The NEMO Stargaze Luxury Recliner is available exclusively at REI. 

It’s not often a product fundamentally changes the status quo, whether it’s camping chairs, tents or camp stoves. That’s why it’s so exciting when it happens. And this is why we freaked out the first time we saw the NEMO Stargaze Luxury Recliner. It’s truly a game changer.

Everyone loves a swinging deck on the porch in the summertime. There’s something about the suspended feeling that helps us relax. The repetitive motion somehow syncs us with the world around us, and our mind unwinds. The NEMO Stargaze Luxury Recliner brings this experience to the campsite, and it’s glorious. The chair is literally a swing, and there hasn’t been anything like it up until now. Yes, there are outdoor chairs that recline, but nothing that packs up into a small bag that you can easily bring to the campsite.

We spent a few nights with the Stargaze in camp and had nothing but good things to say about it. First off, the chair auto-reclines, due to an ingenious strap arrangement. It supports your back firmly if you are sitting up, and as you lean back, the strap adjusts to accommodate a nearly horizontal position. The Luxury model has a headrest that we found to be very comfortable. They’re made from aircraft grade machined aluminum and can support up to 300 pounds. When we toured their office, NEMO showed us the various ways that they test the strength of the Nemo Stargaze Luxury Recliner, and we were surprised to discover just how rigorous the testing is (see below).

The NEMO Stargaze Luxury Recliner weighs just over 6 pounds and will retail for $219. If you’re a camper in search of maximum relaxation on the weekend, you won’t be disappointed. You also won’t want to get out of it. Ever.