Mayfly OSMO™

For your first tent, stick with freestanding or semi-freestanding since they’re faster to pitch in bad weather, easier on rocky ground and less fussy when you’re tired at the end of a long day. Trekking-pole tents are great once you know exactly what you want but…they’re not automatically better and can be annoying in wind or limited pitch spots From your list, the sweet spot is between the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2, Nemo Mayfly Osmo 2P, Exped Mira II HL, or Sea to Summit Alto TR2 only so spend mid-range, prioritize interior space and weather handling over absolute weight and you’ll be much happier than chasing the lightest tents [11 Best 2 Person Tents for Camping and Backpacking](https://alaskanarrows.com/11-best-2-person-tent-camping-and-backpacking/) for other options as well to vary your choices Cheers!

I love my Nemo Osmo 2 person tent. It’s so light and I saw reviews of people using it their whole thru hike on the AT with no issues… it takes almost no time to set up and also almost no time to take down. Downside, you need to buy footprint separately and it’s expensive.

I've never had a Big Agnes tent so I can't speak to them personally but their UL tents are made of nylon which, while waterproof, does absorb water, stretch, and take a long time to dry. Some people seem to think it's a non-issue, others really dislike it. I do have a Nemo tent with the Osmo fabric and can confirm that it does not have those issues.

It’s just rain right? You’re not gonna melt right? I would suggest next time use a 2P tent with a drop cloth AND a overhead tarp But all that gear, consider at least 3P tent. I like the Nemo stuff

Nemo tents pack pretty small and are light. The new dragonfly seems like a good option. If it’s just you and another person a 2 person might be more than enough space.

Doesn’t help when you’re on top of the mountain in the pouring rain :) Edit this sounds a bit harsh. NEMO makes good tents I’ve owned a couple. These days I just prefer something a bit heavier.

Nemo makes great tents. i have two, one has been with me since 2012 and still works great. i got another one last year with more room cuz i have more dogs. i like that they sell internal floors to keep dogs from making holes with their paws. i also love how easy they are to set up, and how durable the materials seem to be.