I Tried This 3-Pound Backpacking Tent—Even Snow Didn’t Stop It

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When the spring thaw finally hit, I packed light and headed into a remote state forest with one goal: test how little gear I could get away with. My setup? Some food, a sleeping kit—and the Nemo Dragonfly Osmo Ultralight Backpacking Tent, one of the lightest two-person tents you can carry into the backcountry.

At just over three pounds and small enough to disappear into a pack, it seemed almost too minimal for an overnight trip. I brought along a super-light Helinox cot and planned to camp in the two-person tent by myself. I skipped the pots and pans, toiletries, or even a change of clothes. But after hiking in, setting up camp, and waking up to an unexpected dusting of snow, it quickly proved something surprising: This ultralight tent can handle more than you’d expect—even in cold, unpredictable conditions.

What It Is

I’ve been tenting and camping for a couple of decades, so I was already familiar with the Nemo brand. (Ironically, the company launched in 2002, around the same time I started gear testing.) Nemo products are light, easy to setup at a camp site, and are often made of recycled materials. The Dragonfly Osmo is no different—even the aluminum poles are recycled. The company raised the tent height about 34 percent from a previous model, mostly by using a new curved design that extends the roof and gives you more headroom (at 3.3 feet tall).

The two person model I tested costs $550 and does not look like a dome tent, which was one surprise for me. Instead, picture a tent designed for two sleeping bags next to each other—it’s long and narrow, with a rainfly that attaches over the top and near the tent stakes. I went into this with one goal in mind: I wanted to pack as light as possible. I grabbed an Exped Comfort sleeping bag and MegaMat sleeping pad, both incredibly light, and headed to a grassy knoll.

Nemo Dragonfly Osmo Tent Overall Impressions 

Unpacking the tent took only a few seconds, and I didn’t need instructions to set it up when I arrived at my campsite. My favorite feature is that the poles are color coded. You can easily unfold the four green poles and snap them into the green clips and feet; the same with the two black poles using the black clips and feet. It took all of about 10 minutes.

I could tell Nemo designers spent a tremendous amount of time making sure the Dragonfly Nemo works for rustic camping. Out in the wild, you just don’t want to have pieces of the tent detach or struggle to find a place to stash your gear or hang a lantern. 

Key Features

A key feature is that the polyester material is water-resistant and ultra-thin, but still incredibly strong. I had no worries about puncturing the tent and there wasn’t any sag (which helped with the light snowfall in the morning). Once I erected the tent, I noticed little design perks. The headroom is better than Nemo’s previous version, so I situated my sleeping bag at the foot of the tent under the main roof. At that vantage point, with two side zippers you can use for a quick exit, the small cargo area sits right in front of you. I stashed my wallet there and a few other items. Then, I noticed there’s a small hook at the top of the tent where I connected a lantern. 

I mentioned how I camped by myself with a cot, but the Osmo is designed to accommodate two 20-inch mats side by side. I would say that’s somewhat optimistic. At my size, I would not be able to fit in the two-person tent with anyone else. For two people plus gear, I recommend the three-person model. It only costs $70 more at $620 but definitely gives you more room for wider mats. Nemo also makes a one-person version of the Dragonfly Osmo that costs $500.

So, about the snow that came in the morning. Since this is a three-season tent, it’s not designed for cold weather—but I survived just fine. My secret was using the Exped sleeping bag that’s rated for 30-degree weather and the pad, plus a Helinox cot to get up off the ground. The weather only dipped to about 32 degrees at night and warmed up to 45 by the morning.

Packing up the tent proved slightly problematic. It was my fault, because I was in a hurry: I stuffed everything in to fast and pulled hard on a drawstring that caused the stuff sack to rip slightly. I asked Nemo about this and it was because I had packed things incorrectly. Another minor issue is that there are tiny velcro straps near the zippers. At night when I unzipped the tent, I would hit those straps and had to pull them apart each time. 

Overall, I felt snug in the tent with plenty of headroom and ample storage compartments for my gear, and appreciated the extreme portability during my hike. I packed up in five minutes and was soon traipsing through the snow back to my car.

Pros

• Incredibly easy to setup
• Ingenious storage compartments
• Light enough for long backpacking trips

Cons

• Stuff sack ripped a little
• Velcro straps interfered with the zippers

Final Verdict

I’ve camped in a tent dozens and dozens of times, but the Nemo Dragonfly Osmo is one of my favorite light, portable, and roomy two-person tents. I say “roomy” because of this trade-off: If the tent was bigger, it would also be heavier. I felt comfortable all night and appreciated the featherweight design during my hike. My sleeping bag, mat, and cot all helped me stay warm even with a light snow. I’d gladly backpack with this tent and enjoy every minute.

Why You Should Trust Me

You might say I’m a camping snob, because I like to use the latest high-tech gear and analyze every accessory. I’ve camped at around 50 parks since starting my writing career in 2001, and tested hundreds of camping products. I prefer when a piece of gear has a smart design, extra durability, and doesn’t add much weight. In other words, I like to be comfortable.