NEMO Hornet OSMO Tent Review: Ultralight Performance for 1, 2, and 3 Backpackers

The Nemo Hornet ultralight backpacking tent series—available in 1P, 2P, and 3P models—has become a go-to choice for hikers who prioritize low weight without losing livability. We tested the 1P version in high-alpine conditions to see how it holds up in real backcountry weather. We'll look at how each version compares and where it makes the most sense.

Bottom Line

Best for: Ultralight enthusiasts willing to trade some space for weight savings
Skip if: You need maximum interior room or prefer full rainfly coverage
Alternative: Consider the Nemo Dagger OSMO 2 for more space (at 1.5 lbs additional weight)

The NEMO Hornet OSMO ultralight tent is built for backpackers who put weight savings first without wanting to give up livability entirely. Available in 1P, 2P, and 3P models, the series uses NEMO’s innovative OSMO fabric—a recycled poly-nylon composite that resists sag when wet, boosts durability, and eliminates PFAS.

I tested the Nemo Hornet OSMO 1 in the Colorado Rockies at 11,000 feet, where it handled rain, wind, and uneven ground impressively well. The 2P model gets the most attention—and for good reason. At just 2.5 lbs packed weight, it’s one of the most competitive ultralight freestanding shelters on the market. Just know that interior space is tight and the floor tapers significantly. However, the tapered floor plan and partial rainfly coverage represent clear compromises that prioritize weight savings over maximum interior space. If you want maximum space-to-weight, the Hornet shines. If you want more comfort, look at the Dagger OSMO instead.
 

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Nemo Hornet OSMO Full Specs

Materials and Construction

Fabric

The star of the Nemo Hornet series is undoubtedly the OSMO fabric, introduced by Nemo in 2021. This poly-nylon composite represents a significant advancement over traditional sil-nylon, offering superior waterproofness, enhanced tear strength, and crucially, resistance to sagging when wet—a common frustration with conventional ultralight tent fabrics. Nemo claims OSMO provides 4x longer-lasting water repellency than comparable tent fabrics and stretches 3x less when wet.

During my high-alpine testing, the OSMO fabric performed really well. Despite facing a Rocky Mountain storm cell with solid rain and moderate winds, zero water penetrated the material. The fabric maintained its taut appearance throughout the night, even as temperatures dropped and condensation formed on the exterior. By morning, while the rainfly was cold and wet, it showed little to no sag—a testament to the OSMO technology's effectiveness. 

Beyond performance, the OSMO fabric is 100% recycled and PFAS-free. The material has an attractive appearance that speaks to quality construction, and the attention to detail is immediately apparent when handling the Hornet.

Here is a great page from Nemo talking about their OSMO fabric. The video on there is worth watching.

Big Agnes released their competing HyperBead technology in 2025. We tested it in our review of the Copper Spur UL 2 ultralight backpacking tent. 

Poles and Stakes

The poleset is DAC Featherlite aluminum and the poleset on our 1-person Hornet weighs a scant 9.9 oz / 281 g. Notably, the pole set on the 1-person is only 12 in. / 30.5 cm long, which makes it easy to pack inside or outside your backpack, or in between brake levers for bikepackers. I carried the poles in the outside pocket of my Osprey Aether 55 pack. You can see pics and my full review of the Aether 55 here.

The aluminum stakes are custom designed by Nemo and I'm guessing they're also manufactured by DAC. Stakes weigh 17g each, and the full pack of 7 stakes included with the tent weighs 134g in its storage sack. You'll need six of the stakes for a proper pitch, and more for guy lines in windy conditions. These stakes are twice the weight of others like the ultralight stakes Big Agnes includes in the Copper Spur UL and Fly Creek UL series, but I appreciate the larger hook on the Nemo stake to make it easy to attach tent cords and guy lines.

Dimensions and Usable Space

The Nemo Hornet falls squarely in ultralight territory and one way they accomplish this is by shaving the floor space to minimal dimensions. That said, Nemo uses a thoughtful design to make the space as usable as possible. My perspective is the tradeoff in space is totally worth it if you are after an ultralight backpacking tent. For the everybody else, I think a little additional weight is tolerable to gain the space. If you fall into the later camp, then the Nemo Dagger is a great choice, as is the REI Half Dome.

My biggest complaint with the Nemo Hornet OSMO 2 and 3 is that the tapered floor plan prevents the use of 25" wide sleeping pads. Wide-reg pads have grown in popularity and for good reason; I find them much better for me as a side sleeper that flops around at night. The width at the foot of the Hornet 2 and Hornet 3 are both too narrow for wide pads. You could of course use the 3-person tent with 2-people; I'm assuming each tent is at its intended capacity.

My other issue with the tapering, specifically on the 2-person, is that you don't have the option of sleeping head-to-foot. Both sleepers need to have their head at the same side of the tent. This is a small complaint, but something to be aware of.

Now to what Nemo has done well. They've added some cool design features that create steep walls and headroom, without adding weight. 

Flybar™ volumizing pole clip - Nemo actually has a patent pending for this. Found on the 1 and 2-person models of the Hornet, the Flybar™ replaces the crossover pole with smaller plastic hardware to save weight while still creating ample headroom in the tent. The Hornet OSMO 3 has a traditional crossover pole.

Triangulated volumizing guy-outs and struts - You'll find these at the foot corners of the Nemo Hornet OSMO backpacking tents. They add height and wall steepness and it really makes a difference to the interior foot space.

Volumizing guy-outs - In my opinion, this feature makes the most improvement to interior space. There are cords on the sides of the tent body that clip to the underside of the rain fly. As you stake out the fly, it tugs the cords and pulls the tent walls outward. It makes a massive difference on the Nemo Hornet OSMO 1 that I tested. Without them, the front and rear walls sag slightly inward, but when used the interior of the tent really opens up. This is my favorite detail out of everything in the Hornet tent series.

Pockets

There is plenty of storage on the Nemo Hornet series of tents. The 1-person has one large pocket at the head and the Nightlight Pocket™ to turn your headlamp into a lantern. The Nemo Hornet OSMO 2 and 3-person models have more pockets for the additional campers.

Setup and Storage

Nemo has made setup easy by color coding the webbing on the tent body and fly, along with color coded pole segments. Just clip grey to grey and yellow to yellow. I love how tight I can get the rain fly on this tent. The hem is cut in a way that maximizes tension and the pole architecture provides for a great pitch. At the corners of the tent body where the poles connect you'll find plastic hardware, which I've seen a lot ultralight tents migrate to. They're easy to use, save weight, and I bet cut cost for the brand. Interestingly on my 1-person there is a metal bit that receives the pole at the foot and the corresponding webbing on the footprint has a grommet. Otherwise, you'll find plastic clips on the body and fly for easy attachment. 

Packing my tent on-trail was easy with the Divvy Cube™ rectangular stuff sack. If you are using the Nemo Hornet OSMO 2 or 3 then you are most likely splitting up your load between hikers. The waterproof storage sack (not submersible) for the body and fly can be compressed without the poles inside. I've found that it is easy to keep the footprint in with the tent body and still get the Divvy Cube™ rolled up small.

Weather Protection and Durability

Both of our campsites during this test were above 11,000 feet. The first night was just above the tree line and we got hit with a fast and furious evening rain storm. On the second night we were able to find some trees. We had wind and lightening on the second night, but no rain.

Wind Performance: The Nemo Hornet OSMO 1 pitched nice and tight, which resulted in minimal flapping during high wind. The structure stayed rigid in gusts that I estimate were as high as 35mph.  Pro Tip: Always use your guy lines, even if you aren't anticipating wind!

Water Protection: The OSMO fabric shined during the short but hard rainfall. I'm interested to test this in steady all day rain, but I have little concern that it will perform. I felt no water driving through the fabric and misting into the tent, which somewhat surprised me given the scant 1200mm hydrostatic head rating on the fly.

The temperature dropped into the low 40s F (maybe touching 39F by dawn). The rainfly was wet but still tight in the morning. A testament to Nemo's use of the polyester-nylon hybrid fabric.

Durability Considerations

The fabric and poles used on the Nemo Hornet OSMO backpacking tent series are ultralight, but don't feel overly delicate. In general I think ultralight fabrics require careful site selection and handling and you should always use a footprint to extend tent life. The OSMO fabric on the body feels particularly abrasion resistant and again I attribute this to the addition of polyester. Ultralight syl-nylon always feels to me like it can tear at any moment, but the poly-hybrid ripstop doesn't feel quite as delicate. If you regularly camp with your dog, our favorite choice is the heavier 75D Polyester REI Half Dome 2.

Final Thoughts

The NEMO Hornet OSMO is one of the most compelling ultralight backpacking tents of 2025. The 2P version remains the sweet spot for weight-to-livability, while the 1P I tested proved reliable and smartly designed. The 3P version works for trios or couples who want a touch more space but still care about shaving pounds.

If you want every ounce shaved , the Hornet OSMO Elite trims further. The Hornet OSMO Elite 1 has a slightly larger floor than the standard Hornet, while the Hornet OSMO Elite 2 trims an inch from each dimension. If you value room over grams, the Nemo Dragonfly OSMO or Nemo Dagger OSMO may suit you better. But for backpackers who want a balanced, eco-friendly, and trail-proven ultralight tent, the Nemo Hornet OSMO is an excellent choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy a footprint for the Nemo Hornet?

While not absolutely necessary, we strongly recommend purchasing a footprint. The ultralight floor material benefits from additional protection, and a footprint significantly extends tent life while making cleaning much easier. This is especially important for the Hornet's minimal floor design.

Is the OSMO fabric really better than traditional silnylon?

Yes, based on our testing experience. OSMO fabric offers superior waterproofness, better tear strength, and crucially, resists sagging when wet—a common issue with traditional silnylon. The fabric also maintains tension better in temperature fluctuations, as we observed during our high-alpine testing.

Is the NEMO Hornet OSMO waterproof?

Yes. The OSMO fabric is fully waterproof and performed flawlessly in our rain test. However, note that the rainfly doesn’t extend all the way down on one side, so we’d want more multi-day wet testing before calling it bombproof in prolonged rain.

Is the Hornet OSMO freestanding?

It’s semi-freestanding. You can pitch it with poles alone, but staking out the corners and guylines is necessary to achieve full stability, and to get the rainfly taut. If you aren’t using the rainfly then you can pitch this without stakes, but never leave an unstaked tent unattended!

Can two people actually fit in the Hornet OSMO 2P?

Yes—but it’s snug. The tapered floor fits two regular-width (20 in.) sleeping pads side by side, but nothing wider. Expect close quarters.

What’s the difference between the Hornet OSMO and Hornet OSMO Elite?

The Nemo Hornet Elite uses even lighter (and more delicate) fabric than the standard Hornet and also shaves some floorspace on the 2-person model to save 7 oz (almost half a pound). The price increases $150 - $200 depending model. Weather performance should be the same, but the Elite is for sure more delicate and is aimed at true gram counters.