Nemo Dragonfly OSMO Ultralight Backpacking Tent Review

[@burgeonoutdoor4132]

Great review Meg! We love Nemo!

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Thank you! Us too!😊

[@1024Pete]

Thank you. Right now I like the Dagger. It is sturdier than the Dragonfly thus heavier. It will be exposed to cold weather. There might be snow. Still considering other brands too. Be well. Be safe. Happy Trails!

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

The Dagger is also an AMAZING tent! I love that Nemo has several offerings that fit individual needs. Enjoy your time outside, and stay safe!

[@mathisgraening1931]

Very in depth and high quality video, thank you!

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Thanks for watching! I'm so glad you found the content helpful 😃

[@stevetessman5855]

I bought this tent for my son for his birthday. It lasted just over a week. The wind tore it up. Snapped poles which went through the tent and fly. He now has to sleep out in the open for the next few days. Warranty is hopefully going to cover this wreck.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Whoa! That’s terrible. Nemo is really good at fulfilling the warranty but that definitely isn’t the quality you paid for. I hope they listen to your feedback and honor the warranty promptly!

[@stevetessman5855]

@@theoutdoorminimalist Nemo covered it.

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

That is a great tent. Nemo makes awesome products. Nice review. New follower here. Crow

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Thanks for the sub! I also love Nemo as a brand and all of their recent innovations. I look forward to connecting more in the future with you, Crow!

[@klarsen100]

HI! i stumbled on your channel and I hope you have the answer I'm looking for about the dragonfly tent. the door flap on the rainfly vestibule has a toggle and a clasp to hold the door fly open; but on the other stationary vestibule flap on the inside are 2 toggles but no corresponding clasps. Do you happen to know what they are for? Thank you!

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Are you talking about the fly flap tie back or the gatekeeper for the doors? There are also ventilation features that allow you to somewhat prop the fabric up on the door and unzip it a little to add airflow. Maybe that is it? My best advice is to contact their customer service and send photos! I am not 100% sure the feature you're explaining. Sorry I can't be more help! I'll have to see next time I have the tent out if I can figure out the feature you're describing.

[@amirasassmann1795]

Great Video, thank you. But what when there is heavy rain? The headsite of the tent is not fully covered with the rainfly, so it will get wet also on the inside when I eventually touch it during the sleep? Did you have some issue with that? Would be gratefull for an honest answer.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Great question! I should've included a bit more about the rainfly in the review. I haven't experienced too much of an issue with moisture in the tent, but I have only camped in this specific tent while it was raining a handful of times. I did notice some moisture if my sleeping pad pressed against the area not covered by the rainfly, but I think the primary goal with the current rainfly design is cutting weight.

[@amirasassmann1795]

@@theoutdoorminimalist Ok, thank you for your answer. I will be careful not touching this area too much in heavy rain. But great that you didn‘t have so much issue with moisture inside the tent. That sounds good. May be it´s also an issue of more airflow in the tent and less condensation that they cut this part of the rainfly.

[@JagerScot-01]

@@amirasassmann1795 Its the same material thats in constant contact with the ground, how are you going to get wet?

[@koh367]

Can you fit a 25 inch and 20 inch pad?

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

According to their specs it should work, but it works best if the sleeping pads are tapered at the end like a mummy bag and honestly it would be a snug fit with the interior dimensions.

[@celloeb]

Is the large cut out in the fly at the head of the tent an issue in the rain? I live in the pacific north west.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

I haven’t had an issue with it yet! I think it could pose issues in rain storms with high winds or if your pad / gear sit against the fabric. I also live in the PNW and this tent was tested both there and in MN with minimal issue.

[@celloeb]

Thank you for your reply. This was the only concern holding me back from getting this tent. I love your channel and the philosophy you are promoting. I have subscribed to your podcast too.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

@@celloeb So glad you're enjoying the content! If you're tent shopping, I'd also recommend looking into the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2. It is comparable in size and quality, but the rainfly offers a bit more coverage.

[@Away.Aweigh.A.Way.]

Can this tent be set up fly-first? It would be nice when it’s raining to keep the inner dry. Thanks and great review!

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Thanks for watching, Justin! As far as I know, neither the Nemo dragonfly or dagger can be set up fly first. That would be a really nice feature and some of their other tents can do this (just none of their ultralight at this time)

[@Away.Aweigh.A.Way.]

@@theoutdoorminimalist dang that sucks. I was torn between this and the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 for my AT section hike next spring. Looks like it’ll be the Copper Spur for me. Thanks for the reply!

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

@@Away.Aweigh.A.Way. for sure! The copper spur is amazing!! That tent should suit you well ☺️

[@zhaoyunzulong]

The Dragonfly tent has the advantage of being a freestanding tent and being really ultralight. However, the ridge pole is not fixed and moves, so it cannot be used in windy areas. It seems like a fatal flaw.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

It is so nice that it’s a freestanding tent and still so light! The weight and design are definitely optimized. So far I haven’t had an issue with the ridge pole, but I could see it being somewhat of an issue in extreme weather.

[@cetipi]

Did you use this tent with a dog inside? Is it durable enough for camping with a dog?

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

I have used this when camping with my oldest dog, but he uses a sleeping mat and doesn't have direct contact with the floor. It isn't the strongest material, so depending on the dog, I could see it being an issue for durability.

[@cetipi]

@@theoutdoorminimalist Thank you. Do you have any other suggestion for a reasonably light tent for two people and a dog?

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

@@cetipi The Big Agnes Copper Spur (I think) is a bit more durable than the Nemo one and is a great UL tent option. If you're willing to carry a little more weight, it is worth looking into more durable options like those from Kelty or even Fjallraven, but there is a compromise with weight.

[@bcbslc6942]

I know it's petty, but 2 stakes per vestibule is a big no for me. I helped a friend set his up where we couldn't get stakes in the ground. Finding 2 more big rocks and trying to keep everything taught sucked. He ended up being flappy in the wind. This takes more stakes than some trekking pole tents. Serious design flaw by Nemo.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

I could see that being a huge annoyance! There are definitely downsides to this tent, and the rainfly has a few of them for sure.

[@360Investigations]

Tent prices are outrageous and absolutely way beyond out of control. There is no tent company on this entire planet that can convince me a $300 price increase in under a year for a tent that is already 6 months old is a legitimate price. Litefighter pulled that shit with the litefighter 2

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

Tent prices are high these days... I feel that goes for most outdoor gear, actually! That's why I state that this tent is not a budget pick and should be seen as an investment. Buying used is also an excellent choice! There are several other amazing tent brands that offer more affordable options and are still great quality. I respect Nemo Equipment for its dedication to a more sustainable production model, but I agree it would be nice to have an affordable tent!

[@jonathonfuqua6730]

Its just makes zero sense why the wouldn't have made the fly come all the way down at the front end.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

I think the intention is to cut weight? But it would be nice to have better coverage

[@SneakyCaleb]

I agree

[@jamess7181]

@@theoutdoorminimalistApparently it is to improve ventilation near the head to reduce condensation near the source.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

@@jamess7181 That makes sense! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@jonathankobbe6073]

in the first minute theres two big mistakes. Polyester doesnt stretch like she said and the osmo fabric also has a coating that breaks down. I'd be careful trusting this channel

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

OSMO is made from recycled polyester and nylon yarns and backed (not coated) with a polyurethane coating for waterproofness. The blend of nylon and polyester isn't common in a tent fabric, and according to Nemo, it offers the best of both fabrics in terms of durability, weight, stretch, and water absorption. This makes it less likely to stretch when wet due to being a blend vs a mono fiber and all information in this video was obtained from Nemo Equipment. Hope that helps!

[@jonathankobbe6073]

@@theoutdoorminimalist First of i dont want to hate on you or your channel, i just dont want people to be misinformed and so i stand by my comment. If you make a youtube video about a product and act as if you knew what you talk about, i personally think you should know of what youre talking about. But i highly rate your response, so i will give you a little more feedback. I just checked nemos website and found a description of the osmo fabric. They call the PU coating a coating, i wouldnt know what else it would be supposed to be... idk. To say that it doesnt break down is absurd and they dont even say that. A coating that doesnt break down close to the way polyurethane does is silicone on both sides. Its only real downside is the fact that it can not be seamtaped by machines. It is a well known fact that nylon sags when when and when under tension, polyester much less so. Nemo even says the same thing on their website: "Hydrophobicity, low water absorption, and low wet stretch are provided by the polyester yarns". So their fabric doesnt sag as much because they partly use polyester. It still absorbs much more moisture because its mainly nylon though. Another thing i want to say is that anyone should be careful with the type of pseudo scientific graphs on their website. They make bolt statements and compare their fabric of which they dont even tell you exactly what type of yarn they use to some other fabrics they just call existing tent fabric x. Does anyone think they compared against any polyester in terms of sag? Let alone a sil/sil poly? No, they compared their fabric with the worst nylons they could find. If they even made actual measurements. Its marketing just like every iphone is supposed to be 3x as powerful as the last... If there isnt a scientific study with all the details and methods listed it is 100% bullshit. Hope that helps!