Nemo Espri 2 Review

I have used this tent on several canoe and camping trips. I started out by having very mixed feelings but by now it's growing on me and every time I set it up again, I find something new to like. I have used the tent in torrential rain and windy conditions, no complaints. The Nemo Equipment Espri Ultralight Backpacking Tent comes with an interchangeable tent door and small vestibule. I have used it with the vestibule. There is a larger vestibule available for this tent (Espri 2P Trekking Pole Vestibule, trekking pole, separate pole or stick required) which I own but have not yet used.

Pros:

• Feels rock solid when erected, even without additional guy lines, for which several attachment points are provided. (Guy lines are provided, stakes for guy lines are not)
• Once you have mastered the setup, this tent is very quick to erect and tear down.
• Well ventilated
• Worked well in strong rain
• Worked well in strong wind
• Lightweight and compact
• Comes with eight good quality tent stakes (similar to MSR GroundHog Stake Kit) in a pouch rather than a plastic bag. Not sure that this is standard now, it's been a while since I purchased a tent.
• Nice to get a tent pole repair tube. I personally have not broken an aluminum pole yet, but I know it can happen.

Cons (many of which can be reduced or eliminated after repeated use):

• The permanently attached center connector takes some getting used to. The clip for attachment to tent has to point towards the ground and I have had to inverse the pole setup several times.
• The patent connectors are on the small side. The poles attach to plastic tent corner connectors via a ball (on poles) and socket (on tent corners) system. The rain fly attaches to that same connector via a hook. Both are rather small and have a very tight fit. There are several issues related to this:
• The tightness makes it hard to insert the tent poles and hook the fly during setup and harder to pull out and unhook during tear-down. Because of the small size of the parts, mud or grit in the works is a definite factor and exacerbates the tightness. If you don't want to step on the corners of your tent, you will need both hands to pull the pole from the socket and unhook the fly. Especially unhooking the rain fly with cold fingers is a pain. I found that twisting the hook will help. I assume that a little wear and tear on these parts may help.
• The rain fly attaches to the side walls of the tent via a tiny snap hook, which I like. I do not like that the snap hook is so small and the snap is so tight that it is next to impossible to unclip it during tear-down, especially with gloved or cold fingers. I am seriously considering to cut off part of the snap.
• If you are using this as a two person tent, there is very little room for gear inside the tent or in the very low-profile standard vestibule.

All in all, in spite of its shortcomings I do like this tent because of its sturdiness and light weight.

Big Fork River--Conclusions

Some general thoughts about this trip.

Route Selection

Good overall. We should have started the trip at MN Hwy 1 instead of Bigfork, for a more leisurely pace. On the other hand, the distance between the camp sites we selected (by recommendation of Bill of Wild River Adventures) was good and the camp sites were hard to beat. One portage of a couple hundred meters at Little American Falls. It's marked as "steep bank" on the map but really, it's very easy, even with a couple of good-sized trees down across the trail.

Camp Sites

Good, muddy landings but nice, grassy and level tent sites with a picnic table and a fire box. Beware of poison ivy at Little American Falls, the place is crawling with it. Too bad, since this is a gorgeous site.

Water

Must be considered, especially in hot weather. No public access to drinking water between Bigfork and Johnson's Landing, that's 70 river miles (116 km). As I stated in my earlier entry, I was able to ask for water from a home owner along the river. It seems that more than half of the river runs along private property, many cabins and year-round homes. But if I had to do it again, I would not rely on finding a kind soul and would have my filter along.

Gear

New Tent: NEMO Espri 2P. I have to figure out how to use the DAC poles with the patent center connector. They seem to be bending inward. One time it worked, twice it did not. For one person and dog it is nice, for two it would be cramped. I like the built-in gear loft. Have not tried the big vestibule yet.

Solar Charger: GoalØ Nomad 7m and Guide 10. In one word: awesome! I have tried several chargers over the years and none worked satisfactorily. This package fits the bill. Will top off my Garmin Forerunner 305 used for 6 hours in less than an hour. Recharges a depleted Guide 10 battery pack (4 AA batteries) in 3-4 hrs, of course if the sun is out.

GPS Fitness Watch: I have been using my Garmin Forerunner 305 for years to track distance, estimate speed of progress and plot my route on a map once back home. It works great. During a heavy downpour on Day 3, my FR 350 took on water. Not just a misted glass, there was water inside. I still worked and I was able to dry the unit out once I returned home by letting it sit in the sun, using my GoalØ to recharge it at the same time. Maybe time for one of the newer waterproof units? I would love the FR 910xt, but it's just too expensive ...

Galyan Woodsman III: my own canoe. Reliable, turns well, lightweight yet sturdy. See my initial write-up here

Grumman G-17S: sturdy square stern canoe. Joe and his dad got it for free. Heavy as hell but a great canoe. Had a chance to paddle it during the long day, no complaints. Certainly more sluggish in tight situations when quick reactions are key but still very maneuverable.

Camera

Nikon Coolpix AW100: Essential to have at least one waterproof camera along for adventures like this. It performs very well.

2009 BWCA Trip Map and Conclusions

View 2009 BWCA Trip in a larger map

Trip Data:

Overall Distance: 53.4 km (not counting double portages)

Number of Portages: 18

Total Portage Distance: 4.6 km(one way)

Actual Portage Distance: 16 km (assuming 1.75 trips per portage, two-way)

Longest Portage: 960 m

Biggest Climb: 25 m, to top of Laurentian Divide, between Omega and Kiskadinna Lakes

Biggest Drop: 46 m between Kiskadinna and Muskeg Lakes

Longest continuous paddle: 9.4 km, on Brule Lake, from South Temperance River Portage to Landing

Takeaways:

• Decided to move all measurements to metric. Dealing with arcane measurements like feet, miles, and rods is just too cumbersome. If you insist on seeing distances in body parts or canoe lengths, feel free to use this handy conversion tool. Measurements in parenthesis are altitude above sea level.
• Need to move back to early summer. Will take more bugs over crowded BWCA anytime!
• Replace most cotton with polyprop, underarmor, etc.
• Keep at least part of clothing in waterproof bag. Inside tent is not enough.
• Tarps indispensable asset during this, our first trip with significant rainy weather. Now we know why we have been lugging them around these other years!
• Asolo FSN 95 worked great, wet and dry. A good investment!
• Make mag's Minty Boost worked great to recharge Forerunner 305, which I use to record route during trip
• After yet another water filter (this time broken pump axle on Katadyn Vario) bites the dust after very little use, the new water filter has to be the indestructible expedition model. Katadyn Pocket looks like it will fit the bill.
• Very good experience having dog Mellie along! She seemed to enjoy it, too.

Toxicity of DEET?

Sometimes a good thing is just too good to be true. DEET is fairly effective in repelling pesky insects. DEET is believed to work by blinding the insect's senses to certain chemicals produced by humans or animals that trigger the biting/feeding instinct.

A new study (referenced in this BBC article) is concerned about toxic effects of DEET, especially in combination with other chemicals.

I always wondered about applying a chemical to my skin that has a tendency to dissolve plastics. On the other hand is the prospect of serving as a piña colada to swarms of biting insects ...