Featured Brand: NEMO
The idea for NEMO was born one turbulent night in 2002 on the side of Mount Washington, where founder Cam Brensinger spent five sleepless hours in a poorly designed bivy. That night, he realized how much opportunity there was for thoughtful design as part of the equation for enjoying adventure. Coming down the mountain the next day, he resolved to tackle that challenge. Cam founded NEMO Equipment in the spring of his senior year at the Rhode Island School of Design and, three days after graduation, opened its first office in Nashua, New Hampshire. The name NEMO was inspired by both the idea of "New England Mountain Outfitters" and Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo.
Cam set up operations in a restored textile mill with some fellow designers and engineers, where he worked for two years patterning and building prototypes of his first proprietary airbeam-supported tents. In 2004, he launched the brand, and it quickly began winning awards for design and innovation. NEMO was the overall winner of the ISPO Brand New award in 2005 and its designs were among the 100 best inventions of the year awarded by TIME and Popular Science. These kicked off a string of awards and accolades that have only continued since then.
A Focus on Repair and Reuse
Our team spent a lot of time combing through the various resources available on the NEMO website, and one of the things that stood out to us was an incredible focus on how to maintain and repair gear. From what NEMO calls “Easy Fixes” to general articles on fixing common issues, you should have no problems finding a tip or trick that can help extend the useful life of your gear. NEMO has even put their care articles on its own page on their website, sorting articles into Tents, Sleeping Pads, Sleeping Bags and Pillows. Check out their Care and Repair Center now.
But even when you’re ready for something new, NEMO offers customers the ability to trade-in their lightly used gear. (You can learn more about that here.)
Gear Guides, Trip Planning and More
In addition to having a slew of articles discussing gear care and repair, NEMO’s journal spends a ton of time offering advice for outdoor enthusiasts: From this article on how to turn two sleeping bags into one to this crash course on camping with kids, there’s a ton of useful content for everyone from beginners to advanced adventurers. We also love their technical articles that explore product updates, proprietary materials and new items - like this article on the new OSMO fabrics. And foodies can rejoice, as there’s even some camp recipes, like this article that shares a new spin on a classic dessert.
What’s nice is that you can sort these articles by category, giving you the ability to hone in on what you need. You can access the NEMO journal here.
Alright, let’s talk shop.
We could spend a ton of time talking about all of the amazing technical specifications of NEMO gear, but we think NEMO’s already covered that topic for us. Instead, we’re going to focus on the small, but absolutely mighty, ideas and features that NEMO incorporates into their gear since we think it’s these touches that separates NEMO from other brands.
Purpose-Driven
When the sticker posted in the NEMO conference room says, “Design like you give a damn,” you know that functionality is a key component of NEMO products. Annika, our General Manager, got to experience this firsthand when she tried out the Dragonfly, a two person bikepacking tent, during a weekend training trip to the Apostle Islands of Wisconsin. She loved the Landing Zone - or the built in shoe carrier - and that the tent comes in a waterproof bag. Even though it was designed with biking in mind, which is seen from well-placed exterior gear loops that offer multiple connection points for cyclists, she says, “I can’t believe this is the first time I’m hearing about a tent coming in a waterproof bag. This is absolutely game-changing for kayakers like me, and I can’t wait to take this tiny kit to Isle Royale National Park.”
Lightweight
Built with the backcountry in mind, NEMO’s ultralight gear sheds every gram possible while maintaining peak performance and livability. Their ultralight tents trim weight by relying heavily on stakes for tension and structure support. Fewer poles and more mesh panels net out to a lighter load — and the ability to pack down smaller! Meanwhile their sleeping bags are still more roomy than a traditional mummy, since NEMO’s ultralight Spoon™ Shape bags are carefully tailored for an optimal fit that saves weight. They’re also filled with 800 FP RDS-certified down so they stay cozy and pack down extra-small. And their sleeping pads and pillows use innovative design and strategically chosen materials to provide premium comfort without paying the price on weight.
Lifetime Warranty
From backyard to campground to trailhead, NEMO's essentials and luxuries help make the most of your next camping adventure. But, things happen even though NEMO obsesses over every design decision and each material they choose, and work tirelessly to ensure the highest level of workmanship. They believe their products should provide you the greatest comfort and protection in the elements, and NEMO proudly stands behind this promise.
All NEMO products carry a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials to the original owner, with proof of purchase from an authorized NEMO dealer. Processing of warranty claims can take between 2 and 6 weeks depending on the time of year.
What We Love
NEMO takes sustainability seriously, and has taken great care to shift their manufacturing processes and materials into a “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” type of model. But, for us, NEMO is an incredible one-stop shop for tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and pillows. The fact that they also make liners, furniture and showers is an added bonus, and there are a ton of amazing camp tables and chairs that NEMO offers, like the Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair shown below.
NEMO makes it easy to create a luxury camping experience without adding too much weight.
As always, the team here at Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply is happy to support you as a camper. If you have any questions about tents, sleeping bags, routes or anything else related to camping or backpacking just Contact Us or stop by the store during our normal business hours.