Chair One vs Chair Two: Tactical Seating and Sofa Substitutes

 

“Lost my sofa for a week. Gained a whole new respect for back support. #ChairTwoSupremacy”

Some people collect stamps… even Swiss Army Knives, I collect Helinox chairs. Lightweight, packable, suspiciously comfortable chairs that follow me from forests to festival fields and occasionally, into my living room.

Let’s start with the Chair One. I’ve had the standard version for a solid six or seven years. It’s been my fireside throne, my go-to for brews, and even doubled as a tripod on more than one occasion. But, I also have the Tactical Chair One in Multicam black, which, let’s be honest, is a pretty cool flex. It’s the stealth camper’s dream. It says, “I’m here to relax, but I could also disappear into a hedge” and not because I’ve had too many beers. It took me a while to hunt down the MCB version and actually manage to buy one, it was a good hunt…

The tactical versions are a little heavier, they have black DAC poles instead of the standard and recognisable blue ones. It also has a couple of little notebook sized pockets to the rear, think kidney pockets… maybe, think Zippo hand warmers…. Shhh, I’ve said too much. My favourite feature, other than the MCB, of course, it has a large hook and loop field, on the rear towards the top of it, sitting on that field is a GITD panel and my MCB ‘This onetime at Coop Camp’ patch.

Recently, my Helinox chairs were promoted from “occasional outdoor use” to primary household furniture. A delay in the arrival of a new sofa meant I spent a week and a bit sitting exclusively in my Chair Ones. Lovely outdoors, slightly less lovely indoors, especially when you’re trying to sit comfy whilst finishing a cheeky box set off after a long day. It was around day four of low back lounging and trying to maintain eye contact with visitors from below sea level that I had a thought:

“Maybe I need a chair with a headrest.”

Enter: Chair Two.

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Chair One: The O.G.

• Weight: ~960g

• Seat Height: About 35cm

• Back Height: Mid-back—no naps here

• Packability: Wine bottle size

• Bonus points: Comes in Tactical Multicam Black, aka the Batman of camp chairs (other camo versions are available… if you’re lucky enough to get them)

Chair One is the ultimate all rounder. Light, easy to pack, and somehow more comfortable than it has any right to be. If you only own one chair, this is the one.

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Chair Two: The Lounge Lord

• Weight: ~1.1kg

• Seat Height: Still ground-ish, but feels more relaxed

• Back Height: Higher, nap-friendly

• Packability: Slightly longer, still fits in your pack

• Bonus points: Makes you consider skipping the hike to sit down properly

Chair Two is what happens when Chair One realises it’s allowed to be a little indulgent. You sit a little deeper, lean back a little more, and actually support your head like a civilised human. After sofagate, it feels more like a throne.

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So Which Is Better?

It’s not really a fair fight. Chair One is the classic. Chair Two is the comfortable cousin that shows up late with snacks. If you’re moving fast and packing light, go for the Chair One. If you’re settling in for a long sunset and a stew, Chair Two all the way.

Or do what I do: own both, justify it as “seasonal seating”, and feel zero regret.

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Optional Extras: Because Camp Thrones Deserve Accessories

Helinox know that once you’ve bought the chair, you’ll inevitably start justifying extras. And fair enough, there are some genuinely clever add ons. You can pick up ball feet to make sure you don’t sink into soft ground (or your mate’s posh lawn and lose the little rubber end caps off your chair legs), there’s a seat warmer that turns your Chair One or Two into (they’re sized differently, you’ll need one for your specific chair) a toasty little lounge chair, basically the sleeping bag of seating. There are also rocking feet, if you fancy turning your camping setup into a rocking chair on the verge of a nap… or to recreate a scene from Deliverance.  If you want to go full throne mode, you can even add a headrest pillow (to the Chair Two, which is just asking for a post lunch snooze). There’s a ground anchor so your chair doesn’t blow away in the wind. Want to keep your brew, beer, or boxed wine safe? Helinox have that covered too, there’s even a clip-on cup holder, because balancing a drink on your knee is a gamble at the best of times. Oh, and don’t forget the ground sheet, which keeps your chair stable on sand, snow, or smug gravel patios. Are they all necessary? Absolutely not. Will you eventually buy them anyway? Also yes.

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Final Thoughts

These chairs are proof you don’t have to suffer while outdoors. They’re lightweight, strong, and genuinely enjoyable to sit in. Plus, if your furniture delivery gets delayed, you’ll be smugly prepared with a collapsible camp setup that somehow still feels more engineered than your actual sofa.
Chair One for utility. Chair Two for luxury. Both for the win.

However… I am still tempted by the king of them all, the Savanna… soooooooo…