Bottom Line
Ranking at the top of our list of the best backpacking chairs, the Helinox Ground Chair wowed us with its stability and campsite comfort. Gear analyst Jory Brass didn’t think he’d like a low-riding chair. However, the Helinox Ground Chair changed his mind after testing it next to ten of his other favorites while overnighting at several New Mexico campsites.
Sitting low to the ground makes it easier to extend your legs while lounging in camp, or to reach for a camp stove while relaxing in a semi-reclined position.
This chair didn’t ace all of our tests. After all, it does take more effort to get in and out of a ground chair. Additionally, its weight is 4-6 ounces heavier than our favorite ultralight models. Still, we like how the Helinox Ground Chair lets us stretch out our legs after an exhausting day of backpacking. Plus, the chair’s stability is pretty darn good, thanks to its unique square base and low center of gravity.
For us, this chair’s obvious positives outweigh its possible negatives. If you feel more comfortable extending your legs in camp, you might even choose the Helinox Ground Chair over its sibling – and top-ranked chair on our list – the Helinox Chair Zero.
How We Tested
For two months, CleverHiker Editor and Gear analyst Jory Brass tested the Helinox Ground Chair in the Land of Enchantment. Field tests might seem low-tech, but sitting around in this chair, packing and unpacking it, and sticking it on a scale are the methods we chose for reviewing its comfort, weight, packability, stability, and ease of use.
Quick Specs
Helinox Ground Chair
Best Backpacking Ground Chair
CleverHiker Rating: 4.6/5.0
Price: $130
Weight: 1 lb. 6.4 oz.
Weight Limit: 265 lb.
Seat Height: 4.5 in.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Good back support
- Good for extending feet in front of you
- Square base is stable on soft ground
- Premium construction
Cons
- Price
- Average weight/packability
- Low-to-ground design isn’t for everyone
Comfort
At the end of two months of testing, the Helinox Ground Chair had risen toward the top of our list for comfort.
The scoop seat itself is quite comfortable. Our 200-pound tester has plenty of room – without corners and edges digging into his shoulders and quads (which happens with some other models). The seating angle is slightly reclined, making it easy to kick back, extend our legs, and relax in camp. Vertical slits and side mesh provide ventilation, keeping us cool in hot or humid weather.
We have minimal comfort complaints after using this chair in the frontcountry and backcountry. As you might imagine, it takes a little more work to get in and out of a ground chair, especially if you’re stiff after cooling down from a hard day on the trail. This one sits about 6 inches lower than the typical, tent-style backpacking chair.
Once seated, though, we find it comfortable to rest in several positions. In particular, it is easier to stretch out our legs in front of us – to get our blood circulating to drain the lactic acid from our achy legs. However, some campers will prefer the more upright seating positions of other comfort standouts.
Most backpacking chairs are comfortable for short stints. The Helionox Ground Chair is one of the chairs we can sink into comfortably for an hour or more.
Weight & Packability
Compared with other backpacking chairs we weighed and tested, the Helinox Ground Chair ranked in the middle of the pack for weight and packability. Weighing 1 pound 6 ounces, it was well under our 2-pound cutoff for a backpacking chair, yet 4-6 ounces heavier than ultralight chairs. Weight-wise, the Helinox Ground Chair is good, but not great, by backpacking chair standards.
Its packed size is consistent with other chairs we tested. When stuffed, the Helinox Ground is shorter than other backpacking chairs and has a larger circumference than a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. We can cram the stuff sack into the stretchy side bottle pocket of our backpack, but it takes some work when our pack is full.
In short, weight and packability aren’t this chair’s strengths. But it’s clearly a backpacking chair – not a camping chair. We have no qualms about carrying the Helinox Ground Chair into the woods, given its comfort and stability.
Stability
Stability is a clear strength of the Helinox Ground Chair. As part of our field testing, Gear Analyst Jory Brass tested its stability on solid ground, soft ground, and sloping ground. The chair stood firm on all surfaces as he rocked back and forth, leaned side to side, and shimmied to put some pressure on the chair’s frame.
The Helinox Ground Chair boasts several stability features that other backpacking chairs can’t claim. The chair’s square base not only offers support in all four directions but also resists sinking. It did great resisting sinking into sand or the soft bed of pine needles at our campsite along the Sandia Crest Trail. Plus, the frame is made with a premium DAC Aluminum alloy and pre-bent poles that can take some abuse. As a ground chair, its center of gravity is also quite low, making it more stable and less likely to tip over.
Ease of Use
Like most backpacking chairs, the Helinox Ground Chair is pretty easy to use. Initial setup took us around 45 seconds without instructions. All the connection points are intuitive, and the Helinox branding at the top of the seat makes it easy to align it with the aluminum frame. The stuff sack is appropriately sized for the chair. The premium aluminum poles pack down well, but the chunky plastic hubs for the square base stow somewhat awkwardly.
As mentioned before, the toughest part about using a ground chair is getting into it and getting out of it (especially if you’re super sore from logging some miles). With the seat suspended only 4-5 inches off the ground, it takes more work to lower yourself into a sitting position. If you’re older or struggle with mobility or balance, you’ll probably prefer a more typical backpacking chair that typically positions you 10-12 inches off the ground.
Still, sitting on the Helinox Ground Chair is much easier on your body than sitting on the ground.
Should You Buy the Helinox Ground Chair?
If you like the idea of a stable backpacking chair that lets you stretch out your legs at camp, the Helinox Ground Chair should be at or near the top of your list. We also like this chair for camping on soft ground, thanks to its square base, which doesn’t sink into sand or riverbanks as much as the feet of most backpacking chairs.
Our tester has always used a taller backpacking chair, but he may switch to this ground chair to give his hiking legs a little more love in camp. However, sitting low to the ground won’t appeal to everyone, especially if you have trouble getting up or down after a long day on the trail. Plus, this chair isn’t the lightest of the bunch, so ultralighters may prefer shedding several ounces with an ultralight backpacking chair or sit pad. Overall, though, we’re big fans of the Helinox Ground Chair.
What Other Backpacking Chairs Should You Consider?
For more backpacking chair ideas, please see our best backpacking chairs guide for more alternatives, including these:
Helinox Chair Zero Review: If you’re not committed to a ground chair, the Helinox Chair Zero topped our 2025 list of the best backpacking chairs.
Trekology Yizi-Lite Review: Do you like ground chairs but can’t afford the Helinox? The Yizi-Lite also sits low to the ground and costs almost three times less than Helinox backpacking chairs.
Big Agnes Skyline UL Review: If you put comfort and stability first but want to sit higher off the ground, we recommend the Big Agnes Skyline.
