Introduction
From the Rocky Mountains to Coastal Rainforest the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent has been my constant 2016 backcountry companion. Nemo has been making 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.
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 (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.
Stock Photo Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p
Features
- Modified dome style tent (one diagonal lengthwise pole and an air pole support)
- Pegs, pole, repair kit, guy-out cord, and three stuff sacks included
- Two vestibules
- Dual entry
- Double wall
- Bathtub floor
- Integrated peg and pole system
- Fastpitch set up
Stock Image: Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P floor plan
Specifications
- Capacity: 2P
- Minimum Weight: 2 lbs 0 oz / 910 g
- On the Fly Weight: N/A
- Packaged Weight: 2 lbs, 5 oz / 1.1 kg
- Floor Dimensions: 85 x 50 in / 216 x 127 cm
- Floor Area: 30 sq ft / 2.8 sq m
- Vestibule Area: 13 sq ft/ 1.2 sq m
- Interior Height: 40 in / 102 cm
- Number of Doors: 2
- Frame Description: 1 DAC 8.7 mm Featherlite NFL
- Packed Size: 17 x 5 in diameter / 43 x 12 cm diameter
- Vestibule Fabric: 7D PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200mm)
- Fly Fabric: 7D PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200mm)
- Canopy Fabric: No-see-um mesh
- Floor Fabric: 20D PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200mm)
- Color: Elite Yellow
Performance
Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent in the coastal rainforest of Canada’s West Coast Trail.
Field Testing
Stuffing
The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P tent was shipped to my address. I opened the box and found a neatly packaged tent inside. The actual weight of the tent was 998g (2 lb 2 oz). The packed size was compact, and I found stuffing the tent back inside the sack easy. The tent stuff sack has the option of being two sizes. One where the tent is stuffed poles in and one where the ten is stuffed poles out. Two sets of drawstrings allow stuffing options. I didn’t pack using the stuff sack (I was load sharing most trips), but the sack is nicely made and relatively light.
Stock Photo – Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent Stuffed
Stock Photo: stuffed with poles removed.
The entire Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent compared to a 1-liter water bottle.
Diameter comparison of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent with a 1-liter water bottle.
Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent fly and body stuffed with pegs and poles removed compared with a 1-liter water bottle.
During a particularly wet rainforest trek on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada; I stuffed the rain fly in a large Ziplock freezer bag to keep it from dripping on any of my other gear. The main body of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent will also fit in a large Ziplock freezer bag. This method gave me the option of squeezing the air out of the bags and effectively ‘vacuum packing’ the tent to save space and keep other gear from getting soaked when packing the tent wet. The heavy plastic of the Ziplock bag also protects the tent’s delicate, ultralight fabric.
Floor and Footprint
The tent stitching is high quality and well taped. The fly fabric is airy light and almost transparent. The floor is slightly more solid but is delicate. Because of abrasive rocky ground conditions, I decided I would make a footprint.
I had a SOL Mylar Blanket kicking around my gear trunk, which is not exceptionally light ( 320g / 11.3oz) but was available and had a possibility to add warmth to my shelter. The tarp was almost the perfect size, and I only had to trim it a bit. I had to cut a couple of grommets off and replaced them with Coleman Replacement Grommets I’ve had in my major-at-home-gear-repair box for several years. The weight is comparable enough to a Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Footprint ( 208 g / 7.3 oz), I didn’t have to look for Tyvek, and the price was right (free: after depreciation of the tarp and grommets which were sitting around doing nothing anyway.). After my modifications, my footprint weighed 286g (10.1oz)
Assembly
Assembling the tent the first time around didn’t require a structural engineer, but almost. (I make this observation with tongue in cheek, I haven’t assembled a dome style tent in a decade. Single wall trek pole tents have some pitching advantages.) One diagonal pole suspends screen house’s clips and the fly anchors to the four corner pegs. The vestibules have two separate guy-out pegs.
Step One: The Air Pole design has a unique clip which takes a bit of maneuvering but works well and saves weight.
Step Two: Insert the clip Screen house into the fly clip.
Final step: snap the screen house to the air pole.
This tent is unconventional but user-friendly and intelligently designed. After pitching a couple more times, I discovered I could pitch the fly before pitching the interior mesh by stretching my MYOG footprint, placing my stakes, and resting the poles against the “Y” structure then anchoring my fly. Using this method I could pitch my mesh under cover if rain interfered.
The shape of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent is unconventional, to say the least. Skyline Trail, Jasper, Alberta.
After a couple of practice runs, I could set up the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent in a matter of minutes without any assistance. Stuffing the tent when packing up took very little time or skill. I slid the tent poles in and stuff the screen house, tent fly and pegs in the included stuff sack.
Overnight Use
The two door and two vestibule design of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent is invaluable. Once two sleeping pads and quilts are laid down on the floor, the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent is stable and barely needs pegs for anything but holding the vestibules tight.
I found I had plenty of toe and headroom and could even place some of my important equipment, like cameras, over my head. Thoughtful interior features in the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent improve the comfort and livability of the tent. Interior features could be clipped out to save ounces, but I kept them. First I found two side door pockets (one on each side), which were helpful for stashing some small items like ear plugs and eye masks. Second, the pole framework of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent has built in loops for making a small indoor clothes line. Third, at the very peak of the tent, there is a small pocket designed for stowing headlamps to use as interior lighting without blinding your tent mates.
The gossamer-like fabric of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent did not leave me feeling exposed while inside my tent at night or during the day.
Rain Use
Of all the features I tested while using the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent, I tested its capacity to resist rain the most. Not only did this tent resist the rain, it dried in twenty minutes or less when the sun came out. During particularly rainy treks through the Canadian Rockies, I often packed the fly in a large Ziplock freezer bag, stuffed it in the brain of my pack and would pull it out to dry whenever the rain gave me enough of a break.
Insect Resistance
Insects? What insects? I went all over Canada with the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent, there were mosquitos, horse flys, sand fleas and dozens of other biting nuisances, just not inside the tent. During my trip up Marvel Pass to the Mount Assiniboine Lake Valley, there were thousands of blood-thirsty mosquitos. At nightfall, I would dive into the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent and leave the little monsters outside. Occasionally insects would make a home between the fly and the tent body, but as long as they were outside and away from me I didn’t care.
The Canadian Rockies biting insects had no chance against the no-see-um mesh of the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent.
Performance Summary
The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P exceeded my expectations of an ultralight tent. The tent is feature rich and well designed.
Product comparison
A fair product comparison requires similar main features. These products are fully enclosed, sleep two occupants and have all required features. Stakes, mesh, poles, floor, seam sealing and any other additional features required to make each product comparable, are added to the price and weight.
To view the entire table, hover over it and scroll right/left!
| Manufacturer | Model | Body Fabric | Max Weight | Wall Style | Floor Type | Floor Space | Height | Poles | Packed Size | Dual Entry | Vestibles | Seasons | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TarpTent | Stratospire 2 | 1.1 oz Silnylon | 2lbs 9 oz / 1.3 kg | Double | Bathtub | Tent: 31 sq ft / 2.9 sq m Vestibule: Unspecified | 50 in / 127 cm | 2 Trek | 16 in x 4 in / 41cm x 10 cm | Yes | 2 | 4 | 349.00 USD |
| LightHeart Gear | Duo Tent | 30D 1.1 oz Silnylon Ripstop | 2 lbs 5 oz / 1.1 kg | Single | Bathtub | Tent: 38.2 sq ft / 3.6 sq m Vestibule: Unspecified | 45 in / 114 cm | 2 Trek | Unspecified | Yes | 2 | 3 | 400.00 USD |
| Nemo Equipment | Blaze 2p Ultralight Backpacking Tent | 7D Silnylon Ripstop | 2 lbs 5 oz / 1.1 kg | Double | Bathtub | Tent: 30 sq ft / 2.8 sq m Vestibule: 13 sq ft / 1.2 sq m | 40 in / 102 cm | 1 Folding | 17 x 5 in dia / 43 x 12 cm dia | Yes | 2 | 3 | 449.95 USD |
| Zpacks | Duplex Tent | .51 oz Cuben Fiber | 1 lbs 7.2 oz / 659 g | Single | Bathtub | Tent: 28.1 sq ft / 2.6 sq m Vestibule: Unspecified | 48 in / 121 cm | 2 Trek | 7 in x 13 in / 18 cm x 33 cm | Yes | 2 | Unspecified | 609.00 USD |
| Mountain Laurel Designs | Duomid with innernet | 1.35 oz Silnylon | 1 lb 6.6 oz / 640.7 g | Double | Bathtub | Tent: 40+sq ft / 3.7 sq m Vestibule: none | 56 in / 142 cm | 2 Trek | Unspecified | Yes | 0 | 4 | 330.00 USD |
Summary
Strengths
- Sub two-pound weight double wall tent
- Two doors
- Two vestibules
- Small, compressible packed size
- Insect resistant
- Storm worthy
- Fast drying
Limitations
- Short floor length
- Delicate floor fabric
Recommendations
- Taller users should put their head underneath the pole corner of the tent and feet under the peg only anchor.
- Groundsheet or footprint is highly recommended.
- Wrap large packs in a garbage bag when left in the vestibule in rainy conditions.
Review Rating
Review Rating Summary
After just over three-hundred miles (500 km) in two months sleeping in this tent, I haven’t found a single flaw in the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent design for my use. Simply, the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent is my favorite piece of equipment since, well, ever. A full tent system that rivals a tarp and bivy for weight is uncommonly good. Throw in the fact, the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent has two doors and two vestibules, and the comfort, convenience, and practicality of this tent is through the roof. I can’t think of a bad thing to say about it.
There are only three minor comments I would make in contrast to my glowing experience with this tent:
1) The clip fly and pole system take some practice to figure out.
Nemo Equipment would be wise to include assembly diagrams on the tags of the tent. I spent the first four or five setups assembling the fly incorrectly which in turn gave me a sagging pitch. This is why I included photos of how to assemble the clip system in this article. When the clip system is assembled correctly, the pitch is tight and well ventilated.
2) The vestibules are not huge, there is room for a pair of boots, trek pole handles and most of a 45 + liter pack.
I would not count on the vestibule to completely cover my pack and have room to stick my feet into the vestibule and put on my boots outside the tent. On the other hand, any vestibule beats not having one at all. In high precipitation conditions, I recommend wrapping packs in a plastic recycling bags anyway. The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent has two vestibules and the overall size of the vestibule is a non-issue. Other users might like to know the actual vestibule size.
3) Some users may find the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent a bit short.
I’m five-foot-one, any tent I crawl into is long enough for me. I loaned the Nemo Equipment Blaze to a six-foot-tall friend for a weekend to get his impression. He found the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent had just enough length for his frame. For anyone taller than six-feet-tall, this would be a one man tent in his opinion. I would say, two people under five-foot-ten will be more than comfortable. Nemo Equipment Blaze Tent’s floor space and headroom will be satisfactory for anyone up to six-feet. I would love to see Nemo Equipment design an extra large version of this tent to cater to the tall ultralighters out there.
Concluding Statement
The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent has proved to be a worthwhile investment. The unusual and technical design is intuitive and feature-rich for its sub-two-pound weight. If I were to select a tent for another season of adventure again, I would pick the Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent without a single reservation. The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2p Tent is storm worthy, light, insect proof and comfortable.
Keeping mice, sand fleas and rain out in a coastal rainforest is not an easy task. The well designed Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P Tent exceeded the expectations I made on it. Pictured at Thrashers Cove, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Where to Buy the Nemo Blaze 2P
Where to Buy Nemo Blaze 2P Tent
Related Tents
The Nemo Blaze 2P is one of several tents that have recently been introduced to the ultralight market that focus on lighter fabrics, fewer (and thinner) poles, and perhaps a semi-freestanding (instead of a truly freestanding) design that requires a stake or two to maximize floor space. Like the Nemo Blaze 2P, the following tents offer interior space that isn’t occupied by vertical poles (as in pyramid-style tents). The NEMO Hornet 2P and MSR FreeLite 2 offer double doors and double vestibules, while the Fly Creek HV 2 Platinum is front-entry:
NEMO Hornet 2P Tent
One of the lightest 2-person double wall tents available that still offers 2 doors and 2 vestibules.
MSR FreeLite 2 Tent
A somewhat shorter height, combined with very good stability, makes the FreeLite 2 more stormworthy than some ultralight double wall tents that skimp on pole structure.
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 2 Platinum Tent
Astonishingly light, front-entry, with a generous vestibule and reasonable headroom.
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Disclosure
Product(s) discussed in this review were either acquired by Backpacking Light from a retailer or otherwise provided by the manufacturer at a discount/donation with no obligation to provide media coverage or a product review to the manufacturer(s). Backpacking Light does not accept compensation or donated product in exchange for guaranteed media placement or product review coverage without clearly denoting such coverage as an “ADVERTISEMENT” or “SPONSORED CONTENT.”