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Does the perfect lightweight hiking tent exist? And is it the NEMO Mayfly Osmo Lightweight 2P Backpacking Tent? We enlisted our Editor and multi-day hiker, Amy, to take the tent into the bush and not come back until she had answers, damnit!
A perfect lightweight hiking tent may just be the most elusive piece of gear on the market (or rather, not on the market…unless?). With so many variations in design, weight, floor size, packability, and durability to consider, a great hiking tent is a coveted item. I’ve recently had the chance to test out one of NEMO’s newer models – the Mayfly Osmo Lightweight 2P Backpacking Tent – on a range of overnight and multi-day adventures and I’m ready to share my thoughts on this eye-catching shelter.
Why am I the right person to review this product?
I’ve spent many a night within the walls of a lightweight tent, none more so than my trusty Blackwolf Mantis UL 2P. Clambering back into my cosy nylon castle often felt like a homecoming of sorts. I used it on multi-day hikes, canoe trips, and car camping trips, all over NSW and the NT, and even a few special spots in VIC, QLD, and New Zealand.
Now realising how small it is next to a dome tent on the Jatbula Trail
I could pitch it in a few minutes flat and the stuff sack-style bag meant it packed away just as quickly. But after half a decade of adventures (and probably not enough care) the seams are peeling and the floor is wetting out, so I needed a tent I knew would see me through the unpredictable Overland Track and into the future. Enter the NEMO Mayfly Osmo.
All of this to say that I’ve spent A LOT of nights in a small tent, even when I didn’t have to. So I know what I like, what I’m looking for, and what the go is.
Read more: How to Choose a Hiking Tent
Quick Specs
Weight: 1.6kg (packed weight)
Dimensions: 49 x 16.5 x 7.5cm (packed size) | 215.9 x 130.8/109.22cm (floor dimensions)
Capacity: 2 person
Season: 3 season
RRP: $399.95
Performance
I’ve taken the NEMO Mayfly Osmo tent with me on a few adventures now: a multi-day hike to The Castle on the NSW South Coast, the Overland Track in Tasmania, and a three-day canoe trip on the Kangaroo River in NSW.
Firstly, this is the lightest hiking tent I’ve ever used. At a packed weight of 1.6kg, it’s over 400g lighter than my trusty old Blackwolf Mantis 2P tent, and I already bragged about how light that one was. Plus it’s noticeably roomier and much more technical.
The tent’s fly is distinctly different to other tents I’ve slept in. It’s made of NEMO’s trademarked OSMO fabric, consisting of 100% recycled polyester and nylon yarns. The fly is noticeably light at first touch, it feels quite crepey and even a little thin. This is obviously where some of the cut down in weight has come from.
Waterproofing
NEMO says that the OSMO fabric has a 4x better water repellency than regular tent fabrics and stretches 3x less when wet as well. In my experiences during rain, the fly didn’t seem to sag nearly as much as that of my Blackwolf Mantis tent, which would often hit the tent if not pegged incredibly taut. This meant that my various tent buddies and I were kept much drier without fear of internal drips.
When it came time to pack down, water was easily flicked off the fly and didn’t soak through the OSMO fabric. In fact, after one rainy morning pack down on the Overland, there was a noticeable difference between how wet one person’s pack became with her soaking tent inside dampening other gear, compared to my tent buddy’s pack with the relatively dry NEMO Mayfly barely causing a fuss.
If you have some sunshine and air to dry out the fly, it’ll get the job done pretty quickly!
Durability
However, my major concern with the performance of the tent is the durability of the fly. I noticed it was often being swept and caught in the zipper of the tent, and on one occasion as I pulled it loose from the zip, it tore slightly in two directions.
Thankfully it was part of the door that ripped so I’m not too concerned about it allowing water in, however, I couldn’t imagine a thicker and more hardy material tearing in the same situation.
Additionally, the shape of the fly cuts up much higher at both ends of the tent than others I’ve slept in, curving up to a good 45cm away from the ground at the head end. Although the more durable 60D PU ripstop tub floor climbs up the tent to meet the fly cutout, if the fly isn’t pegged properly, there’s the potential for a breeze to get up in between the fly and tent. I’m interested in seeing how it holds up in windier conditions without the fly reaching the floor to act as a windshield.
Comfort
Every time I’ve used the NEMO Mayfly OSMO so far, I’ve shared it with another person, and most of the nights have been damn chilly. I’ve woken up to frost in Tasmania and the news that we’d just slept through a 3ºC night on the South Coast, brrr! I guess that’s the third season kicking in.
Sharing with a second person, I found the tent to be pretty snug, without much room for anything more than sleeping. Sitting up side by side, you’re either touching shoulders or touching the side of the tent, and likely both. With a floor size of 215.9cm by 130.8cm, it’s not made for those of us with length or broad shoulders.
Space is limited once the sleeping systems are set up
Of course, to avoid bumping in the night, you can top and tail, however the walls of the tent taper in more at the foot end, so potential headroom is reduced. There’s also very limited space for additional gear on the floor of the tent, so pick your valuables and make the most of the pockets! If there are two of you sleeping in the tent, you’ll have to make use of the vestibules to store your hiking packs or other large gear items.
Note the black mesh pockets in the roof!
At 109.22cm high, almost 20cm more than my last tent, the maximum height inside the tent is great – I had trouble reaching the upper pockets while lying down. However as the tent isn’t a dome-shape like some other backpacking tents, this headroom isn’t evenly spread. It seems a little strange to account for tall people when they’re sitting up but not when they’re lying down.
But I’m excited to test out how roomy it feels with just me in there. I suspect I’ll continue to use it as a roomy single-person tent with the option for someone to bunk in when needed – which is pretty much exactly what I want.
Design
The most interesting part of the NEMO Mayfly Osmo 2P Tent is the design. There are features on this tent that boggled the minds of the entire We Are Explorers staff.
I’ll start with the features I loved – there are no less than four storage pockets in the roof of the tent: one very large and one smaller mesh pocket, and two yellow nylon pockets made for popping your headtorch inside of to create a nightlight/moody lighting within the tent. Fabulous!
The tent comes in a Divvy Cube stuff sack with a roll down top (my fave!) meaning there’s some wiggle room on how well you have to pack it down (and no wrestling it into a tight bag with a zip). A separate bag for both the poles and pegs also allows for easy separation of each tent component so they can be easily split up between multiple packs, or packed in different spaces within your own. Somehow on the Overland I ended up only having to carry the poles and pegs – what a dream!
The citron/mango colourway is incredibly eye-catching and unique, I’ve had several comments on it and I think it’s very cool. However, admittedly, such a light-coloured fly isn’t the most practical choice when its intended vicinity of use is amongst the dirt and dust of the bush. No major stains to report yet though.
Possibly the strangest design choice of the Mayfly Osmo is the many variations of attachments. Thankfully, NEMO’s helped users out by making each variation colour-coded. I also recommend studying the set up instructions before you take it into the field. I did not do this.
For example, the two corners at the foot end of the tent feature short, internal struts with string attached at each end on the outside that meet in a loop which is pegged into the ground. The struts help create a more boxy shape at the tent’s foot, however need to be carefully considered when folding the tent back up as they can end up on an awkward angle.
At the head end of the tent, you’ll find NEMO’s new Axial™ corner anchors, in which the ends of the main ridge pole feature a ball that’s locked into an adjustable lever. The two ends of the fly feature lock and key-style attachments that are inserted into the same lever and turned to lock in. I found these attachments much more intuitive than the internal strut and rope system used at the foot end, and much more adjustable, as the tabs on the lever and the fly can be easily tightened or loosened without having to restake the pegs.
I also found that because of the unusual pole and attachment system, when it’s not occupied, the foot end of the tent is often hovering slightly off the ground and the floor seems to sag slightly inwards from the end corners. It seems that, as the main pole structure curves down to the midpoint of the tent’s foot, rather than towards the two corners, the tension isn’t evenly dispersed across the floor. This isn’t really an issue once you’re in the tent, but it always looks like the tent hasn’t been set up correctly and has the potential to put more tension on certain sections of the floor than others.
The ropes on the tent foot end also prevent the tent from being completely freestanding, which can be a nuisance when you’re pitching it in a small space, on hard ground, and even on some tent platforms, like those on the Overland Track.
Read more: Tips on How to Pitch Your Tent
Sustainability
This is where NEMO shines and it’s clear the brand is thoughtful and considered when making its products.
The OSMO fly is bluesign® approved, meaning it passed the highest standards of safety and environmental regulations in the textile industry. bluesign® criteria takes into consideration the water, energy, and chemical consumption, carbon emissions, and worker health and safety associated with creating the product. You literally can’t get better than that.
The fly uses PFAS-free waterproofing (which would’ve helped with the bluesign approval) and meets the fire-retardancy standard without the use of added chemicals.
Read more: How Chemicals in Outdoor Gear are Harming the Planet
The tent is also protected by NEMO’s Lifetime Warranty, meaning if there’s a workmanship or production fault at any time during the gear’s lifetime, it’ll likely be replaced.
As a company, NEMO is dedicated to cutting its emissions intensity in half by 2030, and has already achieved a 22% reduction in just two years. Along with its repair, resell, and recycle gear program, The Endless Promise, the brand’s advocacy for social justice, diversity, and inclusivity, and 100% renewable-energy-run-office, Nemo excels at sustainability.
Price
The two-person version of the NEMO Mayfly Osmo Lightweight Backpacking Tent essentially comes out at $700. This price aligns with the brand name, its innovative design, lightweight, and commitment to sustainability. However, I’d hope for a slightly more durable product for such an investment.
For people looking for their first lightweight hiking tent, I believe you can find a reliable and sturdy alternative for almost half the price of the NEMO Mayfly Osmo. However, if you’re looking to level up to a far more technical and lighter tent, this is an option well worth considering.
Final Thoughts on the NEMO Mayfly OSMO 2P Tent
NEMO should be applauded for its ingenuity and desire to push the boundaries with the Mayfly OSMO 2P tent. The tent’s incredibly light weight and unique designs are helping improve the hiking tent market as a whole, and the brand’s modern and daring colour choice is the cherry on top.
NEMO’s commitment to quality and sustainability in equal measure is second to almost none – the team may just need to do a little more tinkering before I can say they’ve completely nailed it.
NEMO Mayfly OSMO 2P Tent FAQs
Does NEMO make good tents?
NEMO is known for making high-quality outdoor gear across the board and its tents are no exception. The Mayfly OSMO is particularly exceptional as the OSMO material used for the fly is a bluesign product, meaning it adheres to the strictest environmental and worker safety standards in the consumer goods industry.
What’s considered light for a hiking tent?
Generally, a lightweight hiking tent is one that weighs 1.5kg or less. The NEMO Mayfly OSMO is slightly heavier than that at 1.6kg, however
How many people can fit inside the NEMO Mayfly 2P Tent?
The NEMO Mayfly OSMO 2P tent is made for two people, which it fits comfortably, but with little extra room for gear. If you or the person you’re sharing the tent is are particularly tall or large, you may find it squishy with two of you in the tent.
What colours does the NEMO Mayfly 2P Tent come in?
The NEMO Mayfly OSMO 2P tent currently comes in just one colourway, citron/mango.
Researching for a new hiking tent? Read on!
- Hyperlite Unbound 2P Tent Reviewed & Tested
- Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent Review
- Black Wolf Wasp UL 2 Tent Review
- Macpac Duolight 2 Person Tent Review
