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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If they made this tent in a one person for a pound and a half…I’d be tempted to buy it. And use polycryo for a ground cloth. I like double walls. Hate insects, dislike condensation on my bag. The fact that the outer skin doesn’t come completely down to the ground might make me more concerned about wind than rain. But Emylene seems pretty confident here.
I haven’t had much trouble with the single wall being leaky, that said I am used to a single wall shelter. Unless you have a driving directional rain, the tarp tends to keep the majority of rain off the single wall portion. Again I will say, tent placement is almost everything, regardless of what shelter you use. The better your placement, the less shelter you get away with.
Alberta as a climate (aside from daily thunderstorms from June to September and snow September to May) tends to be dry. I get away with a great deal here. My biggest issue is the rapid weather changes and cooler temperatures. The warmest day hiking I’ve ever had in Alberta is 28C. The coldest in the minus 20C range (I won’t hike (snowshoe/cross country ski) any cooler than that) it gets cooler I just refuse after that.
I took it on my coastal trips and it worked well, but again placement allows more leeway.
I would also be tempted by a single shelter with double walls. Bivies have never been a good friend of mine, I’m mildly clausterphobic.
Sure, it’s easy to stay under 10 lb base by exercising more discipline with gear selection when it comes to pack and sleep system and other gear, but there are shelter options that weigh half as much as this one that don’t cost all that much more.
I must agree with Tad’s opinion that handing out the “highly recommended” rating for this product in a UL context really devalues the currency.
Well Bob, as I pointed out to Tad. The ground cloth could be made for 5-6 oz. I had less than 24 hours to get on my next trip when the tent arrived. At 5-6 oz will not add additional insulation like the Mylar. It also has less emergency applications. You will also notice the other shelter options are not free-standing, double-wall, double door, double vestibule. Massive difference in features for similar weight.
When the other shelters factor in trek poles and a 5-11 oz ground cloth, it’s more weight yet. I typically don’t use two trek poles myself, it’s a nuisance carrying both (or one in most applications.) If I carry trek poles they are usually more as emergency crutches and splits than functioning gear. I should use them more, however though I don’t hate them, I don’t like them either. I end up with almost a pound of pole I don’t want. Many other readers are likely in the same boat.
Lol only if you actually use them! I don’t, they are just heavy shelter poles. I have been using them more since tearing my ACL and my accident but I often have had them riding around for nothing but a shelter because I might want them.
Tent poles, aside from shelter can also serve as splints and a few other applications if you aren’t carrying trek poles. If comes down to what type of shelter works best for your application- Freestanding or not. This is most certainly UL for a freestanding tent, last I had a dome tent it was measured at about 3lbs 8oz. 1 lb anything is nearly unheard of in any dome style. I actually couldn’t find any to compare to. If you look at the product comparisons, there are no domes and almost no free standings.
the way I see it the vestibules are not an integral part of the tent. Once you are inside, aside from being more stable and roomie with pegs it’s free standing.
And as far as being first, I mean first ultra light especially in Canada. I am quite certain your 80’s tent weighed in the 3-5 pound range, tunnel tents even worse. And again, we are missing Bob’s other comment. Here when I posted, moderated afterwards.
If you would like to provide a list of ultralight, dome style, two door, two vestibule tents available in Canada and the States, I’d be happy to look at it.
Ken you asked a question, or I assume there was a question in the half dozen edits in my inbox, about how many gear manufactures were making UL dome, double door, double vestibule tents. I was barely born in the eighties if you know of such tents, I’m happy to look into it.
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.”
You rebel you, Danny! ;-)
Excellently articulated thoughts! I’ll answer you now because I have time this morning, I may not get to it later.
I agree, actual days of usage is a much better rubric.
I would also agree with the 1200mm being lower end. The question is how water proof does the gear user need? More waterproof usually means more condensation. 90% of the time my usage is in a dry climate, therefore 1200mm is acceptable. Though this tent performed well in a coastal application, it would not be my first choice. I’d pick some sterner stuff if coastal walking was my primary usage. RAB especially markets in the U.K. and I can totally see them needing a better HH. Nice to see a good understanding of HH from another BPLer.
I actually think the down jacket might have more stress, branch snags etc. Once a tent is set up, aside from wind and precipitation it’s pretty low stress. Which isn’t exactly low stress but it’s not a tearing or friction motion like a branch running across it. I’m not overly familiar with the Ghost Whisperer though, but that’s my off the cuff thought. The 7D is interesting and unexpected but totally worth a test drive. I’m going to keep experimenting with this tent and see where I get to. When I get my first repair, I’ll update the forum.
And I totally love the Double Rainbow, it’s been on my radar for years. Excellent design.
Well it’s been a while but I can provide an update on how this tent is performing. The 7D fabric is still holding strong. I have now (accidentally) tested this tent in heavy snow conditions and heavy coastal rain. 6” of heavy snow in August is all bad for a single pole shelter. The Nemo Equipment Blaze 2P collapsed (which is fairly predictable). Interestingly though, because there was no condensation inside, everything stayed reasonably dry until it was set back up and spent the night shaking snow off every hour or so.
As to repairs the 7d fabric on the tent bag has not withstood repeated pole stuffing and I just patched a massive rip in the bag from the poles punching through. This also seems predictable, 7D is not great for high pressure pole stuffing.
the only other repair I’ve made is restringing the poles. The tension cord in the poles started getting pretty loose and frayed (likely because of the snow incident).
Aside from that, and still finding it a bit on the short side for tall users it’s been a good shelter. Despite Nemo Equipment discontinuing this model, it’s worked out very well for my applications.
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