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One observe was working by Tim’s thoughts as he examined out Nemo’s new ultralight mountaineering chair: ‘Lean back’. Yep, it’s one of many lightest available on the market AND it reclines… kinda.
Right here’s somewhat peek behind the scenes, I wrote the sentence above, which implies that sure, I’m listening to the long-lasting observe ‘Lean Back’ by Terror Squad, Fats Joe and Remy Ma as I write this introduction. And it completely nonetheless holds up.
One thing that doesn’t maintain up anymore nonetheless, is my ageing again once I plant my bum within the grime after a protracted day of mountaineering. To make issues worse, my mates have begun investing in myriad ultralight chairs – resulting in extreme pangs of jealousy and various requests to ‘get out of my chair Tim’.
Why ought to I do that evaluation?
Having now examined all of my mate’s chairs, I used to be thrilled when Nemo requested if I wished to offer their new Nemo Moonlite Elite a spin. What’s extra, at 510g it’s bang on with the Helinox Chair Zero (which is 490g for those who throw away the bag). I instantly texted my mate who owns the Helinox. It’s on.
Whereas the hikes I’m doing are solely getting more durable, I’m beginning to worth consolation a bit extra as soon as the instruments are down and mountaineering chairs are one approach to get up the subsequent day feeling extra refreshed. I’m additionally valuing light-weight gear as each gram counts (for a similar purpose).
A latest light-weight espresso, about to hold the chair to a dawn lookout spot
Fast Specs
Weight: 510g (620g in carrying case)
Dimensions: 46 x 48 x 59cm
Packed dimensions: 32 x 8 x 10cm
Weight score: 113.4kg
RRP: $299 AUD
Consolation
Oh you understand we’re beginning with consolation when it’s a chair.
But it surely’s not only a chair, it’s a r e c l i n e r.
Yep, I’m out right here with a 510g La-Z-Boy, and I adore it, let me clarify.
Reclining
This type of chair has grow to be ubiquitous within the outside, a lot in order that even goddamn ALDI makes one. Just lately on a hike we had examples from Helinox, Nemo, Zorali and Alton items, all with the identical push collectively body and bucket of cloth to take a seat in. If weight’s not a problem, you will get your self an reasonably priced one which weighs round a kilo – whether it is – you’ll want premium supplies and the related {dollars} to play within the featherweight division.
The Nemo Moonlite Elite has a key distinction: they reduce out a heap of cloth and changed it with a really robust blended HTP and Dyneema® twine. This makes the chair adjustable, you merely pull on the toggles (such as you’re belaying a rock climber) and, you guessed it, lean again!
Legs straight with out stress on the hammies, ooh child | @jackjbrookes
So does it work? I reckon so! For chillaxin’ (folks nonetheless say chillaxin proper?) by the hearth you’ll be able to loosen up the toggles, kick the toes again, and actually luxe it up. You principally switch the load extra onto the rear poles than the twine.
For cooking, the place you need one thing nearer to a stool, you’ll be able to pull the toggles inwards to carry the stool extra upright. It’s all very nifty. Perhaps too nifty…
In actuality, I left it someplace within the center. The chair’s design, with quick legs and an extended, versatile again than a few of its rivals, implies that the lean to stool pipeline remains to be flowing with out making micro changes, which is nice.
Assist
Can a small sling of cloth be snug? Surprisingly, sure! The cutout design, which is a light-weight evolution of the unique 850g Moonlite, acts a bit extra like a sling than a bucket like a few of its rivals. This provides extra room for the material to contour to your cheeks because it’s a bit extra versatile.
Flexibility
One other space the Moonlite Elite excels in is the way it conforms to your motion. Whereas a Helinox chair is little question snug in a single place, they will really feel a bit confined when life causes you to maneuver round. The ball-and-socket connectors on the Elite assist counter this by permitting the material to pivot below load. It’s fairly good.
Whereas something that depends on plastic being flexed is a pink flag to me, for those who grasp onto your receipt Nemo presents a lifetime guarantee. Problem accepted.
Getting Up
Typically sitting in one in every of these chairs after a protracted day on the pins could cause you to sink into the chair like Augustus Gloop, by which I imply deliciously. Nevertheless once you do must rise up it may be an actual battle. After testing this again to again I’d say that the Moonlite Elite excels right here as a consequence of its intelligent design that assists extra upright sitting, supplying you with extra leverage over these weary legs.
Design
Design is like, Nemo’s complete factor. They’re sick for it. Simply take a look at these tent pegs I discovered the opposite day.
I’d be keen to wager the title got here earlier than the product
When tasked with minimising their current chair they took an strategy known as ‘skeletonising’ which, aside from being very spooky, led to important weight financial savings.
It’s the little issues that save weight right here. The decreased dimension of the chair’s toes, the various dimension of every pole, the intelligent resolution to change from tape to twine on the reclining bit.
What’s attention-grabbing is that, regardless of all of this getting the chair inside preventing distance of the Helinox Chair Zero (20g) they throw all of it away with the bag.
With the cords finished up tight the Moonlite Elite sits extra upright
The Platform Pack™
Did they actually trademark that? Anyway. As an alternative of a simple and really light-weight bag, Nemo reinvented the chair right here with a tool-roll type case. It’s good, certain, however at round 100g it feels method over developed, with steel buckles, elastic twine, and overlapping material.
The rationale for that is that it’s twin use; when rolled out the ‘platform pack’ turns into simply that, a platform for the chair that stops its legs (now with minimal toes) postholing into the bottom.
I don’t have a photograph of the Platform Pack rolled up however right here it’s working to hold bulk mountaineering snacks
And that’s helpful. Having seen these chairs sink into sand and even mushy grass, it runs the danger of derailing your chill or worse, damaging the chair. I significantly preferred it as a result of I may put my telephone and snacks down there, and transfer them if I moved the chair – this occurs greater than you suppose!
Nevertheless it does appear over-engineered and any half-serious weight weenie, which we are able to assume this chair is geared toward, goes to go away it at house fairly shortly.
It’s price noting that the Helinox equal, a floor sheet that you must purchase individually for $45, is available in at 160g.
The Colors
There are two colourways: citron and goodnight gray.
To place it plainly, ‘citron’ (pictured) is so much. Trying into the greenygrey mesh provides me a sense of liminal house and I start to dissociate. It images nicely although.
Goodnight gray, with its orange highlights, may be very good and understated, and would most likely maintain up extra strongly to my greatest critique of the citron color: it exhibits mud actually simply. The platform pack obtained filthy!
I fairly preferred the color at night time, very simple to see
Efficiency
Can we agree {that a} chair’s primary efficiency is its consolation? I’ll maintain this part quick.
One factor I did discover was that the mesh materials lets all of the air in. We had freezing situations while testing and my merino thermals and mountaineering pants had been no match for the wind.
Different chairs had been dangerous too, however the Nemo was positively the breeziest. In summer time, this is able to be a professional! However be sure to pack somewhat bit of froth or some trackies for those who can’t stand a chilly bum.
Sustainability
The mesh, webbing, and binding use 100% recycled supplies and among the {hardware} is bluesign® authorised. I consider it additionally got here in cardboard packaging – we like to see it.
Nemo as a complete is working to chop its emissions in half by 2030. They’ve a director of sustainability and an in depth sustainability web page. Their sustainability report is publicly obtainable, and I used to be significantly impressed by the advocacy and lobbying part, as that’s the true path to alter.
Sadly GoodOnYou haven’t rated Nemo, however given the depth of knowledge on this a part of their website I think they’d rating fairly extremely.
Jack and I deep in a dialog about white-labelled outside gear
Worth
Ahh, it needed to be one thing didn’t it? With an RRP of $299.95 the Nemo Moonlite Elite is dear. That being stated, a fast Google brings up a number of locations the place you’ll be able to lock it in for round $240, so I do query if that RRP is that actual.
It’s not aggressive although, with the Helinox Chair Zero retailing for $199, and typically much less.
I’m not fairly certain why Nemo noticed match to cost a lot for the Moonlite Elite. It’s little question revolutionary and comfy, however you understand what else is snug? 100 {dollars}.
$300 is so much for light-weight consolation, perhaps Nemo know their market?
Ultimate Ideas
The Nemo Moonlite Elite is a well-designed piece mountaineering chair. True to kind, Nemo have finished one thing completely different right here and added a stage of versatility and luxury to what’s turning into a typical piece of equipment. It’s research and comfy, extremely mild and, I’ll be sincere, very laborious to go away behind.
If you will get one on sale (or ‘membership value’) then I believe these advantages do give it an edge over the competitors, and I really like that Nemo are going out on their very own. That’s by no means going to be the most cost effective strategy – whether or not that’s price it’s as much as your buns.
