Just what the doctor ordered. An excellent review. I was considering this tent but your enlightening review has saved me from making the wrong decision. Really enjoy your channel.
The good news is the NEMO Hornet Elite 1P is now available in the OSMO material! I have the NEMO Dagger OSMO 3P tent and LOVE this new fabric! It doesn't sag and water repels extremely well compared to the old Sil Nylon fabric! It also dries much faster, so it's a win-win for NEMO tent lovers, IMO! 😁
You nailed this review. I own a 2019 Hornet 1P and have been let down by it repeatedly. I took it on several backpacking trips this year, including a thru hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail. I spent over 40 days in it this year. If the weather was sunny, the Hornet rocked. However, it wetted out EVERY SINGLE TIME it was in rain. It wetted out and was crushed flat in snow. The floor gets damp every morning. You 100% addressed all the structural issues with this tent too. My rainfly rubs the inner tent, the inner tent absorbs water from the rainfly, water collects on my down sleeping bag. Also, I noticed your rainfly does that little crooked bend at the foot, like it was sewn wrong, or maybe the 10d fabric is just permanently stretched into that position. In summary, the Nemo Hornet 1P is an incredible fairweather tent. It is NOT an appropriate tent for thru hiking. Do NOT bring it on the PCT/AT or you will suffer. On the plus side, the flimsy fabrics dry out almost instantly after the inevitable soaking.
Excellent review! Just one little correction, this tent doesn't have a 1.200 mm hydrostatic head because it have a thin 10 denier silnylon flysheet. That is a deliberate choice Nemo has done to balance production costs, quality, weight and final retail price on the tent. There is plenty of tents with a 10 denier and even 7 denier flysheet with 1.500-3.000 mm hydrostatic head, it's not very hard to make it even more waterproof, but then it start to be heavier so it is unusual or even impossible to find something with more than a 3.000 mm hydrostatic head in 7D or 10D material. (And just because I said so, there is probably someone with examples of 5.000 or more on a 10D silnylon, as I said, it's not really technically hard to make it, I just don't know of any tentmaker that use it.) 😀
Seriously Thanks! You confirmed some of my suspicions with this tents design! It's hard to get a true review these days online. People want kickbacks, or their stores to sell the products, or their free gear to keep coming in, so it's getting harder to find a true critical review. If I bought this tent and it sagged or got wet at the end, I would be cursing my whole trip. I kept looking at this design and reviewed nearly every two person design, waiting for the honesty about the single walled area at the head, and you were the only honest review.... The most severe thing the tent SHOULD protect you from is snow and rain.... in snow if you get wet, we all know it can go very wrong with hypothermia...and even the most build up aspect.... For my one man tent, I went with the Eureka Spitfire...its heavier than most of the ultralight tents that are in the niche market of lighter is better... but putting up with the extra pound means I've never been wet...not even in snow and freezing rain....and I'm usually so warm that others get jealous when the bad weather hits... now my Spitfire I touch the walls frequently...but when there is no moisture build up, it doesn't matter to me... my other concern is my height. I'm 6'2 and I saw a guy who was 6'3 endorsing this tent but he couldn't lay flat in it.... it's so dishonest that it's not even laughable! I like nemo and believe they are truly trying to come up with innovative new styles... but often they seem to place items on the market, that aren't practically functional unfortunately! Would I buy this tent after your honesty.....no.... so I appreciate you for saving me a purchase that I would have ended up returning!
I recently got the BA Tigerwall UL2, and when I received it and realized how thin it was I ordered the footprint. Even that is so thin. So I use a polycro sheet under that. It all made me think that there clearly is a limit to UL unless you want to go DCF. So my 2lb 2oz tent plus ground sheet and polycro groundsheet is now over 2.5 lbs.....hmmmmm. In the pursuit to get the lightest weight I have to carry gear to protect my gear from punctures and tears. Now that’s a racket! Your review was fantastic. You did it far better than I could’ve. You stated some honest facts. Thanks!
Unlikely Hiker thank you! My buddy just got a Tigerwall and he had a very poor first experience with it. He had such bad misting from it that he had to bail cause every piece of gear inside the tent was soaked.
I've got the same tent and I only pair it with polycro for the groundsheet. For where I go backpacking and how I set up my camp, I haven't had any issues with just the polycro footprint as long as I make sure to clear out any sticks or other pokey things before I set up my tent. Polycro is pretty strong; you might give it a try without the official footprint just to see how it performs.
Backcountry Exposure that’s too bad! I had my tent up for a week I’m CO. Afternoon storms almost every day but everything stayed dry. I guess the real test will be using it in the northeast where I live. It gets pretty wet here. Thanks again for fantastic info!
Yep and the bigger issue as noted by this review is the thinner fabric is only 1200mm waterproof and footprint does nothing for that. Tarptent for example uses 30d floor 3000mm waterproof and recommends not using a footprint. You are much better off putting that weight into the floor rather than a footprint.
I'm very happy you made this video and brought out this subject. I've had this talk with loads of people even with the customer service at nemo and kelty. I have a 2016 nemo galaxie 2p and the 2017 hornet 1 p plus several other tents. I hated the hornet because when I tested it that the fly became like a rubber sponge that could literally squeeze the water out of. Really it boils down to this, tent weight can be changed by working with different materials or skimping on space. The ultra light fabrics are light weight but tend to be very fragile so you have to be very careful vs a thicker stronger material like 68 to 70 D such as in the fly and floor of the galaxie, a lot of the kelty tents and sierra designs tents but instead of 2lbs like the Hornet they are around the 4 to 5 lb but are more durable and dont leak . A lot of people ( including me)are willing to take the weight penalty and have a strong great tent that will last 8 to 10 years and hold up in any types of weather rather than a ultra light tent that is so fragile and wont hold up well over time or in bad weather.
Use the right equipment for the right season. People think any tents are for all seasons. They have different categories mountaineering, overland and ultra light. I’ve seen people like Kraig Adams use this for years in the right conditions.
Great review a thing to keep in mind though with whatever tent one gets, make sure to use it for the conditions it’s is designed for. I personally love this tent for what’s it’s made. I do own other tents which I use depending on the type of weather etc. But can’t beat the weight with this one. Keep the reviews coming 🙌
No tent is truly waterproof, in theory they just keep water off you because it follows the path of least resistance, which is usually sliding off the top. When it soaks through it usually is okay because it's away from your stuff. It's kind of a weird design flaw in this tent that the exposed area is not kept away from you.
I got this tent and I love it yes there are cons with a ultralight tent so i cant disagree with the things you are saying but also will say this tent is a dream to have with you I have had it on a bikepacker trip to norway and the way i had my gear was all my bike bags just had the top end of the bag under the tent fly as my bags are waterproof so that kept it all dry. and if there is alot of rain then yes the tent fly is gonna be soaked but never had problems with water coming all the way inside
Thorough and detailed review! Same experience here with head end misting and unexpectedly high level of condensation in the 1P hornet. This is mitigated somewhat with the 2p hornet and a groundsheet; but those issues are still present. I just think design is reaching a point where the complicated design with shaped poles and a separate inner/outer limits what you can get away with if sub 2lbs is the goal; it always seems to result in thin material that has this theoretical hydrostatic head that never seems to hold up on real world use; as soon as something pushes up against it (like the frame or those spreader bars... or your head), water seeps in little by little. Seems like the way forward is going to be carbon fiber poles and DCF rain flies - like what BA is doing recently... But I assume most of us here are not independently wealthy.... Hornet makes a great fair weather tent for enjoying the clear starry night on a desert slickrock bench - in that respect this tent shines.
Great review. I have a 2p that I have used for a few years. But I don't camp in rain much being in SoCal. I have used tents such as the Hornet 2p, lunar solo, duplex, Kelty Salida 2 and right now I am using a CSHVUL1. I know its heavier, but the thing is a beast of a tent. It also has great vestibule space. But for non-free standing, I would recommend the Lunar Solo. That tent has an amazing amount of space for a 1p. But to each their own, right! I am sure somebody will say get something else. haha
Great video. Ultralight is fantastic for many reasons, but it's important to know the trade-offs. In the past it has only taken 5 minutes of really bad weather to make me regret not bringing different equipment- but then it's hard to predict every adventure.
My thoughts on tent floors are that I think they do a good job of keeping out bugs, but were never intended to keep out water. Footprints are a profit center for the vendor. Don’t bother with them. To keep dry, buy a piece of visqueen from your local hardware. It should be large enough to cut a piece that is one foot longer, and one foot wider than your tent floor. Turn up all four sides 6”, miter each corner, and secure each corner fold with duct tape. When setting up the tent, this plastic bathtub goes in first. Now, you and your sleeping gear remain dry. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying.
Fantastic review. I've really enjoyed my Nemo Blaze, but you bring up a very real thing. Definitely pros and cons to ultralight. Honestly, if I were to start over from the beginning, I wouldn't have half the "ultralight" gear I have now.
I feel the same in a lot fo ways. I wen't full bore and through more time I've dialed back and enjoyed being out with things that make me feel more comfortable. I do very much enjoy taking as little as possible though. It's weird game.
Great review Devin. I do want to add a lil input though when you say is it worth going ultra light which I do believe is a great benefit to especially those of us who are older. I have experience with Big Agnes having both the Copper Spur 4 and 2 which are awesome quality tents that have never leaked or had a bad experience with except to when it comes to weight. The 4 is just a hair under 6lbs and the 2, which is really just a one man tent with nice space for gear comes in at 3 lbs. I then learned of Zpacks and yes it’s expensive but the quality for me is superb as well. I own a Triplex and a Plexamid which again are awesome tents. I opted for the heavier material for both tents with triplex at 27 oz and my plex at 15 oz: the triplex I mite add also can actually sleep 3 people easily . So even though it comes at higher price it most definitely is quality equipment and makes my experiences in the backcountry so much more enjoyable and pleasurable. And dcf or cuben fiber does not wet out or stretch out. Rain just beads off which is easier as well to dry quickly if it had rained during the night. I’ve had the triplex almost 3 years and go backpacking as much as I can when I have free time and the quality of the the triplex is holding strong to date. I honestly believe that dcf is by far the most superior material for ultra light backpacking community not only in tents but backpacks as well , owning 2 framed Zpacks packs and a frameless pack from LiteAF which I’ve been using exclusively this year so far. I’m one though that looks to see if I would like trying something different so hopefully I’ll have my new Borah Dimma Satchel Bivy in time for my next months return trip to the Uintas along with my 10x8.5 cuben fiber tarp to see if I’ll enjoy that kind of shelter setup. Keep up the great videos and reviews Dennis Pixton Instagram dpixton63
While the Zpacks is light and water tight> I guess it all comes down to finances. The duplex comes in at $629 + $125 to make it free standing. I opted for the MSR hubba hubba at $449. Weights: msr 3lbs 14oz, Zpacks just under 2lbs with free standing poles. So for approximately a pound and a half I will stick with msr. That doesn't say if I had the cash, I would seriously consider the duplex. I have used the msr tents for a while now and have had good luck in wet weather.
Didn't feel that you were unnecessarily negative at all. It seemed that you conducted a really in depth and truthful review. Often folk seem to be justifying the purchase to themselves rather than impartially revealing both pros and cons to the viewer. I thought this was an excellent review; honestly showing wats and all. I wish other reviewers would watch this and take some notes. Brilliant post, well done!
I have the 2022 version of this product. Nemo fixed some of the comments here about the rainfly and this held up reasonably well when staked against ~10mph gusts, BUT I would definitely not rely on this in exposed/alpine environments. This is a great "cushier" step up from a bivy sack and for short overnights in the summer/dry shoulder seasons where packing space/setup and teardown time matters. Thanks for reviewing the additional features too -- there's a lot that Nemo doesn't really cover very well in their brief manual.
Devon, I have a Hornet 2 and have used in a multitude of different conditions and I think your comments accurately reflex the pro’s and cons of this tent. Wetting and condensation are a big issue because of the difficulty of keeping the fly off the netting and any windy conditions exacerbate this issue. I currently are on a National Park Road Trip around the Western Parks and have changed to a heavier MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 person. More weight but so much more durable, weather and condensation resistant etc... I agree that sometimes in an effort to reduce our weight we make sacrifices that are not worth the effort or the consequences. Thanks for the good & honest review for your subscribers.
Very thorough review. I use the REI Quarter Dome 1. Yes, it weighs 14 ounces more and it's considered light, not ultra light, but it has many great features that I have really enjoyed for backpacking.
I have never bought a tent that was totally waterproof right out of the box so I always spray down the fly and any exposed part of the tent with silicon spray to make sure. As far as enough stakes, What backpacker/ camper doesn't have tons of extra stakes from past tents in their collection? Thanks for the honest review! I do agree that the fly should come down farther at the head end.
Is that the revised / newer version of the Hornet? From my understanding the old one was recalled for the issue you’ve demonstrated. I own the new one and I have no issues with rain whatsoever...
Great review for the 1P. I own the previous gen 2P and have had it in the rain and heavy wind a few times with no issues. I had been concerned about my gear getting soaked, and stuck everything in a contractor bag. I had no problems. I found it interesting that you subjected the tent to harsher conditions than its design recommendations (mad kudos). I also like the advice about using extra stakes for the head and foot. Personally, I’m still a fan of this product. I’m a little over cautious / OCD about care for the tent, using the zippers etc. In conclusion, excellent review and points made.
Phew, close one - i am just looking at 1p tents and this was on the list. I still like nemo but not going this route as I live in northern ontario canada - it always rains and if it doesn't - it's always damp due to lakes and heavy dew.
So far I’ve seen 1/3 of this video and I can already tell you are very knowledgeable, you get it. Your not just a gear dude but someone who understands products through real use. I appreciate a review of a product not just on a table top! Thumbs up for sure.
Nice detailed review. I had the Mountain Hardwear Mega Ultralight 2. No issues with rainy / windy weather. Only 2.7 lbs for the 2 person, but more like 1.5 person. 15D fly and 30D floor. Other than the fragile fabrics, I found it to be a reliable tent with a fast pitch. I ended up selling it and buying a bombproof Hilleberg. The extra weight is worth the peace of mind in the higher altitudes with big wind and severe weather. Cheers
Yep, Hilleberg tents rank high on the list. After purchasing the Soulo and seeing the quality, I knew I wouldn't stop there. I then bought the Tara (2 person) and the Nammatj 3GT (3 person with giant vestibule). I've been thinking of trying a yellow label for weight savings. The Enan only weighs around 2.5 lbs and sets up fairly easily although I do prefer a free standing design. But for keeping it light, there's nothing wrong with using a sil-tarp with a mesh tent if the weather and terrain permits. But for a quick pitch, it’s nice when your shelter doesn’t require trees, ridge lines, hiking poles or multiple guylines. And a tent like the Enan will give you the warmth when needed, but condensation can be an issue with this design. I still have my MSR hubba hubba which is a great tent, but I should have went with the one person. I'm still in the market for a one person free standing ultra light tent for my fast and light trips. But I find the super thin fabrics are too fragile and as you pointed out, not waterproof. The search continues........
Thank you for making this video. I’ve been saying this for a few years now. It seems the tent industry has been responding to market pressure to make tents lighter and lighter, but in the last 10-years we’ve seen tents go from 3,000mm fly/5,000mm floor to 1,200mm fly & floor in the name of weight savings but not performance. I would actually be interested to see what the tent weighs after being exposed to water overnight.
I love my Nemo Hornet 2p and I've had it 2 years without any issues. BUT I also haven't camped in the snow and I'm not really backpacking in very wet/rainy areas. Fair weather backpacker here lol works well for me but I could see how others might want to consider something else depending on what they're doing/where they live.
Yeah it doesn't rain too much in the desert in the spring and fall does it? :) I actually thought about you when I was filming this. Too bad it's not squirrel proof, right?! ha ha!
@@BackcountryExposure Omg, yeah. I was thinking I've had ONE problem with my tent lol But it wasn't the poor tents fault hahaha Damn squirrel.....Good review, I might think more about it when and if I start doing more backpacking in wetter climates
Great review. I been looking for a review that shows the backpack in the vestibule area. Your review is the only one that I can find. Thanks for the review.
All. Know is that at Kat years Oshkosh fly in, I was in the Nemo in a 35 minute, Wisconsin, swimmer storm with 79 mph winds. I had to support the wall with my body but I stayed dry and the tent just bent with the wind. My buddies tents were destroyed. Love this tent.
Excellent review! I’m only 5’3” and I purchased a 2P Big Agnes UL tent and footprint to avoid claustrophobia in bad weather. I’m super easy on gear thank goodness. As you stated, Nemo makes awesome gear though. Your suggestions for improving this tent are very constructive.
Really appreciate the honest and thoroughly detailed review. I have the hornet 2p (I like the xtra space; no 2p here...) and I think it has a much more robust, well-thought-out design. My only problem is I always wake up in my REI magma laying just off the side of my Klymit pad with a nice sharp piece of Rocky Mountain granite lacerating my kidney.
Good review. Some notes: All modern nylon tent flys, regardless of hydrostatic resistance, undergo sagging when they get wet and you should tighten the fly again once they are wet. Also noticed you didn't guy out the head of the tent, I can see the rope flopping loosely during the time-lapse, might have helped with the saturation that lead to the water inside. Did the water leak through the fly or just the bathtub head?
one question. i have the same tent. the tent bottom is not the thick material i know from tents. it looks like the tent cover wich lets through water when u touch it. so i am wondering if the tent bottom is waterproof when camping on wet ground in general? or will it only let through water when it wears down over time? i do not wanne use a plastic sheet under the tent.
I just bought one to replace my 15+yr old Eureka Spitfire. I love my Eureka. It was cheap enough to abuse and not care if it got destroyed. I never used a footprint, I would just put my thermarest under there and I never got a hole.. ..but now they don't make the Spitfires anymore, so I figured I'd 'upgrade' to this thing.. and I actually ordered the proper footprint for it (+5oz). Hopefully I can still keep the carry weight under 3lbs like my spitfire..
I am more and more tempted to go with ~2kg tents, for bike-packing, so more or less 1 kilo extra , but have much more stable design and be way more waterproof than those ultralight tents. 1 kilo might seam a lot for some, but in my opinion it's not that huge trade off
I am a volunteer a local mountain search and rescue team and am looking for an emergency tent to have with me. Size and weight are a consideration as I am not PLANNING on being out overnight, but that’s why they are considered emergency shelters. I am considering the alpkit aeronaut but welcome your opinion.
@Backcountry Exposure I'm 6'3" will this tent supply enough length? I am seriously considering the Dragonfly one person based on this review. Thanks for your detailed look at this and other equipment.
I am 6ft tall and about 185lbs. I have the 1p Hornet. And it is extremely cramped for me. My fee touch at one end which means that condensation always wets my sleeping bag. Nemo does sell a matching footprint for the Hornet that does help keep it from wetting out. I personally never had that problem with the bathtub leaking. Just the condensation. Yes the vestibule is tiny and rally I only ever put my shoes under it. If its gonna rain I will put my packs rain cover on it and lean it against a tree and hope for the best. Would I buy it again? No. I would rather carry the extra weight for a larger tent. Actually now I have a hammock and hope to never use a tent again.
hey man, I really value your honest opinion on this tent. I’m curious then about what you would have to say on the updated OSMO version of this same tent that just came out. Thanks!
Well, I already bought this. I’m not a very big person so thought I’d be fine on the size. My first 3 night trip out was fine, but was also dry. I always find the foot box finicky to set up. Never get a “smooth” floor. But do you think staking out the fly at the head would help keep it from wetting out? I could add one stake and a guy line. Thanks.
Great job. That rainfly by the head falling short from the bottom always bothered me. Seeing water on the inside confirms my concerns. Excellent info on the materials, variables and the care necessary to go in the ultralight direction with a shelter
All nylon fabrics stretch when they get wet. Even Hilleberg tents that have a hydrostatic head of 5000 mm are known to sag considerably when wet. You can usually retighten everything and hop back in. The other option is to look at tents and tarps that use polyester instead of nylon. They are on the other hand somewhat heavier. 😔 They pitch nice and taut though and stay that way. You show the Jakes Foot at 06:08 and it looks like you can pull on the nylon tab to tension the fly. It even has the appropriate buckle. It would be very odd if you couldn't adjust the fly. The bathtub floor should also be waterproof, but I was really surprised to see at 05:18 how much water got thru. I don't think that's supposed to happen. The weight of this tent is nice, but that's about it from my perspective.
Nice review. If that's an FF UL30 tangerine down bag then with the AXL pad we have exactly the same sleep system. Compared to the 2018 version I have, it appears they added the ridge spreader and the foot strut, tied the "volumizing guy-outs" much more securely to the tent (mine have plastic eyes at both ends and fall off constantly), possibly switched to more flexible poles, and (inexplicably) made the fly non-adjustable at the head end, per my other comment.
Thanks so much for the great video. l'm looking into buying an ultralight tent and this is super helpful (coming from a MSR Access 2). Just broke the left button of my mouse giving you a thumbs up ;-)
Thanks for making this video and confirming the innate stupidity of Nemo's decision to design a rain fly that does not fully block rain from falling on the tent's inner layer. Just looking at the pics on the web site instantly made me thing that this was a piss-poor design choice, and your video and testing at 05:30 proved it. ...And saved me from making a mistake in buying this tent. Thanks!
The age old debate! Is it really beneficial to go ultra light? I agree entirely - it's not always beneficial, for the sake of a few pounds...🤔 great review, thanks! Adam 😀
I looked at the Hornet for my Arizona trip last January, but managed to get a good deal on a BA Fly Creek HV 2P tent (the MTN GLO model has been discontinued and got it on a clearance sale). You aren't happy with the vestibule, you should try the Fly creek: it's awful and small. It's a good thing my tent is a 2P so I can store my pack and shoes inside. The fabric for the tent is similar to the nemo. I had the thing strapped outside my tent, and a cactus bush managed to cut a hole in the stuff sack and a few tiny holes in the fly. Luckily those were close to the bottom/ground spots instead of at the top, slapped some Tenacious tape and sealant and it seems to be working fine now. Fly creek has the same side extenders with the mitten hooks as the Hornet, so it makes the tent more spacious for me; it would be cramped but doable with 2 people. I totally agree with your struggles with the UL tent. I had to use my tent instead of my hammock at a state campground, and there was a torrential thunderstorm dumping rain on me. The tent held up, but the bottom of the rain fly started to wet out. The Good news is that the fly extends to the ground unlike the Hornet, so it didnt cause the issues the front of yours has. Honestly, if I had to buy a tent again, I might've gone a tad "heavier" with the tent fabric. I don't want to constantly worry about how fragile the thing is. Luckily I use my hammock more than my tent.
Arcana73 sounds like overall we’ve had a similar experience. Nemo has impressed me with their products. Sleeping bags, pads and we have one of the huge family tents, and all of it is solid, impressive stuff. I’m just not stoked on the lightest fabric possible on the Hornet to save weight and attempt to satisfy the gram counters. Adding a few ounces on this design with a 20 or 30 Denier floor and 15-20 denier fly that would allow at least a 2000+ hydro static head would make this a way better product.
I've seen read reviews. Great one. I agree with other reviewer I'll take more weight for durability and room. Hell just live in a garage bag with sticks.
Good video. This is why I don't like ultralight versions of tents, but this isn't even the "ultralight" version of this model. The material just isn't durable. I'm willing to carry extra weight for more durable material. I had a leaky ultralight on the AT and I'd rather stay dry.
Great review. I've been eyeing this tent for awhile and you zeroed on my same concerns. I think the short fly is a no-go. I'll stick with my REI QD1 only half pound heavier. I've come to the realization I need to open up the wallet for dyneema for something lighter and effective.
I finally made the command decision to buy the REI Quarter Dome SL1 instead of the Nemo Hornet. Bought the QD on sale for $225.00; YES, it's 9 oz heavier however, I've not had interior condensation problems. Yes, I guy out all 3 guy out lines everytime I pitch my QD.
Re: "No way to adjust strap tension" @6:08 -- is this a change in the 2019 model? My 2018 Hornet 1P has the same black buckle or locking slider attaching the fly to the "Jake's Foot" corner, and it can be used to shorten the grey strap and tension the fly. I do it routinely and consider it a vital step in minimizing the height of that cutout. Here, it looks like the loose end of the strap has been sewn back on itself, fixing the length. I can't think of any reason to do that! Is it a manufacturing error? Can you cut the stitches to free the end of the strap?
Adam Cole yeah it would be a bummer to have to modify the tent from the factory to adapt the product to fit the need better. I’d rather those aspects not be skimped on to begin with.
Appears to have many flaws, over priced and you don't even receive the much needed stakes? It does have a very low weight though , great honest review just shows how doing a lot of research is so important when looking for quality ultra light gear
Take a good look at the Luxe Hiking Gear Hexpeak XL. You can get a 2.5 person inner for it as well when bugs are a problem. Otherwise run it as a floorless shelter with groundsheets and it's nice and roomy. Really a great shelter for 3.5 season use.
@@asuna993 It doesn't come with a floor. You would use a tarp/ground sheet as the floor, or buy the 2.5 inner that is the mesh tent and floor. Another option to look at could be the Tarptent Rainshadow 3.
Hi! I’ve seen a lot off your gear review! But in mostly every video you wear a arc’teryx jacket? Any chance you could make a review off some of them? Got some holes in my arc’teryx Nodin wind jacket without knowing how😂 not so happy with the quality of that jacket! Cheers from Norway 🍺👍
Lars Stenseth hey! I do have some videos from a couple years ago on those jackets. But nothing that’s new. When the weather turns, maybe I’ll do some more. Maybe try to warranty the jacket?
I have this tent and like it a bunch. I also know that there are always compromises..ultralight means lighter, thinner, less robust materials. You spent alot of time going over things that an ultralight tent can't necessarily do..a 10 denier floor for example. Sure, I have a nice SD tent, that is single wall with a heavier floor..but guess what? It weights more...no big surprise. The Hornet is my go-to ultra lightweight tent. I love it. If I want ultra ultra light I go to my sil nylon tarp. Again..compromises between all of these.
I guess for the time being, there is a limit to how lightweight a tent can be before it becomes too fragile and not protective enough. Until they come up with other ultrastrong and ultralight materials, I'd rather carry a few extra hundred grams and have a solid tent I can rely on.
The weigth decreased faster than the technology made progress. People are slowly realising that. And, to be honest, 800g or 1.1kg do not make a big difference. Especially not if you wake up in a dry tent instead of a wet one. Or none, depending on the wind stability.
I can never understand why manufacturers don't make the rainfly go all the way to the ground. It aways leaves the lower part of the tent exposed to getting wet. I should design the ultimate tent. Ive been in the Adirondacks high peaks area for days in constant rain. Lessons learned.
Scott Gephart thank you! I try hard to give people enough info and real world experience to make educated decisions on whether the product is right for them or not.
I tested mine out car camping in a downpour last night. Didn't realize I was so short on stakes and ended up wetting out from the head and both sides, ended up sleeping in the car. Going to use it on backpacking trip this week so we will see.... I think I'll keep this for trips out west, and get something better for wet and humid michigan!
I have this tent and I use it in British weather and I have never had any water ingress in the tent, I do however always treat every tent I buy with a water and uv proofing solution called Fabsil Gold all over inside and out, always better safe than sorry with the amount of rain we get.
Just what the doctor ordered. An excellent review. I was considering this tent but your enlightening review has saved me from making the wrong decision. Really enjoy your channel.
It's refreshing to have someone actually get into the cons of a piece of gear. I really appreciate the insights. Giving you a like + a subscribe.
The good news is the NEMO Hornet Elite 1P is now available in the OSMO material! I have the NEMO Dagger OSMO 3P tent and LOVE this new fabric! It doesn't sag and water repels extremely well compared to the old Sil Nylon fabric! It also dries much faster, so it's a win-win for NEMO tent lovers, IMO! 😁
Bryce? I think you got the wrong channel.
I have the 2p and love it! Nemo makes a great tent IMO
You nailed this review. I own a 2019 Hornet 1P and have been let down by it repeatedly. I took it on several backpacking trips this year, including a thru hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail. I spent over 40 days in it this year. If the weather was sunny, the Hornet rocked. However, it wetted out EVERY SINGLE TIME it was in rain. It wetted out and was crushed flat in snow. The floor gets damp every morning.
You 100% addressed all the structural issues with this tent too. My rainfly rubs the inner tent, the inner tent absorbs water from the rainfly, water collects on my down sleeping bag. Also, I noticed your rainfly does that little crooked bend at the foot, like it was sewn wrong, or maybe the 10d fabric is just permanently stretched into that position.
In summary, the Nemo Hornet 1P is an incredible fairweather tent. It is NOT an appropriate tent for thru hiking. Do NOT bring it on the PCT/AT or you will suffer.
On the plus side, the flimsy fabrics dry out almost instantly after the inevitable soaking.
The OHT is on my list. I've done the Buffalo River Trail 7 times. Hello hiking neighbor!
Excellent review!
Just one little correction, this tent doesn't have a 1.200 mm hydrostatic head because it have a thin 10 denier silnylon flysheet.
That is a deliberate choice Nemo has done to balance production costs, quality, weight and final retail price on the tent.
There is plenty of tents with a 10 denier and even 7 denier flysheet with 1.500-3.000 mm hydrostatic head, it's not very hard to make it even more waterproof, but then it start to be heavier so it is unusual or even impossible to find something with more than a 3.000 mm hydrostatic head in 7D or 10D material.
(And just because I said so, there is probably someone with examples of 5.000 or more on a 10D silnylon, as I said, it's not really technically hard to make it, I just don't know of any tentmaker that use it.) 😀
Seriously Thanks! You confirmed some of my suspicions with this tents design! It's hard to get a true review these days online. People want kickbacks, or their stores to sell the products, or their free gear to keep coming in, so it's getting harder to find a true critical review. If I bought this tent and it sagged or got wet at the end, I would be cursing my whole trip.
I kept looking at this design and reviewed nearly every two person design, waiting for the honesty about the single walled area at the head, and you were the only honest review.... The most severe thing the tent SHOULD protect you from is snow and rain.... in snow if you get wet, we all know it can go very wrong with hypothermia...and even the most build up aspect....
For my one man tent, I went with the Eureka Spitfire...its heavier than most of the ultralight tents that are in the niche market of lighter is better... but putting up with the extra pound means I've never been wet...not even in snow and freezing rain....and I'm usually so warm that others get jealous when the bad weather hits... now my Spitfire I touch the walls frequently...but when there is no moisture build up, it doesn't matter to me... my other concern is my height. I'm 6'2 and I saw a guy who was 6'3 endorsing this tent but he couldn't lay flat in it.... it's so dishonest that it's not even laughable!
I like nemo and believe they are truly trying to come up with innovative new styles... but often they seem to place items on the market, that aren't practically functional unfortunately!
Would I buy this tent after your honesty.....no.... so I appreciate you for saving me a purchase that I would have ended up returning!
I recently got the BA Tigerwall UL2, and when I received it and realized how thin it was I ordered the footprint. Even that is so thin. So I use a polycro sheet under that. It all made me think that there clearly is a limit to UL unless you want to go DCF. So my 2lb 2oz tent plus ground sheet and polycro groundsheet is now over 2.5 lbs.....hmmmmm. In the pursuit to get the lightest weight I have to carry gear to protect my gear from punctures and tears. Now that’s a racket! Your review was fantastic. You did it far better than I could’ve. You stated some honest facts. Thanks!
Unlikely Hiker thank you!
My buddy just got a Tigerwall and he had a very poor first experience with it. He had such bad misting from it that he had to bail cause every piece of gear inside the tent was soaked.
I've got the same tent and I only pair it with polycro for the groundsheet. For where I go backpacking and how I set up my camp, I haven't had any issues with just the polycro footprint as long as I make sure to clear out any sticks or other pokey things before I set up my tent. Polycro is pretty strong; you might give it a try without the official footprint just to see how it performs.
Backcountry Exposure that’s too bad! I had my tent up for a week I’m CO. Afternoon storms almost every day but everything stayed dry. I guess the real test will be using it in the northeast where I live. It gets pretty wet here. Thanks again for fantastic info!
Hiking With Joe maybe I’ll give that a try, thanks!
Yep and the bigger issue as noted by this review is the thinner fabric is only 1200mm waterproof and footprint does nothing for that. Tarptent for example uses 30d floor 3000mm waterproof and recommends not using a footprint. You are much better off putting that weight into the floor rather than a footprint.
I'm very happy you made this video and brought out this subject. I've had this talk with loads of people even with the customer service at nemo and kelty. I have a 2016 nemo galaxie 2p and the 2017 hornet 1 p plus several other tents. I hated the hornet because when I tested it that the fly became like a rubber sponge that could literally squeeze the water out of. Really it boils down to this, tent weight can be changed by working with different materials or skimping on space. The ultra light fabrics are light weight but tend to be very fragile so you have to be very careful vs a thicker stronger material like 68 to 70 D such as in the fly and floor of the galaxie, a lot of the kelty tents and sierra designs tents but instead of 2lbs like the Hornet they are around the 4 to 5 lb but are more durable and dont leak . A lot of people ( including me)are willing to take the weight penalty and have a strong great tent that will last 8 to 10 years and hold up in any types of weather rather than a ultra light tent that is so fragile and wont hold up well over time or in bad weather.
Now that’s how to review a product 👍🏼
Use the right equipment for the right season. People think any tents are for all seasons. They have different categories mountaineering, overland and ultra light. I’ve seen people like Kraig Adams use this for years in the right conditions.
Great review a thing to keep in mind though with whatever tent one gets, make sure to use it for the conditions it’s is designed for. I personally love this tent for what’s it’s made. I do own other tents which I use depending on the type of weather etc. But can’t beat the weight with this one. Keep the reviews coming 🙌
Excellent, thorough review
Thanks dood!
I can't see ever buying a tent that wets out. A tent should keep you dry. Thanks Dev!
The Wasatch Gear Review how true that is!
I have heard that this tent leaks badly.
No tent is truly waterproof, in theory they just keep water off you because it follows the path of least resistance, which is usually sliding off the top. When it soaks through it usually is okay because it's away from your stuff. It's kind of a weird design flaw in this tent that the exposed area is not kept away from you.
@@BackcountryExposure so when it gets wet it stretches out? Does it shrink back up when it dries?
Now, in my sixties, post-stroke, ultralight gear is a must. Thanks for this review.
I got this tent and I love it yes there are cons with a ultralight tent so i cant disagree with the things you are saying but also will say this tent is a dream to have with you I have had it on a bikepacker trip to norway and the way i had my gear was all my bike bags just had the top end of the bag under the tent fly as my bags are waterproof so that kept it all dry. and if there is alot of rain then yes the tent fly is gonna be soaked but never had problems with water coming all the way inside
Thorough and detailed review! Same experience here with head end misting and unexpectedly high level of condensation in the 1P hornet. This is mitigated somewhat with the 2p hornet and a groundsheet; but those issues are still present. I just think design is reaching a point where the complicated design with shaped poles and a separate inner/outer limits what you can get away with if sub 2lbs is the goal; it always seems to result in thin material that has this theoretical hydrostatic head that never seems to hold up on real world use; as soon as something pushes up against it (like the frame or those spreader bars... or your head), water seeps in little by little. Seems like the way forward is going to be carbon fiber poles and DCF rain flies - like what BA is doing recently... But I assume most of us here are not independently wealthy.... Hornet makes a great fair weather tent for enjoying the clear starry night on a desert slickrock bench - in that respect this tent shines.
WildWestHikes hit the nail on the head! I’m excited for it as a desert tent for sure with the groundsheet though.
Great review. I have a 2p that I have used for a few years. But I don't camp in rain much being in SoCal. I have used tents such as the Hornet 2p, lunar solo, duplex, Kelty Salida 2 and right now I am using a CSHVUL1. I know its heavier, but the thing is a beast of a tent. It also has great vestibule space. But for non-free standing, I would recommend the Lunar Solo. That tent has an amazing amount of space for a 1p. But to each their own, right! I am sure somebody will say get something else. haha
Lead Me Outdoors thanks Matt! It’s nice to have a lot of solid options on the market. Maybe dyneema will be my next move in the UL category.
Backcountry Exposure the duplex is a very nice shelter. Just had a big footprint which limits its capabilities but still is an awesome tent!
This tent series had so much promise.
Great video. Ultralight is fantastic for many reasons, but it's important to know the trade-offs. In the past it has only taken 5 minutes of really bad weather to make me regret not bringing different equipment- but then it's hard to predict every adventure.
Hard to predict and always feel like you've got the exact right equipment, hence the reason majority of us pack our fears.
My thoughts on tent floors are that I think they do a good job of keeping out bugs, but were never intended to keep out water. Footprints are a profit center for the vendor. Don’t bother with them. To keep dry, buy a piece of visqueen from your local hardware. It should be large enough to cut a piece that is one foot longer, and one foot wider than your tent floor. Turn up all four sides 6”, miter each corner, and secure each corner fold with duct tape. When setting up the tent, this plastic bathtub goes in first. Now, you and your sleeping gear remain dry.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying.
All reasons I avoid the ultralight craze ! You make many very good points . Very comprehensive review !
Thank you!
Fantastic review. I've really enjoyed my Nemo Blaze, but you bring up a very real thing. Definitely pros and cons to ultralight. Honestly, if I were to start over from the beginning, I wouldn't have half the "ultralight" gear I have now.
I feel the same in a lot fo ways. I wen't full bore and through more time I've dialed back and enjoyed being out with things that make me feel more comfortable. I do very much enjoy taking as little as possible though. It's weird game.
Great review Devin. I do want to add a lil input though when you say is it worth going ultra light which I do believe is a great benefit to especially those of us who are older. I have experience with Big Agnes having both the Copper Spur 4 and 2 which are awesome quality tents that have never leaked or had a bad experience with except to when it comes to weight. The 4 is just a hair under 6lbs and the 2, which is really just a one man tent with nice space for gear comes in at 3 lbs. I then learned of Zpacks and yes it’s expensive but the quality for me is superb as well. I own a Triplex and a Plexamid which again are awesome tents. I opted for the heavier material for both tents with triplex at 27 oz and my plex at 15 oz: the triplex I mite add also can actually sleep 3 people easily . So even though it comes at higher price it most definitely is quality equipment and makes my experiences in the backcountry so much more enjoyable and pleasurable. And dcf or cuben fiber does not wet out or stretch out. Rain just beads off which is easier as well to dry quickly if it had rained during the night. I’ve had the triplex almost 3 years and go backpacking as much as I can when I have free time and the quality of the the triplex is holding strong to date. I honestly believe that dcf is by far the most superior material for ultra light backpacking community not only in tents but backpacks as well , owning 2 framed Zpacks packs and a frameless pack from LiteAF which I’ve been using exclusively this year so far. I’m one though that looks to see if I would like trying something different so hopefully I’ll have my new Borah Dimma Satchel Bivy in time for my next months return trip to the Uintas along with my 10x8.5 cuben fiber tarp to see if I’ll enjoy that kind of shelter setup. Keep up the great videos and reviews
Dennis Pixton Instagram dpixton63
While the Zpacks is light and water tight> I guess it all comes down to finances. The duplex comes in at $629 + $125 to make it free standing. I opted for the MSR hubba hubba at $449. Weights: msr 3lbs 14oz, Zpacks just under 2lbs with free standing poles. So for approximately a pound and a half I will stick with msr. That doesn't say if I had the cash, I would seriously consider the duplex. I have used the msr tents for a while now and have had good luck in wet weather.
Didn't feel that you were unnecessarily negative at all. It seemed that you conducted a really in depth and truthful review. Often folk seem to be justifying the purchase to themselves rather than impartially revealing both pros and cons to the viewer.
I thought this was an excellent review; honestly showing wats and all. I wish other reviewers would watch this and take some notes. Brilliant post, well done!
I have the 2022 version of this product.
Nemo fixed some of the comments here about the rainfly and this held up reasonably well when staked against ~10mph gusts, BUT I would definitely not rely on this in exposed/alpine environments. This is a great "cushier" step up from a bivy sack and for short overnights in the summer/dry shoulder seasons where packing space/setup and teardown time matters.
Thanks for reviewing the additional features too -- there's a lot that Nemo doesn't really cover very well in their brief manual.
Devon, I have a Hornet 2 and have used in a multitude of different conditions and I think your comments accurately reflex the pro’s and cons of this tent. Wetting and condensation are a big issue because of the difficulty of keeping the fly off the netting and any windy conditions exacerbate this issue. I currently are on a National Park Road Trip around the Western Parks and have changed to a heavier MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 person. More weight but so much more durable, weather and condensation resistant etc... I agree that sometimes in an effort to reduce our weight we make sacrifices that are not worth the effort or the consequences. Thanks for the good & honest review for your subscribers.
Norman Turner thanks Norman! I’d like to try some of the MSR tents myself.
Very thorough review. I use the REI Quarter Dome 1. Yes, it weighs 14 ounces more and it's considered light, not ultra light, but it has many great features that I have really enjoyed for backpacking.
bertman4 couple of friends have the Quarter Dome and love it!
Great detailed review Devin. I also find that there's a compromise between performance and weight with a lot of gear.
Thanks Paul! Time to get myself into a Hilleberg!
I have never bought a tent that was totally waterproof right out of the box so I always spray down the fly and any exposed part of the tent with silicon spray to make sure. As far as enough stakes, What backpacker/ camper doesn't have tons of extra stakes from past tents in their collection?
Thanks for the honest review! I do agree that the fly should come down farther at the head end.
Is that the revised / newer version of the Hornet? From my understanding the old one was recalled for the issue you’ve demonstrated. I own the new one and I have no issues with rain whatsoever...
I wish everyone went to the lengths and testing you do to provide a comprehensive review - much appreciated
I appreciate that. It's important for people to see real use of a product to be able to make better educated decisions on gear.
Best review of the Nemo Hornet I’ve seen. Honest & thorough
Great review for the 1P. I own the previous gen 2P and have had it in the rain and heavy wind a few times with no issues. I had been concerned about my gear getting soaked, and stuck everything in a contractor bag. I had no problems. I found it interesting that you subjected the tent to harsher conditions than its design recommendations (mad kudos). I also like the advice about using extra stakes for the head and foot. Personally, I’m still a fan of this product. I’m a little over cautious / OCD about care for the tent, using the zippers etc. In conclusion, excellent review and points made.
Phew, close one - i am just looking at 1p tents and this was on the list. I still like nemo but not going this route as I live in northern ontario canada - it always rains and if it doesn't - it's always damp due to lakes and heavy dew.
So far I’ve seen 1/3 of this video and I can already tell you are very knowledgeable, you get it. Your not just a gear dude but someone who understands products through real use. I appreciate a review of a product not just on a table top! Thumbs up for sure.
Thank you! Glad you see that in my videos.
Backcountry Exposure no worries! Always appreciate smart outdoor enthusiasts!
Nice detailed review. I had the Mountain Hardwear Mega Ultralight 2. No issues with rainy / windy weather. Only 2.7 lbs for the 2 person, but more like 1.5 person. 15D fly and 30D floor. Other than the fragile fabrics, I found it to be a reliable tent with a fast pitch. I ended up selling it and buying a bombproof Hilleberg. The extra weight is worth the peace of mind in the higher altitudes with big wind and severe weather. Cheers
Man, I'd love to get into a Hilleberg.
Yep, Hilleberg tents rank high on the list. After purchasing the Soulo and seeing the quality, I knew I wouldn't stop there. I then bought the Tara (2 person) and the Nammatj 3GT (3 person with giant vestibule). I've been thinking of trying a yellow label for weight savings. The Enan only weighs around 2.5 lbs and sets up fairly easily although I do prefer a free standing design. But for keeping it light, there's nothing wrong with using a sil-tarp with a mesh tent if the weather and terrain permits. But for a quick pitch, it’s nice when your shelter doesn’t require trees, ridge lines, hiking poles or multiple guylines. And a tent like the Enan will give you the warmth when needed, but condensation can be an issue with this design. I still have my MSR hubba hubba which is a great tent, but I should have went with the one person. I'm still in the market for a one person free standing ultra light tent for my fast and light trips. But I find the super thin fabrics are too fragile and as you pointed out, not waterproof. The search continues........
Thank you for making this video. I’ve been saying this for a few years now. It seems the tent industry has been responding to market pressure to make tents lighter and lighter, but in the last 10-years we’ve seen tents go from 3,000mm fly/5,000mm floor to 1,200mm fly & floor in the name of weight savings but not performance. I would actually be interested to see what the tent weighs after being exposed to water overnight.
I love my Nemo Hornet 2p and I've had it 2 years without any issues. BUT I also haven't camped in the snow and I'm not really backpacking in very wet/rainy areas. Fair weather backpacker here lol works well for me but I could see how others might want to consider something else depending on what they're doing/where they live.
Yeah it doesn't rain too much in the desert in the spring and fall does it? :) I actually thought about you when I was filming this. Too bad it's not squirrel proof, right?! ha ha!
@@BackcountryExposure Omg, yeah. I was thinking I've had ONE problem with my tent lol But it wasn't the poor tents fault hahaha Damn squirrel.....Good review, I might think more about it when and if I start doing more backpacking in wetter climates
Ah 18 hours in a tent. Time to hike.
Great review. This is my standard tent for backpacking in the San Gabriels, but I would definitely re-think it if I were going somewhere wetter.
Thanks! It makes me glad I live in Utah.
Excellent review. I'm just about to buy my first hiking tent and this information about ultralight tents really helped me
Excellent review! I want to hear the cons so I can decide if they are big enough for me to consider, or overcome.
Great review. I been looking for a review that shows the backpack in the vestibule area. Your review is the only one that I can find. Thanks for the review.
how do you take that on a plane. do the poles fold so you can put them on a check bag? looking for something portable i can take on a plane.
All. Know is that at Kat years Oshkosh fly in, I was in the Nemo in a 35 minute, Wisconsin, swimmer storm with 79 mph winds. I had to support the wall with my body but I stayed dry and the tent just bent with the wind. My buddies tents were destroyed. Love this tent.
Thank you for the in depth review and, for pointing out both the good and bad points. Most people only concentrate on the good points.
Excellent review! I’m only 5’3” and I purchased a 2P Big Agnes UL tent and footprint to avoid claustrophobia in bad weather. I’m super easy on gear thank goodness. As you stated, Nemo makes awesome gear though. Your suggestions for improving this tent are very constructive.
NaLona Brato thanks! Just keeping it real and honest. I enjoy having the extra space myself!
Guess all those thumbs down are "happy hornet" owners, another excellent review like always!!😁✊🔥
Really appreciate the honest and thoroughly detailed review. I have the hornet 2p (I like the xtra space; no 2p here...) and I think it has a much more robust, well-thought-out design. My only problem is I always wake up in my REI magma laying just off the side of my Klymit pad with a nice sharp piece of Rocky Mountain granite lacerating my kidney.
Eric Poutous eeek gotta watch those kidneys!
Good review. Some notes: All modern nylon tent flys, regardless of hydrostatic resistance, undergo sagging when they get wet and you should tighten the fly again once they are wet. Also noticed you didn't guy out the head of the tent, I can see the rope flopping loosely during the time-lapse, might have helped with the saturation that lead to the water inside. Did the water leak through the fly or just the bathtub head?
one question. i have the same tent. the tent bottom
is not the thick material i know from tents. it looks like the tent
cover wich lets through water when u touch it. so i am wondering if the
tent bottom is waterproof when camping on wet ground in general? or will it only let through water when it wears down over time? i do not wanne use a plastic sheet under the tent.
I just bought one to replace my 15+yr old Eureka Spitfire. I love my Eureka. It was cheap enough to abuse and not care if it got destroyed. I never used a footprint, I would just put my thermarest under there and I never got a hole..
..but now they don't make the Spitfires anymore, so I figured I'd 'upgrade' to this thing.. and I actually ordered the proper footprint for it (+5oz). Hopefully I can still keep the carry weight under 3lbs like my spitfire..
I am more and more tempted to go with ~2kg tents, for bike-packing, so more or less 1 kilo extra , but have much more stable design and be way more waterproof than those ultralight tents. 1 kilo might seam a lot for some, but in my opinion it's not that huge trade off
I am a volunteer a local mountain search and rescue team and am looking for an emergency tent to have with me. Size and weight are a consideration as I am not PLANNING on being out overnight, but that’s why they are considered emergency shelters. I am considering the alpkit aeronaut but welcome your opinion.
@Backcountry Exposure I'm 6'3" will this tent supply enough length? I am seriously considering the Dragonfly one person based on this review. Thanks for your detailed look at this and other equipment.
Appreciate the extensive review! Would you be able to test the Blackdeer 2P ultralight tent?
I am 6ft tall and about 185lbs. I have the 1p Hornet. And it is extremely cramped for me. My fee touch at one end which means that condensation always wets my sleeping bag. Nemo does sell a matching footprint for the Hornet that does help keep it from wetting out. I personally never had that problem with the bathtub leaking. Just the condensation. Yes the vestibule is tiny and rally I only ever put my shoes under it. If its gonna rain I will put my packs rain cover on it and lean it against a tree and hope for the best. Would I buy it again? No. I would rather carry the extra weight for a larger tent. Actually now I have a hammock and hope to never use a tent again.
hey man, I really value your honest opinion on this tent. I’m curious then about what you would have to say on the updated OSMO version of this same tent that just came out. Thanks!
こんなに実用的なレビューを初めて見ました！
素晴らしいレビュー動画をありがとうございます♫
Well, I already bought this. I’m not a very big person so thought I’d be fine on the size. My first 3 night trip out was fine, but was also dry. I always find the foot box finicky to set up. Never get a “smooth” floor. But do you think staking out the fly at the head would help keep it from wetting out? I could add one stake and a guy line. Thanks.
Great job. That rainfly by the head falling short from the bottom always bothered me. Seeing water on the inside confirms my concerns. Excellent info on the materials, variables and the care necessary to go in the ultralight direction with a shelter
Lord Marshall thank you!
All nylon fabrics stretch when they get wet. Even Hilleberg tents that have a hydrostatic head of 5000 mm are known to sag considerably when wet. You can usually retighten everything and hop back in. The other option is to look at tents and tarps that use polyester instead of nylon. They are on the other hand somewhat heavier. 😔 They pitch nice and taut though and stay that way.
You show the Jakes Foot at 06:08 and it looks like you can pull on the nylon tab to tension the fly. It even has the appropriate buckle. It would be very odd if you couldn't adjust the fly.
The bathtub floor should also be waterproof, but I was really surprised to see at 05:18 how much water got thru. I don't think that's supposed to happen.
The weight of this tent is nice, but that's about it from my perspective.
Is there a different in HH ratings with different denier fabrics from Nemo? Not sure aboutbthat
This is such a great review video and it's really cool you can do some experiments at your backyard haha
Nice review. If that's an FF UL30 tangerine down bag then with the AXL pad we have exactly the same sleep system. Compared to the 2018 version I have, it appears they added the ridge spreader and the foot strut, tied the "volumizing guy-outs" much more securely to the tent (mine have plastic eyes at both ends and fall off constantly), possibly switched to more flexible poles, and (inexplicably) made the fly non-adjustable at the head end, per my other comment.
Adam Cole the orange quilt is the Zpacks solo quilt. I don’t have any experience with the earlier versions of this tent.
Did the water get inside or is it condensation?
Thank you! Very helpful! Helped my decision a lot!
Great and honest review. I don't think I would buy a Nemo product after watching this. They need you to test their products before they release them.
Pack Mule fortunately the other Nemo products I have are fantastic!
Thanks so much for the great video. l'm looking into buying an ultralight tent and this is super helpful (coming from a MSR Access 2). Just broke the left button of my mouse giving you a thumbs up ;-)
Thanks for making this video and confirming the innate stupidity of Nemo's decision to design a rain fly that does not fully block rain from falling on the tent's inner layer. Just looking at the pics on the web site instantly made me thing that this was a piss-poor design choice, and your video and testing at 05:30 proved it. ...And saved me from making a mistake in buying this tent. Thanks!
Ordered before I saw the video. I got what I got. If the rain wets it one day, ill get the sun the next day.
The age old debate! Is it really beneficial to go ultra light? I agree entirely - it's not always beneficial, for the sake of a few pounds...🤔 great review, thanks! Adam 😀
Thanks for the heads up, I almost brought this one.
I looked at the Hornet for my Arizona trip last January, but managed to get a good deal on a BA Fly Creek HV 2P tent (the MTN GLO model has been discontinued and got it on a clearance sale). You aren't happy with the vestibule, you should try the Fly creek: it's awful and small. It's a good thing my tent is a 2P so I can store my pack and shoes inside.
The fabric for the tent is similar to the nemo. I had the thing strapped outside my tent, and a cactus bush managed to cut a hole in the stuff sack and a few tiny holes in the fly. Luckily those were close to the bottom/ground spots instead of at the top, slapped some Tenacious tape and sealant and it seems to be working fine now. Fly creek has the same side extenders with the mitten hooks as the Hornet, so it makes the tent more spacious for me; it would be cramped but doable with 2 people.
I totally agree with your struggles with the UL tent. I had to use my tent instead of my hammock at a state campground, and there was a torrential thunderstorm dumping rain on me. The tent held up, but the bottom of the rain fly started to wet out. The Good news is that the fly extends to the ground unlike the Hornet, so it didnt cause the issues the front of yours has. Honestly, if I had to buy a tent again, I might've gone a tad "heavier" with the tent fabric. I don't want to constantly worry about how fragile the thing is. Luckily I use my hammock more than my tent.
Arcana73 sounds like overall we’ve had a similar experience. Nemo has impressed me with their products. Sleeping bags, pads and we have one of the huge family tents, and all of it is solid, impressive stuff. I’m just not stoked on the lightest fabric possible on the Hornet to save weight and attempt to satisfy the gram counters. Adding a few ounces on this design with a 20 or 30 Denier floor and 15-20 denier fly that would allow at least a 2000+ hydro static head would make this a way better product.
I've seen read reviews. Great one. I agree with other reviewer I'll take more weight for durability and room. Hell just live in a garage bag with sticks.
Good, thorough review. Thanks.
What tent would you recommend that is an extra .5 - 1lb that won't wet out or have condensation problems?
Sierra Designs Sweet Suite... I only say that because it’s a new tent I am testing.
Good video. This is why I don't like ultralight versions of tents, but this isn't even the "ultralight" version of this model. The material just isn't durable. I'm willing to carry extra weight for more durable material. I had a leaky ultralight on the AT and I'd rather stay dry.
Your TH-cam channel is so cool that I decided to subscribe. God bless you.
TainoXtreme thanks and welcome!
Great review. I've been eyeing this tent for awhile and you zeroed on my same concerns. I think the short fly is a no-go. I'll stick with my REI QD1 only half pound heavier. I've come to the realization I need to open up the wallet for dyneema for something lighter and effective.
Bret B that’s a good tent. You can save half a pound by just taking a big poop before you go next time ha ha.
I finally made the command decision to buy the REI Quarter Dome SL1 instead of the Nemo Hornet. Bought the QD on sale for $225.00; YES, it's 9 oz heavier however, I've not had interior condensation problems. Yes, I guy out all 3 guy out lines everytime I pitch my QD.
Yes there is something to be said for double wall full screen ventilation and semi free standing is great for weekend warriors.
Re: "No way to adjust strap tension" @6:08 -- is this a change in the 2019 model? My 2018 Hornet 1P has the same black buckle or locking slider attaching the fly to the "Jake's Foot" corner, and it can be used to shorten the grey strap and tension the fly. I do it routinely and consider it a vital step in minimizing the height of that cutout.
Here, it looks like the loose end of the strap has been sewn back on itself, fixing the length. I can't think of any reason to do that! Is it a manufacturing error? Can you cut the stitches to free the end of the strap?
Adam Cole yeah it would be a bummer to have to modify the tent from the factory to adapt the product to fit the need better. I’d rather those aspects not be skimped on to begin with.
Really helpful video. Thank you
Great video as always dude!
Luke Pearsall thanks man!
10d wow that would seriously worry me in high wind enviro.great video
our world outdoors thanks!
Appears to have many flaws, over priced and you don't even receive the much needed stakes?
It does have a very low weight though , great honest review just shows how doing a lot of research is so important when looking for quality ultra light gear
Yikes! Seems like she has a lot of quirks! 😜👉👍
Awesome view of the tent, thanks, Devin! 😊
TheBestBackpacker 👍🏻👊🏻
Hi, I'm looking for a 2 - 3 man tent for a couple of nights in very cold and rainy conditions. Any recommendations ?
Take a good look at the Luxe Hiking Gear Hexpeak XL. You can get a 2.5 person inner for it as well when bugs are a problem. Otherwise run it as a floorless shelter with groundsheets and it's nice and roomy. Really a great shelter for 3.5 season use.
@@BackcountryExposure Mate, I'm new to this. Thanks, I'll have a look. But, does it come with a floor or do I use a tarp or somet
@@asuna993 It doesn't come with a floor. You would use a tarp/ground sheet as the floor, or buy the 2.5 inner that is the mesh tent and floor. Another option to look at could be the Tarptent Rainshadow 3.
Thanks buddy👊🏽👊🏽
Hi! I’ve seen a lot off your gear review! But in mostly every video you wear a arc’teryx jacket? Any chance you could make a review off some of them? Got some holes in my arc’teryx Nodin wind jacket without knowing how😂 not so happy with the quality of that jacket!
Cheers from Norway 🍺👍
Lars Stenseth hey! I do have some videos from a couple years ago on those jackets. But nothing that’s new. When the weather turns, maybe I’ll do some more.
Maybe try to warranty the jacket?
If you can show me an ultralight setup without the problems, then you would have some relevant info.
Super honest review... Well not to worry, I am far from UL...LOL 😀
Hike Camp thanks!
Every nylon ten I've owner or seen hiking fails in heavy rain. I think poly will always hold up better in heavy rain.
Great and complete review!
I have this tent and like it a bunch. I also know that there are always compromises..ultralight means lighter, thinner, less robust materials. You spent alot of time going over things that an ultralight tent can't necessarily do..a 10 denier floor for example. Sure, I have a nice SD tent, that is single wall with a heavier floor..but guess what? It weights more...no big surprise. The Hornet is my go-to ultra lightweight tent. I love it. If I want ultra ultra light I go to my sil nylon tarp. Again..compromises between all of these.
I guess for the time being, there is a limit to how lightweight a tent can be before it becomes too fragile and not protective enough.
Until they come up with other ultrastrong and ultralight materials, I'd rather carry a few extra hundred grams and have a solid tent I can rely on.
The weigth decreased faster than the technology made progress. People are slowly realising that. And, to be honest, 800g or 1.1kg do not make a big difference. Especially not if you wake up in a dry tent instead of a wet one. Or none, depending on the wind stability.
It's weird they cheaped out on the rain fly at the head end. That's the reason I've passed on purchasing this tent.
Great review. Thanks for sharing.
Joe Seago thanks!
I can never understand why manufacturers don't make the rainfly go all the way to the ground. It aways leaves the lower part of the tent exposed to getting wet. I should design the ultimate tent. Ive been in the Adirondacks high peaks area for days in constant rain. Lessons learned.
I like how meticulous you are in your reviews. You really cover a lot, and hit points that I think others would miss or simply gloss over.
Scott Gephart thank you! I try hard to give people enough info and real world experience to make educated decisions on whether the product is right for them or not.
@@BackcountryExposure doing a great job brotha!!(=✌💚
I tested mine out car camping in a downpour last night. Didn't realize I was so short on stakes and ended up wetting out from the head and both sides, ended up sleeping in the car. Going to use it on backpacking trip this week so we will see....
I think I'll keep this for trips out west, and get something better for wet and humid michigan!
I have this tent and I use it in British weather and I have never had any water ingress in the tent, I do however always treat every tent I buy with a water and uv proofing solution called Fabsil Gold all over inside and out, always better safe than sorry with the amount of rain we get.