REI Passage 2 Tent

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

I've taken this tent out twice for weekend camping trips in Indiana, both on beautiful weekends, so I can't comment on how it stands up in wind/rain/snow conditions.

I purchased this to use for when my girlfriend and I go camping, and for when I eventually take solo backcountry trips.

After I bought it, I set it up in my living room once to get a feel for it and to repack it. Without looking at the directions, the set-up was extremely easy, with the only thing you really need to know is to match up the one off-color corner on everything. Once set up, it was very light and easy to move, although the footprint may slip off the ends of the poles while doing so. Repacking is a must, depending on what backpack you're stuffing it in, since the "long-and-tall" method doesn't fit in smaller (~40L) packs with a sleeping bag (at least, not when I tried it). A simple folding and rolling of everything and keeping the poles separate is all you need, and a bag only half the size of the one it comes with.

As for actually using it, it was great! I cut the guylines short to keep the edges of the rainfly down as much as possible (my one problem with the tent) and it kept both of us warm during the night. There was plenty of space inside of the tent and in the two vestibules for us (I'm 6'3", she's 5'7", both moderate frames) and our stuff: my one backpack and my girlfriend's couple of bags (she packs quite a bit more than I do). The two doors also helped when she inevitably woke up earlier than I and when I would leave/return on stargazing trips.

I haven't taken it out solo yet (probably will within the next two months), and maybe there will be worse weather to really test it out.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

The product is built good, and easy to setup even in the dark with a head lamp on. Material is nice and seemed study. loved the open breeze that you can get with the meshing and it has enough storage pockets for you as well.

the reason i did not give it 5 stars is the poles are aluminum and i am afraid that if you do not care to wash them after being at a shore area they may rust. Also it could have less weight for back packing but you can split that between two people, But its a great little tent.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

This was my first backpacking tent. I wanted something reasonably priced that would still perform well. The Passage 2 tent certainly delivered.

I have taken this backpacking and car camping. It is on the larger/heavier side for backpacking, but for the price it can't be beat. The vents and fly system work well for ventilation. While I have only used this in the summer, I have yet to have any problems with condensation. Set up is also quick and straightforward. The size of the tent can suit 1 person with lots of extra room or 2 people if they want to get cozy. The vestibules are also very roomy.

What really impressed me with this tent is how stormproof it is. The very first time I used it was on a 3 day backpacking trip on the AT. Both nights had violent thunderstorms, including 40 mph winds on the second night. The tent held wonderfully, I stayed dry, and the vestibules kept my gear dry. Another thunderstorm came up during a car camping trip in a very exposed campground. Once again the tent stayed anchored, and the insides stayed dry.

I couldn't have asked for a better tent. This one is on track for many, many years of use.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

I have used this tent a few times and it is great. My fiancé and I use this tent and it fits us perfect. We just divide up the weight of the tent between us when backpacking. For the price you cant go wrong.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

This was a replacement tent for my Sierra Designs tent that after many years of service, I finally needed to retire. I was amazed at how easy the set up is. Its rated a 2 man but unless you were very comfortable with your fellow camper its a tad small. Works perfectly for one person. Lots of interior room. Tested this tent on a week long kayak camping trip on the St. John River in Maine. It rained every night and I awoke dry every morning. I like the 2 pole set-up and it withstood some heavy winds too. Easy to take down as well.

Service and delivery comments:

Fast shipping, arrived exactly when promised.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

Weekend backpacking, Car Camping

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

Tent is fine.
Rainfly is poorly designed. Full disclosure -- I am a women. When I am camping in a group or campground, I don't want everyone and their brother to seem me in the tent as I am either changing clothes or sleeping. This tent requires that you use the very poorly designed rainfly to ensure any privacy at all. The rainfly requires staking elaboratly unless completely closed. Theoretically one can open the rainfly door to let in some ventilation, but there is nothing to secure the open fly door onto the tent, so that flaps in the wind. The rainfly completely encloses the tent, so one feels like they are in a tomb. So options are to leave the rainfly off completely and be exposed, or put the rainfly on, have very little ventilation or ability to see outside the tent.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

As I said in the title, I LOVE THIS TENT! Even though it is a bit on the expensive side, it works for me. I have been is hail storms, wind storms, and thunderstorms and this tent held up like nothing was happening. Gusts of wind at 30-40 mph would move a normal tent, but with the rei passage 2 tent, the tent did not even move. their are teo things I would want on this tent to make it more perfect than it already is, is that there is a window to see outside and the fly to be a little easier to line up to the poles. When I am in a hurry to put this tent up, I just throw that fly on and on every other tent, the fly goes right to place, but the fly on this is mabe, I would say 1-3in. away from the poles on all sides. But over all I LOVE THIS TENT
It is very easy to set up. I set it up all by my self in 4 min. not hurrying (when hurrying about 2).
Although People might think "it is a two person, it will be small and can only fit one with gear" well with this tent, they are WRONG. This tent packs up to about 4-5 pounds and is roomy for TWO people and GEAR!
One thing I would like to change is that the fly collects condensation. It does not get you wet but when you unzip the fly you get some water on you if you are not careful.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

I purchased this tent in early 2012 for use in warm climates. It has a lot of screen and reasonable rain protection. But I would never use it in Alaska as I do not think it is up to conditions here. In 2012 I used it in Texas for no more than a total of 14 nights in mostly dry conditions. After that trip I put it away until my next trip south. The next time I went to use it in March, 2013 in Belize, the tent body and fly were in great condition but many of the pole sections would not fit into each other. There was a lot of corrosion on several of the female connections and on some of the male connections. Some of the female ends were corroded to the point that there were broken and jagged edges. As this was the only tent I had with me on this trip, I cleaned and lubricated the affected pole ends as best I could and treated them with great caution for that entire trip. When I returned to Anchorage, I brought all the poles in to the local REI store for inspection and repair or replacement. They said they could fix the poles and I left all of them there. About two weeks later, I received a call that the poles were ready.

When I went to pick them up, I was presented with a bill for 1/3 the cost of the tent and two of the worst corroded and broken female ends still remained. I wanted all the poles fixed and, since the tent was only a little more than a year old and used for only two weeks total when this happened, I did not expect to have to pay anything. I was told I should have rinsed the poles in fresh water before putting them away. I said they had never been anywhere near salt water and aluminum poles should not corrode like that after one year and little use. I said many tents have aluminum poles, including many I had previously purchased at REI and used in salt water environments, and I had never rinsed poles or had any corrosion.

I was really surprised at this kind of response from REI. I have been a member for more than 35 years and purchased thousands of dollars of equipment there. Only on a few occasions have I been dissatisfied with a purchase and REI has always been very good with returns or replacements for defective or poorly designed merchandise. It is a big reason why I continue to buy there. This development was very disturbing. I was ultimately not charged for the repairs and told that it was an inexpensive tent and the poles were not anodized aluminum and subject to such corrosion and should be rinsed in fresh water after use. There is no such instruction or warning with the tent or on the website, only that the poles are "7001 aluminum". If there was any such information, I would not have purchased the tent. Who would? I would like to believe REI does not intentionally sell shoddy equipment and that I would not be blamed for its failure. I certainly would not buy another one of these for use anywhere.

Comments about REI Passage 2 Tent:

Looking to replace my old Kelty that just wore out, I was surprised by how great this tent was at this price point. Here in TX more screen area is appreciated and this tent has about as much as you could possibly want. Doors on both sides sounds like just a gimmick, but it really helps out. fly seems a bit loose at first, but works well. Surprisingly roomy.