It seems our daily lives in suburbia are all too predictable, monotonous. We wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to bed, repeat. While doing so, scrolling through endless feeds of social media. Stuck in a rut, however routine, is still stuck in a rut.

A trip into a remote wilderness — far from the comforts of home — is exactly what many of us need to reset. I know I do. Decompression from the nine-to-five grind is just plain healthy, if you ask me. It’s healthy to slow down and synchronize our rhythms with the mountains. Things move at a different pace out there. Where is there?

The word “backcountry” is one that keeps popping up more and more in the hunting world. The promise of a hunting adventure coupled with the uncertainty of it all, intrigues us as hunters. At the same time, it moves our endeavors farther from trailheads and roads. Hunters are willing to hike miles through unforgiving terrain and inclement weather with nothing more than an ambition to fill a tag and a need for resetting.

As peaceful as it sounds, the backcountry does not exist without challenge. Like life in suburbia, life in the backcountry comes with its own set of adversities. The backcountry is rugged, physically demanding. The weather is unpredictable, changing on a whim. Above all else, it’s mentally challenging. To prepare for a backcountry excursion, quality gear is a necessity. A good shelter, sleeping bag and sleeping pad are a core requirement of the backcountry hunter.

I remember my first backcountry hunt like it was yesterday. It was a turning point in my life. My hopes, as well as my anxieties, were high. I camped on a mesa overlooking a vast high desert. After opening the door of my tent and seeing what lay before me as the sun crept over the mountains, I knew that I would be doing this for many years to come. Backcountry hunting isn’t for everyone, but it is for me.

Backcountry Tents

A tent provides shelter from environmental conditions, a must on most hunts. However, it’s also a hunter’s home away from home for the duration of the adventure. Here, a hunter will dream about the coming days and reminisce about the ones that have already passed. It will be more than a sleeping quarters; it will double as a storage facility at a minimum. The right tent will be a reflection of a hunter’s individual personality.

Years of backpacking into the wilderness and hunting for extended periods have made me realize the importance of high-quality gear. Nemo Equipment offers the core necessities for hunting and camping in the backcountry. Here’s a roundup of four lightweight and dependable Nemo tents to consider stocking for those customers who hike far and climb high in pursuit of backcountry game.

Spike Storm

An ultra-lightweight tent, the Spike Storm is a bomber shelter that weighs in at just a tick over 1 pound. It packs down to the size of a large Nalgene bottle, fitting easily in any pack. The listed weight includes the stakes. The Spike Storm uses one trekking pole for support. Efficiency is everything in the backcountry, and the Spike Storm lends itself to that.

SPECS

• CAPACITY: 1
• SEASONS: 3
• MINIMUM WEIGHT: 1 lb, 3 oz
• PACKED WEIGHT: 1 lb, 7 oz
• PACKED SIZE: 9 x 5 in
• PEAK HEIGHT: 42.2 in
• FLOOR AREA: 19.9 sq ft
• FLOOR DIMENSIONS: 87.1 x 39/29.9 in
• VESTIBULE AREA: 5.1 sq ft
• MSRP: $229.95

Hornet Elite Ultralight

This is the lightest freestanding tent in Nemo’s lineup. The two-person version of the Hornet Elite Ultralight weighs in at a mere 1 pound 12 ounces. It offers enough room on the inside to store clothing, boots and other gear. The vestibule is roomy enough to store a bow or rifle and a backpack. Both lightweight and durable, the Hornet Elite Ultralight is a great choice for the backcountry hunter with a minimalist mentality.

SPECS

• CAPACITY: 2
• SEASONS: 3
• MINIMUM WEIGHT: 1 lb, 12 oz
• PACKED WEIGHT: 2 lb, 1 oz
• PACKED SIZE: 19 x 4.5 in
• PEAK HEIGHT: 36.6 in
• FLOOR AREA: 27.4 sq ft
• FLOOR DIMENSIONS: 85.1 x 50.4/42.6 in
• VESTIBULE AREA: 6.2 sq ft + 6.2 sq ft
• MSRP: $499.95

Losi

Whether heading deep into the backcountry with a friend or just setting up a nice truck camp, the Losi is a great option. The Losi offers a ton of room on the inside, which is perfect for weathering out a storm or just having room to store one’s hunting gear. The unique pole design ensures the most headspace possible. The tradeoff, more weight. If living space is on the top of the list, the Losi is definitely worth a look.

SPECS

• CAPACITY: 2
• SEASONS: 3
• MINIMUM WEIGHT: 4 lb, 15 oz
• PACKED WEIGHT: 5 lb, 9 oz
• PACKED SIZE: 22.0 x 6.5 in
• PEAK HEIGHT: 46.1 in
• FLOOR AREA: 31.4 sq ft
• FLOOR DIMENSIONS: 83.9 x 54 in
• VESTIBULE AREA: 10 sq ft + 10 sq ft
• MSRP: $399.95

Kunai

The Kunai is one of the most versatile tents on the market and is a true year-round, four-season shelter solution. Its double-wall construction provides a condensation-free environment in harsh and humid conditions. T tapered profile, aggressive brow pole, and wind-blocking inner tent keep you protected from snow dust and strong winds. The Kunai is the perfect solution for late-season backcountry hunts.

SPECS

• CAPACITY: 2
• SEASONS: 4
• MINIMUM WEIGHT: 3 lb, 15 oz
• PACKED WEIGHT: 4 lb, 14 oz
• PACKED SIZE: 11 x 7 in
• PEAK HEIGHT: 42 in
• FLOOR AREA: 27.6 sq ft
• FLOOR DIMENSIONS: 85 x 51/42in
• VESTIBULE AREA: 6.8 sq ft
• MSRP: $499.95