Nemo Stargaze Evo-X Camp Chair Review
The Nemo Stargaze Evo-X ($180) is a feature-rich swinging and reclining camp chair that combines the convenience of a traditional folding design with the fun factor of Nemo’s suspended seating system. Unlike most scoop-style chairs that require assembly, the Evo-X sets up and packs down in seconds, making it far easier to live with day to day. It’s also extremely well-built, although you pay a serious penalty in weight and bulk, and we slightly prefer the more hammock-like comfort of the standard Stargaze. But for campers who want modern comfort and features without dealing with setup, the Evo-X is a standout option.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Weight
14 lb. 12 oz.
Dimensions (W/D/H)
31 x 37 x 43 in.
Seat Height
14.5 in.
Weight Capacity
300 lb.
Pros
Cons
Nemo Stargaze Evo-X
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Camping Chairs.
Nemo’s original Stargaze helped modernize camping chairs with its hanging seat design that swayed and reclined, and the new Stargaze Evo-X keeps much of that same appeal. Compared to the original, the Evo-X has a slightly flatter and stiffer seat with less of the hammock-like scoop, but the signature movement remains the star of the show. If you enjoy rocking or swaying while sitting, this chair is addictive. I found myself constantly keeping a gentle rhythm of movement whenever I used it, and friends and family who borrowed the chair immediately did the same. It has an almost front-porch-rocker feel that made me use it around the backyard far more often than most camp chairs I’ve tested. The motion and novelty factor also made it an instant hit with kids.
The seat itself nicely mixes support and flexibility. While the Evo-X is more structured than the standard Stargaze, the suspended, cushioned fabric still conforms naturally to your legs and body as you settle in. The default seating position is fairly upright, but pressing against the rigid sides and leaning back slides the chair into a reclined position. I also appreciated the padded headrest, though it’s worth noting that it doesn’t adjust vertically. At 5’10”, it fit me well, and my wife, at 5’7”, also found it comfortable, but tall users may sit a little too high to fully benefit from the padding.
The Stargaze Evo-X came with us everywhere from kids’ sports games to weekend state park hangouts and camping trips at Mount Rainier National Park, and overall, the feedback on comfort was overwhelmingly positive. A couple of folks felt the seat could have been a little softer, and not everyone loved the constant movement of the suspended design. I also noticed that when fully reclined, the back panel can bunch slightly around the lower back, although a quick shift in position usually fixes it. If the swinging, reclining concept appeals to you, the Evo-X is a seriously enjoyable chair to spend hours in.
The Nemo Stargaze Evo-X feels extremely stable on flat ground thanks to its wide, heavily planted base. The thick steel frame spreads out broadly, and the chair has six total points of contact with the ground: four plastic feet at the corners plus two additional contact points at the base of the vertical supports. Combined with the rigid frame and a relatively low center of gravity from the hanging seat, the setup gave me plenty of confidence to sway, recline, and shift my weight around. Even tucking my legs up onto the seat didn’t upset the balance. At grassy state parks, soccer fields, and other relatively flat areas, the chair was completely dependable.
The downside to that rigidity is that the Evo-X doesn’t adapt especially well to uneven terrain. Around a campfire at Mount Rainier National Park, the ground was slightly bumpy and one of the legs hovered just enough off the ground to create an annoying rocking and clicking sensation while swaying. I ended up repositioning the chair several times before finding a flat enough patch for all six contact points to sit properly. In comparison, the standard Stargaze’s more flexible four-legged base adapts a little better to uneven surfaces. So while the Evo-X feels exceptionally secure on level ground, the extra rigidity costs it a few points once the terrain gets rougher.
I’ve used a lot of Nemo chairs over the years, from both versions of the lightweight Moonlite to the standard Stargaze, and build quality has consistently been one of the brand’s strengths. The Stargaze Evo-X takes longevity seriously with a very thick and substantial steel frame that feels downright tank-like. The metal tubing is burly, and combined with the 300-pound weight limit, the chair always felt confidence-inspiring to sit and recline in. The thick polyester seat fabric also impressed me. It resists stretching well, feels highly abrasion-resistant, and is clearly designed for years of heavy use. Even the suspension webbing that supports the hanging seat and recline system is notably thick and overbuilt.
I ended up leaving the Evo-X set up in my backyard for nearly a full month during late summer because people kept gravitating toward it, and despite constant use—plus camping trips and day outings—it still looks practically new. There are a fair number of pivots and moving parts in the one-piece folding design, and depending on the recline angle, I occasionally noticed a faint creak while swinging. But those minor quirks never raised concerns about long-term durability. Overall, the construction quality here feels excellent and fully in line with what you’d hope for from a $180 camp chair.
Over time, I’ve gotten used to the slower setup process of chairs like the standard Stargaze and Moonlite, usually lagging behind while assembling poles and stretching fabric into place. So the Stargaze Evo-X was a nice change of pace (literally). Setup takes literal seconds: pull it from the bag, spread the frame until it clicks into place, and make sure the two locking tabs no longer show red. That’s about the same amount of effort as a traditional camp chair, which feels like a big win given the Evo-X’s more complex suspended design.
Breakdown is nearly as straightforward once you’ve done it a couple of times. Two clearly labeled handles guide the process: you pull up on the handle beneath the seat while using the lower handle on the frame to collapse everything inward, then wrap the seat fabric around the folded frame. Nemo also smartly gave the carry bag a large opening, so sliding the chair back inside is easy. Total pack-up time for me was usually somewhere between 30 seconds and a minute, depending on whether I had someone helping feed the chair into the bag.
The main compromise with the Nemo Stargaze Evo-X is its substantial heft. At over 14 pounds all-in, it’s a lot of chair to carry any meaningful distance. The included carry bag helps somewhat, keeping everything contained and adding a single shoulder strap for transport, but there’s no getting around the packed size: at roughly 40 inches long, the Evo-X is awkward and bulky compared to most camp chairs. For comparison, the standard Nemo Stargaze breaks down much smaller at around 27 inches in length, while a more traditional camp chair like the REI Campwell weighs closer to 8 pounds and packs into a noticeably shorter and narrower package.
The upside is that Nemo made the carry bag refreshingly forgiving. You don’t have to perfectly fold and compress the chair every time to get it back inside, and I appreciated being able to quickly stuff it away without fighting the fabric or suspension straps. Still, this is very much a comfort-first design. The Evo-X works great for car camping, backyard lounging, and short walks to soccer fields or campsites, but you’ll definitely notice the size and weight if you’re hauling it far from the car.
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The Stargaze Evo-X is generally feature-rich and, more importantly, thoughtfully executed. Two integrated cupholder-style pockets sit along the inside edges of the wide seat and worked well in practice. They’re just large enough to swallow a standard Nalgene, although given the chair’s swaying motion, I definitely wouldn’t trust them with an open-top drink. I found the best setup was using one side for a water bottle and the other for smaller essentials like a phone or snacks.
The padded headrest is another nice touch, especially when reclining, adding a noticeable layer of comfort around the neck and shoulders. That said, it doesn’t adjust vertically and isn’t especially large, so it won’t land perfectly for everyone. The real standout feature, though, is the recline mechanism itself. With your hands on the rigid side supports, you simply push down with your arms and lean back into the seat to slide into a deep recline position. There’s nearly 3 inches of adjustment, and combined with the chair’s suspended swaying design, it makes the Evo-X genuinely fun to sit in for long stretches.
At 5’10”, I found the Stargaze Evo-X to be a comfortable all-around fit. Sitting upright, I could easily plant my feet on the ground and rock naturally, with the seat sitting roughly 14.5 inches high—although that number varies a bit given the suspended design and changing recline angle. The back support felt full and supportive around my shoulders while upright, and when reclined, the padded headrest landed comfortably around the middle of my head.
Tall users may not have the same experience, however. Because the pillow doesn’t adjust vertically, folks with longer torsos could find themselves sitting slightly above it when reclining. The combination of the hammock-like seat shape and the Evo-X’s stiffer structure also means this isn’t quite the universal fit of a traditional flat-seated camp chair. That said, most users should still find it comfortable.
Nemo Stargaze ($280): All-in on Comfort
The two chairs share a name for a reason: both offer the same basic concept of swaying, reclining comfort along with many of the same features, including integrated pockets. We slightly prefer the softer, more hammock-like seat of the standard Stargaze compared to the stiffer Evo-X, although the difference isn’t dramatic. The real separation comes down to weight, packed size, and setup. The original Stargaze gets a clear edge in portability, with roughly 6 pounds of weight savings and a much smaller packed size. The Evo-X trades that for a dramatically faster setup, unfolding more like a traditional camp chair rather than requiring the partial assembly of the standard Stargaze. For more, read our full Nemo Stargaze review.
Nemo Satellite ($200): More Traditional Comfort
Another new offering from Nemo, the Satellite takes a more traditional approach than the Stargaze Evo-X, combining a supportive high-back design with a modest recline function in a much lighter package. Its scoop-style seat hugs your body more naturally than the Evo-X’s stiffer suspended design, and our tester slightly preferred the overall comfort as a result. The Satellite also gets the edge in practicality, with a standard cupholder that can securely hold a can or open drink without the risk of sloshing. It’s also dramatically lighter—by more than 10 pounds—and far smaller when packed. The tradeoff is set up: unlike the instant-deploy Evo-X, the Satellite requires assembling the frame and attaching the seat fabric each time you use it. To learn more about it, see our review of the Nemo Satellite.
The Stargaze Evo-X bridges modern comfort with old-school convenience, with swinging and reclining functionality and a lightning-fast setup. The chair is extremely heavy and bulky to haul, but it’s hard to argue with its quality and convenience.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
With its rugged build, rocking chair comfort, and impressive feature set, the Stargaze stands out from lesser competitors. While its storage options and portability aren’t winning traits, we still think this chair is worth its hefty price tag.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
The Satellite blends the best elements of classic camp chairs and compact scoop-style models, resulting in a feature-rich seat without a ton of bulk. We love its standout quality and comfort in a portable package, although the price is steep.
Comfort
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Portability
Sustainability
Is the Stargaze Evo-X for You?
The Nemo Stargaze Evo-X’s swinging motion, deep recline, fast setup, and premium build quality make it a standout for long afternoons at campsites, sports games, and hanging out around the fire. That said, it’s definitely a comfort-first design. At over 14 pounds and 40 inches long when packed, it’s bulky to haul and overkill for anyone prioritizing portability. We’d also steer campers who regularly set up on rocky or uneven terrain toward a more traditional chair design, since the rigid base works best on flatter ground.
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