Nemo Equipment: Morpho AR Tent (now Morpho 2P)
Nemo Morpho ARMy last post had a lot to do with not only the product, but with the company. Same holds true -- if not more so -- with Nemo. Those who met me along the AT know I love my tents.... seriously; I love my tents. Nemo started off as a small company making just a few tents, and now have numerous types, sizes, and exciting tents (they also make extremely comfortable sleeping pads, but that's another review). The guys and girls at Nemo know me a little too well. Before my hike, I could have written a book with the amount of back and fourth e-mails trying to pick between two tents. With the expertise and advice of Steve, I ended up with the Morpho (to start).
This two person tent was my mansion at the end of the night, and the Ritz along the trail. I decided to go the two person route because I considered my pack an extra person, and I Wanted to be comfortable at night. Weighing in at just 5 lbs, this tent has no poles. I repeat: no poles. How did I erect it? Not with my trekking poles, and not with rope, but with air. There are two air beams inside, and a foot pump, and in a minute flat you have it blown up, staked down, and ready to jump in. It is a single walled tent, but the shape is able to change. The front panel can be extended, for the most room, or pulled in to expose the vestibule for stashing wet gear and boots. This three-season tent was put to the test in all four seasons. The only time I ever had a problem with it was in the winter (which it was not recommended for) when the condensation build up would be a little much to deal with. However, the rest of the time, it held up strong. It was incredible easy to set up, and easy to pack. Since there were no poles, the whole tent would just sit in the sleeping bag compartment of my pack, and that was it! Another cool feature is that you can blow it up from the inside of the tent, so, on those super rainy days, you stake down the tent, jump in, and worry about pitching it once you're covered. It shed the rain, kept us comfy, and eventually had just enough room for both Andy and I, and both our packs.
There were numerous vents to keep the air circulating, and on starry dry nights, you could extend the tent, pull back the front fly, and stargaze from the comfort of the tent. Also, when the front fly is closed, there is still a small window to view the outside through. This is nice so you can check the sky in the morning, and look around to see whats outside. For a 5lb, 2 person tent, I doubt there are many that can beat this one. I never had an issue with the air beams deflating, or a struggle setting it up. The only issue I had with it was that it wasn't free standing (I like the ability to move my tent around once it's set up). It got wet on the inside (other than condensation) and that was when we were pretty much in a river in Virginia. Other than that, Andy and I never had any problems with this tent, and it was our home for over half the trail. Once we got to NY (and home) we upgraded to a 3 person tent (a Nemo once again: the Moki).
Beyond the quality, technology, and great tents that Nemo makes, the people there are what makes me love the company so much. The fact that I can name three out of the dozen or so core employees shows I have had just a little contact with those folks.
There are a few companies that I just love, and Nemo is one of them. The Morpho kept me comfy and happy through a good portion of the trail and never had anything vital break or tear even after using it daily for months on end through snow, freezing temps, and constant rain. The Morpho gets a 4 out of 5 for me, and continues to be one of the most interesting, exciting, and fun tent I have.
-Ian