NEMO Equipment Stargaze EVO-X Reclining Camp Chair, Goodnight Black

NEMO Stargaze EVO-X Review: A Folding Recliner That Swings, for the End of the Day at Camp

The camp chairs already on this site are about sitting upright: the Helinox Chair One for the smallest pack, the Helinox Sunset for head support, and the ALPS King Kong for full-height comfort at a table. The NEMO Stargaze EVO-X does something different. Its seat hangs from a steel frame and swings, and when you lean back it reclines to a deep angle that NEMO says gives you a full view of the night sky. It's a chair for after the dishes are done, not for eating at a table.

The EVO-X is the folding version of NEMO's Stargaze recliner. Earlier Stargaze models used a pole frame that you assembled; NEMO describes the EVO-X's X-style steel frame as one that deploys in a single motion with no assembly.

What the Amazon link sells: the listing titled "NEMO Equipment Stargaze EVO-X Reclining Camp Chair - Goodnight Black" (ASIN B0DK7PM5MF). NEMO lists Goodnight Black under UPC 811666036254. NEMO also sells Deep Claret, Smokey Olive, Brilliant Blue and Ombre Blue, which are separate Amazon listings with the same chair. When we checked, the Goodnight Black listing was in stock.

This review is research-based. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specs come from NEMO's product page and the Amazon listing.

Choose this if:

• You want a reclining, gently swinging chair for evenings at camp, star-gazing or reading.
• You have room for a long chair bag, about 40 inches, in a garage or rear storage area.
• You camp mostly beside the van, at established sites, rather than carrying chairs any distance.

Skip this if:

• You want a chair to eat at a table in. A reclining sling seat doesn't hold you upright over a plate.
• Storage space is tight. NEMO's packed size is 40 x 10.5 x 8.5 inches, the same class as the King Kong and far larger than a Helinox.
• You need a capacity above 300 lb. That's the figure NEMO gives in the main product description, and the one on the Amazon listing.

What it is

The EVO-X has a steel frame that folds like a classic X-frame camp chair, and a fabric seat that hangs from the top of the frame. Because the seat is suspended rather than fixed, it can swing. NEMO says it auto-reclines: you lean back and shift your weight, and the seat settles into the angle you want. Tensioned straps support the seat when it's reclined.

NEMO lists these features:

• a folding X-style steel frame with instant, no-assembly setup;
• a smooth, easy swinging motion;
• auto-reclining to your preferred angle;
• a padded headrest, extra cushioning at pressure points and flexible back support;
• two integrated cup holders;
• a roll-top carrying case with an adjustable shoulder strap.

NEMO also describes "six points of contact and a flared foot geometry". In plain terms, the frame touches the ground in more places than a four-leg chair, which spreads the load and helps on soft ground.

Specifications and sources

A note on capacity. NEMO's product description says the EVO-X supports a 300-pound weight capacity, and the Amazon listing says the same. A feature bullet further down NEMO's page says 350 pounds. Plan around the lower figure, 300 lb, until NEMO's page is consistent.

What isn't published. NEMO doesn't give a seat height or the reclined depth, and its open dimensions don't say which figure is width, depth or height. The 43-inch figure is the largest, which fits a high-backed chair with a headrest. Expect the reclined chair to need more depth behind it than the open dimensions suggest, so leave space at the back.

How it fits a van or camp kitchen

It's the lounge chair, not the dining chair. A camp kitchen has two seating jobs: eating at a table and relaxing afterwards. The EVO-X is built for the second. If you buy one chair per person, a recliner leaves you without a good chair for meals. Many vans carry one compact upright chair and one lounger, or a table chair plus the recliner for evenings.

Storage. At 40 x 10.5 x 8.5 inches packed and about 13.75 lb, the EVO-X is a long, heavy bag, much like the King Kong (40 x 8 x 9 inches, 13 lb). It's best stored lying flat along the rear of a garage bay or under a bed platform. It's not a chair to keep behind a seat in a small van. Two of them take a noticeable share of a storage area, so measure before you buy a pair. Our storage guide covers where bulky camp-only gear can live.

Setup. NEMO describes the EVO-X as deploying in a single motion, with no poles to assemble. That makes it quicker to set out and pack away than pole chairs like the Helinox, which have shock-corded poles and a seat sleeve to fit.

Ground. The flared, multi-point base suits grass, dirt and gravel. On soft sand or mud, any chair sinks, so set it on a flat board or a doormat if you're parked somewhere soft. On a slope, face it across or up the slope so the swing doesn't tip you toward the low side.

Comfort and safety around the cooking area

A swinging recliner is relaxing, and that makes it a poor place to sit while you're actively cooking. Keep it out of the walkway between the van and the stove, where you'd trip over the frame in the dark. If you use it near a campfire, keep it well back: the fabric isn't described as fire-resistant, and a reclined chair is slow to get out of. Fuel-burning stoves should be used outdoors where their manuals say so, and chairs should be kept clear of them. The van cooking safety guide covers clearances.

Swing chairs need care with children. Let them sit, but don't let them stand on the seat or swing it hard, and remember that NEMO's figures are for normal sitting.

Care

Shake out sand and grit before folding, as it collects where the frame joints meet. Let the fabric dry fully before packing it away in a closed van, to avoid mildew. Steel frames can rust where the coating is chipped, so look over the hinges after wet trips. NEMO's lifetime warranty, as stated on the Amazon listing, covers defects in workmanship and materials, not wear and tear.

Limitations

• Large and heavy packed size: 40 inches long and about 13.75 lb.
• Not a dining chair. The reclined sling doesn't suit eating at a table.
• Inconsistent capacity wording on NEMO's page (300 lb in the description, 350 lb in a bullet).
• No published seat height or reclined depth.
• Premium price for a single-purpose chair.

How it compares

• ALPS King Kong: almost the same packed size and weight, but an upright chair with a 19-inch seat and an 800 lb ALPS figure. It's the better all-round chair, including for eating. See Helinox Chair One vs ALPS King Kong.
• Helinox Sunset: a high-back pole chair with head support that packs about a fifth of the length. It doesn't recline or swing, but it's much easier to store.
• GCI Freestyle Rocker: another motion chair, but it rocks rather than reclines, folds flat to 5.5 inches thick, and has a 250 lb GCI figure. Choose the rocker if flat storage matters more than reclining.

For pairing chairs with table heights, see the van kitchen layouts guide.

Verdict

The NEMO Stargaze EVO-X is the chair to buy if you want to lie back and swing at the end of a camp day, and you have room for a long bag. NEMO's figures back up the claims that matter: a folding steel frame with no assembly, a 40 x 10.5 x 8.5 inch packed size, about 13.75 lb, a padded headrest and two cup holders, with a 300 lb capacity in NEMO's main description. It isn't a dining chair, it isn't small, and NEMO's own page disagrees with itself on capacity, so plan around 300 lb. As a second chair for evenings, it does something none of the other chairs on this site do.

FAQ

How big is the Stargaze EVO-X when packed? NEMO lists the packed size as 40.0 x 10.5 x 8.5 inches (102 x 27 x 21.5 cm), with a minimum weight of 13 lb 12 oz (6.24 kg).

What is its weight capacity? NEMO's product description and the Amazon listing both say 300 lb. One feature line on NEMO's page says 350 lb. Plan around 300 lb.

Does it need assembly? NEMO says the folding steel frame deploys in a single motion with no assembly, unlike earlier Stargaze chairs with pole frames.

Does it recline? Yes. NEMO says the seat auto-reclines when you lean back and shift your weight, and that tensioned straps support a deep reclining angle.

Is it good for eating at a camp table? Not really. It's designed for lounging. For meals at a 28-inch table, an upright chair with a seat around 18 to 19 inches, like the ALPS King Kong, suits better.

What colours are there? NEMO lists Deep Claret, Goodnight Black, Smokey Olive, Brilliant Blue and Ombre Blue. The listing this review links to is Goodnight Black.

Sources and verification

• NEMO Equipment, Stargaze EVO-X Folding Reclining Camp Chair product page: description (folding steel frame, single-motion setup, six points of contact, 300 lb capacity), feature list (swinging, auto-reclining, padded headrest, two cup holders, roll-top case, 350 lb wording), specification table (31 x 37 x 43 in, packed 40 x 10.5 x 8.5 in, minimum weight 13 lb 12 oz, steel frame), colours and UPCs. https://www.nemoequipment.com/products/stargaze-evo-x-folding-camp-chair (checked 2026-10-13)
• Amazon product listing for ASIN B0DK7PM5MF, the listing this review links to: title (Goodnight Black), model EVO-X, 300 lb capacity, feature bullets, lifetime warranty wording, availability (checked 2026-10-13)
• Figures for other chairs are from this site's reviews linked above, which list the maker pages they checked.