Nemo Aurora 2 Review

Likes

The Nemo Aurora 2 is roomier than most of the other 2-person tents we tested. We could fit two backpackers comfortably, but not enough to bring our packs inside. The vestibules provide extra space to keep gear out of the rain, though it's not as usable as the listed size might suggest due to the steep angle of the rainfly.

With the vents open, you get a nice, open-air feeling, even in the rain. If it's nice out, you can unzip both sides of the fly completely, creating a roof and two narrow sidewalls as a light shade cover. Since the tent comes with a footprint, you can use it to set up the rainfly without the tent, creating a sunshade or lightweight shelter (just as long as bugs aren't an issue where you're headed).

Dislikes

Although the Aurora 2 arrived in a nice, tight package, we regularly had trouble packing it back into its original stuff sack.

The Aurora 2 isn't particularly lightweight. The tents we tested at a similar weight were also a bit more weather-resistant and more durable.

While the fabric on the tent body held up well during our testing, the poles' shock cords began fraying quickly, and the end caps were lost at some point during the testing seasons. While these are relatively simple repairs, we don't want them to fail in the field.

Should You Buy the Nemo Aurora 2?

While it may not be the lightest-weight 2-person tent on the market, the Aurora 2 is particularly comfortable thanks to its unique boxy shape that affords plenty of headroom. We have tall friends who opt for Nemo tents because they provide enough space to sit up and lie down comfortably. This is a spacious tent for solo backpackers, and as long as you don't mind sleeping shoulder to shoulder, it's a reasonable option for two people as well.

What Other Backpacking Tent Should You Consider?