mesh seat. Higher than the Zero. Lighter than the One.
I started hiking last year and I have the same Nemo tent as you, I'm so proud :D
The rei flexlite would have been a good edition to the list
TravelChair Joey is what you want. 16" seat height and anti-sink feet (although they can punch through over a lot of use).
I’m sticking with my Helinox Chair .5 with the foot mat.
There's an easy hack to keep chair zero from sliding down in snow/ sand. I bought a mesh netting for $2 that works great. It's designed as under chair stowage are but it just fits around the four feet. It's sold at the Daiso shops for $1.75
I have both the Chair Zero and the Skyline UL. Since getting the Skyline I havent taken out the Chair Zero at all. The increased weight is totally superseded by the giant increase in comfort. If I really dont want the weight, I'll just use a sit pad. The Chair Zero is too low for me and it does sink into the ground more easily than most other chairs I've used. The Skyline does fit in the dyneema chair bag I got the Chair Zero so that shaves some weight off of the somewhat beefy carry bag the Skyline comes with.
It's that added height! Makes such a big difference!
For the dyneema chair bag, is that a bag you bought separately or is that the bag that comes with the chair zero?
Great video! I have the Helinox Zero high-back and have the accessory ground sheet that you can purchase separately and that keeps it from sinking into the ground and because of that and the weight of the chair and comfort, it is my favorite chair. But I also do like that big agnes chair a lot as well.
Helinox Ground chair with the Zero seat material. only 30grams heavier than the Zero, super comfy particularly in recline legs extended mode, the slightly wider footprint gives my butt a bit more room, low to the ground lets me use it under my Deschutes or XMid in the rain and it doest sink because there are no legs!
I'm sorry because I know there's affiliate links on here, but for those not looking at the super-high premium....
I've had the REI Flexlite chair for about 4yrs now. The two that I have are the 28oz. (793g) version, but the new version drops and oz. for 765g.
The difference here is the $69.99 pricetag. It's strong, durable, never had it sink too much though the feet aren't splayed a bunch.
But at less than 1/2 the price of the other brands and competitive in weight, its a bargain.
Great Video! Like the lightweight chair! Easy to carry and seems more durable!
Helinox Ground Chair FTW 😂
Sure it's lower but that's part of why it is so comfortable for me. It also doesnt sink much, which is good as there's not much room to accommodate any sinking. Haha
I go ultralight hiking. Chair zero is BEST chair ever.
With any of these lightweight chairs, get a trekology sand mat. £15, not sure on USA price. Solves think sinking instantly
Definitely the REI co-op brand!
You said 30oz is too heavy but 28oz is good 😂 I got the Moonlite for $75 on sale. It’s awesome!
The chair zero is crazy small and very low to the ground, as you say. I had the high back version - I was so fed up with it for precisely the two reasons you say, so I sold it. I really didn’t find it that comfortable, either. If you’re happy to sit so low down use the Thermarest chair converter on your sleep mat.
I’ve tried so many chairs and I also settled on the Big Agnes Skyline UL which is not much heavier than the Zero but is significantly more comfortable. It’s bigger and taller.
It’s the best chair for me. I also have the Big Agnes stool which is also excellent.
I like the mesh seat but ironically one of the challenges we faced with ours was that we were getting a cold bottom (up here in Canada) and needed to get an insulated pad to sit on the chair. The chair we had (The Sportneer) became unusable after one outing. When I went to sit in it on our next hike the elastic cordage inside went limp and it took two of us to hold the poles in place until I could put the chair on the ground. Another issue I have with these chairs is that they are all built for people who have a BMI under 15. I am hiking to exercise and my weight shows that. I would sacrifice carry weight for a rugged build anyday.
Appreciate this comparison. Finally i know now which to get brother 😊
Thank you!
I have all three. However none of them go with me if it's over 15 miles or a multi day. The BA Skyline UL stool is my hands down favorite. So far I haven't missed the backrest, it's that good.
I’d like to try the stool.
I didn't think I'd like it at first, but boy I was wrong. It's the weight of the Helinox with the height of the Skyline UL chair. A perfect compromise. Comfy too.
Helinox sells a ground sheet for their chairs that keeps them from sinking into the ground. It adds an extra 5 oz but works great!
I’d still rather have the skyline.
@@BackcountryExposure Big Agnes has the yellow version on sale for $104 if you order directly from them.
I love my Nemo moonlite chair
I still love my old Alite Monarch Butterfly. A weird two leg system for some, but shifting my leg position let’s me recline and it’s the most comfortable chair for me.
I wish Alite was still around. It’s a bummer they went out of business.
@@BackcountryExposure same. Feel like they paved the way for the backpacking chair
I have the Skyline and love it, when I sit in it I don't feel it wobbling around like the Helinox, when I sit in that chair I always feel like it is going to break lol. And I'm not a weight weenie so the extra 11oz doesn't bother me
Snagged a moonlite for $85 bucks love it. Sure a bit heavy but the sitting up feature is nice
That's a great deal!
Well I just ordered the moonlight because I did get that one for the cheapest and I'm just a sucker for new and innovative desings. I'm also not sure if the highest chair is best for inside a tarp shelter or canvas tent.
Helinox is too fragile, but if big agnes had been cheaper it woul'd surely have been a really good option.
Oh i can sit in it inside my tent. Just barely low enouht 😅
I love the Nemo
47 years of hiking, never felt need to use a chair, I carry 2/3 length pad (3oz) and I can sit or laid down anywhere or on anything, interesting watch though )
I have the REI Flexlite Camp Boss, and the comfort far "outweighs" the extra ounces I carry to bring it along.