Packability
At 2 lbs, the Hornet is definitely light, and at 19”x5”, it doesn’t take up too much room in my pack. I was surprised, though, by how much I missed the ultra short poles of the Kelty TN2. Those 14” poles that easily fit sideways in my pack were surprisingly convenient. As it is, the Hornet is still easy to fit in any pack, and is light enough that your back won’t hate you. And I really appreciated the fact that the Hornet’s storage sack is big enough to easily fit the tent even when it’s messily rolled and stuffed, but has a compression cord around the middle to cinch it down once the tent is in the bag, or if you’ve split up the tent and poles.
Durability
The Hornet’s super light construction gave me some reservations about its durability, and I’ve done a much better job of choosing out-of-the wind campsites than I did during my last review. That said, I’ve still subjected the Hornet 2P to some brisk breezes and a few rocky campsites sans-groundsheet. So far, the Hornet is none the worse for the wear. However, due to its ultralight nature, I would recommend using a groundsheet with the Hornet and taking a little extra care when using it, especially in windy situations. I’ll continue to use it in less-than-ideal conditions this fall, and will update this review if I have any issues but I don’t anticipate any.
Weight, Price, & Comparisons
The Hornet 2P weighs less than half as much as the Kelty TN2 I reviewed earlier this year, making it clear that it stands in a class apart from the TN2 or old standbys like the REI Halfdome 2.
Instead, the Hornet 2P is more competitive with tents like the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2. At $249 and 1 lb 15 oz, the Fly Creek UL2 is a little lighter and cheaper than the Hornet, but it only has one door and one vestibule. The same can be said for a multitude of other ultralight two-person tents. It’s easier to get a lighter tent (albeit usually at a heftier price) but I’ve had a hard time finding a tent that’s competitive in weight with two doors and two flies.
If you’re looking for more livable space with two doors and two vestibules but don’t want to pay any weight penalty NEMO also offers the Blaze 2P for $449. However, the Blaze is not freestanding; it requires stakes to be at all livable. While the staked corners on the Hornet help make it more livable, it’s still completely usable unstaked, which should make it easier to set up, and more versatile on rocky campsites.
Who’s It For?
For the weekend car camper, the Hornet 2P is overkill. It’s lighter, smaller, and more expensive than you need if you’re not planning on putting your tent in your pack and walking a long way before setting up camp.
Similarly, if you’re looking to tear up the miles solo (or with a partner that you really like), there are lighter options that sacrifice the increased comfort inherent in the double door and vestibule design of the Hornet 2P. But if you’re looking for a tent that you can share semi-comfortably that is still very light and packable, the Hornet 2P is a good option.
Bottom Line
While it’s easy to find a very comfortable 2-person tent in the 4-5 lb range, or a minimalist tent in the sub-2 lb zone, it’s much more difficult to find something that blends most of the amenities of larger tents into a lightweight package as well as the NEMO Hornet 2P does