While you’re out there for a 1 particular person ultralight tent, the tech specs solely inform a part of the story. What issues is the way it performs while you’re truly on the market, organising in fading mild after an extended day, coping with condensation on a chilly morning, or making an attempt to sleep in torrential rain… and wind.
It’s simple to focus an excessive amount of on weight alone and overlook about supplies, house, sturdiness and ease of use.
How did I take a look at it?
I’ve been testing the Nemo Hornet Osmo 1P for over a 12 months now, from in a single day winter walks within the Blue Mountains to multi-day adventures in Declared Wilderness and alpine areas the place each gram counts.
Right here’s what I’ve realized about this tent, together with what Nemo received proper and the place I reckon they may enhance. Spoiler: that is now my go-to shelter and lives completely in my ‘Take Me Tub’—able to seize each time journey calls.
Value and positioning within the Nemo product line-up?
The Hornet Osmo sits firmly in the course of Nemo’s different 1P choices and lands on that 1kg candy spot at $746.96 (all costs as at 12/2/26).
Dragonfly Osmo (1.49kg) is their absolutely free-standing light-weight providing $879,95.
The Hornet Osmo Elite appears like they had been testing themselves to see how a lot additional they may push the 1kg envelope, touchdown at 935g ($949.95).
Who is that this tent for?
Clearly geared toward bushwalkers and hikers who wish to lighten their pack OR severe gram counters preferring a 2-layer tent over a tarp or strolling pole shelter.
The small packed dimensions are additionally a lure for individuals wanting to cut back the dimensions (in addition to weight) of their pack.
The greenish credentials of their proprietary Osmo materials and Bluesign® authorized flooring might appeal to people who prefer to tread evenly on the planet… identical to the burden on their shoulders.
For a solo bushwalker, this tent hits a candy spot between ultralight efficiency and sensible livability. It’s not absolutely the lightest possibility on the market, however the trade-offs really feel thought of relatively than compromised.
Sustainability
Nemo’s Osmo poly-nylon ripstop cloth is their response to the environmental affect of conventional PFC-based waterproof coatings. It’s a composite cloth, made out of 100% recycled yarns, that repels water with out problematic chemical substances (like PFAS), while additionally being extra sturdy and stretching much less when moist than commonplace materials.
5 Issues I Love About This Tent
1. The Weight-to-House Ratio
At 1.02kg for the entire setup (822g minimal weight), the Hornet Osmo 1P feels impressively roomy for its 1.9 sq metre flooring space and 98cm peak peak.
I’m about 176cm tall and indulge my slumber with the 10cm peak of a Sea to Summit Etherlight XR insulated sleeping mat. Group that up with my energy thighs and I actually respect the sense of house inside. That is because of the volumising Flybar pole clip within the roof and the volumising guy-outs, which pull the sidewalls of the interior outwards, creating extra space and stress within the construction. Genuinely genius.
The Hornet Osmo offers you correct dwelling house with out the burden penalty you’d anticipate. Much less vampire in a coffin, extra bats flying free!
2. Single-handed Door Clips Are Sensible
You know the way little issues could make a giant distinction? The vestibule door clip helps you to scrunch (not fold ;)) and safe it open with one hand. Until you’re a contortionist or perhaps a climber with good dexterity, this easy act has evaded me – till now. Excellent for boiling the billy and making a brew outdoors within the vestibule, whereas packing up inside… or staying within the sleeping bag for the morning cuppa.
3. Setup Is Genuinely Fast
I’ve set this tent up in numerous circumstances and terrain—from timber platforms (see Gentle to Gentle Stroll), rocky clifftops, to grassy river banks, to off-track in low scrub. The only 3-arm hubbed pole system means setup was intuitive even once I was drained, or circumstances weren’t very best. There’s no guessing which pole goes the place, fidgeting with difficult techniques or threading poles by sleeves.
As a lot as I needed the tent was absolutely free-standing, the semi-free-standing design makes use of further triangulated volumising guy-outs and struts on the toes. Once more, including to inner house and is designed to maintain the tent partitions (and any related condensation) off your sleeping bag.
4. Stuff sack designed like a packing dice
Nemo name it Divvy Dice, I name it good. This one was a shock to me as I assumed I’d hate not having a standard tube-shaped stuff sack; however no, I really like how streamlined it’s. Packed measurement is a compact 32 x 19 x 7 cm, and by eradicating the poles and packing them individually, the roll-top opening compresses the air out simply, squishing it down even additional.
5. The Ceiling Shelf and Lighting
Right here’s the function I didn’t know I wanted till I had it: a small shelf pocket on the peak of the tent, designed for stashing your head torch. But it surely’s not nearly storage — the darkish orange color of the shelf transforms a head lamp right into a heat, subtle studying mild. As a substitute of harsh white mild bouncing round, you get this pretty, even glow that makes the tent really feel genuinely cosy. It’s a kind of considerate design decisions that simply elevates the entire expertise of being inside on the finish of an extended day on the observe.
6. Stargazing (and no-gazing) mesh
Particularly for warm nights or dry season up north, once I prefer to journey with simply the tent interior, the black mesh within the roof turns nearly clear, bringing the celebrities into focus. Conversely (or so their tech specs say, however I’m but to check out ‘cos there’s some issues no-one must see), the tent sides use no-see-um mesh, which ‘apparently’ will increase privateness.
Three Areas for Enchancment
No tent is ideal, and the Hornet Osmo 1P has some elements the place I reckon Nemo might make minor tweaks for future enhancements.
1. Single-wall design at head & condensation
The primary remark most neighbourly guests make is, ‘Is that solely single wall on the head?’ Sure. And it was one of many surprises I had once I first set it up. I admit that I generally take shortcuts with pitching tents and don’t hassle with man ropes, however this one is crucial… except you need extra condensation and even rain penetration. One morning revealed various condensation on this part, however I haven’t been capable of replicate it.
2. Vestibule house is ample, not beneficiant
The vestibule supplies 0.7 sq. metres of lined house, which is sufficient for my almost-empty <60 litre frameless pack and footwear, however not a lot else. When you have a bigger pack and significantly one with a inflexible body and harness, like an Osprey, I reckon you may wrestle to maintain it dry underneath there in dangerous climate.
If you happen to’re cooking within the vestibule throughout rain, issues will get cramped shortly. I discovered myself wishing for even 20cm extra depth to provide correct working house. It’s manageable, but it surely’s tight, particularly given the fireplace hazard of cooking in a vestibule – EEK!
If the 120g distinction (+$100 AUD) between the 1P and 2P isn’t a deal breaker for you, have a take into consideration shopping for the 2P (with 2 doorways), every with .7 sq. metres of vestibule.
3. Flooring Material 1500 mm HH (hydrostatic head/waterhead)
Come on of us. I get that I reside within the nation of Mont, who’re well-known for his or her 25,000mm waterhead flooring materials (sure, twenty 5 thousand), even on their Hypermid Ultralight strolling pole tents, however in comparison with among the different common ultralight 1P tents available on the market like Sea To Summit Alto TR1 Plus at 2,500mm hydrostatic head (1,200mm for the usual Alto TR1), or Gossamer Gear The One Ultralight 1P at 1,800mm, I reckon Nemo can positively do higher. Osmo additionally do a Hornet Elite Osmo model, which has a measly 1,200mm HH flooring.
There’s an elective 2,000mm footprint (150g), however I’d desire to have that weight allotted to upgrading the precise tent flooring, not making an attempt to promote me one thing further. I take advantage of a DIY Tyvek groundsheet.
Enjoyable Reality: After I was despatched this tent for testing, I used to be supplied both the usual or Elite. I learn and watched a bunch of critiques (wonderful procrastination method in pursuit of analysis), purposefully in search of these in various climates, eg. thruhiker within the Lake District, UK and others. It was sufficient to prod me to the usual with a 1,500mm flooring.
Freestanding vs (nearly) freestanding
My tenting nirvana will at all times be a roomy and strong, ultralight, freestanding tent <1kg… with a superb HH flooring cloth. I do know, perhaps the Bitter Squirms have gone to my head or maybe I’m simply delusional. [For the Big Aggie fans, the popular Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 has a 1,200mm HH floor.]
If the 1kg weight is the principle objective, then one thing else must give. On this case, it’s the 4th ‘arm’ of the pole construction that may make this tent absolutely freestanding, together with the ground cloth and single-wall on the head.
The interior can truly get up by itself, which makes it simple to maneuver round earlier than settling in your closing pitch location. The interior simply clips over the body and there’s no tough threading poles by cloth.
At an absolute pinch, like on dangerous terrain (however in good climate), you may be capable to get away with out pegging out the foot corners that present the help and stress you’d’ve received from the 4th arm, however be ready for a little bit of moisture on the head for those who don’t peg that fly-guy away from the interior.
The Backside Line
Based mostly on my 12 months of testing, the Nemo Hornet Osmo 1P has earned its place as my go-to tent… for now.
It lives in my ‘Take Me Tub’—with all my different go-to gear—as a result of it’s confirmed itself dependable, snug, mild and sensible throughout totally different circumstances.
This tent isn’t good, but it surely’s a genuinely strong 1-person possibility for many who need one thing mild with out sacrificing an excessive amount of livability.
The only-wall head is one thing to pay attention to and plan for, but it surely isn’t a deal-breaker for me. The advantages of the tent, significantly the general sense of house, the burden and people considerate design particulars, outweigh any frustration.
Purchase NEMO Hornet Osmo 1P now from Ultralight Gear.
Disclosure: I didn’t pay for this tent. You should purchase my time, however you’ll be able to’t purchase my opinion.
