Marmot Aura 2P Tent

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

Marmot has created an excellent product.This is a great investment for the advanced backpacker/hiker. The beginner or even intermediate rock climber who needs a place to sleep when your attempting multi-day rock climbs.The tent's fabric may seem flimsy but it withstood two weeks of the high velocity gusts of Alaskan mountain wind. One night alone the wind speeds were averaging around 45-50 mph, with gusts in mid-sixties. The tent remained sturdy and reliable. While staying relatively warm.Structurally the Aura 2P seems solid, with the DAC Featherlight NSL poles. Combined with the half-dome design, this tent makes for a roomy one person or a cozy two person bunker.Weighing it at just under five pounds with the foot print and about ten feet of Army issued 550 cord. Leaving the included guy-line cords at home. The tent compressed down to roughly the size of a foot ball without using a compression sack. Hauling this tent eighty klicks through the Arctic Valley in Alaska was a breeze.As far as the water-proofing. We had no troubles. While I did not encounter a hurricane. We did have some intermediate rain (more than mild, but less than severe). One morning there was a little bit of condensation but it was limited. By opening the vestibules the insides dried out quickly. [...]If any improvement could be made, it would be to create a double walled version, for use as a four-season tent.For the cost and usability this is the best quality per dollar tent you can find right now. I have converted from using the MSR Hubba Hubba to the Marmot. I would strongly recommend this tent for an array of your camping/outdoor activities.

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

Great tent. One of the few I've found that is big enough to fit my 6'6" height but light enough for backpacking. Kept me dry through daily rainstorms and a hailstorm (dime size hailstones) during 12 days of backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch. Well ventilated, not too hot during the day. Twin vestibules (one at each entrance) are great, no stepping over your tent mate. Easy to set up, just read the instructions on the inside of the carrying sack.

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

For some perspective, my tent timeline went like this: Marmot Swallow (all time favorite except the weight), Big Agnes Emerald Mountain 2P, Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3, Marmot Aura. I hated the emerald mountain since it was so cramped inside. While weight is incredibly important, I like to be able to sit upright without having my elbows and head hit anything. The copper spur with huge inside for the weight, but just too big of a footprint. This tent is *perfect*. It's light, very spacious for 2, and rock solid. I can easily sit up and play cards when the weather is bad without hitting the walls or ceiling. The vestibules are big enough to hold big packs, and both sides of the vestibule tie up for a panoramic view. Some people hate the orange colors, but to me it keeps the spirits up when your stuck inside because of bad weather. This tent also pitches very taught so flapping is minimal in high winds. Setting it up the first time is kind of confusing, but once you figure it out, it sets up pretty quick. I thought the pole design was just a gimmick for advertising, but it really does create a *ton* of room inside. I tried the MSR hubba hubba, but it just couldn't compare to the interior volume of this tent. I don't think I'll be getting a different tent anytime soon.

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

I love this tent. Like many others, I did a lot of research before buying, particularly because I'm of above average height (6'-2") so many other really nice tents (eg. REI Quarter Dome) are too short for me. In the end, I didn't have to settle or compromise, I am very happy with this Marmot.

As others noted, the vertical wall design makes this a spacious for two tall folks, and it will cheerfully accommodate four rainy day card players. Vertical doors mean the rain doesn't pour in when you open the vestibules to get in and out, and the doors hang out of the way when unzipped (nice!) The vestibules are a good size for a pack and boots, although I wish I could choose which side of the vestibule I wanted to stake (only the shorter side has stake tape.) I was initially skeptical of the stake tape, but it has proved durable and even helpful to avoid rocks, particularly on a 10 day backpacking trip in New Mexico.

I found the storage bag absurdly large, but since I split the load with my tent-mate, we packed the fly and tent body into two smaller stuff sacks and left the big bag home. My frequent camping buddy and I sleep head to foot, so pockets and doors were fine. My wife and I sleep head to head when we camp in this tent, and the pockets and doors are not a big deal for us.

In heavy, wind-driven rain this is one dry, quiet tight-pitching tent. In hot dry weather, the ventilation is outstanding. In cooler, rainy weather we sometimes get a little morning condensation on the inside of the fly. Though the sun usually drys the fly fairly fast, I sometimes wish for a high vent (like on the Quarter Dome.) If it is not actively raining we usually leave the vestibules rolled up for more ventilation: even in a misty drizzle the vertical walls mean the inside of the tent stays dry.

For me the tent, poles, fly, and stakes (in bags) total 5 lb 2 oz. If you are less of a galoot you can certainly save ounces with a smaller tent. However, if you like a little more room this is a quality choice for the weight and money.

A word of caution about saving wight using the fast-pitch option (footprint, poles and fly): In the normal pitch, two pole ends slot into grommets attached to the tent body above each door. In the fast pitch, these pole ends are just sliding around inside your fly. Some sort of webbing pocket or velcro loop on the fly would secure this and prevent shifting (or punctures). Since I never intended to fast pitch much, choosing not to fast pitch at all was not a major sacrifice.

Although I've taken it car camping too, the Aura really shines for backpacking and canoe trips where I want a solid, spacious design at a reasonable weight.

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

Nice backpacking tent, but if weight is important to you consider this: The Aura 2P I received weighed substantially more than the manufacturers specifications. The tent, poles, and fly together weighed 4 lbs 8 oz. The total packaged weight was 5 lbs. 4 oz. That changes the cost/weight ratio quite a bit compared with other similar tents.

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

As another reviewer found, the one I received is substantially heavier than advertised--I measured 4 lbs. 10 oz. for the poles, fly and tent, not stakes, bags, accessories, etc. My scale isn't super accurate, but that's clearly substantially more than the 4 lbs. 1 oz. REI claims. I called Marmot and they say the "maximum weight" they list as 4 lbs 7 oz is tent, fly and poles, without stakes, bags, etc. That's not REI's definition, so REI should be listing 4 lbs 7 oz under minimum and some larger number under maximum. (I'm not worried about the 3 oz discrepancy--that could be my error in measuring.)

It's still a good tent, and I'm having trouble deciding whether to keep it. It's particularly good for tall people: the 88 inches inside is a lot, and the first foot of the end wall is very vertical, unlike in REI tents, so the full length is usable. I'm 6'1" and I have lots of room to spare.

Some minor quibbles: The corners are color coded to make it easier to put the right tent poles in the right holes--two are marked with red tags. But all four tent poles are red at the end, so you can't just match colors and you have to remember or read the instructions. Interior pockets are a little funny--they are open on the side, so it seems things might fall out. (Maybe they work fine in practice.) And the two are at diagonally opposite corners, so if two people sleep head-to-head they don't each get their own pocket. No serious problems, but it would be nice if they got these things right!

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

At first I found this tent complicated to set up. Even the REI employee had trouble figuring it out. The poles are all attached, which seems easier, but if you get them backwards or upside down the tent will sometimes still work. but looks a little wrong. Once I got the hang out setting it up, however, it was simple to set up alone and was the perfect fit for me and my large dog during a month of camping. The design is lightweight and the set up allows for ample headroom. Overall, it's a wonderful tent!

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

This is an excellent tent. The poles are all connected into one piece, so you don't have to worry about finding the right pole. That is, it's incredibly easy to set up, even if you reach camp after sunset.
The only downside, so far as I can tell, is the lack of heat retention. Even with the rainfly, it's barely a three season tent (and that, depending on where you're camping). Without the rainfly, you're sleeping under the stars and protected from mosquitos, but it'll be chilly!

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

I did so much research before committing to this tent as I already love my Eureka K-2 XT but I really needed a tent that I alone could stuff into my rucksack and use with confidence in a variety of climates. This tent is so light and packs so small (like a rugby ball!!) that when I first added it to my pack, I was sure that I was forgetting the fly, or tent, or poles, or etc... Personally, it isn't an intuitive tent to pitch, but once you get the hang of it, it sets up in no time. The space inside is crazy! I like my space but I don't want to have to carry anything too heavy into the mountains - this tent rocks! I had space for me, my rucksack and my usual big mess of stuff everywhere. I never felt cramped up and the orange makes it feel bright and cheery inside! You may not think that this is a bonus until you are in a rain storm with dark clouds around...for days on end!! I agree with a previous commentator, I would LOVE to buy a 3-season version of this tent, with more material and less no-see-um. Buy this tent with absolute confidence...you won't be disapointed!

Comments about Marmot Aura 2P Tent:

WOW. everyone who camps needs this tent. i've had it for a year and it still works like its brand new. it hasnt stretched or torn yet and i've never used a foot-print. it's great for everywhere go and is great for one or two people.

the compact size and light weight is great and is easy to set up.

I would recmend it to anybody. new or experiensed in camping.