REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

I backpack frequently and car camp. I also go fly fishing and fly to destinations with my gear and I’ve been looking for the “perfect” tent for me. I thought about a solo tent but those tend to be too restrictive in space for my taste and gear so I decided to shoulder the added weight and hunt down the best available 2-person version. It came down to the Quarter Dome T2, MSR Hubba Hubba and the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL 2. The Hubba Hubba and T2 were closely matched but the T2 was ounces lighter and less expensive- both are known for quality so I eliminated the Hubba Hubba (even though the name is a good conversation starter).After scrutinizing the two remaining candidates I realized that the T 2 offered more than the SL 2, but with a ¾ of a pound weight penalty. Even though the floor dimensions are close the T 2 is much roomier. That is because the floor is rectangular, unlike the Seedhouse. As well, the Seedhouse slopes down at the foot giving less space there. The clever pole structure of the T 2 allows for much more headroom. Those two seemingly small features make a difference when you’re waiting out a long rainstorm or are sharing the tent. The other obvious advantages are the two doors and two vestibules. I like the idea of putting my sleeping gear in on one side, tucking my pack under that vestibule then entering and exiting from the other door. The two doors also allow for better circulation. Another nice feature of the T 2 is a great venting system at the top that allows for fresh air even in a downpour. The stash pockets are nicely placed and the construction is excellent. Plus you are dealing with a great retailer that will take the tent back to repair/replace if there is a problem. To make my decision I put price aside for the time being. Quality is probably equal. Both will keep you dry and secure. The pack size difference is not substantial but for some the weight will be (12 ounces is significant). After getting inside both tents at the REI store and now, after using the 2 doors, it’s easy to say I made the right choice. Even though I use the T 2 solo the vast majority of times the extra room is a luxury I want. I’ve learned to shave ounces on my other gear. If you share a tent then this is the one to get. The fact that is less expensive is a further bonus. The only caveat is that if you are over 6 foot you should get inside this tent to make sure you are comfortable before buying -although I read a review where a guy was 6’2 and felt ok inside. Also, practice set up a few times before getting into the field. The pole design takes getting used to.Note: there are a couple of other tents that have come on the market in the T 2 category (room, weight, 2 doors, etc.) that you may consider but I noticed that they are much pricier. [...]

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

This tent is amazing. It was easy to set up and putting it together was straight forward. It may be light and all the mesh may make the tent seem fragile, but this tent has seen rain and lots of it, snow, and 50 mph winds.

First time with rain it rain constantly and not once did I get wet inside or did any condensation develop. I had another trip with rain which later turned to snow and it kept me dry and warm.

It has been in plenty of trips and not once did I get condensation.

At Marmot Pass in the Olympics we got hit with 50mph winds and I could just hear the wind, but had no idea how bad it was till I heard my camping buddies have their tents collapse while I was the one who was exposed directly to the wind. It sat there like a rock.

There are pockets on each corner and two on top to stuff the tent doors in. I used them to insert my head lamp and light up the inside of my tent.

At Shi Shi Beah in ONP all I had to do do get rid of the sand was just stuff the door in the door pocket and lift and shake the tent to get rid of the tent. Campers actually came over to ask me what tent I had.

I was originally going to get the T1, but I need room since I sleep like a fish out of the water and then thought if I wanted to bring someone with me, there was no way we fit in a 1 person tent. Carrying that extra pound is worth it and makes backpacking luxurious.

The best part, being able to see the stars on a hot summer night!

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

Ok, so I read most of the comments about this tent and I'm a little confused. A lot of you thought that this tent really eliminated condensation. Let me tell you about my trip... We bought this tent last Thursday and the following three-day weekend we road-tripped to the Redwoods for two nights to try it out. Despite being November, the weather was gorgeous. Nearly 70 degrees. But, being the Redwoods and near the coast, it was extremely dewy at night. So much so that it looked like it had dumped rain overnight. The rainfly was so drenched on the inside and out, you couldn't help but get wet. You couldn't get the rainfly off the tent in the morning without all the water from the fly raining down on your exposed gear in the tent (through the mesh ceiling). We had to pack our sleeping bags while still wet to go the the next campsite. Also, the doors were small and you would get wet just getting in and out of the tent (from touching the rainfly on entry/exit). Further, the vestibules were really small and you couldn't fit your backpacks under them without them touching the rainfly which in turn soaked them during the night. Also, near as I can tell, there is no way to pin back the rainfly doors so the wet doors brush up on you as go in and out.

Further, my husband is only about 5'10'' and I don't see how this tent could accomidate someone a whole lot taller. It's not very long. I also thought the open design made the tent quite a bit colder. It doesn't trap heat well (obviously). We do some canyon hiking trips and I think this would be much better suited to that kind of camping. I would never take this tent in a wet situation again.

So like I said, maybe I'm not getting something. Obviously there is overwhelming support for this tent, but we sure came out pretty wet.

As a plus, the pole-design is really clever and very easy to set up.

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

This tent rocks for a lightweight shelter. I got caught in a storm as we were decending Mt. Rainier. I was nervous to use this shelter but we couldn't get to Camp Muir so we pitched this tent on the snow field. It took us less than three minutes to pitch this tent. The tent was almost entirely exposed to the wind, snow and rain. I was worried that we would get blown away but come morning, we were dry and the tent was intact.

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

I am a middle-aged male who backpacks in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for extended weekends with occasional longer trips. The T2 does double-duty as a spacious solo or compact two-person backpacking tent that sheds wind and rain and performs well in hot or humid environments.

The T2's "tension truss" hub and pole architecture delivers superior interior volume and a stable, taut pitch with minimal perceived pole or fabric stress. For an easy field pitch, practice several times at home and carefully follow the directions on the stuff sack, especially if you are using the recommended footprint. The color-coded tabs are a useful feature.

The rectangular floor, near vertical walls, generous use of mesh, full coverage fly and dual doors/vestibules are thoughtfully designed and well-constructed to optimize usable space, provide easy entry/exit and ensure reliable three-season use over a range of weather conditions. Convenient tie-backs for the rainfly, clever storage pockets for the mesh doors and multiple ceiling loops are nice details. Four large interior stash pockets are located above a solidly constructed, seam-sealed bathtub floor with water-tight corners. "Chimney" vents help increase ventilation and reduce condensation when using the rainfly.

The T2 is a "luxury" item for solo backpacking that, thanks to its generously-sized compression sack, nevertheless fits nicely inside my Gregory Z55 pack. Consider the T3 if your primary need is a two-person backpacking tent or the popular Half Dome 2 HC if weight is not a strong consideration or you need the extra length.

I have some concerns about the potential long-term durability of the zippers, and like all "lightweight" tents, the T2 is not meant for individuals who are unreasonably "hard" on their gear.

That said, the T2 is a well-designed, full featured three-season tent that "lives larger" than its specifications would imply. If possible, I recommend you visit an REI store, pitch the T2 and compare it to other brands or models; short of a field test, the understated attributes of this tent are really most apparent in a side-by-side comparison.

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

I was a little concerned about spending [$]on a tent but am now convince that you get what you pay for. For my last solo trip, June 8th, 2008, I went to the BWCAW for 5 days. I had planned on going with friends but they back out so I bought a Kelty Grand Mesa 2 for [$] because I didn't want to carry a larger tent. The construction on the Kelty tent was par as best. Two corners torn out a little and I had water problems the rest of my trip. So after much research I landed on buying this baby and AM GLAD I DID!!!! REI really thought this tent through. The REI Dome Tent T3 won the Backpacking magazine Best Gear I believe for 2007 and the design is the same as the T2 just bigger. The T2 (this tent) uses a single long pole (11.5ft) that has two sub poles connected to it, each about 7ft. They combine for a total length of about 13ft if you want to store it fully extended. I was a little spectacle about this design of the poles, I thought I might catch it on something because you have to look out for 3 poles at the same time when setting up, but as long as you careful you'll be fine. This pole set up is much better than ones that us two poles and go corner to corner. Tent also comes with a pole splice in case you break one. This designs offers WAY more head room over an extended area instead of just the peak. I am 5'10" 150lbs and it fits me with plenty of room to spare. I've had three people, one about 6'1", inside this tent playing cards and we were very comfortable sitting up. Set up is super easy for one person and very easy in the dark. Color coded corners match the footprint (a MUST) and the rain fly. Would recommend setting up at home as for the first time with the new pole design I was a little confused. I have never slept with two in the tent but it could be done I'm sure. The two doors, one on each side, are very nice to have. I put my gear under one of the nicely spacious vestibules (a 65L pack mainly) on one side that way I can go in the other door and not have to crawl over my stuff. The rain fly is also easy to put on. I have never used just the rain fly and footprint together, besides in my house, because I camp in mosquito filled areas. I could get the rain fly about 1-2 inches off the ground if I left it a little saggy when using only the footprint. The rain fly has two vents, one on each side, for ventilation which is very helpful. I have had condensation build up inside the rain fly but guy lines keep it off the tent so it didn't drip in. You do have to be careful with the almost full mesh body because if you hit the rain fly or trip on a guy line and there is condensation under the rain fly, it will fall off into the tent. I haven't done any seam sealing yet because REI factory tapes all of the seams on the tent and rain fly. The only place that water can get in on the tent is the corners and one seam down the middle of the tent bottom (factory taped though). I haven't had any problems in rainy conditions yet so I won't be sealing them. Inside the tent there are four mesh pockets (two smaller, two larger). The small ones are big enough for a handle full of small tools, (flashlight, water treatment pills, pliers, knife, and ex.). There are mesh stuff pockets for the fully opened doors that literally open the whole door without any interference from the screen. (Located at the top of the doors, inside). There are also three loops, spaced about one foot apart, on the top of the tent to hang stuff from. The stuff sack has plenty of room for all of the parts including the footprint. The stakes that come with the tent are of surprising lightweight but very strong material. Overall this is a GREAT tent for the price! REI also has good warranties on their gear which is another benefit. Also of the stitching is what you would expect from a high end tent and should last through several years of use. Buy this tent if you are looking for a lightweight tent, that is excellent pretty much all around.

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

I just put this tent through hell and I am pretty darn impressed. I just got back from a 3 day backpack trip through the NC/TN mountains through very cold temps, high winds, rain/snow, mud and actually some sun. This tent performed like a champ. I had only set up in my yard after buying this tent after Christmas. I bought primarily to replace my one man tent and for my trip to Philmont in July 2009. This tent weighs about the same as my one man with twice the room. Friday night I set up in the dark (in ankle deep snow) so my set up tactics were a little rough. WE had winds over 50 MPH and even with my horrible set up the tent did great. Only one fly flapping and that was because I was lax in getting the line taut. Saturday afternoon I had a little better weather and the snow was gone where we had hiked to. So I had the benefit of time and conditions. We were expecting some wind so I guyed out the side the wind was expecting to come from. We had winds of at least 50 blowing all night. This tent never even flapped. We also had a driving rain for about 5 hours. Not one drop of water got in this tent! The temps fell into the high 20's Sunday morning and even though I had to knock off ice on the fly, it held up great. I usually look for something to gripe about when I spend my back packing funds. But I cant say anything bad. Great job with this tent REI.

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

Great tent, great price. Plenty of mesh, but also buttons down well for a decent winter tent. A breeze to set up and tear down. By far the best investment I have made.

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

I'm more or less writing this in response to the negative review concerning condensation. I wonder if the reviewer opened the hooded vents on the rainfly, as I've found this makes a huge difference.

As for my experience, I recently took this tent on a weekend wilderness hike in West Virginia. The first day the hike was delayed due to a several hour downpour with high winds. This tent, with the vents open, kept me bone dry. Only water that got in was when I spilled a nalgene :P, and it didn't bend a millimeter in the wind. Temperature was around 40 degrees.

That night we got around 3 inches of snow, and this is not a 4 season tent. Snow does accumulate everywhere, even on the slanted portions of the rainfly. That said this tent was exceptionally sturdy, and easily held up while some of my campmates' tents collapsed. Once again, I remained bone dry.

This is my first "real" tent, and I've only owned it for a couple of months, so I can't vouch for it's long-term durability. It seems solid though, and so far has been bomb-proof.

As for space, I'm 5'11" and I've found that I fit fine. I can sit up and move around easily. Laying down is a near perfect fit, not even snug. If I flex a little I might graze the tent wall, but it's still quite comfortable. Only downside is that I have to scoot up until my head nearly touches the side, otherwise my feet touch the other side of the tent and freeze in cold weather (head has the mummy hood and a hat/pillow to compensate). Even so, I slept very comfortably on the aforementioned West VA trip, when temps were in the low 20s during the night, although I was admittedly layered up (fleece/polyester) in a 15 degree sleeping bag. I didn't have a thermometer, and this isn't the warmest tent in the world, but it's warm enough. Can't wait for the summer when I can ditch the rainfly and sleep under the stars (without the mosquitoes). :D

Comments about REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent:

I spent hours in the store, debating between the REI quarter dome and the half dome and I decided to spend the extra money in order to save myself the extra lb of weight. It has just enough room for me and a friend, with a nifty pole design for more headroom. However, after testing it out throughout the southwest, I'm not so sure I made the right decision (especially with the half dome recently on sale): one major fault of this tent design is the extensive mesh (partly the reason for the lighter weight, I assume). Although it's nice to have the extra ventilation and view, I found that it left me too exposed to wind and dust at night (not to mention, lack of privacy) and I was forced to use the rainfly, even in dry weather. Even with the rainfly zipped shut, I woke up in the morning with a layer of grit and sand over everything inside the tent. Granted, this is only a problem in the desert (and we've had some high winds this season) but it makes me wonder how well it'll hold up in windy rains as well. I just think it would be better if the mesh started halfway up the tent side, as in the half dome design, for a bit more protection. I'm also nervous that the thin tent bottom material will not be durable enough without the footprint (which I chose not to purchase because of mosquitoes).