Wild CampingNortentBackpacking Tent

Nortent Vern 2 tent review: a 2-person palace for year-round wild camping

A spacious upgrade to the Vern 1 for those who adventure in pairs — carrying across everything we love about that shelter whilst offering a seriously impressive amount of room in a still-compact and lightweight package.

✓  Top PickNortent Vern 2 Weight2.5 kgPrice£626 (UK)Seasons4 season The good✓  Very light for so much space
✓  Robust and durable materials
✓  Crossing pole adds real stability in wind
✓  Most spacious 2-person tent we’ve tested
✓  Two large vestibules
✓  8 internal pockets
✓  Beautiful to look at
The not-so-good✗  You have to seam seal it yourself
✗  Less stable than heavier 4-season alternatives in serious storms
✗  Crossing pole is fiddly to fit solo
Check price at Valley and Peak →

At a glance

Overview

Nortent is one of the newest names on the UK wild camping scene, having taken the community by storm when their Vern 1 model landed in 2023. Since then, we have been lucky enough to test numerous Nortent shelters, and the Vern 2 sits atop as one of our favourites: cavernous, strong and beautiful to look at, it is a rugged 4-season tent you could take practically anywhere. And — considering the size of the tent when pitched — it is also impressively lightweight and packable, ideal for 2-person adventures in the worst of British weather.

Weighing in at 2.5 kg (2.6 kg with the crossing pole), the Nortent Vern 2 is decidedly competitive for a true 2-person 4-season tent. Unlike most 2-person tents that are made to fit one person and kit, the Vern 2 is a palace. Seriously — this thing is gigantic when pitched, coming with two massive vestibules (which are like 1-man tents in themselves) and a large square inner that you and a friend could easily sleep in. At a push, you could fit up to 4 bodies in this, especially if you removed the inner (which is very easy to do).

If you are looking for the usual one-person-and-kit style 2-person tent, you would be better served with the Vern 1. The Vern 2 is properly for two people and is very much overkill if you are going solo.

A note on price

At £626 from UK retailer Valley and Peak, the Nortent Vern 2 is still several hundred pounds cheaper than many equivalent models. The Hilleberg Nallo 2 — which at £950 has a similar weight and pack size but offers substantially less room — costs £324 more. The Fjällräven Abisko Lite 2 costs £700 direct. At the time of writing, buying directly through Nortent.com ($537/£440 plus $48 shipping, Customs Duty of £13.50 and VAT of £107) comes to approximately £600 — slightly cheaper than Valley and Peak and worth checking before you buy.

The Vern 2’s (middle) pack size compared with the Vern 1 (top), with a 1-litre Nalgene bottle for reference.

How we tested

We took the Vern 2 out several times in miserable UK autumn conditions on Dartmoor, intentionally camping twice on Great Mis Tor — one of the windiest parts of the park in our experience. On one occasion we used it alongside the Vern 1 so we could compare both shelters directly and understand how the design differs. Given that we consider the Vern 1 one of the best tents of 2023, we went into our first Vern 2 test with very high expectations.

It delivered. Resoundingly.

Features and performance

Space and livability

The Vern 2 comes with the same elongated guy-out points we know from the Vern 1 and is easy to pitch, sitting surprisingly strong in the wind. Inside, you get two gigantic vestibules, a very roomy inner and so much space that you could easily while away days in this thing. The tent is so big that we think it would make an excellent bikepacking tent for couples cycling in horrendous conditions — you could easily store a bike in either vestibule. That size also gives you the option to put all kit into one vestibule and reserve the other for cooking, which massively improves the normally uncomfortable process of whipping up a meal inside a tent.

Inside the inner, two large semi-circular doors are double-zipped: one opens the door fully, and the other opens the nylon material on the inside for maximum ventilation whilst keeping out insects. The rest of the inner is made from a lightweight yet durable nylon to maximise heat retention in winter, and you get a total of 8 inside pockets for organising bits and bobs. As with the Vern 1, each end of the vestibule comes with a large port that can be opened or closed depending on conditions — easy to use and effective at optimising ventilation.

“All in, we love the Nortent Vern 2. It looks beautiful, offers acres of space, and makes for a comfy place to while away uncomfortable weather.”

Pitch and wind performance

Due to the two support poles and the size of the fly, we found the Vern 2 slightly more difficult to pitch in heavy winds than the Vern 1. On the several occasions we erected it solo, it took us around 8 minutes to set up effectively. The main challenge is the optional crossing pole — recommended in high winds or when expecting heavy snow. To mount it effectively you slide it along the spine and mount it into grommets on the guy lines at each vestibule end, which requires managing guy line position and length simultaneously. This is particularly fiddly solo. We always got there after around 90 seconds of back and forth, but in rain or blizzard conditions this could become frustrating on your own.

With the crossing pole in place, the Vern 2 is solid and stable, doing a phenomenal job at repelling wind considering its weight and pack size. With broad sides and a large surface area for wind to drive into, it is impressive how well it holds in gusts when the guy lines are fastened and the hatches battened down. It does move a little more than the Vern 1, which should not come as a huge surprise given the size difference.

Seam sealing

As with any Nortent shelter, you need to seam seal the Vern 2 yourself before first use. In a move to keep the price accessible, Nortent supply the sealant and leave you to apply it over all permeable seams. The process can be a bit messy and time-consuming, but renders the tent 100% waterproof and extends its life significantly.

A frozen Nortent Vern 2 — tested in UK autumn conditions on Dartmoor.

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Our verdictThe best 2-person 4-season shelter we have tested — if you are going as a duo.All in, we love the Nortent Vern 2. It looks beautiful, offers acres of space, and makes for a genuinely comfortable place to while away uncomfortable weather. Suitable for relatively heavy winds, beating rain and white-out blizzard conditions, it might be overkill for a usual 3-season camping trip — but if you always adventure as a duo, we think the Vern 2 is as good a shelter for two people as the Vern 1 is for one.If you are looking for a one-person-and-kit style shelter, this is not it — look at the Vern 1. And if you do not intend on camping through the worst of British winter weather, you might be better served saving money and going for something like the North Face Trail Lite 2.But if you are looking for a durable, reliable and comfortable shelter for true 4-season UK adventuring with a partner, we do not think there are many shelters that offer as much as the Vern 2. If you can afford the £600 investment, you have not only a beautiful shelter that will last you many years — but one you could use in any weather conditions, no matter the time of year.Buy the Nortent Vern 2 at Valley and Peak →

FAQs

How does the Nortent Vern 2 perform in summer?For a 4-season tent, impressively well. Lightweight, easy to carry and featuring numerous ventilation options including ports at the ends of each vestibule, it is as great in summer as it is in winter.

How does the Nortent Vern 2 perform in winter?Excellently in UK winter conditions, especially with the crossing pole fitted. It is a lightweight tent, so be sensible about pitch selection — avoid the most exposed positions in serious storms.

How does the Nortent Vern 2 perform in the wind?Very well for a lightweight tent its size. The crossing pole improves stability significantly. Treat it as the lightweight shelter it is and pick your pitch accordingly.

How easy is the Nortent Vern 2 to pitch?Reasonably easy, though a little fiddly solo — particularly fitting the crossing pole. As a pair, under 6 minutes. Note it is not freestanding without the crossing pole — pegs are required for structural integrity.

Is the Nortent Vern 2 worth the money?Yes. At £626 from Valley and Peak it is a significant outlay, but the Hilleberg Nallo 2 costs £324 more for less room and the Fjällräven Abisko Lite 2 costs £700. For a robust, lightweight, genuinely roomy 4-season 2-person shelter, it represents strong value for money.