Thirteen Years Ago, This Iconic Camp Product Changed the Game. This Week, It Got Even Better

Helinox’s entirely new Chair One (re) is more comfortable, stable and accessible than its groundbreaking predecessor.

Published March 4, 2025

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Updated March 5, 2025

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More than a dozen years ago, Helinox introduced a camp chair that flipped tent architecture upside down — and in doing so, flipped the portable outdoor seating industry on its head.

This initial breakthrough, putting the tension line under your rear rather than over your head, enabled the Chair One to support your weight (rather than a tent’s structure) and totally changed the game.

helinox chair one re hero — With a 30% higher frame, the Chair One (re) is more accessible and a bit friendlier to taller folks.

So good is this perch’s 2012 design, it is currently the Best Overall pick in our guide to The Best Campiing Chairs.

Now Helinox is back with a revamp, the Chair One (re), that aims to improve on the original silhouette. Let’s take a look.

Doing the One better

So what makes the revised version so special? First off, Helinox has essentially doubled down with an innovative dual-tension approach it calls (re)Tension Design.

This new tech adds a second tension line within the perimeter of the chair, distributing weight around the frame to boost comfort and stability.

helinox chair one re hang — A dual-tension design increases the chair’s comfort and stability over its predecessor.

The tech also appears in the new Chair One High-Back (re), a taller version with more shoulder and upper back support.

The Chair One (re) also offers a stronger and more durable structure thanks to a proprietary DAC aluminum alloy and redesigned nylon resin hubs.

helinox chair one re sizes — The Chair One High-Back (re) at right provides more shoulder and upper back support than the standard version.

For the record, DAC is a Korean company that supplies key components to a number of major outdoor brands, including Black Diamond, Mountain Hardwear, The North Face, and of course, Helinox. CEO Jake Lah actually designed the Chair One’s architecture.

The Chair One (re) can accommodate up to 320 pounds, with an underseat crossbar that’s more accessible, as it is 30% taller than the original model.

helinox chair one re pocket — Handy stash pockets on the sides provide a good place to store phones or S’mores ingredients.

That’s not too shabby for a chair that packs down into a 15.5″ x 5.5″ x 4.5″ full zip case that weighs just under 2.5 pounds.

Made of high-performance recycled 300D polyester, the seat fabric boasts an integrated pocket for stashing phones and other essentials, ventilated mesh panels and new TPU-molded corner pockets that boost durability and ease set-up.

helinox chair one re bagged — When not in use, the compact form factor makes the Chair One (re) easy to tote or strap to a pack.

To be sure, set-up (and takedown) was already pretty simple thanks to shock-corded poles that lock the frame in place in a user-friendly, intuitive fashion.

One final quality Helinox takes pride in is the fact that this chair integrates reclaimed aluminum shavings.

helinox chair one re feet — Helinox sells these tough and grippy Vibram Ball Feet as an accessory for $40.

DAC pioneered and tested this process, which transforms the shavings into pure alloy discs that are then blended with virgin aluminum to create parts of the chair’s frame.

This big-picture shift toward sustainability appears to be yet another way that Helinox is leading the camp chair pack.