Nemo Aurora 2 Review

Name: Nemo Aurora 2
Brand: Nemo

This spacious tent is like a budget basecamp; it's perfect for anyone who wants a bit of extra space

The boxy frame of the Nemo Aurora 2 helps make it one of the most spacious tents on the market.

Credit: Zach Lovell

Price: $300 List

Manufacturer: Nemo

By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 16, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#8 of 11

Livability - 35% 7.8
Weather Resistance - 25% 6.0
Weight - 15% 5.9
Packed Size - 15% 5.9
Durability - 10% 6.0

List Price: $300

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Our Verdict

With one of the tallest ceilings in the test and more headroom than most backpacking tents, the Nemo Aurora 2 feels airy and spacious. It's 52 inches wide, giving you enough room to sleep two comfortably, if cozily. The tent body is built of sturdy, relatively thick ripstop nylon, as is the poly-nylon blend rainfly. Both fly doors can be swept back for maximum airflow, and two strutted vents at either end let the tent breathe in a storm while keeping the rain out. Unfortunately, it's not the lightest option. Weighing in at 5.51 pounds, this tent works in the backcountry if you can split the weight with a friend and/or aren't going far.

REASONS TO BUY

Spacious

Plenty of headroom

Large pockets for organization

REASONS TO AVOID

Durability issues with poles

Difficult to repack

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product Nemo Aurora 2	The North Face Stormbreak 2	REI Co-op Half Dome 2	The North Face Stormbreak 3	Kelty Late Start 2
Awards				Best Bang for Your Buck
Price	$300 List Check Price at REI	$220 List Check Price at REI	$329 List Check Price at REI	$260 List Check Price at REI	$160 List Check Price at Amazon
Overall Score	66	72	72	69	56
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	This spacious tent is like a budget basecamp; it's perfect for anyone who wants a bit of extra space	This affordable, spacious, durable tent is perfect for anyone just getting into backpacking	This classic option from REI is a great choice for beginner backpackers who want a comfortable, durable tent	It might not be the lightest tent available, but considering its comfort and durability, this is the best value for new backpackers	A decently lightweight tent with some innovative features that is easy to set up
Rating Categories	Nemo Aurora 2	The North Face Storm...	REI Co-op Half Dome 2	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Late Start 2
Livability (35%)	7.8	7.9	8.2	8.6	6.0
Weather Resistance (25%)	6.0	7.0	7.0	7.1	3.0
Weight (15%)	5.9	5.5	6.6	4.0	6.6
Packed Size (15%)	5.9	7.3	5.7	5.2	7.5
Durability (10%)	6.0	7.7	7.5	7.7	6.0
Specifications	Nemo Aurora 2	The North Face Storm...	REI Co-op Half Dome 2	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Late Start 2
Listed Size	2 person	2 person	2 person	3 person	2 person
True Capacity	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear	Fits two people very comfortably with gear; Very tight for three people with very little gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear
Measured Minimum Trail Weight	4.59 lbs	5.61 lbs	4.83 lbs	6.20 lbs	4.43 lbs
Measured Packaged Weight	5.51 lbs	5.88 lbs	4.95 lbs	7.10 lbs	4.93 lbs
Number of Doors	2	2	2	2	1
Measured Floor Area	32.4 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	31.8 sq ft	39.7 sq ft	32.4 sq ft
Measured Packed Size	20 x 8 in	20 x 6.5 in	22 x 7.5 in	22 x 8 in	17 x 7.5 in
Measured Peak Height	44 in	43 in	42 in	46 in	43 in
Measured Vestibule Area	9.2 sq ft on each side	9.8 sq ft on each side	9.2 sq ft on each side	10.8 sq ft on each side	7.4 sq ft on front
Number of Pockets	4	4	6	4	3
Gear Loft?	No	No	No	No	No
Type	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding
Number of Guy Points	4	4	4	4	4
Number of Poles	1	4	1	4	2
Pole Diameter	8.5 mm	8.5 mm	8.7 mm	8.5 mm	Not provided
Pole Material	Aluminum	Aluminum	DAC featherlite NFL aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Rain Fly Material	PU polyester (2000 mm)	75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating	40D ripstop nylon, 20D nylon mesh	75D polyester taffeta	68D polyester / 1200 mm
Inner Tent Material	30D polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh, 68D PU polyester (1200 mm) floor, proprietary Fly Fabric polyester	40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor	40D taffeta nylon	75D polyester taffeta	No-See-Um Mesh, 68D polyester / 1200 mm
Footprint Included?	Yes	No	Yes	No	No

Our Analysis and Test Results

The setup and teardown of the Aurora 2 is intuitive and quick. Credit: Katie Brown

Likes

The Nemo Aurora 2 is roomier than most of the other 2-person tents we tested. We could fit two backpackers comfortably, but not enough to bring our packs inside. The vestibules provide extra space to keep gear out of the rain, though it's not as usable as the listed size might suggest due to the steep angle of the rainfly.

With the vents open, you get a nice, open-air feeling, even in the rain. If it's nice out, you can unzip both sides of the fly completely, creating a roof and two narrow sidewalls as a light shade cover. Since the tent comes with a footprint, you can use it to set up the rainfly without the tent, creating a sunshade or lightweight shelter (just as long as bugs aren't an issue where you're headed).

nemo aurora 2 - we love relaxing in this spacious tent, especially in nice weather. — We love relaxing in this spacious tent, especially in nice weather. Credit: Clark Tate

Dislikes

Although the Aurora 2 arrived in a nice, tight package, we regularly had trouble packing it back into its original stuff sack.

nemo aurora 2 - the aurora 2 might come in a tight package; however, we had a hard... — The Aurora 2 might come in a tight package; however, we had a hard time stuffing it back down to its original size. Credit: Kenji Mowrey

The Aurora 2 isn't particularly lightweight. The tents we tested at a similar weight were also a bit more weather-resistant and more durable.

While the fabric on the tent body held up well during our testing, the poles' shock cords began fraying quickly, and the end caps were lost at some point during the testing seasons. While these are relatively simple repairs, we don't want them to fail in the field.

nemo aurora 2 - the poles and joints are sturdier than they look, but without a... — The poles and joints are sturdier than they look, but without a durable shock cord, we were constantly worried if the poles would fail. Credit: Zach Lovell

Should You Buy the Nemo Aurora 2?

While it may not be the lightest-weight 2-person tent on the market, the Aurora 2 is particularly comfortable thanks to its unique boxy shape that affords plenty of headroom. We have tall friends who opt for Nemo tents because they provide enough space to sit up and lie down comfortably. This is a spacious tent for solo backpackers, and as long as you don't mind sleeping shoulder to shoulder, it's a reasonable option for two people as well.

What Other Backpacking Tent Should You Consider?

The REI Co-op Half Dome 2 is perhaps the best direct comparison to the Nemo Aurora 2. While the Half Dome 2 is a bit smaller on paper, its more classic dome shape is livable and offers a bit more vestibule space for your gear. The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a more affordable option, with a similar, airy feel to the Aurora 2.

—Zach Lovell