When it comes to backpacking, your gear matters — especially when you’re packing light and hiking far. At Maine Sport Outfitters, we recommend Nemo Equipment for their innovation, durability, and eco-conscious design. Founded just across the border in Dover, NH, Nemo has become a pioneer in the outdoor industry designing everything from the ground up — including their own pole sets and their proprietary OSMO™ fabric. Nemo has also eliminated PFAS (forever chemicals) from all their gear and created a culture of upcycling with Endless Promise.
Choosing Your Tent: Weight and Size
Nemo’s tent line covers all the bases, whether you're an ultralight solo hiker or a comfort-first weekend adventurer:
- Mayfly OSMO™: An ultralight, semi-freestanding scout-style tent for warm-weather trips. Minimal weight, maximum efficiency.
- Hornet OSMO™: Semi-freestanding, balances comfort and weight — The sweet spot for most backpackers.
- Dragonfly OSMO™: Freestanding, spacious, and still lightweight — Ideal for long treks through varied terrain.
All three use Nemo’s PFAS-free OSMO™ fabric, which is lightweight, durable, waterproof, and made from partially recycled materials.
Choosing Your Sleeping Bag: Shape and Warmth
Nemo revolutionized the standard sleeping bag with their spoon-shaped bags, which are wider at the knees and elbows to accommodate side sleepers — no more feeling mummified in the backcountry.
- Disco™: Endless Promise® recyclable, PFAS-free, filled with 600-fill down. Ideal for 3-season backpacking. Also available in Long.
- Tempo™: Synthetic fill and recyclable through Nemo’s program. A great intro bag for new campers. Also available in Men’s 35°.
- Forte™: Another recyclable synthetic bag, great for colder conditions and eco-conscious adventurers.
- Riff™: Lightweight, spoon-shaped, and insulated with premium 800-fill down — designed for ounce-counters who won’t sacrifice comfort.
Choosing Your Sleeping Pad: Weight and Comfort
Your sleeping pad is just as important as your bag. Nemo offers insulated pads with warmth ratings to match your adventure:
- Tensor™ Trail: Ultralight and insulated for 3-season use, with space for side sleepers.
- Tensor™ All-Season: Higher R-value for colder nights while still maintaining a compact, quiet design.
- Quasar™: The warmest, most luxurious pad Nemo makes. Built for extreme conditions and four-season comfort.
- Astro™: The intro pad that’s perfect for casual campers or first-time backpackers.
Many pads feature Nemo’s Truss™ system, which eliminates stiffness and crinkly noise by placing a heating layer in the middle — a quiet revolution in backcountry comfort.
Why We Recommend Nemo
Nemo is local for us and offers the cutting edge in backpacking technology. It was one of the first brands to eliminate PFAS from their entire product line, and they’ve continued to lead in sustainability. Whether you’re side-sleeping in a spoon-shaped bag, pitching your free-standing tent on granite rocks, or laying down on a Truss-equipped insulated pad — you’ll sleep better knowing your gear was designed by passionate adventurers who want to enjoy the outdoors for the long-term.