What do you get when you combine an ultralight backpacking company with a high end technical clothing brand in the hunting industry? You get a list of gear that needs to be on all backcountry hunter’s radar. Earlier this year, Nemo Equipment and First Lite came together and released a line of gear specifically geared towards the backcountry hunter. This new Nemo x First Lite line includes shelters, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and more. Among that list are two shelters that have the weight conscious hunter in mind. The Spike 1p and Recurve 2p. Both were made for going light and fast. With Nemo’s track record of developing stellar, dependable shelters for backcountry enthusiasts and First Lite’s intimate knowledge base of backcountry hunting and technical fabrics, these two shelters are sure to impress. The only way to really find out though, is to get them dirty.
From the get go, the Recurve 2p shelter stuck out to me. Not just because of its unique design, but because of the weight. It’s hard finding a dependable 2p shelter that doesn’t tip the scales too much. Coming in at 1 pound 7 ounces, this early to mid-season tent isn’t going to be weighing you down anytime soon. On top of that, it comes in a very packable stuff sack that fits great inside a backpack. It’s single wall design is made with a durable, but ultralight nylon ripstop fabric, and is held up by 2 Aluminum DAC Featherlite poles. The Recurve has two doors and two vestibules, making it convenient for two people to share this tent. With the shelter’s unique design, setting it up does come with a very slight learning curve, but it’s a breeze from then on out.
I had the pleasure of taking this shelter on a high country mule deer hunt in the backcountry of Colorado. We were packed in for 6 days and experienced high winds, rain, and hail. The shelter performed flawlessly for me in these conditions, despite its unique design and ultralight fabric. Living in the Recurve was quite pleasant and I had plenty of room to lay out gear/clothing. If I had to change anything about the inside, it would be getting rid of that pole in the center. While I never felt like it was cramping my style, it is right where you’d want to be laying if running this shelter solo. Because of the single wall design, this can be set up in the rain. Another thing one usually gets with single wall shelters though is condensation, which I surprisingly didn’t have an issue with. For a more in depth review of the Recurve check out a previous post I did HERE.
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For years, I used the original Spike 1p shelter from Nemo Equipment, and was quite happy with it. So, when I saw that they were releasing the revamped First Lite version, I just had to get my hands on one. This shelter is perfect for going light and fast. The Spike comes in at 1 pound 5 ounces and is a shade larger than a Nalgene bottle in the stuff sack. Because it sets up with a trekking pole, you save even more weight and space. Made from a sturdy 30D Nylon Ripstop, it’s sure to handle the rigors of backcountry hunting. The Spike has 1 door and 1 vestibule with plenty of room for gear. Ventilation exists both at the foot and at the top of the vestibule for air flow and mitigating condensation.
Just this past November I spent some time in the new Spike 1p during a late archery elk hunt in Arizona. The weather was good and the elk hunting was great. I really enjoyed my time in the Spike to be honest. This new First Lite version is a huge improvement if you ask me. The front has much more room, as does the foot of the tent. On one morning, I had very minimal condensation. A downfall for me, is the front entry design. Getting out of the tent isn’t a big deal. Getting into it though can be a pain. If it had side entry, it might just steal my heart. I really dig that the Spike sets up with a trekking pole. The location of the trekking pole isn’t the greatest, as it sits right in the middle of the front door though. This can also make getting in and out slightly difficult.
Pros
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As backpack hunters, it seems we’re always trying to lighten the load with anticipation for the heavy walk out. On top of that though, sacrificing quality isn’t acceptable. Nemo and First Lite have got your back. Two new backcountry shelters made by two awesome companies. Whether you’re hunting down in the desert for coues deer or up above treeline for mule deer, these setups will get you there. To learn more about these shelters and the rest of the Nemo x First Lite line of gear, visit www.firstlite.com.
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