NEMO Dragonfly Bikepack OSMO Tent 2P – Reviewed & Tested

Seasoned bikepacker Andy took on the challenge of testing the NEMO Dragonfly Bikepack Tent to see if it lived up to its stellar reputation. Here’s what went down.

‘They make tents specifically for bikepacking?’ might be your first thought. Your second: ‘are they worth it?’

Let me begin with a disclaimer. When it comes to bikepacking, I’m not a tent person. Give me a tarp or bivy and I’m laughing, whatever the weather. This isn’t so much to do with weight. Not at all. I’m far from an elite athlete and what weight I save in sleeping equipment I more than make up for in apple turnovers and alcoholic beverages (red wine, actually).

No, my love-hate affair with tents is more to do with the fact that I’ve never been very good at putting them up – especially in the wind.

Can’t say I’m a fan of setting them up in the dark either

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I own and run Graveller, a bikepacking and outdoor adventure shop in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills and Nemo is one of the many brands I stock. Sitting on a shelf beside the Dragonfly are a Big Agnes Copper Spur, a Mont Moondance, and Sea To Summit Telos Bikepacking TR2 tents: each a hit with bikepackers in their own right.

But for the moment, my sights – and fears – are very much focused on taming the Dragonfly.

It’s with a mild degree of trepidation that I see before me, wrapped up snuggly in its roll-top drybag, the latest iteration of the 3-season NEMO Dragonfly Bikepack 2P Osmo Tent, kindly loaned to me by the good folk at Outdoor Agencies. 

So here goes.

It’s adventure time

Quick Specifications

Weight: 1200g
Dimensions: 223.52 x 127/114 cm and a peak height of 105cm
Capacity: 2 Person
Season: 3-season
RRP: $1099.90

Colour? Dragonfly green

Design

Size and Weight

It’s a compact little thing, all curled up nice and tight in its stuff-sack with its nifty bright yellow handlebar straps and handle. These allow the Dragonfly to be attached to your bike in a number of positions, including on the main triangle of your frame.

I didn’t try this as it would have meant sacrificing my frame bag which, at the time of this little adventure, was carrying a bottle of local shiraz that I had plans for later. The tent poles are snuggly attached to the bag in their own little sack.

For ultralight riders, this tent is a great choice

It’s also lighter than I expected, weighing in at 1.2kg. I’ve apparently been ‘given’ the 2-person version of the Dragonfly, which is lighter than the aforementioned Mont Moondance (1.8kg), and the Big Agnes Copper Spur (1.6kg): but what’s a couple of hundred grams between friends – it’s how it works that makes all the difference, right?

On the Bike

The bars on my Bombtrack Hook EXT-C (that’s a bike) are 520mm wide and I’m loaded up with a decent-sized Exposure headlight, Morsa Designs mount, Garmin Edge 830 bike computer, and a Knog Bell. The Dragonfly, complete with its bagged poles, fitted perfectly between my bars. 

Cinched tight with its tiedown straps, it handled well over the bumpy gravel trail towards my vineyard campsite and didn’t rattle or drop despite the hard bumps and ruts encountered. I didn’t feel any steering or balance issues with the tent strapped on and I still had plenty of room for my hands on the bars when riding hard downhill and not-so-hard uphill!

All-in-all, it’s a good fit – for my bike at least.

Setting it Up

In a word: easy. Colour-coded X-shaped aluminium poles and webbing at each corner make for a breezy set up and I had the inner tent up and pegged down in less than five minutes. 

After a long day on the bike, a quick set up is worth every penny

The same can be said for the fly sheet, which clips easily into the four corners (follow the colours and all will be well) – but check that the NEMO logo is the right way around before you give yourself a pat on the back! The stealthy green colouring of the flysheet makes it hard – on first use – to see if you’ve got it on inside out.

Adjustable straps help ensure the fly is tight and secure and once pegged down the Dragonfly looks like it could handle the elements with ease.

The first time you set it up will always take the longest, but after that it’s a breeze

Inside the Tent

The X-Shaped freestanding set-up provides a decent taper towards the foot of the tent and the addition of the fly makes this taper more dramatic, in turn adding to the tent’s wind and weather resistance capabilities. It’s a clever design feature, as are the pre-installed guy-lines at each corner and door which contribute greatly to the easy set-up.

It’s a mesh cathedral

The Dragonfly also comes with a Landing Zone storage tub, which is basically a fabric bucket that clips onto the fly sheet and allows you to store wet gear: and while on this trip I didn’t use it, the connectors are once again colour-coded, lending to ease of installation, although you will have to crawl around to secure them.

Inside there’s an overhead Nightlight Pocket in which you can store your torch or headlight and the tent’s diffusing mesh will ensure a soft and gentle glow as you bed down for the night.

Daisy chains that loop around the outside upper seams of the tent provide additional hanging spots for your gear: and when it comes time to sleep, for this reviewer at least, it was like sleeping in a high-ceilinged cathedral.

The dark, stealthy green flysheet cuts out any unwanted intrusive light and the spacious interior and gear storage solutions mean you’re not woken up at an ungodly hour with a phone, book or glasses case sticking in your back. A very comfortable night was had.

Performance

Material

One thing that surprised me about the tent was how flimsy NEMO’s OSMO™ material feels to the touch — and I must admit to being a little worried that I’d tear the flysheet when I was tightening it into position. 

According to NEMO, OSMO™ is a ‘poly-nylon ripstop fabric that has 4x better water repellency and 3x less stretch when wet’. The OSMO™ fabric is made from 100% recycled yarns that are PFAS-free and meet fire safety standards without the use of added chemicals. 

The material is super lightweight, for sure, and I did pull hard when tightening the fly to see how far I could take it – while it looked stretched around the two zippered doors, it held its form.

The material does feel flimsy, I’ll admit, but it is strong. Since doing this review, I’ve used the tent in heavy rain, and it is indeed exceptionally waterproof.

Deceptively strong

Comfort

The Dragonfly is spacious with plenty of headroom and a decent offering of storage. The doors are wide and easy to clamber through, while the vestibules created by the overhang of the flysheet on the left and right hand sides are more than enough to store your shoes, helmet, or other gear that you want near you and kept dry.

For a tiny home on the road, the Dragonfly is a comfy option

Price

Is the NEMO Dragonfly worth its $1000 price tag? Are there equal or better tents out there? Yes, and some are Aussie-made, which gives pause for thought. Over a grand is a lot of money: but you get what you pay for and with the Dragonfly you get a bloody good piece of kit that works – on and off the bike – so I’d say, yes, it’s worth it.

Sustainability

From responsible sourcing of materials to carbon output accountability, NEMO is serious about its commitment to making sure our planet is in good shape for many years to come. The brand hasn’t written a book on it by any means but if you want to delve deep into the NEMO approach, check out its pretty chunky sustainability report.

As far as the Dragonfly tent is concerned, it’s been made using 100% recycled OSMO™ fabric. This is awesome, especially if you’re feeling guilty about upgrading an existing tent that might technically still have some life left in it. Not every component of the tent is 100% recycled but given the fabric makes up most of the product, it’s more than a great start.

It does good while it looks good

NEMO has a goal to keep products out of landfill, and so far they’ve managed to produce a range of sleeping bags and backpacks that have achieved that mission and are 100% recyclable. While the Dragonfly tent isn’t quite in that league, it’s very, very close. If you value the planet, this tent (and brand!) are a solid choice.

Final Thoughts

The NEMO Dragonfly Bikepack 2P OSMO™ Tent exceeded my expectations. Barely-there weight, compact, easy to fit and secure to my bike and stable once on board. Handled bumps, hills and drops, without slipping and hitting my tyre.

Pulled out of the bag, set up is child’s play. A few clips of the poles, attach the footprint to the underside of the tent, match the pole colours to the webbing receptors, clip the poles to the tent, throw over the flysheet and you’re up and running.

Internally there’s ample space – although I am one man-alone in a two-person tent. However, all things considered, given the gear storage areas and the size of the vestibules at either side of the tent, two people inside, while a squeeze, would be more than doable.

Would I use the Dragonfly again? Absolutely yes.

The first of many trips with the Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack OSMO Tent was a resounding success

FAQs NEMO Dragonfly Bikepack 2P OSMO Tent

How heavy is the NEMO Dragonfly 2P OSMO Bikepack Tent?

The NEMO Dragonfly Tent is 1.2kg in weight, which is pretty light as far as tents go.

Is the NEMO Dragonfly 2P OSMO Bikepack Tent waterproof?

Yup. I subjected it to a hell of a lot of rain and it turns out that 4X better water repellency claimed by NEMO is legit. Water didn’t get inside.

How long do tents by NEMO last?

All NEMO gear comes with a lifetime warranty, and is designed to last.

Do I need to seam-seal the NEMO Dragonfly?

Nope! The NEMO Dragonfly is seam-sealed before you purchase it so all you need to worry about is strapping it your bike and pedalling away on your next adventure.

What’s the difference between bikepacking tents and hiking tents?

Fundamentally both tent types are quite similar, but bikepacking tents tend to be lighter and pack up smaller than hiking tents. You’ll also find the poles tend to be shorter and there are a few more internal storage compartments for gear in bikepacking tents. The bikepacking tent will prioritise weight, durability, and compact size, whereas the hiking tent is designed more for comfort and varied weather conditions.

Read More NEMO Product Reviews

• A New 100% Recyclable Sleeping Bag By NEMO
• NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO™ 2P Tent – Reviewed & Tested
• Nemo Dagger 2P Tent Review – Nemo Dagger 2P Ultralight Tent
• NEMO Moonlite Elite Reclining Hiking Chair – Reviewed and Tested