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NEMO Aurora 2 Review

This spacious, durable, and sturdy tent is like a budget basecamp for those that need extra space
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NEMO Aurora 2 Review (Having a generous space to relax in the backcountry is a luxury you might just be able to afford.)
Having a generous space to relax in the backcountry is a luxury you might just be able to afford.
Credit: Clark Tate
Price:  $300 List
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Manufacturer:   NEMO Aurora 2
By Clark Tate ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 1, 2023
68
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 18
  • Comfort - 25% 9.5
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 6.0
  • Space to Weight Ratio - 25% 5.5
  • Ease of Use - 15% 6.0
  • Construction Quality - 10% 6.5

Our Verdict

With one of the tallest ceilings in the test and more headroom than most backpacking tents, the Nemo Aurora 2 feels airy and spacious. It's 52-inches wide, giving you enough room to sleep two comfortably, if cozily. As a result, it's one of the most homey and restful options we tested. The tent body is built of sturdy, relatively thick ripstop nylon, as is the poly-nylon blend rainfly. Both fly doors can be swept back for maximum airflow, and two strutted vents at either end let the tent breathe in a storm while keeping the rain out. Unfortunately, it's not the lightest option. Weighing in at 5.51 pounds, this tent works in the backcountry if you can split the weight with a friend and/or aren't going far.
REASONS TO BUY
Spacious
Large pockets
Seems built to last
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Bulky for backpacking
Some water crept in
Editor's Note: This review was read over and updated on December 1, 2023, after a full revamp of our lineup.

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nemo aurora 2
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NEMO Aurora 2
Awards Best Buy Award
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  Best Buy Award
Best On a Tight Budget
 
Price $299.95 at REI
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$349 List
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Bottom Line This comfortable, airy option can handle some abuse, though that durability adds weightA tent with lots of room and a great value for those who go weekend car camping or on shorter backpacking tripsWe like this comfortable tent when we aren't headed too far out, unfortunately some of the fabric seems less than robustSimple and reliable in mild conditions, this is a good solid backpack tentA budget tent that tries to add convenience to your camping experience
Rating Categories NEMO Aurora 2 REI Co-op Half Dome... The North Face Stor... REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Kelty Late Start 2
Comfort (25%)
9.5
10.0
8.0
5.5
6.0
Weather Resistance (25%)
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
3.0
Space to Weight Ratio (25%)
5.5
5.0
3.0
2.0
3.5
Ease of Use (15%)
6.0
5.5
6.0
7.5
4.5
Construction Quality (10%)
6.5
3.0
3.0
7.5
6.0
Specs NEMO Aurora 2 REI Co-op Half Dome... The North Face Stor... REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Kelty Late Start 2
Measured Total Packaged Weight 5.51 4.95 6.27 5.65 4.93
Measured Floor Area., sq ft 30.33 31.25 29.26 30.21 32.44
Interior Floor Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 5.50 6.31 4.67 5.35 6.58
Measured Headroom Area, sq ft 25.28 17.36 16.33 4.86 9.03
Interior Headroom Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 4.59 3.51 2.60 0.86 1.83
Packed Size (length x diameter) 20 x (8 x 8) in 22 x 7.5 in 20 x 6.5 in 18 x 8.5 in 17 x 7.5 in
Dimensions (length x width x peak height) 84 x 52 x 44 in 90 x 50 x 42 in 86 x 49 x 43 in 87 x 50 x 40 in 86.5 x 54 x 40 in
Vestibule Area 9.2 + 9.2 sq ft 22.5 sq ft 9.8 + 9.8 sq ft 19 sq ft 7.9 sq ft
Peak Height 44 in 42 in 43 in 40 in 40 in
Number of Doors 2 2 2 2 1
Number of Poles 1 1 3 2 2
Pole Diameter 8.5 mm 8.7 mm 8.5 mm 8.5 mm Not provided
Pole Material Aluminum DAC featherlite NFL aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Number of Pockets 4 6 4 2 3
Guy Points 4 4 4 4 4
Gear Loft No No No No No
Rain Fly Material 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm) 40-denier ripstop nylon, 20-denier nylon mesh 75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating Coated polyester 68D Polyester / 1200 mm
Inner Tent Material 30D Polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh, 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm) floor
Fly Fabric Polyester,
40-denier taffeta nylon 40D polyester mesh,
75D polyester taffeta canopy,
68D polyester, 3000 mm PU coating floor
Polyester/nylon No-See-Um Mesh, 68D Polyester / 1200 mm
Type Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding

Our Analysis and Test Results

This is a sturdy tent, and we know of kids' summer camps that use it for their backpacking trips. The kids complain about the weight, but the tent survives. It comes standard with a footprint, which you could leave behind to save 7.3 ounces. Or you could go in the other direction and purchase an additional “Pawprotector”, which snaps to the floor to protect the tent from hyperactive outdoor dogs.

Performance Comparison


nemo aurora 2 - the spacious aurora backpacking tent had us relaxing in no time.
The spacious Aurora backpacking tent had us relaxing in no time.
Credit: Clark Tate


Comfort


To judge each tent's comfort, we considered the size of the living area, its shape, and the height of the ceiling. We also checked out the storage space provided by pockets and vestibules and assessed the ventilation features, as it's nice to have a little air flowing when you want to rest on a hot day or hunker down in a storm.


The Aurora 2 really shines in this metric. At its peak height, it is 44 inches tall, and its floor measures 84 inches long by 52 inches wide. That equals over 30 square feet of floor space, and you can sit up in almost all of it. That alone gives this tent the feeling of the backpacker's version of a cabin. The vestibules provide another 18.4 square feet of storage space out of the elements, though far less than that is truly usable due to the angle of the rainfly.

Pockets above the head and foot of the tent are a good place to...
Pockets above the head and foot of the tent are a good place to store extra layers.
Two vestibules give you enough space to store your pack and boots.
Two vestibules give you enough space to store your pack and boots.

Inside the tent, two pockets hang loose and low on either wall. They are on opposing sides of the tent, facilitating head-to-toe sleeping arrangements, and are 9.5 inches across and about 9 inches deep. Overhead, two 12.5-inch wide panel pockets, one at the head and one at the foot, give you a surprising amount of space to stuff extra layers. Two loops, one on either end of the tent, let you string a line through for extra organization if you're so inclined.

Struts hold open vents in the fly to allow air to flow.
Struts hold open vents in the fly to allow air to flow.
A smaller, bedside pocket will hold a book and your headlamp.
A smaller, bedside pocket will hold a book and your headlamp.

With the strutted vents in the rainfly open, you can get a nice, open-air feeling, even in the rain. If it's nice out, you can unzip both sides of the fly completely, allowing you to have a roof and two narrow sidewalls as a light shade cover. In fact, since the tent comes with a footprint, you can use it to set the rainfly up without the tent, creating a sunshade or light-weight shelter, as long as bugs aren't an issue where you are heading.

nemo aurora 2 - we love relaxing in this spacious tent, especially in nice weather.
We love relaxing in this spacious tent, especially in nice weather.
Credit: Clark Tate

Weather Resistance


We tested this tent in a three-day rain storm and assessed its wind readiness. We also measured the internal temperature on a hot day and shook the tent around to see how sturdy it felt under pressure.


The Aurora stayed almost completely dry, even when we pitched the tent on rain-soaked grass, with one exception. At the head and the foot of the tent, there is a loop at the bottom of the rainfly, but no guyline is attached to stake it out and away from the tent wall. At the end of the second day of our rain test, a few small pools of moisture were beaded by the head of the tent. We assume that the water worked through the tent wall where the rainfly was lying against it. We tied some of the paracord provided in the kit and staked the fly out on either end. That solved the issue. The footprint is a bit large for the tent, and you do need to make sure it doesn't funnel water under your tent and turn it into an unintentional waterbed.

We initially tested the tents in the rain in the same condition as...
We initially tested the tents in the rain in the same condition as they arrived. In this case, there was no guyline attached to the fly to stake it out over the head and foot of the tent.
Once we pulled the fly taut, water wasn't an issue.
Once we pulled the fly taut, water wasn't an issue.

The Aurora is less well prepared for heavy winds. Though the poles seem sturdy, there are only four loops to attach guylines to the fly, and the guylines do not arrive attached, so you have to remember to do that ahead of time or have paracord with you.

We also left the tent out in the sun for an hour on a day when the temperature was 86 degrees Fahrenheit but felt about 10 degrees hotter due to humidity. This tent registered some of the lowest internal temperatures in the test, though that was still 96 to 99 degrees at its peak.

nemo aurora 2 - the tent has a loop on each pole to attach a guyline for extra...
The tent has a loop on each pole to attach a guyline for extra support, but it doesn't come with enough paracord to make them all.
Credit: Clark Tate

Space to Weight Ratio


The Aurora 2 weighs 5.51 pounds. That is a lot for a backpacking tent, so you'll want to consider if that weight is worth it. For this metric, we measure the total square feet of floor space and how much of it gives you enough headroom to sit up, then we divide both numbers by the weight.


Though this is a generously sized tent, when you factor in how heavy it is, it only earns average scores in this metric, offering 5.5 square feet of floor space per pound. It does better when you only look at the amount of headroom per pound, which is 4.6 square feet. That's one of the best results in the test.

nemo aurora 2 - the wide crossbar and arched poles give you a lot of headroom.
The wide crossbar and arched poles give you a lot of headroom.
Credit: Clark Tate

Ease of Use


We time how long it takes us to set each tent up and tear it down, what it's like to use on a daily basis, and if its features are intuitive or obscure.


The tent poles, tent body, and tarp are all symmetrical, making it especially easy to set up the Aurora since you can't accidentally turn it the wrong way. There are two poles, one that is loosely shaped like a double-end “Y” with two connecting hubs and one long crossbar. The larger, multi-pronged pole can feel unwieldy, but you get used to it quickly.

Set up the poles and simply clip the tent into them.
Set up the poles and simply clip the tent into them.
Loops of webbing help you pull the tent sides out to attach the...
Loops of webbing help you pull the tent sides out to attach the crossbar.
The large pole, with two hubs, can be unwieldy, but you get used to...
The large pole, with two hubs, can be unwieldy, but you get used to it.

Once you place the ends into the metal grommets on the tent body, you just need to snap the tent into place. If you are using the footprint, it is a little too large for the tent, and it's harder to get the poles to attach to it.

nemo aurora 2 - two metal taps attach the tent and footprint to the poles. the...
Two metal taps attach the tent and footprint to the poles. The footprint is a bit oversized, making it hard to keep it in place.
Credit: Clark Tate

It took us an average amount of time to get this tent up and rolling and to break it back down. It's also pretty easy to use day to day. The fly door unzips easily. The elongated inner door does as well, but you do need two hands to navigate the sharp turn. Instead of a toggle to hold the mesh door out of the way, it leaves a very narrow attachment point, so the fabric just falls into the tent, or you can stuff it into the pocket by the door. Either way, it's easy.

nemo aurora 2 - the large door has no dedicated tie. you can stuff it into the...
The large door has no dedicated tie. You can stuff it into the pockets nearby or just let it hang, where it remains largely out of the way.
Credit: Clark Tate

Construction Quality


The Aurora 2 seems to be one of the sturdier backpacking tents we tested, which probably accounts for some of that extra weight.


We scraped the tent mesh and body, the fly, and the seams with the end of a paperclip to see if they frayed or scratched. Though the seams were loose enough to easily slide the clip beneath them, they didn't pull. The 8.5mm aluminum poles seem heavier and sturdier than some of the competition, and the old-school, hooked metal steaks would be hard to break.

nemo aurora 2 - when we tested the fabrics, seams, zippers, poles, and stakes, we...
When we tested the fabrics, seams, zippers, poles, and stakes, we didn't find any obvious weaknesses.
Credit: Clark Tate

Should You Buy the Nemo Aurora 2?


If you want a comfortable, mid-priced backpacking tent that's built to last and you usually hike with a partner who can help you shoulder the burden, this could be the tent for you. It's also a good option for kids and should survive all that youthful exuberance.

nemo aurora 2 - everything that came with the aurora, including a small wrap of...
Everything that came with the Aurora, including a small wrap of paracord.
Credit: Clark Tate

What Other Backpacking Tent Should You Consider?


If you want a budget starter tent, the REI Co-op Trailmade 2 weighs the same amount and gives you a similar amount of floor space but much less headroom. The North Face Stormbreak 2 has the same airy feel as the Aurora and more options for door configurations, but some of the fabric was fraying on our test tent. If you want the headroom and floor space but not the weight, you'll have to pay extra for something like the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3.

nemo aurora 2 - with the fly on and the windows open, the aurora can be a shady...
With the fly on and the windows open, the Aurora can be a shady respite from the sun.
Credit: Clark Tate

Clark Tate