Nemo Espri Series Tents (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009)

Editor's Note: This article was opened to the public on July 22, 2010. To subscribe and see Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010 articles as they are published, click here.

Overview

The Espri 2P and 3P are double-wall tents that set up using two poles that cross each other in an X from corner to corner; the body attaches to these poles with a clip system. The body has very high sides of 30d PU nylon that angle sharply up towards the back, then changes to nylon mesh the rest of the way up. It's essentially a mesh body with a really tall bath tub floor.

The reason for the high PU nylon sides is to allow the rain fly to be aggressively cut in an arc to come down just past the mesh at the sides and back of the tent. This serves to cut weight and allows the tents to be ventilated by pulling the fly away from the body to get maximum air circulation. In blowing rain, the fly may be allowed to lay more tightly against the inner wall for more protection. The fly also features a high vent for additional air flow.

The Espri has a large single door at the front, sitting in the mostly-mesh face. The door uses a curving 360° zipper that allows the door to be opened to either side or removed completely. With a claimed trail-weight of 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) for the Espri 2P and 4.2 lb (1.8 kg) for the Espri 3P and a lot of room in both, these tents look like a nice option for the weight conscious backpacker.

Would You Like Fries with That?

Speaking of options, Nemo has plenty for the entry/vestibule end of these tents. In good weather, the tents may be used with the included Ultralight Fly Door, a door that simply closes off the opening at the same plane as the body. It offers no protection from rain falling into the tent when the door is opened. If precipitation is in the forecast, the included Standard Vestibule will allow protection for the entry and some gear storage too.

Another interesting option (as in "pay more for it") is the Trekking Pole Vestibule, which gives a lot of protection from the elements, a roomy entry, a lot of extra gear storage, and a window to boot. Of course it will add to the total weight, though how much is unknown at this time. You do need a trekking pole along to set it up (see the top picture, upper left corner).

More choices to go with a new Espri include Nemo's Footprints and Pawprints and two types of Gear Lofts. One is a true loft sitting above the users near the top of the tent. The other is a huge collection of pockets that sits against the back wall. The tents also come with a roll-up style stuff sack, stakes, and a repair kit.

The Espri series, with their front entry, most closely resemble the Seedhouse series from Big Agnes or the Vapor Light from Sierra Designs, but both of those examples use a hub and pole system to keep their weight lower than the Nemo Espri, and both are much smaller inside. The Espri's crossed pole design gives it more interior space up high (move-around room) and should be more comfortable when tent-bound in bad conditions.