Nemo Stargaze EVO-X Review

The Nemo Stargaze is a niche and portable recliner design that's perfect for the backyard yet packable enough for the campsite. We love the new and improved user-friendly design that makes setup and breakdown easy while remaining stable and sturdy enough to sit or recline. We think you'll love the Stargaze if you're looking for a versatile and packable recliner that prioritizes relaxation through a super comfortable and well-padded construction.

Comfort

The Stargaze camping chair includes a well-padded backrest, padded poles, along with extra padding in the seat of the chair to increase comfort. There's even extra padding where your legs make contact with the chair to prevent the design from folding uncomfortably as you extend your legs. Our short and tall testers both appreciated the seat height that allowed their legs to bend at a comfortable angle whether seated or reclining.

Padded armrests would be nice, but would potentially interfere with the auto-reclining nature of the design as well as the chair's packability. And while the auto-recliner makes it easy to recline, it can also be less secure to sit down in the chair, so we recommend approaching it like a hammock, with caution until you've balance your weight correctly. And finally, some perforated sections of fabric would be appreciated for increased airflow in the chair during use in extra hot climates, but most of the time we found ourselves reclining at night near the campfire when the heat of the day had already subsided. The Stargaze sets the precedence for comfort when it comes to portable camping chair recliners.

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Portability

Although not the most portable camping chair design that we've tested, the Stargaze is certainly one of the more portable reclining options in our lineup, making it versatile enough to transition from the backyard to the campsite where you may have a better view of the stars. The chair includes a roll top carry bag along with adjustable and padded shoulder strap that allows you to customize the design into a more comfortable position. The carry bag is spacious and makes it easy to stow the chair into the bag, without having to fight for every inch.

The packable dimensions measure out to 40" long x 10" wide x 8" high making it easy to stow in the back of your truck or compact car, although there are more packable options available. The 14 pound frame is much heavier than previous iterations, although not a dealbreaker as to whether or not you should pack it for your weekend at the lake. Despite the comfortable shoulder strap and packable design, we wouldn't recommend carrying Stargaze too far, maybe just to an open spot in the yard or campsite that makes it easy to kick back, relax, and look at the stars.

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Quality

We consider every detail of the Stargaze to be part of a high quality and lasting design. The steel X-style frame includes not just four but six points of contact to evenly distribute your weight and create a stable base of support, allowing you to easily recline with confidence. The adjusting seatbelt-style straps are bomber while the rubberized feet hold the chair in position on your patio or deck, and prevent the chair from sinking in the dirt or sand around your campsite. The durable fabric also includes a high quality headrest along with extra padding to increase both comfort and the longevity in the design.

The Stargaze includes a weight capacity of 300 pounds which we successfully exceeded during testing when we piled in multiple people to put the steel frame to the test. We don't recommend “plopping” into the chair, but rather approaching with the same caution you would a hammock when getting into and out of the chair, as it can easily swing out from under you if you're not giving it your full attention. We love that Nemo backs this camping chair design with a lifetime warranty, should you experience any issue with this auto-recliner. Overall, our team was impressed by the high quality construction that's perfect for the backyard or your next camping trip when you're after a little extra versatility in relaxation.

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Ease of Use

The latest iteration of the Stargaze is much improved from previous models, featuring a hassle-free and user-friendly setup that will have you relaxing by the fire in a matter of minutes. Simply remove the chair from the roll top carry bag before extending the poles in their locked position and flipping the seat into place, and voila, you're ready to kick back. To breakdown, simply pull the clearly labeled tab underneath the seat that will unlock the frame and allow you to fold back into the portable position and shimmy into the carry bag.

The Stargaze features two integrated cupholders on either side of the seat that aim to keep beverages and personal belongings within reach while seated and reclined, just beware they will spill your drink if you leave in it the cupholder when you get out of the chair. Our testers also remained cautious when sitting in the chair as the design is prone to swinging out from under you, so we approached the chair as we would a hammock, slightly cautious until we balanced our body weight into the correct position. Once seated, the unique adjustable straps allow you to sit up or recline with ease. It's clear that Nemo put a ton of detail into the user-friendly design of the Stargaze's most recent model, making it perfect for the backyard or the campsite when you want to kick back and check out the stars.

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Should You Buy the Nemo Stargaze EVO-X?

If you want a niche and packable recliner design that will impress your friends around the campfire, you'll definitely want to check out the latest iteration of the Nemo Stargaze EVO-X. Nemo certainly put a ton of thought into the user-friendly construction that makes setup and breakdown a breeze, a vast improvement from previous models of the same design. We think you'll the overall comfort through the padded headrest, cushioned seat, and ability to sit or recline based on the activity level of your day. Two cupholders keep your phone and beverage handy, while the carry bag provides an adjustable and padded strap for extra comfort during the commute to the campsite. If you're after a portable camping chair that also reclines, we highly recommend the new Stargaze for your next destination.

What Other Camping Chairs Should You Consider?

The Nemo Stargaze is certainly a niche design that's versatile enough to allow comfort while seated or reclining around the campfire. If you're interested in an even more packable option, check out the ALPS Mountaineering Escape, it isn't as high quality, comfortable, nor as easy to use, but it lighter in weight and packs into a smaller carry bag, requiring less space in your garage or your pickup. For an even lighter and more affordable lounger, check out the REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Dreamer, it's super packable and perfect for those who want to kick back in a more affordable design. And if you're curious about our favorite recliner that's best suited for the backyard due to its packed size and overall weight, the Best Choice Zero Gravity Canopy Recliner is perfect for soaking up some sun near the house, and even comes with a sun shade for afternoons with intense rays.