Nemo Aurora 2 Review

Name: Nemo Aurora 2
Brand: Nemo

This spacious tent is like a budget basecamp; it's perfect for anyone who wants a bit of extra space

The boxy frame of the Nemo Aurora 2 helps make it one of the most spacious tents on the market.

Credit: Zach Lovell

Price: $300 List

Manufacturer: Nemo

By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 16, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#12 of 13

Livability - 35% 7.8
Weather Resistance - 25% 6.0
Weight - 15% 6.2
Packed Size - 15% 5.9
Durability - 10% 6.0

List Price: $300

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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. 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

Plenty of headroom

Large pockets for organization

REASONS TO AVOID

Durability issues with poles

Difficult to repack

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product Nemo Aurora 2	The North Face Stormbreak 2	The North Face Stormbreak 3	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Awards			Best Value for Beginners
Price	$300 List Check Price at REI	$220 List Check Price at REI	$260 List Check Price at REI	$150 List Check Price at Backcountry	$199 List Check Price at REI
Overall Score	66	72	70	69	60
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	A comfortable, airy option that's well-sized for taller backpackers	Even if it's a bit heavy, this 2-person tent is comfortable, durable, and easy to set up	This affordable tent is one of the largest we tested, which makes it a comfortable option for anyone just getting into backpacking	A basic backpacking tent that's more like a roomy one-person tent rather than the two-person size advertised	A basic backpacking tent that's actually affordable, but the tradeoff is that it's heavy and lacks extras that add to quality of life on the trail
Rating Categories	Nemo Aurora 2	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Livability (35%)	7.8	7.9	8.6	6.3	6.0
Weather Resistance (25%)	6.0	7.0	7.1	6.8	5.5
Weight (15%)	6.2	5.7	4.4	7.0	5.3
Packed Size (15%)	5.9	7.3	5.2	8.0	6.7
Durability (10%)	6.0	7.7	7.7	7.8	7.5
Specifications	Nemo Aurora 2	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Listed Size	2 person	2 person	3 person	2 person	2 person
True Capacity	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear	Fits two people very comfortably with gear; Very tight for three people with very little gear	Comfortable for one person and gear; Fits two people with a very small amount of gear	Spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear
Measured Minimum Trail Weight	4.59 lbs	5.61 lbs	6.20 lbs	4.31 lbs	5.13 lbs
Number of Doors	2	2	2	1	2
Footprint Included?	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Measured Packaged Weight	5.51 lbs	5.88 lbs	7.10 lbs	4.81 lbs	6.25 lbs
Measured Floor Area	32.4 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	39.7 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	31.8 sq ft
Measured Packed Size	20 x 8 in	20 x 6.5 in	22 x 8 in	16.5 x 7 in	18 x 8 in
Measured Peak Height	44 in	43 in	46 in	43 in	40 in
Measured Vestibule Area	9.2 sq ft on each side	9.8 sq ft on each side	10.8 sq ft on each side	6.0 sq feet (one vestibule)	9.4 sq feet on each side
Number of Pockets	4	4	4	3	2
Gear Loft?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of Poles	1	4	4	2	2
Pole Diameter	8.5 mm	8.5 mm	8.5 mm	9 mm	8.5 mm
Pole Material	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Number of Guy Points	4	4	4	7	4
Rain Fly Material	PU polyester (2000 mm)	75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating	75D polyester taffeta	68D Polyester	75D polyester
Inner Tent Material	30D polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh, 68D PU polyester (1200 mm) floor, proprietary Fly Fabric polyester	40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor	75D polyester taffeta	68D polyester	75D polyester taffeta, 40D nylon no-see-um mesh

Our Analysis and Test Results

nemo aurora 2 - the nemo aurora 2 is large and comfortable, with plenty of mesh for... — The Nemo Aurora 2 is large and comfortable, with plenty of mesh for stargazing (or spotting wildlife!) Credit: Kenji Mowrey

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).

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

Dislikes

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

nemo aurora 2 - the aurora 2 might come in a tight package; however, we had a hard... — The Aurora 2 might come in a tight package; however, we had a hard time stuffing it back down to its original size. Credit: Kenji Mowrey

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.

nemo aurora 2 - the poles and joints are sturdier than they look, but without a... — The poles and joints are sturdier than they look, but without a durable shock cord, we were constantly worried if the poles would fail. Credit: Zach Lovell

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?

The REI Co-op Half Dome 2 is perhaps the best direct comparison to the Nemo Aurora 2. While the Half Dome 2 is a bit smaller on paper, its more classic dome shape is livable and offers a bit more vestibule space for your gear. The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a more affordable option, with a similar, airy feel to the Aurora 2.

—Zach Lovell