If I am staying by the fire all evening, I take the NEMO Stargaze EVO-X. If I am moving between the stove, the car and the campsite, I take the YETI Trailhead Field Chair. I bought both chairs myself and took them on a three-month car-camping trip around Quebec. I used them for quick meals, long evenings by the fire and plenty of sitting around in between.
How I used them
I camped around the Saguenay and Hautes-Gorges areas and along the Gulf of St. Lawrence coast. I used them on hot, humid days and cool evenings, setting them on sand, dirt and grass. I am six feet tall and fairly broad, so I notice whether I have room to settle in and whether getting up is a struggle.
My recommendation
For a long evening beside the car, I would take the NEMO. Its suspended sling, padded headrest and smooth recline made it the chair I kept choosing when I had nowhere else to be. I would take the YETI for a picnic or a short walk to the beach. It packs slimmer, carries better and is easier to get out of. I paid more for it, though, and after a couple of hours I miss the armrests and a cup holder.
At a glance
| Measure | NEMO Stargaze EVO-X | YETI Trailhead Field Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Long evenings, swinging and reclining close to the car | Meals, conversation and short carries away from the car |
| My rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Price I paid | US$179.95 | US$225 |
| Weight | Nearly 15 lb | 9.3 lb published |
| Seat | Suspended sling with padded headrest and weight-shift recline | Fixed, supportive Twilite fabric seat; no armrests |
| Setup | Open the folding X-frame; about five seconds | Pull open the quad frame; a few seconds |
| Carrying | Bulky roll-top case with shoulder strap | Slimmer bag with a wide padded shoulder strap |
| Drinks | Two included holders, but open drinks can spill as the sling moves | No included holder; snap-on accessory cost US$20 when I bought the chair |
| Ground | Six contact points stayed steady on varied pitches | Broad feet stayed steady on sand, dirt and damp grass |
Where each chair works best
Stay put and relax
NEMO Stargaze EVO-X
I keep the NEMO near the car or campfire when I expect to sit for hours. It cradles my back and thighs without a hard bar, and I can lean into a deep recline whenever I like. It takes up a lot of trunk space, though.
Move around camp
YETI Trailhead Field Chair
I reach for the YETI when I am eating, cooking or getting up a lot. Its fixed seat supports me well, and I can stand without rolling out of a sling. The padded strap makes it comfortable to carry a short way from the car. Nine pounds is still far too much chair for a hike.
The difference you feel after an hour
The NEMO is a chair I can disappear into. Its suspended fabric spreads my weight instead of putting a crossbar under my thighs or against my spine. The padded headrest meets my head at the right height, and I can swing gently or lean back without touching a lever. I spent hundreds of hours in it over the season and never tired of that feeling.
Getting out of the NEMO takes a little roll forward. I got used to it, but it slows me down when I am tending a stove or jumping up to fetch something. At full recline, my feet also lack support. I would love a footrest for those long evenings.
The YETI sits more upright and holds its shape when I shift forward. At six feet tall, I can sit with my knees at a comfortable angle, and the 17.5-inch seat makes it easy to stand up. The fabric has a little give, although it feels warmer against my back than an open mesh chair on humid days. I barely noticed the missing armrests at first. After a couple of hours, I kept looking for somewhere to put my hands. I like the YETI for cooking, eating and chatting; I would rather nap in the NEMO.
Carrying them away from the car
The NEMO weighs nearly 15 pounds and folds into something about the size of a small golf bag. Its roll-top case keeps the frame contained, and the strap is fine for the walk from the trunk to a nearby pitch. After that, I want to set it down. It also takes up a fair amount of vehicle space when everything else is packed.
The YETI weighs 9.3 pounds, and its long, slim folded shape is easier to fit into the car. The wide padded shoulder strap made a real difference. I could sling the chair over one shoulder and still have my hands free for a cooler or other gear, without the strap digging into my neck. For a beach or picnic spot a short way from the car, I would take the YETI every time.
Both take seconds to open
Opening either chair takes seconds. I pull the NEMO from its case and open the X-frame; it unfurls and locks into place in about five seconds. The YETI just needs a pull to open its quad frame. There are no loose poles, clips or tensioners to deal with.
They pack away just as quickly. The YETI's bag has enough room for the folded chair, so I can slide it in without a fight. The NEMO folds easily too, but its longer, thicker package is harder to tuck among the rest of the gear. Setup speed would never decide this choice for me.
Solid on campsite ground
The NEMO looked as if it might tip the first time I reclined, but its wide steel X-frame stayed planted while the sling moved above it. Six ground contact points handled uneven dirt, sand and sloped grass through the trip. I could shift my weight and swing without worrying about the base.
The YETI's broad feet felt solid too. On soft sand, uneven dirt and damp grass, I did not notice wobbling or sinking. Its fixed seat stayed steady when I leaned forward to stand up. I chose reasonably level spots for both chairs, but I never had to hunt for perfect ground.
After three months, the NEMO's steel frame and suspension webbing still felt solid. The YETI's aluminum frame was tight, its joints showed no play and the fabric had not sagged. I have not owned either chair long enough to know how it will hold up after years of sun and wet camps.
Drinks are awkward in both chairs
The NEMO has two cup holders, but they move with the sling. An open cup can spill when I get up, so I take it out first. A capped bottle is fine.
The YETI has no cup holder at all. I was too cheap to pay another US$20 for the snap-on accessory after spending US$225 on the chair, so I spent the trip putting my drink on the ground. With no armrests either, I kept worrying about kicking over my coffee. I still think a cup holder should come with a chair at this price.
Price and value
I paid US$179.95 for the NEMO and US$225 for the YETI, both with my own money. The NEMO cost me less, and I enjoyed sitting in it more. I would buy it again for a campsite beside the car, despite the space it takes up.
I still used the YETI often. I could sling it over a shoulder, move it between the car and camp without fuss, and get up easily when there was something to do. Its frame and seat handled three months of repeated use well. I just wish US$225 bought me armrests and somewhere to put a drink. I grab the YETI when I expect to move around; I grab the NEMO when I plan to stay by the fire until bedtime.
The verdict
NEMO for lounging. YETI for moving around camp.
I gave the Stargaze EVO-X 4.5 out of 5 and the Trailhead Field Chair 4.2. The NEMO is my favourite place to relax, swing and look up at the sky. The YETI is easier to carry, packs slimmer and lets me get up without rolling out of a sling. I enjoyed having both during those three months in Quebec. If I could load only one for a campsite beside the car, I would choose the NEMO.
Read the field tests
Full reviews behind this guide
Editorial disclosure: Adam bought both chairs himself. NEMO and YETI did not provide the chairs, fund the testing or influence this guide.