Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair Lake

2025-07-25T20:00:00

Comfort is subjective, but for me this chair is not nearly as comfortable as the Helinox chair zero. The poles that attach to the seat form a more acute angle, resulting in my hips being quite a bit lower than my knees. My other big complaint is that the poles pinch at the shoulder blades and at the thighs. This starts to feel uncomfortable after a few minutes. It seems to be a common complaint in reviews. I'm 5'9" and 170lbs, so not a very large guy. This chair has a couple unique features like the tensioners and platform, which work well, but unfortunately it's not comfortable enough for me to consider brining in my pack.

Matt T.

2025-07-18T20:00:00

I took the Elite on a first hike recently into the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area in NC. The mileage was minimal but as usual, very steep and rugged. I was very pleased and will be taking it on all of my day hiking and backpacking pursuits moving forward. I'm 66yo, 5'10", 185#s and it was very comfortable. I experienced no pinch-points to speak of or cutting into my legs. I found the full upright position to be the most comfortable, for me anyway. I'm fortunate to have the Moonlite original chair as well and while it will be my choice for concerts, car camping, sporting events, etc., the Elite will be in my pack every time when venturing into the backcountry!

Mike66

2025-07-08T20:00:00

Very high quality and made to last. Comfortable in recline or sitting up.

Jim24

2025-07-07T20:00:00

I was between the Moonlite and the Moonlite Elite, but ended up going with the Elite because of how lightweight it is! I couldn't love it more! The bottom piece helps keep it sturdy on any terrain, which was a worry due to backpacking in some uneven spots. It's a great lightweight chair for backpacking and everyday use. I've brought it to the river a few times already, and it's great with a towel laid over it for comfort. The Original Moonlite is also a great chair, as I've borrowed it from friends and found it to be more supportive. But if you're looking for a lightweight chair for adventures, this is the chair for you! Almost forgot, I love the pull system that allows you to recline!

emme

2025-07-04T20:00:00

Great chair. The Helinox is now a hand-me-down. Reasons: the Nemo Moonlight Elite is more comfortable and sturdy. I particularly like the aluminum connectors, and the multipurpose sack/chair foot pad to help prevent sinking into loose soil.

Pupterra A.

2025-07-01T20:00:00

5'4" 150 pounds I was incredibly surprised to see how small this packs up and how lightweight it really is. I have not been able to bring it out on the trail yet but I brought it houseboating and it was great to have - is took up very little precious space and was an excellent seat on the boat deck and when beached around a fire. A very versatile seat overall. A bit uncomfortable depending on how you sit - I suggest a thermorest cushion or something of the sort to protect your leg circulation. All things considered, very worth it for having a seat in the backcountry.

Tonquin C.

2025-06-30T20:00:00

This chair is solid and light, exactly what the description promised, and I like the way it looks wrapped up in the ground cover.

Alex01

2025-06-30T20:00:00

I own the original stargazer chair and was looking at getting a smaller lightweight one to take backpacking and camping. This one checks all the boxes. Super easy to assembled and I love the included footprint. I bought the bright yellow one and the color is awesome. Great job Nemo another great piece of gear!

Frijolera

2025-06-11T20:00:00

I bought thèse chairs because they are so light perfect in my kayak in expédition or for some backpacking aventure!

br400

2025-06-10T20:00:00

6'3", 219 lbs Wow, very comfortable. I've owned a therm-a-rest w/chair frame you stuff it into for 25 yrs. Finally made the change. Adjustability is spot on -not too much/too little. Recline position is absolutely perfect ! Well balanced, the top " chair section" sways just a bit- but the foundation never even flexes. It's a dream to sit in. The bottom frame points are perfectly distanced to allow your arms to hang and chill with your thumbs hanging over one end. You can easily/comfortably cross your legs. Negatives: I'm searching.

Derek

2025-06-08T20:00:00

WoW so light it's hard to beleive that you are able to build a chair like that! Can wait to take it with me in my kayak expédition and some backpacking trips!

br400

2025-05-19T20:00:00

I've long been the person content to just sit on my pack, a rock, or the dirt. Carrying the weight of even a "lightweight" chair, had been too heavy in the past - or the fabric frames to shove my groundmat in made the worst of chairs, frankly. The Nemo Elite is a GAMECHANGER. Super light, easy to set up, and sturdy. comfortable to sit in, and I'm 6'2, 205. A huge improvement from my sitting rock. ;.)

Justin C.

2025-05-15T20:00:00

I have both the standard model and this one, the improvements on this one are great. I'm 6'2" 230 and I think the picture of the gentleman in the photos section does a great job of setting expectations, bigger people won't really be sitting, more lounging. For something the size of my water bottle I'm pleased with the comfort. I love not needing to carry the extra case for this model. With both this and the other one wind is an issue. Being this light the back is a sail when you get off of it so it can be concerning if you're sitting near a fire or water. I prefer this model because you can set your water bottle on the base and not worry about losing the chair if it's breezy.

Stew

2025-05-12T20:00:00

Great chair. It's sturdy, lightweight, and comfortable. It may not be the best for larger-framed individuals. Ground cloth/case is a nice added addition. The ability to recline backwards is a nice feature.

BigErn

2025-05-04T20:00:00

Amazing lightweight chair for my backpacking trips. My old chair broke and this one is about half a pound lighter, very happy with it after using over the past 3 days.

Craig

2025-04-26T20:00:00

I bought this last year for bicycle touring and bike packing. I was real tired of sitting on the ground, against a tree, etc. At first the additional weight felt silly to me but mmaaaannn does it feel good to sit in a proper chair after a long day in the saddle. The added base is nice but not necessary and so I can convince myself that leaving it behind saves weight.

Bobby V.

2025-04-22T20:00:00

My bones are too old to be resting up against a tree or some rocks. Definitely worth the extra space-which is very minimal! (Works great in the garage too!)

Trevbaggy

2025-04-16T20:00:00

Love this chair so far! So easy to strap onto my bike as my luxury item on bikepacking trips and coffees outside. Comfy and supportive for how light it is!

Quinton

2025-04-07T20:00:00

I recently purchased this chair to replace something similar from another company. I look forward to using it on my Sea Kayak trips along the Maine Coast. The soil on many of the islands is easily pierced with the small chair feet found on competitors chairs, and the included case with the Moonlite Elite should prevent this from happening. I also like the fact that the case will almost always be attached to the chair, so it won't be blown away. I also hope that I will be able to find room for it on my Bikepacking trips. Sitting off the ground is a wonderful treat after a long day on the go.

Walt

2025-03-26T20:00:00

This chair has been great for backpacking. It packs down very small and it's super light. The Moonlite Elite is also quite comfortable and I love the recline adjustability!

Kai

2025-03-24T20:00:00

Chairs used to be considered an endulgence item. Too cumbersome to bring with you on hikes. Too awkward to use anywhere but camping. Then enters the Moonlite Elite. So versatile. It's extremely light. It can set up almost anywhere with the mesh base. The seatback reclines. I love it. Now I have a chair that packs up light enough and useful enough to become a mandatory part of my base camping gear. I will not leave home without it.

Willcoop54

2025-02-24T19:00:00

Great size and weight for backpacking or any activity where every bit of space and weight matters. Sturdy and well made like all other Nemo products. A bit tight at first to get connected but very well thought out and way better than everything else out there that I researched.

MontannieOakley

2025-02-21T19:00:00

The Moonlight Elite is a Shining example of NEMO's expert engineering, bringing excellent gear to the backpacking and ultralight community. However, I am just too broad for this chair. I have a Helinox L, which I have used for years, and the build quality of the Moonlight Elite meets and, in some cases, exceeds that of the Helinox. However, I simply don't fit in this chair. the positive click when engaging the frame to the seat is excellent and utilizing the case (its not really a bag) as the ground sheet to prevent the legs from sinking is a superb idea (I had to make a custom ground sheet for my Helinox out of DCF. So cheers to NEMO but the Moonlight Elite is not for me....

SOCKS

2025-02-12T19:00:00

I was shocked when I took this chair out of the package and felt how light it is. I'm a bigger guy and was happy with how sturdy it felt when I sat in it. I would definitely buy this chair again, it lives up to quality you get when you buy Nemo. I also have two tents, tensor air pad, and a duffel and I love them all.

cassiuscla12

2025-02-10T19:00:00

I honestly love this chair. Not only is it great for backpacking but also any event where you don't have a lot of carrying capacity. And I love bringing it around my friends to show off to be honest. I also really like the case that it comes in to keep it from sinking into damp grass. It just seems like a product that will last a long time.

Kay

2025-01-02T19:00:00

I do a lot of self support packraft/kayaking trips and I always bring a chair. It's a luxury for sure, but with one this light and compact it's easy to find space for it.

Cat79

2024-12-30T19:00:00

Just got the chair, took a little to figure out setup and then it 'clicked'. Comfy to sit in and is easy to adjust. Can't wait to load this up on the bike and go camping.

Jake B.

2024-12-19T19:00:00

I never thought I'd be so surprised and impressed by a camp chair. Over the last many years camp chair designs have funneled into a few archetypes and this chair first seemed like just another ultra-light chair among many. But every time I used it I liked it more. The matt/stowaway bag is what really sets it apart for me. The matt holds the chair legs and keeps them from splaying, making for a more durable/stronger chair (a common weakness among ultra-light chairs). It also prevents the chair legs from sinking into sand or loose soil (perfect for a 7-day beach backpacking trip I took this summer). I love being able to recline the chair with the suspension system. Chair goes up, chair goes down, all night around the campfire. Overall, I think this chair is unilaterally superior to all other ultra-light chairs and most regular and car camping chairs.

Rocks D.

2024-12-19T19:00:00

Out of the box, stupid easy set up. Pretty freaking light and surprisingly comfortable for my 6'1" 210lb butt. I bought this chair to replace my glassing pad and get off the freezing ground during the late season hunts. It showed up after the season ended but my thoughts are: -assembly and disassembly is quite loud. Not ideal for glassing sessions in the back country, but maybe practice makes perfect. -$50 more and 100g heavier then another competitors lite chair, which I accept as the carrier acts as a solid footprint and likely the cause for the added weight. I will definitely follow up with a review after a season of use if I can make it quiet!

PG_13

2024-10-31T20:00:00

Let's be honest I'm not getting any younger and sometimes camping luxuries become camping necessities. The Nemo Moonlite Elite Reclining Camp chair gives me the best of both worlds thanks to its crazy lightweight but welcome comfort after a long day of hiking. One of my favorite features is the drawcord supports that let me recline or adjust to sit up straight when cooking dinner. As a bonus, the roll-up doubles as a ground sheet if I'm on soft surfaces and prevent me from sinking in. There have been some times when I did feel the chair aggravated the underside of my legs when sitting for long periods as I am a taller person.

BiG M.