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Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent Review
This Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent review features a product comparison and photo spread of the sub two pound five ounce tent dome style.
By Emylene VanderVelden
Introduction
From the Rocky Mountains to Coastal Rainforest the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent has been my constant 2016 backcountry companion. Nemo has been at ultralight shelters for a while and I was somewhat surprised to find a single pole, double wall, dome style tent in the sub two and a half pound category. Depending on how you pack this tent, it sits at exactly two pounds. I was intrigued. I contacted Nemo for more information, and they offered to send me one out to try. Now, I was beyond intrigued and into excited.
The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent followed me all over Canada during 2016. Will Backpacking Light Staff Recommend or ditch the unusual tent? Pictured on Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada.
I used the original 2010 Nemo Equipment Meta 2P since I bought it almost seven years ago. I've been happy with my little Nemo Equipment Meta 2P. The online reviews were mixed (mostly, in my opinion, because single wall shelters were unfamiliar to most users.) but aside from the over two and a half pound weight, I loved the tent, and it was a great introduction to single wall shelters.
For the 2016 season, a switch to a double wall shelter, with a single pole means much simpler gear splitting for the trips I have booked for the year. My only other complaint with my original shelter has always been the limited ability to divide it between two packs. Not needing my trek poles for set up also means I can leave one or both behind which on some trips is my preference. Even with the pole packed in, it is lighter than many trek pole tents.
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Emylene is a Canadian from Alberta. Those who know her best call her an adventurer, a gypsy, a cowgirl, a philosopher and a wild child. Known for her independent streak, wide eyed enthusiasm and restless anticipation of life, she navigates personally and professionally with tenacity, integrity and a wide open mind. Love of the outdoors has been passed down in her family for generations. Outdoor passion includes a love for farming and agriculture, raising and caring for animals, and outdoor activities including: backpacking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, kayaking and horsemanship. For Emylene, life is about fearless navigation of challenge, encouraging those around her and seeing the best and most beautiful in each situation she finds herself in. You can read more about here adventures on her blog.
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The fly comes up higher on some of these Nemo tents than on some Big Agnes tents is what I notice. Possibly better ventilation at the possible expense of some stormworthiness.
Loved your review of the Blaze, but was wondering about your info on the LightHeartGear Duo. You listed it as costing $400. It is only $315. Even if you pay them to seam seal the tent(recommended), it is still only $350. It will also fit 2 people over 6’5″ with ease, even on 77″x 25″x 3″ thick pads. Just wanted to mention this. Thanks for your review!! Robert V
Nicely designed tent of moderate weight for an “almost” double wall tent. (The fly is a bit short in some areas.) Clever pole design, decent vestibule and fairly aerodynamic shape. Still, I’d recommend sewing loops of grosgrain tape at mid points on the fly hems to anchor it against noisy and destructive flapping on very windy nights.
As for the lighter mid-style tents mentioned here, I am not a believer in tents with poles obstructing the interior. So their lower weight is obtained with some sacrifice – IMHO. Mid tents and frameless packs always demand some sacrifice, usually of comfort. But they both show the wide diversity of the backpacking community. We all have our pet types of shelters, packs, stoves, etc.
Interesting tent, but pricey. However, you get what you pay for. I wish the major manufacturers would make 1P tents with two doors (which is why I’ve been considering Henry Shires’ Moment DW). Having only one door is claustrophic for me. Since all my trips are solo, I really don’t need more than a 1P tent. But, still, a 2P tent weighing around two pounds is impressive.
I’m sorry but I don’t buy the “Highly Recommended” award on this and I think doing so discounts the award given to others.
Good review and all, but I think BPL missed something- If you use fabric that is so fragile that you have to make an additional footprint to make up for it; it is no longer is a 2 lb. tent, it is a 3 lb. tent! I could make a tent floor out of thin toilet paper, making it weigh very little, but I would have to add something else to protect it, what have I gained? Throw the stated weight out the window, add the additional footprint, do the review again and see if it gets “Highly Recommended”. I seriously doubt it.
I don’t use any additional footprints with any of my tents and they don’t weigh much more than the Nemo. Plus they fit my 6’1″ frame. Any Nemo I’ve tried doesn’t and I’m not what I consider tall.
Ok so for John S: I don’t notice the tent has any issues being storm-worthy, albeit I’m pretty particular about tent placement. That odd diamond shape seems to be extremely aerodynamic. That said, I didn’t get any snow which can be a nasty game changer. I did see a fair few high winds (New Zealand, it never stops blowing there) and torrential down pours (Canadian West Coast, it rains a lot in September.) The Blaze 2p never had much issue with storm-worthy in those conditions. Then again, tent placement is kind of everything in those situations.
For Robert V, Michael P, : Don’t forget, my assessment of tents is an all inclusive package (the same level of inclusion as the Nemo). That means seam sealing, pegs, zipper pulls and the vestibule support. Also prices were checked in 2016, when I wrote the article, before processing and editing. There may be some variation since then. FYI LightHeartGear is another manufacturer I would like to feature a review on but if I bought every review item on my list…. we’ll let’s just say I’d have the coolest backpacking gear in debtors prison. Oh and as to the Duomid, I think I selected the bug screen Innernet. Yet another of those wonderfully beautiful shelters I would love to try should I luck out on Craigslist or something. Customization is king with cottage gear, some price variation is to be expected dependent on what options are selected.
For Henry S: I would say the fabric made me nervous at first and truly the floor still does (hence the Mylar tarp footprint) but having used it, I’m ok with the compromise to save massive space and weight. It’s a two man, two wall shelter I can easily solo with. I don’t think this is the right shelter for the careless or rough. I’m OCD careful with my gear and a heck of a hand at field repairs so I get by just fine. That said I haven’t had to do a single field repair in something like 45 days use. Knowing how you treat gear is a good determining factor for if this is the right kind of shelter or fabric for your use. Also see my response to ENOTTY, Nemo has beefed up the fabric and it hasn’t hurt the weight much.
Kathy: also a fantastic tent I looked into, that whole cool gear but in the poorhouse thing stopped me again… as to the price point it’s pretty comparable with other gear manufacturers, they are all fairly pricy, it’s a big ticket item.
ENOTTY: I have the 2016 specs saved (I have the 2016 model), the 2017 may vary slightly. (Canadian fire regulations banned Nemo Tents last year, they are now being marketed here again. I suspect they had to increase the fabric thickness to pass the standards but I’d have to double check with my contact at Nemo. Canada has weird fire standards for tents.) The product is likely to have improved with the change. Nemo is a very aggressive and progressive company that way. I just wish they would start designing quilts, I’d be all over that! I have one of their bags for Canadian Winter camping…. amazing and so pretty (yes occasionally I notice esthetics too.) Just a bit bulky and slightly heavy for most of my applications.
I’ve used the tent several more months since the review was written: I still have had no rips or tears. It still routinely makes it onto my gear list (and my travel list, fits beautifully in a suitcase.) If there are more inquiring minds, ask away, I’ll gladly do my best to answer based on my experience with the Blaze 2P.
For Tad: I wouldn’t say you have to have a footprint nor one made of Mylar tarp like mine for sure. I’m also pairing with an air mat, which is a big part of it. Plus the tarp was convenient and free! I like free! I prefer a footprint even with heavier fabrics because the floor lasts longer in general. I set up in the Canadian Rockies and can count on one hand the amount of times I’m not setting up on gravel, it’s hard on tent floors. My Mylar tarp is rather multipurpose (I use it as a picnic blanket and it makes a decent split.) I don’t mind the weight though I’m likely to build something lighter when I have time and ambition. Even with the tarp my base weight sits around 9-11 lbs well into shoulder season, still very light. Per person, with the tarp, tent, poles and pegs, the shelter is less than a pound and a half a person. Don’t forget it’s a two man piece. Now for someone 6′ it’s completely usable, I did share it with people 6′ and it was fine, not super roomie, adequately sized. It becomes an issue when you are, say 6’4 if you are looking for roomie. I think it could be used for taller people just don’t expect it to be massively roomie. Some of the massively tall readers out there will have to tell me if there is such a thing as a massively roomie backpacking tent and what kind of square footage that is.
For John: it stretches a bit, not badly though and it shrinks back afterwards. I saw minor hail once and it was a non issue. But that’s again tent placement to some extent. I think as light fabrics go this was a limit pusher, it works but it certainly seems precariously balanced on the limit. It worked for me and still does, which is really all I can say on the fabric choice. I didn’t pick it, I just tested it and I’m not complaining yet. If I get tennis ball sized hail like happens in Alberta occasionally, I might be but I’m not sure any fabric would save me then.
Thank you for the response! I’m curious about the usable length of the tent, It shows 85″ but it is very sloped at the ends. I think that with a 2″ or 3″ thick sleeping pad this tent would only fit someone 5′ 8″ or less. What type of pad do you test with, and what is your expectation of fit with a 2 or 3″ sleeping pad?
Robert: Excellent question, with an Exped 7 (7cm / 2.7in) which is what I sleep on and my 6′ tall friend used as well, its still quite usable. (Not extra roomie, but perfectly useable.)
Now, where this can get subjective is:
Did you guy out the sides?
(because you can and it will make more room.) I have never actually guyed out the sides in actual use (I’m lazy like that), even in high winds, which says something to the storm worthiness. I did give guying them out a test once and it did give more room inside, but I’m tiny and don’t really need to do it for my comfort or for storm worthiness thus far.
How well did you pitch the tent?
The diagonal single air pole, which give this tent the unique aerodynamic design and cuts weight, also impacts the pitch. Meaning the pitch is not completely idiot proof (almost and is certainly easier than a tarp however…) Sometimes, I get this tent tightly pitched and it has more room and sometimes I get the air pole corners a little off. There is a bit of technical practice (and decent pegging conditions) required to get it perfect every time.
I tried out the other Nemo ~2 pound 2-person tent and found that when in the tent with my friend (both of us under 6′), it was very very cozy in terms of width. Height wasn’t a problem. Was this tent wide enough for two people?
ENOTTY: another excellent question. Two twenty inch mats will fit cleanly side by side. (Two Exped 7’s to be precise) there was a bit of room (like a couple inches) on either side for some small personal items. Wider than that would be cozy for sure. I did take a picture but it really didn’t show anything visually discriptive. I might try again with a fisheye lens at a later time.
Generally speaking, I refuse to hike with, let alone share a tent with anyone I don’t like enough to be very close to. Invariably, someone always seems to end up inside the others ‘bubble.’ One of my dear platonic girlfriends is a notorious ‘spooner’ when she sleeps. She normally spoons her dog at night, but in a pinch, I seem to do. I make fun of her in the morning and pretty much any other convenient time.
In short, two fullbacks are going to feel cramped in a Blaze 2P. Which is why Nemo makes some much roomier versions as well.
Thanks for the review Emylene! You’ve convinced me that my next tent will be a Nemo, but not the Blaze, rather, the Hornet…basically the same tent but with a hubed pole set-up for a similar weight. Also, REI doesn’t offer the blaze, and I like my dividend! I have a BA Fly Creek, which I use occasionally, but I find the front only entrance a big hassle. BA needs to wake up and redesign their Fly Creek line-up with side entrances.
I’ve long enjoyed your reviews, your writing style and wit and with this one I’ve noticed the trolls have seemingly given up and moved on to other things. I venture to say (in their mind) you’ve established you’re cred. Keep it up!
Thanks for the review and it’s good to learn about this tent. I didn’t read about or see any photos of this tent being used in storms or high wind. Is it really storm worthy? I ask because the design is could have a flimsy structure that looks good but doesn’t perform well in a storm. And the 7d fabric? No way would I want that on a tent as it is way too fragile, and with 1200mm waterproofness, precip would pass through in hard rains. Would it survive a thru-hike? Has this really been tested enough to really be certain that it qualifies for BPL’s highest recommendation?
Thanks for the review and it’s good to learn about this tent. I didn’t read about or see any photos of this tent being used in storms or high wind. Is it really storm worthy? I ask because the design is could have a flimsy structure that looks good but doesn’t perform well in a storm. And the 7d fabric? No way would I want that on a tent as it is way too fragile, and with 1200mm waterproofness, precip would pass through in hard rains. Would it survive a thru-hike? Has this really been tested enough to really be certain that it qualifies for BPL’s highest recommendation?”
Well Danny, I have found wind rather difficult to photograph….. Additionally, I don’t know about your camera but I usually avoid taking mine out in downpours on the coast. The $2000-3000.00 replacement cost is a bit hard to swallow. In fact, I usually try to stay inside my tent during said coastal rain storms because I hate getting my clothes wet in high humidity areas: they never dry.
As to the durability, I’ve slept in the tent about 45 days at this point, zero issues. The major factor to gear durability is not what the tent is made of but the skill of the user to maintain the material it is made out of. Most backpackers do not start with ultralight gear, they learn on the heavy, cheaper stuff and upgrade from there.
Choosing the right gear, for the right climate, for the right style of packing is an incredibly important skill to develop. (Here’s a whole article on that.)
Ultralighting is a bad choice of hobby for gear abusers. Ultralighting is also incredibly difficult to do without a knack for choosing naturally sheltered tent sites.
When I test gear for Backpacking Light, I assume my readers are a) gentle with gear (or independently wealthy and don’t mind replacing it from abusive gear practices.) b) reasonably skilled at choosing shelter locations.
As to rain resistance, the tent has stood up quite well. It spent about 20 of 45 days on a coast somewhere in the world and did fine. It’s been up high alpine routes and alpine meadows and withstood 80-110 kilometer winds. Albeit I’m a decent hand at picking good locations to minimize weather impact. The other thing I would point out, is most gear manufacturers do not post their working rain resistance (Check out what you smart readers had to say on the topic here) 1200 – 1800 mm on a fly is generally where most tents sit at.(MSR posted this information about how this all works.) Almost every tent will wet out in certain storms and it sucks when (not if) it happens. If you aren’t prepared for a wet out in a tent (or a rain jacket), you may want to consider hosteling instead of backpacking as a hobby. Roofs are waterproof, tents are water resistant.
To be clear, I didn’t pick the Blaze 2P to test, it’s what the Nemo sent in for testing. I worked with what it is, an ultralight two man tent and structured what should be the fair limitations of that type of shelter. After the fair test, I liked the product. It’s a good product with an intuitive design and it keeps ending up in my gear list long after the testing is done.
As to the would I thru hike with it, I probably would give it a go. I really like the design (two doors, two vestibules, full bug net, removable fly, quick to dry) and the 7d is well reinforced in the stress points. I think Granny Gatewood did a thru hike or two with significantly less to work with.
That’s a valid point (couple of points) Ken, something gained and lost in jumping to ultralight first thing. Expensive start out, steep learning curve, on the flip side much better for the back!
Part of my theory with the assumption is that our inexperienced readers want to learn. I usually make mention of the technical skill required to make the product work optimally both in the article and as questions come up in the forum. I haven’t found a better way but there might be. Not sure if that makes complete sense.
Thanks all for posting. My comments still go through a moderation queue because I might cause a revolution.
Emylene, Thanks for the reply. For a tent, 45 days is a more meaningful metric than 300 miles. Glad you haven’t experienced any issues with the tent. I really like the design innovation here, and appreciate your attention to detail.
For reference, 1200mm HH is on the very low end for waterproofness, which means this Nemo is among the least waterproof tents on the market. Despite what MSR states, there are several ultralight shelter makers who use fabrics with 3000-5500mm HH, including TarpTent, Rab, Terra Nova, and Hilleberg.
I wonder how many tents we’ll see with 7d fabric. People complain about how a MHW Ghost Whisperer rips too easily, and that’s a down jacket (less stress) with 7d/10d hybrid fabric (potentially slightly stronger). I’ll happily stick with my Double Rainbow, which weighs about the same but is longer and taller, uses a much more robust 30d fabric, is 60% the cost of the Nemo, and is made in the USA.
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