Ultralight Camp Chair: Helinox Zero vs Nemo Moonlite Elite
How we did this: we read the spec tables on Helinox’s, Nemo’s and Big Agnes’s own product pages, checked on 29 Sep 2026, and noted which weight each maker quotes (minimum, trail or total). We have not field-tested this gear.
An ultralight camp chair weighs just over a pound: the Helinox Chair Zero 1 lb 2 oz, the Nemo Moonlite Elite 1 lb 3 oz. That is about eight times a 2.2 oz foam sit pad. Whether a chair belongs in your pack depends on what that pound buys you at camp.
Ultralight camp chairs compared
| Chair | Weight (as the maker quotes it) | Load limit | Packed size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helinox Chair Zero | 1 lb 2 oz (509 g) | 265 lb | Not listed in our check | $139.95 |
| Nemo Moonlite Elite | 1 lb 3 oz (552 g), minimum weight | Not listed in our check | 12.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 in | $189.95 |
| Big Agnes Skyline UL | 1 lb 11 oz (765 g) trail; 1 lb 12 oz total | 275 lb | 3.5 x 3.5 x 17 in | $199.95 |
Sources: each maker’s product page, linked, checked 29 Sep 2026.
A chair against a sit pad and your Big Three
Gossamer Gear’s foam Sitlight pad, which ships in its Mariposa pack, weighs 2.2 oz. The Helinox Chair Zero weighs 18 oz, about eight times as much. In our base weight guide, three real pack-shelter-sleep kits weigh 48.6 to 72.1 oz; the Chair Zero would add 25 to 37 percent to them. For a thru-hike that is a lot; for a basecamp weekend it may be worth it.
Helinox Chair Zero
The lightest chair here, rated to 265 lb. Helinox describes it as built for when “the weight of your pack is everything, making it the ultimate backpacking, kayaking, or bike touring essential.”
Check price →Nemo Moonlite Elite
The Moonlite Elite reclines, and Nemo says its suspension “trades webbing for slim cordage that blends HTP and Dyneema.” Nemo lists a minimum weight of 1 lb 3 oz (552 g), an aluminum frame and a packed size of 12.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 in, for $189.95.
Check price →Big Agnes Skyline UL and Woodchuck table
The Skyline UL is heavier at 1 lb 11 oz trail weight has a 15 in seat height and is rated to 275 lb, for $199.95. For a table, Big Agnes’ Woodchuck is 2 lb 3 oz trail weight and $159.95, which puts a chair and table together at over 3 lb.
Check price →Which should you buy?
- Lightest chair: Helinox Chair Zero, 1 lb 2 oz.
- Reclining: Nemo Moonlite Elite, 1 lb 3 oz.
- Highest load limit: Big Agnes Skyline UL, 275 lb.
- Lightest of all: a foam sit pad at about 2 oz.
FAQ
What is the lightest ultralight camp chair?
How much does the Helinox Chair Zero weigh?
Nemo Moonlite Elite or Helinox Chair Zero?
Is a camp chair worth carrying?
How much does the Big Agnes Woodchuck table weigh?
The bottom line
The lightest ultralight camp chair here, the Helinox Chair Zero, weighs 1 lb 2 oz for $139.95; the reclining Nemo Moonlite Elite adds 1 oz and $50. Both weigh about eight times a foam sit pad, so carry one for comfort at camp, not on a weight-first thru-hike.
Related guides
Keep building your system with these closely related guides.
- Backpacking Base Weight
- Gossamer Gear Backpacks
- Soto Amicus and Toaks Cook Kit
- Appalachian Trail Gear List
- Nitecore NU25 vs NU20 and the Best Backpacking Power Bank
- Ultralight First Aid Kit: Which Size for Your Trip
- Dog Backpacking Gear: Dog Sleeping Pad and Ruffwear Approach
- Ultralight Dry Bags: Hyperlite vs Hilltop Packs, Per Liter
