NEMO Hornet OSMO Footprint Review

Overview

The Hornet OSMO Footprint is NEMO’s purpose-cut ground protector for the Hornet OSMO 1P, 2P, and 3P tents. It’s a simple piece of coated polyester designed to sit between your tent floor and the dirt, but because it’s tailored to the Hornet’s exact floor plan and clip system, it’s pitched as more than just a generic groundsheet. This one’s for Hornet OSMO owners who want factory-matched protection and are willing to pay for the convenience of a no-brainer fit over a DIY Tyvek or Polycryo cut.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	113.4 g (4.0 oz)
Material	75D Polyester
Includes	Drawstring stuff sack
Compatibility	NEMO Hornet OSMO 1P tent
MSRP	~$70–80 (varies by size)

Performance

The core job of a footprint is simple — keep sharp rocks, roots, and grit off your tent floor — and by that measure this one does what it’s supposed to. It’s an abrasion-resistant polyester tarp perfectly sized to fit underneath the corresponding NEMO tent, adding a layer of durable, waterproof fabric that reduces wear and tear on the tent floor. That matters more than usual on the Hornet OSMO, since the tent’s floor fabric is notably thin — a 15-denier floor is extremely delicate and should never be pitched on rocky or abrasive terrain without a dedicated footprint.

Fit is where opinions diverge. NEMO deliberately cuts the footprint smaller than the tent’s actual floor. One reviewer explained it clearly: the footprint is properly about an inch shy all around the tent, which keeps rain from coming between footprint and tent. That’s the correct way to size a footprint (an oversized one channels runoff straight under your tent), but it trips up first-time buyers who expect edge-to-edge coverage. At least one REI reviewer specifically noted both myself and REI staff were unable to figure out how the front of the footprint attaches to the tent — so budget a few minutes with the instructions the first time you pitch.

Once you know how it works, attachment is genuinely simple. The footprint has a plastic clip that attaches to the webbing on the tent body at one end, and a more traditional grommet in the webbing paired with metal hardware at the other. Independent testers confirm the footprint is cut specifically to match the tapered floor and clips directly into the pole system, which prevents the footprint from sliding around and ensures water does not pool between the layers during a storm.

On the trail, the upside is that packability is basically a non-issue. Multiple owners noted it’s lightweight and takes up virtually no room in a pack, and can fit into the Hornet tent stuff sack to keep things consolidated rather than carrying it separately.

Where the footprint draws real criticism is value. At $79.95 for what amounts to a shaped tarp, several owners feel the pricing is out of step with the material cost. One REI reviewer summed up the frustration bluntly: the footprint on its own is 70 dollars for a light tarp which is absurd, and argued it’s purely a sales tactic so they can claim its lighter than it is and force you to pay more for something you already need. Weight-focused users echo a similar complaint from the other direction — the footprint adds real ounces to your base weight compared to cutting your own ground cloth, with one reviewer noting the footprint weighs more than other options like cutting your own Tyvek or Polypro, but those options require effort on your part.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Purpose-cut to match the Hornet OSMO floor exactly — no measuring or trimming needed
• Clip system integrates directly with the tent’s pole hubs, so it stays put once pitched
• Packs down small enough to stuff inside the tent’s own stuff sack rather than carrying separately
• Undersized-by-design cut correctly prevents rainwater from pooling between footprint and floor

Cons

• Premium price for what is, materially, a simple polyester tarp
• Heavier than a DIY Tyvek or Polycryo cut of similar size
• First-time attachment isn’t intuitive — some buyers and even retail staff have struggled to figure it out
• Sold separately from the tent, adding to an already expensive setup

Who Should Buy This

This footprint makes sense for Hornet OSMO owners who value a guaranteed, factory-matched fit and don’t want to fuss with cutting their own ground cloth. If you’re chasing every gram of base weight or you’re comfortable trimming a piece of polycryo to size, you’ll save both money and weight by going the DIY route — plenty of experienced Hornet owners do exactly that.

Verdict

The Hornet OSMO Footprint does its one job well: it’s correctly sized, clips in securely once you understand the system, and adds meaningful floor protection for a tent that runs notably thin denier fabric. But at roughly $70–80 for four ounces of polyester, it’s hard to call it a good value next to a $10 sheet of Tyvek — you’re paying for fit and convenience, not innovation. I’d rate it a 6.5/10: solid execution, questionable price-to-material ratio.