I’m finally have time to post some of my camping gear reviews. COVID has been a bummer and unlike some other sites, we actually field test the gear for a length of time to get the complete picture. Does it stand up through repeated use? Is “product x” the best design it could be? Is it worth the money? For this reason, my reviews sometimes publish after the product has been on the market for a while. But I’m not apologizing for that. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. Sometimes new products can look great on the spec sheet, only to fail unexpectedly down the line. And we know that’s why you’re a Gear Bunker Loyal. With that said, here’s the scoop on a great lightweight camp chair option from Helinox. The Sunset Chair.
Helinox, a company headquartered in South Korea, maintains close ties to DAC Poles. DAC is another S. Korean company that produces the lightest, strongest aluminum poles for the outdoor and camping industry. When a tent manufacture wants the best skeleton for their shelter, they call DAC to supply the poles. It takes an exhaustive 80 step process to produce a single high quality TH72M DAC aluminum pole. Along with an environmentally friendly anodization process, DAC poles are not only beautiful but among the strongest in the industry. These wind-tunnel tested poles are the ones Helinox spec for their chairs, cots, tables, walking poles and umbrellas. Coupled with high strength nylon and top quality fabrics, it’s clear that Helinox doesn’t compromise on any of their products.
Helinox Sunset Chair & Table One Video Review
As you can see in the video, both the Sunset Chair and Table One pack down to an easily portable size for travel. Small enough to just leave in the trunk of my VW for those evening high school football games. Yet durable enough for a multi-day Overland trip in the FJ Cruiser. As we move between several remote locations, the chairs get packed and unpacked repeatedly. Always ending the day surrounding a campfire with family in the comfort of these comfy chairs. The set-up is a snap…literally. The self-aligning shock-corded DAC poles snap into place and insert into the high strength nylon sockets. Additionally, the nylon/mesh fabric seat easily stretches over the sturdy frame providing pressure point free seating. Taking no more than a minute to either set-up or break down a single chair.
It’s amazing how light yet sturdy the Sunset Chair really is. My son keeps thinking he’ll break it when falling back into the chair. With a working load capacity of 320 pounds, I doubt his 170-pound body will possibly damage anything. It’s a testament to how light the product feels. Not to be confused with being cheap or flimsy. But rather lightweight and sturdy. This chairs are now a permanent fixture around our campsite, wherever our Overland travels may take us.
Sunset Chair Specs:
- 1340 g / 2.95 lbs (without case)
- 1450 g / 3.20 lbs (with case)
- Chair Height: 98 cm / 38.6 in
- Seat Height: 46 cm / 18.1 in
- Seat Width: 58 cm / 22.8 in
- Case: 47 cm W x 14 cm H / 18.5 in W x 5.5 in H
- Capacity:145 kg / 320 lbs
- MSRP $150
Of the camp chairs I’ve reviewed this season, the Sunset Chair is by far the lightest and most portable. Although it lacks some features found on competitors chairs like a cup holder or accessory pocket. Truth is, I don’t miss those at all. This is where the Table One makes a perfect companion. With a pair of integrated friction fit cup holders, the Table One is ironically, a table for two. Perched between my wife and me, the Table One provides ample room for two plates, silverware, napkins and cups. And weighing only 1.38 pounds, its 110-pound capacity still amazes me. So I’m never worried when I lay back and kick my feet up onto the table after dinner. This camp furniture surely punches above its weight class.
Table One Specs:
-
- 625 g / 1.38 lbs (without case)
- 690 g / 1.52 lbs (with case)
- Table Surface: 60 cm x 40 cm / 23.6 in x 15.7 in
- Height: 36 cm / 14.2 in off ground
- Case: 41 cm W x 11 cm H / 16.1 in W x 4.3 in H
- Capacity: 50 kg / 110 lbs
- MSRP $120
“Helinox leads the world in innovative lightweight equipment & furniture. Our portable chairs, cots & tables, trekking poles and umbrellas are at the cutting edge of technical design & innovation. They are also the lightest and strongest available. Now released in three distinct lines: Outdoor, Home and Tactical. If it must be strong, light and compact, Helinox is the best choice”. ~www.helinox.com
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