When we assess gear here at Outdoors Magic, we focus on three main factors: Will this item provide the performance needed on the trail? Is it durable enough to withstand the rigours of the backcountry? And how does the product – and the brand responsible for it – rate in terms of sustainability?
One brand that has always measured up to those requirements for us is NEMO Equipment.
The creation of American mountaineer Cam Brensinger, NEMO came about after a wild and windy night on Mount Washington, the most prominent peak on the eastern side of the US. Hunkered down against merciless conditions while in a poorly designed bivvy, Cam vowed right there and then to make something better. Establishing operations in a restored textile mill in New Hampshire, he toiled away for months to do just that. In tribute to its New England home and with a nod to Jules Verne’s enigmatic Captain Nemo, he named the fledgling company New England Mountain Equipment.
Now, over two decades later, NEMO is renowned worldwide for lightweight backpacking tents and for its wide selection of camping products, ranging from sleeping bags and mats to camping pillows, chairs and blankets.
Here are some of our favourite items from the brand here at Outdoors Magic.
Nemo Equipment Disco Endless Promise 15F / -9
Price: £320 (regular), £340 (long)
Weight: 1.33kg (regular)
Not only does this three-season sleeping bag get the core essentials right – being warm, comfortable, light, and packable – but it also includes a host of other details that add an extra bit of pizzazz. Take its temperature-regulating ‘Thermo Gills’ for instance: two side zips that can be opened to bring the internal temperature down. Then there are the waterproof panels at the top and bottom that provide a reliable barrier against the walls of a condensation-lined tent.
Designed with a spoon-like shape, it’s a bag that will accommodate both back, front and side sleepers and there’s extra width at the elbows and knees to give you a bit of wiggle room. With its 650 fill-power premium down, heat-saving draught collar and internal zip baffle, you can expect to feel warm and cosy in this in temperatures down to as low as -9C.
The shell, liner and waterproof panels are all made from 100% recycled materials, while the whole product can go on to be recycled as part of NEMO’s Endless Promise. Taking full responsibility for the lifecycle of their products, the forward-thinking brand has pledged to repair any damaged items or to offer guidance on how you can repair them at home. If beyond repair, they’ll also take them off you to make sure all of the materials can be reused.
Discover more at: ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
NEMO Equipment Tensor All-Season Insulated Ultralight Sleeping Pad
Price: £200 (regular), £30 (long wide), £220 (regular wide), £200 (regular mummy)
Weight: 400g (regular mummy) to 580g (long wide)
This is designed for adventurers who like a lightweight and packable sleeping mat that also offers durability and high levels of comfort. In fact, we’d say you’d be hard pressed to find a backpacking sleeping mat that’s more comfortable.
Its internal Spaceframe architecture is designed to support your body using low stretch trusses that eliminate springiness while protecting elbows and hips from poking through to the ground. There’s also two layers of Thermal Mirror metalised film inside the baffles which is able to reflect your body heat back at you while blocking out cold from the ground. This brings an R value of 5.4, making it suitable for use throughout summer and into the colder seasons.
Thanks to the Vortex pump sack that comes with the Tensor, inflating it is very easy. Not only does this save on time and effort, but it’ll also help to reduce the amount of moisture that’s introduced into the pad.
Discover more at: ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
NEMO Equipment Moonlite Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair
Price: £180
Weight: 453g
This brilliantly designed chair from NEMO weighs just 498g and packs down small enough to slip into the side pocket of a backpack – so it’s something that’s totally realistic as an option to take with you on your weekend wild camps.
Unlike other ultralight camping chairs, the Moonlite Elite has an efficient design that offers reclining suspension. This is achieved through the utilisation of specially-designed cords made from HTP and Dyneema – materials often seen in rock climbing and sailing – and then a lightweight but tough aluminium frame too.
Then there’s the fabric, which is made from 100% recycled, bluesign-approved mesh. This is airy, seamless and breathable while also being incredibly tough too.
In an inspired bit of design engineering, the pouch that the chair packs away into also doubles as a platform that adds stability on soft surfaces, with each chair leg tucking securely into the corners.
Discover more at: ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
NEMO Equipment Mayfly OSMO Lightweight Backpacking Tent
Price: £350
Weight: 1.33kg
We tested the NEMO Mayfly OSMO 2P tent earlier this year and found it to be well worthy of inclusion in our Outdoor 100, our guide to season’s standout gear releases.
With a packed weight of just 1.33kg, high-spec materials and a spacious sleeping area and porches, this high-quality two-person backpacking tent provides an excellent balance of lightness and robustness, making it ideal for long treks.
It has a semi-freestanding design that can be pitched without the fly when the weather is dry and its colour-coded pole docks and t-shaped locking hooks make the overall set-up a total breeze.
Then there’s the OSMO fabric used for the flysheet. Made from a PFC-free blend of 100% recycled polyester and nylon, this is incredibly light but also still durable and it has an amazing water resistance. In fact, NEMO says that it has 4x more water repellency than standard tent fabrics and 3x less stretch – that means the flysheet is able to hold its shape even in the wettest of weather, with no notable sagging.
Discover more at ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
Head to ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/nemo to discover more about the brand and this season’s products.
