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Nemo Hornet 2P is one of the greatest backpacking tents that can be easily brought in any place due to its light weight.
Nemo Dragonfly vs Hornet, they are both great backpacking tents which have a few differences.
After extensive research of both tents, I have created this guideline to help you to pick the optimum one depending on your needs.
Although both tents have options of 1p and 2p, I will be comparing 2p versions of the tents, but you can use this guide if you’re looking for a 1p version too.
In summary, If you want to minimize your weight and if you’re willing to sacrifice some durability and roominess then Nemo Hornet is perfect for you. On the other hand, If you are okay with carrying an extra 12 oz, Dragonfly offers more room, vestibule area, durability, and smaller pack size.
Quick Note: Compared to Nemo Dragonfly, Nemo Hornet’s only better feature is its lightness (2 lb 6 oz). If weight is the most important factor, Nemo Hornet Elite might be a better option for you.
Dragonfly vs Hornet: Main Differences
Header | nemo dragonfly 2p | nemo hornet 2p |
|---|---|---|
Cell |  |  |
Packed Weight | 3 lb 2 oz / 1.41 kg | 2 lb 6 oz / 1.08 kg |
Pack Size | Ø 4.5" x 19.5 "/ Ø 12 cm x 50 cm | Ø 5.5" x 19.5 "/ Ø 14 cm x 50 cm |
Floor Dimensions | 88" x 50" (Head Side) x 45" (Feet Side) / 216 x 128/107 cm | 85" x 51" (Head Side) x 43" (Feet Side) / 215 x 130/108 cm |
Floor Area | 29.0 sq ft / 2.7 sq m | 27.5 sq ft / 2.6 sq m |
Vestibule Area | 10.0 sq ft + 10.0 sq ft / 0.9 sq m + 0.9 sq m | 7.1 sq ft + 7.1 sq ft / 0.7 sq m + 0.7 sq m |
Canopy Fabric | 10D Nylon Ripstop/ No-See-Um Mesh | 10D Nylon Ripstop/ No-See-Um Mesh |
Fly Fabric | 15D Sil/PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200 mm) | 10D Sil/PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200 mm) |
Floor Fabric | 20D Sil/PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200 mm) | 15D Sil/PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200 mm) |
Freestanding | Freestanding | Semi-Freestanding |
Footprint | Not Included | Included |
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Nemo Dragonfly and Hornet Capacity
Inner Capacity
Although both Dragonfly and Hornet offer great space for a backpacking tent, Dragonfly’s floor area (29 sq ft) is %5.4 bigger than the Hornet (27.5 sq ft).
One of the important factors when comparing two tents is the HEIGHT, especially if you are a big fellow. Dragonfly is 2″ taller than the Hornet, it might not seem like a crucial factor but if you are a tall person I recommend taking height into consideration.
The more clips used for attaching canopy to the poles the more room you will get. Dragonfly has more clips to widen the canopy, thus creating a bigger room in the tent.
If you’re looking for a tent that offers even more interior volume, check out my article where I talk about Nemo Dagger and Dragonfly.
Vestibule
Vestibule area is highly important if you are backpacking with a companion. Since sleeping pads will be filling up most of the area in the tent (when camping with someone) you need enough vestibule area to put your remaining gear.
One of the biggest pros of the Nemo Dragonfly is its vestibule area which is 20 sq ft (10 sq ft on each door). It is %40 bigger than the Hornet‘s vestibule area (14.2 sq ft).
nemo dragonfly 2p | nemo hornet 2p |
|---|---|
 |  |
Nemo Hornet and Dragonfly Fabric
Waterproofness
Both tents are made of 1200 mm (a metric for waterproofness) nylon, therefore they are equally waterproof.
Durability
If you want the quick answer, Nemo Dragonfly is more durable than Nemo Hornet.
Because:
- Dragonfly’s Floor Fabric is made of more dense material (Dragonfly: 20D Nylon Ripstop, Hornet:15D Nylon Ripstop).
- Hornet is a semi-freestanding tent while the Dragonfly is a freestanding tent.
- Fly fabric of the Dragonfly is made of more dense material compared to the Hornet (Dragonfly: 15D Nylon Ripstop, Hornet: 10D Nylon Ripstop).
One important thing for increasing the longevity of your tent is the footprint. Nemo Hornet Footprint and Nemo Dragonfly Footprint don’t come with the tents. You need to purchase the footprint separately.
But don’t forget that almost every time the more the durability the more the weight.
If the durability is the most important factor for you, I suggest MSR Hubba Hubba Nx. You can also check out the article where I talk about MSR Hubba Hubba Nx and its alternative Big Agnes Copper Spur.
Weight & Packsize of the Dragonfly and Hornet
Weight
Nemo Dragonfly is the better option for almost everything we have discussed so far, but most of the time, weight is the most important factor for backpacking, and Nemo Hornet weighs only 2 lb 6 oz (which is 12 oz lighter than the Dragonfly).
Pack Size
Nemo Dragonfly 2P's pack size is Ø 4.5" x 19.5 "/ Ø 12 cm x 50 cm which is smaller than Nemo Hornet 2P.
When comparing two tents the lighter one is usually smaller when packed, but that is not the case between Nemo Dragonfly and Hornet, Even though Nemo Dragonfly weighs more it packs down smaller compared to Nemo Hornet.
BUT If you are camping with a partner or a buddy, NEMO tents feature Divvy Sack, which allows you to split the load with a partner. If that is the case, weight and pack size might not be the first priority.
Features of Nemo Dragonfly and Hornet
Although they have differences in some departments, they share a few similarities as well.
They are both highly breathable due to their mesh top, and they both feature protected strut ventilation to condensations especially in bad weather.
Both tents feature:
- Light Pockets and Gear Pockets
- Divvy dual sack to split the load with a partner
- Protected strut vents
- White No-see-um mesh at the sides to protect privacy during the day and black mesh at the top for better stargazing during the nights
Check the latest prices of Nemo Hornet and Nemo Dragonfly.
Nemo Dragonfly Overview
See Nemo Dragonfly Customer Reviews