Nemo Losi 2 Tent: Best of Both Worlds

Need a two person tent that feels like a three or four person tent?  Seriously, Nemo's Losi 2 person tent is BIG.  But it's not that big...I don't know how they did this.  When it comes to tents, I'm always of the bigger is better philosophy for car camping.  I like a lot of space and when I camp, it's sometimes in a six person tent totally tricked out with luxury.  Why not, if I have the space, I enjoy the extra comfort.  However, I have a huge appreciation for minimalism and if I'm being spontaneous or in a hurry, I don't want to fool around with extra stuff and I go into the less is more mode. 

The Losi 2 is a little bit of both.  Light weight and super easy to use, you get a lot of luxury for very little effort.  I can set this tent up in less than five minutes and tear down is just as easy.  There is no struggle at all to get this tent back into its storage bag.  The storage bag is very smart by the way--Nemo makes the nicest I've ever seen for tents, everything has a compartment and things stay nice and organized. For backpacking purposes, I would leave this behind and split the tent up. 

There are two doors, so you don't have to disturb your tent mate going in and out, and there are two large vestibules for gear.  There is a removable organization pouch for your stuff inside the tent including Nemo's headlamp diffuser pocket.  You just put your headlamp in the pocket and it creates a little light for the tent, pretty clever.  And look at the pole design.  Those brow poles create a lot of extra room in there.

Bright green makes you more visible and it just looks super cool, especially paired with the charcoal gray and black.  When you have a glowing lantern inside, it's even more beautiful.  Nemo tents look like functional modern art to me, I love them. 

If you need a tent that is good for both car camping and backpacking, this is it.  If you need a backpacking tent, same thing.   It's quality that will last and comfort you will be grateful for.  For those couple of ounces you might save with an inferior tent, you lose a lot of substance, with the Losi 2, you get a ton of bang for your buck.

A footprint is always a good idea when you buy a tent, it preserves the life of your gear, gives you another layer of barrier and warmth, and it's always easier when you take it down to have the bottom of your tent clean.  Things can get pretty muddy if it rains and this helps to keep it as clean as possible and this is the kind of gear you want to take excellent care of.

Autumn is a great time of year for camping, and for some added incentive, you can find fantastic deals at stores like REI as summer ends.  Learn more about the Losi 2P HERE. 

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Osprey Ariel Backpack

Need a super comfortable, super light, women specific backpack?  You have to check out Osprey's newly updated Ariel series.  They come in three different sizes, a 55, 65, and 75 Liter.  I think the 65 liter is just the right size--not too big, not too small.  This pack is highly customizable, coming in several sizes and with a moldable hip belt that you can have heat molded to fit your body.  The pack compresses nicely, so if you need it for a smaller load, you can just cinch it down and still keep a good balance.

There is a good bit of ventilation on this pack, really great for keeping cool on hot days.  The integrated hydration system works great and I love how Osprey's water bladders have a handle which makes it easier to fill.  The side pockets fit Nalgene bottles for that extra water supply.

The lid comes off and turns into a lumbar pack for day trips.  I personally am not a fan of lumbar (fanny) packs, but you don't have to carry it that way, you can sling it as a cross body and wear it in the back.  It's nice to have this option if you are backpacking and want to stay put for a couple of days but still enjoy some hiking or exploring the area.  Trekking poles stow right on the outside of the pack as well as lots of loops and straps for extra gear.

Access is easy, you can get into the main body from the top or the front.  There's a sleeping bag compartment and overall good organization.  It's a great color and will help you remain visible through the woods, which I think is good for safety.  As a nitpick, I would have liked to have seen a pocket on the hip belt and a rain cover (though sometimes you get better coverage by lining your pack with a garbage compactor bag), but other than that I think this pack is well thought out, comfortable, and fits the bill. Osprey has an iron clad "All Mighty Guarantee" to back up their gear, adding even more value.  Find it HERE. 

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NEMO Asashi Tent: Big on Design, Big on Function

"Design like you give a damn," it says in the Nemo Catalog.  Music to my ears.  All your stuff should be as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional.  There should be no ugly stuff, period, even your rugged gear should look good to you.  I always say,  just spend the money and get the quality thing that you love, that way you'll take great care of it and have it forever and it's way better than having to go through several mediocre things when you could have had the one good thing all along.   In the end it saves you time and money and it's better for the earth. I think Nemo is one such brand that combines high quality and good looks to create things you hang on to forever.

Nemo is an exciting new company to me, though they've been around since 2002.  I love their philosophy to protect the people and places that make adventure possible.  Nemo allows their employees an off-day each month for community service as part of their Green Re-thinking program.  They have heart and they have brains for great design--it's not an accident that their tents are bad ass and beautiful.  Look at this gorgeous Nemo Four Person Asashi Tent.  It looks like a work of art, but one touch and you can feel the quality materials, and it's loaded with little details that make it function like a dream.

The fly doubles as a beach shelter when paired with the optional footprint.  I always recommend a footprint when they are available because they help to keep your tent in good shape.  It's also very convenient to have a footprint--when you're done with your camping trip, you can just fold up your tent, nice and clean and worry about the footprint when you get home to hose it off.  For the inside of the tent, Nemo offers the optional Pawprint which lines the inside of your tent for added comfort.

This tent has light diffusers--this is something I've never seen before.  You put your head lamps in the four corners and it makes for some nice lighting.  Small flashlights work too.  There are four stash pockets (one for each person) and they all have integrated drink holders.  There's a vestibule with a built in window to store gear.  If you need extra storage room, there is an optional Garage.

I set this tent up myself in under ten minutes without looking at any directions.  It's very straight forward and simple with features that make it all come together seamlessly, like the Jake's Feet corner anchor system which locks the poles into place, and the fly fastens with adjustable clips to get it nice and tight.  It couldn't have been easier.

The carry bag is the nicest I've ever seen with a tent, with pockets and zippers for each thing.  It even has a little diagram of constellations on the inside--how cool is that?  Seriously, it's romantic.  The care that went into this and that artful touch, you just don't find it every day.  Tom Freidman (Hot, Flat and Crowded) was saying recently that in the old days, people put their stamp on things they made, their seal.  They put so much thought into what they did they were proud to put their name on it, they took pride.   Nemo seems to be doing this, in a modern sense, that's what I thought when I saw the constellation patch. He also said that only the companies who do take great care will move forward in our evolving world.  I hope he's right because I'd really like to see more of this.

The Asashi is spacious and very comfortable.  My six year old can stand up in this tent with plenty of room, and though, at 5'5, I can't stand completely, I find it roomy and easy to maneuver in.  I like to size up with tents, so this is great for one to four people.  Why not?  If you're car camping, you can afford that extra luxury.  This tent is too heavy for backpacking, though I'd love to see what Nemo has in store for that type of camping.  This tent would make a super awesome gift for the holidays.  Find it HERE.

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