NEMO Equipment - Dragonfly OSMO 3P

I use the dragonfly 3p tent for this scenario and it’s perfect Edit: I got mine for $230 but these aren’t cheap msrp. Look for deals or go to marketplace

I got the osmo nemo dragonfly on sale for £350. It might be worth seeing if you can get this one on offer as it’s a great tent and fits the requirements

I have a nemo osmo dragonfly and it comes with a landing zone in the vestibule that keeps you pack off the ground. This might be the best of both worlds for you. I think it’s comes in a 3P, I have the 2P and it’s worked very well for me 2P wild camps in Dartmoor where there are lot of ticks

Second on the Alps, and I also own a Nemo dragonfly osmo. Some people will say they aren't necessary, but I disagree 100 percent, especially in your use case. Get. a. ground cloth/footprint. Even if it's a $4 dollar general blue tarp. If somebody in the troop has access to tyvek housewrap, even better. You can run that through a wash and dry cycle and make it a lot less crinkly if you want. Unless you plan on camping on carpeting, there will inevitably be a stick, rock, piece of broken glass or debris that will scratch or puncture your floor. As far as purchasing, also keep an eye on the REI Garage Sale. I've seen some really good deals on things that were returned after a couple uses or missing an item that could be easily replaced.

Go with two backpacking tents, and then you don’t have to share with the kids! The Nemo dragonfly is on sale at REI, I’d go with the 2p for the kids and 3p for you and the wife. The 2P also makes a great 1 person for when you’re solo. If you want to save a bit, Featherstone, Paria Zion and the Naturehike Mongar are all similar 2p white label tents for around $150 or so.

The X-Dome is commonly recommended because it’s the lightest freestanding tent on the market when equipped with the carbon poles while still being spacious. Their 2P actually fits two, so you’d have to compare that with many other 3P tents which makes the weight really stand out. Personally I’m not a fan of Carbon poles as they seem more fragile than aluminum and am ok with a little extra weight. Fortunately Durston sells the tent with aluminum poles now. The 2p is still about 6-7oz lighter then the Nemo Dragonfly 3P with aluminum poles but a bit more expensive then the current sale price of the Dragonfly. Personally I’d go with the Dragonfly since it’s on sale. Also the OSMO fabric is supposed to have very long lasting waterproofing. It’s too new to be sure (came out in 2022 I think) but I’d guess these tents will go 10+ years typically before re-waterproofing. The fabric is also a big reason why I’d choose that over MSR, BA etc. I hate tents that sag and most manufacturers use nylon which sags. Nylon also absorbs water which makes packing it up really messy if the fly is still wet. OSMO and Poly fly’s (Durston uses poly, as does Mountainsmith) can be shaken dry before you put it away.

I was caught in a 12 hour downpour on my last trip. The OSMO was flawless, it’s really impressive how quickly water beads off. It feels like no other material I’ve come across on a tent, it’s almost slippery. The only complaint I’ve read is that some people don’t like the fly cutout on the head end. I’d imagine in heavy humidity you might get some condensation because it technically should act like a single wall tent on that panel. Personally I haven’t had that issue or maybe I haven’t noticed it, but even if I did, only my pillow that touches that area. Maybe if you are tall and had a sleeping bag with a hood that touches that panel it might be an issue at times. If that’s a deal breaker look for the Dagger 2p which has a full fly, or wait for the the 2026 Dragonfly which doesn’t have a cutout. If you don’t think you’ll be backpacking for a while it might be worth waiting and just get the Mountainsmith tent for the fam.

Regarding Hyperbead vs OSMO, there’s some big differences but basically Hyperbead claims to be permanently waterproof so if you camp a ton, like 30+ nights a year this might be very useful. OSMO has a very high quality waterproofing and should last many years (probably 10+ for the average camper, but likely less if you camp a ton) but it’s big advantage is that it doesn’t sag or absorb water. Hyperbead is made from nylon so I suspect they’ll be some stretch and water retention. If you’ve ever packed away a soggy tent, this is a pretty easy choice. Both brands should be storm worthy enough assuming you use the 4 season tent in really nasty weather. You do have to be more cautious with the Hornet, it has the lightest materials and there is only a single pole on one end so it’s the least wind resistant. The Tiger Wall has essentially the same design so that applies as well. Personally I feel the extra weight of full free standing tents is worth it for the peace of mind in windy conditions. Plus the option of not needing stakes on blue bell days is nice. With a dog always use caution, these are lightweight tents and should be treated with the same care you’d take with an Airmat. Keep a barrier between the claws and the tent and you’ll be fine. You height won’t be an issue. As you’ve heard the NEMO warranty is the best in the industry. I’m not sure what you mean in your last question about the Hornet body panel. Do you mean the fly scoop? The Dragonfly has this as well. Total non issue for me and a big plus in warm weather. If you hate that design, the new generation coming out next year doesn’t have scoops. Personally if you can get a sale now I wouldn’t wait, the updates are similar to what they did on the Dagger, slightly more head space and no more fly scoops.

I have a Nemo Hornet 2P, and I love it, though I have only used it solo. It would work for two people but would be a tight fit. The Nemo Dragonfly is a similar design but with a little more space. I think it’s a little more expensive than what you’ve mentioned though.

The REI would be good in wind because of the higher walls before it becomes mesh. You can look up tent specs and it should state how thick the tent poles are. Look for thicker poles. And, you want aluminum, not fiberglass. I have a Nemo Dragonfly, but I wouldn't take it out if snow was expected because the poles are pretty lightweight, because it's UL. Another brand to look at is Alps Mountaineering. They're pretty bomb proof, but do tend to be heavier. Your backpacking requirement makes this a little harder to make a recommendation as robust tent = weight. Edit: spelling

oof yeah dude i feel this so hard. running our gear shop and seeing this exact problem every week. customers come in with expensive tents that are basically trash after a season. honestly? check out the big agnes copper spur or nemo dragonfly. both hit your specs - freestanding, durable fabric (not the ultralight bs that tears if you look at it wrong), earth tones, and the copper spur is like 89" long. copper spur runs around $450 but actually lasts more than 10 trips you know? also rei changed their sl line fabric around 2018-2019 which is why your newer ones suck compared to the 2017. super frustrating when companies do that without telling anyone. we dont even recommend the new sl models anymore tbh

I would recommend you look at the NEMO tents — specifically the Dragonfly and Hornet. Both come in 1P and 2P versions. I have older 2022 and 2024 versions of the tents and really like them. They have newer models now. Honestly for backpacking I prefer the 2P versions, even though they weigh slightly more, and I like my pack inside the tent, not in an outdoor alcove. If you’re into hammock camping, I would suggest Haven Tents..

Copper Spur is a perennial favorite without getting into cottage industry brands. Durston is well loved these days. The MSR is another old school favorite among backpackers I’ve known. Personally, I have a Nemo Dragonfly (similar to the Dagger) and am very happy with it. I tend to prefer pole assembly over trekking pole construction. It’s what I’m accustomed to after 20 years of backpacking. You really can’t go wrong with anything you listed. I’d say figure out how important to you the weight differences are between the tents you’ve listed, and if you don’t care then pick the one you think looks coolest.

Also Canadian. I have had some success with Bivy’s - don’t love them or hate them. Packability is nice, but not huge savings compared to a nice tent like a Nemo Dragonfly. Being that this is in the ultralight thread, I say give it a go and see what you think. Try and find one with a full side zip or at least half zips on both sides - will make your life much easier. Will also have to figure out mosquito protection. I combined my Aquaquest Bivy with a Sea to Summit mosquito pyramid thingy. Be aware though, you will most likely still HEAR mosquitoes all night since the netting is close to your face, which will probably keep you up all night. All in all though, my bivy and tarp days are over. A nice (unfortunately expensive) tent is by far better in terms of comfort, setup, and peace of mind.