Gear Review - Nemo Kunai 3 - 4 Season Tent

Overview:

My faithful old tent died recently, and what a fine time to give up the ghost.

A fine time, indeed.

If you sense a hint of sarcasm in that statement, you’re not wrong. At the time, Allen and I were bivouacked on a remote island in northern Ontario, where we were fishing for pike and living feral for a short week.

Conditions had been comfortable, until one evening, the barometer plummeted and foul weather rolled in. Sheets of rain pounded our campsite, and we woke up to a floor full of water and squishy mummy bags. Clicking on a headlamp to assess the situation, we saw water streaming from the ceiling like the rainfly wasn’t even there.

That trusty old shelter had lasted two decades in far-flung places like Maine, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Arizona, and North Carolina, but the facts were clear - it was time for a new tent.

Honestly, the situation felt a bit overwhelming. I talked to some outdoorsy friends, and the name NEMO kept popping up.

The Kunai is a versatile mountaineering/backpacking model built for year-round use – able to handle everything from hot, humid days to frigid nights. It’s compact and lightweight, and the waterproof/breathable fly sheds wind, rain, and snow with aplomb.

Since then, I’ve tested the Kunai in North Dakota and throughout Northern Michigan. So far, it’s been about as close to perfect as possible, and I anticipate several decades of adventure to come.

The Kunai retails for $749 in the 3-person model.

Technical Specifications:

Capacity:                               3 person

Minimum Weight:               5 lbs., 3 oz.

Packed Weight:                     5 lbs., 10 oz.

Packed Size:                          19.5 x 6.5 inches diameter

Peak Height:                          45 inches

Floor Area:                             37.9 square feet

Vestibule Area:                     13 square feet

Doors:                                     1 door

Canopy Fabric:                     20D Nylon Ripstop with no-see-um mesh windows.

Rainfly Fabric:                      Sil/PeU Nylon Ripstop (1200 mm)

Floor Fabric:                           Sil/PeU Nylon Ripstop (3000 mm)

Color:                                      “Torch” (bright yellow)

What I Like:

The Kunai is made of Dimension Polyant 375D X-Ply composite sailcloth, which, in layman’s terms, means that the material is extremely lightweight and durable. Speaking of durability, in the rare instance that anything goes wrong, NEMO offers their “Adventure Forever Guarantee” – a lifetime warranty against workmanship and materials for the original owner.

Four-season tents can be notoriously stuffy in warm weather, but large, mesh windows and Nemo’s proprietary “strut vents” offer enhanced ventilation and air flow.

The rainfly is vented and breathes well, plus, a robust, tub-type floor locks out moisture from the ground.

Specialized pockets in the ceiling and light-diffusing fabric cast a warm glow throughout the interior when paired with a headlamp.

What I Don’t Like:

Honestly, there isn’t much. Some folks might complain about the lack of spaciousness, but this is a backpacking tent, after all, not a pole barn. You always give to get, and in this case, you sacrifice space for a waterproof, durable sleeping area that doesn’t weigh much and packs down small.

If I had to nitpick something, I’d say the ultralight aluminum stakes are too short and narrow for snow or sand. Bring alternative options if you plan to camp out in snow or along the beach.

And now, a few more items for the “small peanuts” category… the vestibule isn’t huge, but it’s adequate. Also, there’s only one door. That’s no big deal to me, but some people want a second door. Either way, the small vestibule and the lack of a second door are probably due to weight-saving measures and I'm fine with that trade off.

Lastly, the price. I mean, who enjoys shelling out over $700 for a tent? Here again, you have to give to get. You could buy a $300 alternative from Wally World, but durability, waterproofing, and overall strength would surely suffer.

Perfect For: The Kunai is perfect for backpackers, hunters, hikers, anglers, and adventurers who want an all-season, lightweight, durable tent.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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