Nemo Dragonfly Osmo 2P (2026) Backpacking Tent Review
The Dragonfly ($550), updated for 2026, is a fully featured backpacking tent with a lot going for it. The latest design includes improved headroom, making it easier to sit up and move around inside. It also offers generous interior storage and an intuitive setup thanks to the hubbed, color-coded pole system. At 3 pounds, 5 ounces, there are lighter tents on the market, and it sits toward the premium end of the price spectrum, but it delivers great functionality at a practical weight.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Design Type
Freestanding
Packaged weight
3 lb. 5 oz.
Floor Area
29.0 sq. ft.
Floor dimensions
88 x 50/45 in
Peak height
40 in.
Floor Fabric
Osmo
Capacities
1, 2, 3P
Pros
Cons
Nemo Dragonfly Osmo 2P
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Backpacking Tents.
The Dragonfly Osmo 2P strikes a thoughtful balance between efficient use of space and overall livability. Its floor measures 88 inches long and 50 inches wide at the head, tapering to 45 inches at the foot, for a trapezoidal layout with 29 square feet of floor space and a 40-inch peak height. The tent is large enough to fit two regular rectangular sleeping bags without feeling cramped at the shoulders or head. In fact, I could sit up comfortably, change clothes, and share the tent with another person without feeling constrained. There was also enough room to play cards or eat inside, which felt refreshing for a lightweight backpacking tent.
What stands out most is the headroom. The walls are mostly vertical, and the ridgepole (updated from the previous version) does a good job expanding usable space and making the ceiling flatter. With the peak height positioned closer to the head end and tapering toward the feet, it’s easier to sit up without brushing against the tent wall. Headroom was a common complaint with the previous version of the Dragonfly, and I didn’t run into that issue here. Kudos to Nemo for the design improvements.
Within Nemo’s Osmo lineup, the Dragonfly lands between roomier and more weight-focused options. The Dagger Osmo 2P has a larger 30.6-square-foot floor area and a taller 43-inch peak height, but with a 10-ounce weight penalty. On the other end of the spectrum, the semi-freestanding Hornet Osmo 2P has a smaller 27.7-square-foot floor area and a lower 37-inch peak height, but weighs a scant 2 pounds, 8 ounces. The Nemo Dragonfly 2P sits squarely between the two in size and overall livability, striking a nice balance.
The Dragonfly lands in a very approachable middle ground when it comes to weight. It has a minimum weight of 2 pounds, 10 ounces and a packaged weight of 3 pounds, 5 ounces, packing down to roughly 19.5 by 5.5 by 3.5 inches in its stuff sack. For a two-person backpacking tent, both the weight and packed size feel well-balanced and easy to manage.
In terms of direct competition, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 has a slight advantage. The Copper Spur packs down to roughly the same size (19.5 by 4 in.), but weighs a significant 5 ounces less. The aforementioned Nemo Dagger is roomier, but that added space comes with a clear tradeoff—it weighs 3 pounds, 15 ounces, and packs down larger at 20.0 by 6.5 by 3.5 inches.
Still, compared to other backpacking tents I’ve used, the Dragonfly stands out for its practicality and ease of use. When it's time to pack away, the tent comes with a roll-top stuff sack rather than a cinch-style bag. I found it easy to store using this system, and it allows you to remove the poles and compress the shelter more if you want. Based on its size and weight, this will be one of my go-to backpacking tents and should work well for most trips, especially for those looking for a slightly more feature-rich option.
I used the Nemo Dragonfly 2P mostly in fair weather, with overnight lows dropping into the 30s. While I didn’t test it in heavy storms, I came away feeling confident in its ability to handle wind and rain based on the tent’s construction and overall design. Everything felt well executed, from the poles and clips to the attachment points and fabrics, and nothing came across as flimsy or underbuilt.
The rainfly offers nearly full coverage, leaving only a small gap—about 5 inches—between it and the ground. Otherwise, the tent feels well protected. The fly connects to the inner body with color-coded, built-in clips, making setup straightforward and helping ensure proper alignment. Overall, the coverage and attachment system felt secure and thoughtfully designed.
Fabric choice plays a big role in its weather protection. Nemo’s proprietary Osmo material uses both nylon and polyester yarns, aiming to pair nylon’s strength with polyester’s resistance to sagging and improved UV protection. The fabric is PU-coated, further enhancing durability and wet-weather performance.
In terms of durability, the Dragonfly is solid overall. I never felt the need to handle it delicately, and the clips, poles, rainfly, and tent body—including the floor—all came across as high quality. During my backpacking adventures, I didn’t encounter any issues related to construction or materials. The zippers ran smoothly, and the buckles and attachment points felt secure. The proprietary Osmo fabric further contributes to the tent’s solid feel. Overall, the build quality stands out for a lightweight tent, and for the price, it feels like a well-built, feature-rich shelter.
Unlike Big Agnes and other brands in the space, Nemo doesn’t provide official denier ratings for its backpacking tents (likely because its Osmo fabric blends yarns of varying thicknesses). That said, Nemo estimates the floor of the Dragonfly at around 20 denier and the rainfly at roughly 15 denier. In our experience with other Osmo-equipped tents, they’ve proven stronger than comparable 20-denier models like the Copper Spur and the MSR Hubba Hubba LT.
The Nemo Dragonfly 2P was straightforward to set up and took me about 10 minutes to fully construct. I found it easy to pitch solo, and the process felt intuitive from start to finish. Even without reading the instructions, I had no trouble assembling everything correctly.
The pole system plays a big role in the ease of setup. Nemo uses a single-piece pole set with a center hub, with four poles extending to each corner, along with two shorter, pre-bent ridgepoles over the doors. This design helps create generous headroom, and a clip beneath the hub attaches to the top of the tent body to further maximize interior space. The poles are color-coded, making it easy to tell where everything goes: The foot-end poles are green, while the head-end poles are black, which simplifies orientation and eliminates guesswork during assembly.
Inside, the tent includes several pockets in varying sizes (more on that below) for easy gear organization, along with add-ons like Nemo’s “Landing Zone” accessory, which allows you to store gear in the vestibule without placing it directly on the ground.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Solution-Dyed Materials
Solution dyeing adds pigment to synthetic fibers during production rather than afterward, reducing water use, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and chemical waste, while also creating fabrics that resist fading better over time. A green check mark indicates a product features a substantial amount of solution-dyed materials, a yellow check mark indicates moderate or limited use of solution-dyed fabrics, and a red X indicates there are no solution-dyed materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
As a double-wall tent, the Nemo Dragonfly 2P is well-positioned to manage condensation, and it never felt like a shelter where moisture buildup would be a major concern. The design provides multiple avenues for airflow, including small vents at the top of the rainfly and a mostly mesh inner body. The bathtub floor rises about eight inches, with mesh making up the rest of the walls, allowing air to circulate freely while still offering some protection from the elements near the floor.
Vestibules and Landing Zone
The most unique feature of the Dragonfly is the Landing Zone attachment. It’s a fabric storage tub that sits in the vestibule and keeps gear off the ground, protecting it from mud and moisture. You can fit a backpack or other items you don’t want directly touching the ground, and it can be placed in either vestibule. I haven’t seen this feature on other tents, and while I wouldn’t call it a must-have, it’s a nice addition. If anything, I’d like one for each side.
Interior Storage
Inside, the Dragonfly offers a well-thought-out storage layout. There are two pockets near the head end for smaller items like a phone or headlamp, along with larger gear lofts overhead and at the foot end. I found the overhead gear loft especially useful for storing bulkier items like jackets or hoodies. The tent also includes two “Nightlight Pockets,” which allow you to place a headlamp inside to diffuse the light and create a soft overhead glow.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 ($600): A Rival Shelter
The uber-popular Copper Spur UL2 is the Dragonfly’s closest competitor, and the tents are strikingly similar. Both have 40-inch peak heights and 29-square-foot floors, though their layouts differ slightly. The Copper Spur uses an 88 by 52/42-inch tapered floor, while the Dragonfly measures 88 by 50/45 inches—slightly narrower at the head but less aggressively tapered. Storage is similar on the Copper Spur, with two large gear lofts and two pockets near the head end, but the Dragonfly adds Nightlight Pockets and its Landing Zone feature, while the Big Agnes allows for an awning-style vestibule pitch. Importantly, the Copper Spur is 5 ounces lighter, though its materials feel more prone to rips and tears. Ultimately, both are excellent tents, but the Dragonfly will save you $50. For more, read our Copper Spur UL2 review.
Nemo Dagger Osmo 2P ($600): More Room, Less Storage
If you’re looking for even more room, consider the $600 Nemo Dagger Osmo 2P. It features a true rectangular 88-by-50-inch floor (30.6 square feet) along with a 43-inch peak height. That said, be prepared for the extra weight that comes with the spaciousness: the Dagger weighs 3 pounds, 15 ounces—10 ounces heavier than the Dragonfly. Both tents use the same Osmo fabric and include the Landing Zone attachment, but the Dagger has much larger vestibules—3.5 square feet more each—providing extra space for gear or cooking in bad weather. Still, even with the additional room, interior storage is more limited on the Dagger, as it lacks the gear lofts found in the Dragonfly. While the Dagger offers more space, the Dragonfly delivers more features and weight savings for $50 less. For more, check out our review of the Dagger Osmo 2P.
The Nemo Dragonfly is a livable, easy-to-pitch backpacking tent with standout interior storage and durable, weather-ready fabric. It’s not the lightest option available, but it strikes a smart balance of comfort, functionality, and toughness.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Our favorite do-it-all backpacking tent, the Copper Spur offers exceptional livability and weatherproofing for a minimal weight and packed size. Yes, its price is hard to swallow, but this tent won’t let you down.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
The Nemo Dagger is made for hikers who want to max out backcountry comfort. The tent doesn’t levy too harsh of a weight tax, considering the room it provides, and it’s a well-constructed model. Its high price tag would fit better on a lighter design, though.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Is the Dragonfly 2P for You?
The Nemo Dragonfly Osmo 2P is a solid choice for backpackers who value reliability, ease of use, and all-around functionality. We appreciate the comprehensive feature set offered by this tent, all at a reasonable weight. It’s not ultralight, and you can find roomier tents, but it delivers plenty in terms of comfort, usability, and thoughtful features.
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