REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

This was my first solo tent. I have been packing a two-man tent for years but wanted something lighter in weight. The tent has plenty of headroom and is easy to setup. I am 5'10" and there is plenty of room inside. Although I have not weathered rain yet, the shell appears well-constructed. REI was out of footprints for this tent so I had to make my own. The tent is small and lightweight.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

Very good one-person tent with enough room to be comfortable. Can't fit whole pack in there but boots, clothes, other items are fine. I'm 6'1" and it just fits me. much taller and I'd need something else. Vestibule easily covers pack and boots if it is raining. Holds up well to heavy rain, wind and stays dry in rain. Very easy to set up - takes 5 minutes tops, even in bad weather. The clip attachment to the poles is excellent -much faster than the sleeves on other tents. 90% fabric top makes it better for windy areas than all-net tops. I used it in the desert and works much better than all-net tops that let in all the blowing dust/sand. A nice feature is the clear vinyl porthole in the vestibule that lets you see out when it is all closed up. The only drawback I have seen is that the long side of the asymetrial shape tends to cave in a bit leading to slightly loose fabric. I solve that by putting a couple big rocks on those corners (or you could stake it if able to do so) to keep the fabric tight. For an inexpensive tent that it well made and works very well otherwise that is a trivial concern. I wich they still had it so others could get the benefits of this great tent.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

I've used this tent on two 5-6 day backpacking trips in southern Utah and its been wonderful. I've also use it on week long archaeological digs when I've needed to bring my own tent for lodging. Its been a great tent all around. BUT I do have one warning and caution. Please practice setting this tent up several times before hitting the trail. My first assembly took over an hour! Now I can completely set it up in 3 minutes. Its a matter of getting used to the poles and layout, as its not at all an intuitive or symmetrical design.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

Great little tent. Setup is simple. I had to set up in the rain on one trip and had it up in no time. I was using a 2 person tent before so it felt a little cramped at first, but I soon got used to it and grew to like it. Not much room inside for gear so the vestibule is great for boots and pack. I purchased the footprint and would suggest it.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

Had this tent a short time but took it on three trips, some of which had lots of snow, and it held up like a dream! Very pleased though you have to tweak the guylines just enough so you don't get condensation but also don't freeze during the night.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

Originally planned on using this for a four day three night solo adventure and wound up taking it on a three day two night backpacking trip. I set it up the first time in my living room and it went up in 5 min. I thought that was pretty nice. When I got to the field I set it up in half the time and was even happier. It is free standing which is nice but if you use the fly, stake it down. When staking it down make sure to stretch the corners out to get the maximum room out of it. The vestibule was nice and spacious enough to put my 85L pack in it and had room to get in and out of the tent with no problem. Now the only bad thing I have to say is that I am 5'9" and I was touching head to toe in the tent. So if I lay on my back my toes touched the edge of the tent and the cold would transfer immediately through the sleeping bag. I ended up having to sleep on my side most of the time. Never once did condensation formed and there was plenty of air movement. Overall a great light tent to have and I will use it plenty.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

I work trails so I live out of a tent. I'm 5'11'' female and I fit into the tent with all of my stuff as well. Granted, its pretty cramped in there if I do, but I like it that way. It's definitely not a place to stretch, but it does the job well and it is very light.

Super easy to set up and withstands any wind, snow and rain Mother Nature throws at it.

If you're looking for a light, easy tent and you don't mind not having too much space this is the tent for you!

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

I am a 115lb female. Backpacking weight is very important for me, even though I am not an UL backpacker.

This tent is my first tent ever. I did my research and price comparison. This one seemed to fit the bill. Since it's an REI tent from REI, I did not hesitate (thanks to its generous return policy).

So far I've used it for 3 over-nighters and 1 base camp trip. I've used it without rain fly, too. Will use it for a 3-night car camping trip by a lake and a 3-night Baja trip on the beach in 2 weeks.

Since San Gabriel Mountains and the Sierra are dry in the summer time and not windy, I have no way of knowing if rain/dew/wind is going to decrease the performance of this tent.

So far, there's no condensation inside the tent when the rain fly was used (the night was dewier than usual). I love the round pot hole clear winder on the vestibule door of the rain fly. I can see the outside without getting up. What a great idea!

I also bought the foot print. Last weekend the foot print underside was wet from the ground but the tent underside was dry.

The vestibule isn't spacious but it's a solo tent, what do you expect? It looks big enough to cook if it rains. I would not put my backpack (REI Venus 75) in the vestibule. I can sleep with my backpack next to me inside this tent no problem (not a toss and turner).

Tent is very easy to set up. I did not even need the manual. The aluminum pegs that come with it seem substaintial enough. I also like the odd shape. The foot area is smaller than the head area. I can put my things next to my head and not feel cramped.

The mesh panels are just enough to let air circulate and not revealing too much (all mesh tent has no privacy without the fly). The only thing to note is that since the tent door is half meshed, you will feel the chill night air coming towards your head if there's no rain fly. I always wear my wool beanie to sleep so that my head won't be cold (can't sleep if the head is cold).

The two mesh pockets on the tent wall on each side the door are very handy for storing stuff sacks and other necessary small items (watch, iPod, hair comb, mirror, etc.) to be close by without being clustered or lost on the tent floor.

The little ribbon loops on the ceiling are also good touches. I use the one next to the door for an S hook to hang my headlamp as my reading lamp. I can see hanging items to dry inside the tent using a cloth line when rains.

The door is not on the side. Some people don't like it but I am OK with it. I am small enough (5'4") to get in and out of this tent without too much trouble.

Over all, if you are budget and weight minded, don't want to share a tent with a friend or a stranger, a one posture sleeper, and don't mind not having a door on the side, this is a good one to own.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

I bought this tent in 2006 thinking it was a bargain and that I would upgrade to a more expensive one in a year or so. Since then, this tent has proved to be incredibly strong, waterproof, lightweight and roomy. I won't be upgrading anytime soon.

Have used my Chrysalis all over the world on trips that include multi-week European hikes, week-long backcountry trips, weekend car camping, and overnighters in mountains, desert, canyons, beaches, deep snow and forest and encountered weather ranging from mild/sunny to blazing hot to hurricane force winds to blizzards to torrential downpours, and the Chrysalis survived everything. I have never gotten wet inside (unless I forgot to open the vent and stake the fly tightly as condensation builds up quickly), the gear in the vestibule is always safe and dry and the tent never collapses, even in the strongest, scariest winds. The fly can be staked out very tightly and the stability of the tent then approaches a 4-season model. I did break one of the poles at the point where it enters the rear hub but contacted REI's supplier and ordered a new one plus a spare.

In really foul weather (which I seem to encounter a lot), you can erect the tent quickly using the footprint and fly and then put up the rest from the inside. And taking it down in pouring rain is easy if you can fit yourself and your stuff in the vestibule under the fly while you unclip the tent from the inside. I've done this in a mini-cyclone and managed to avoid getting my stuff wet.

I'm 5'5" and have plenty of room for a full length inflatable sleeping pad and tuck my clothes, water bottle, etc, in the pockets and corners. The vestibule is big enough for a full size pack, hiking boots and incidentals. My only minor complaint is that the floor of the tent doesn't stake out completely tautly, especially if you are using the footprint.

If you're looking for a lightweight solo tent that will stand up to any weather you can throw at it, this is the one. Don't be fooled by the low price, this is a top of the line tent.

Comments about REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent - '09 Special Buy:

I bought this tent back in 2007 and have used/abused it in the Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Sierra Nevada, and various desert locations around Arizona and New Mexico. I have spent over 100 nights in it, and I ONLY take a tent if I expect bad weather, so most of those 100 nights included rain, snow, and/or wind.

First, let me emphasize that this is a REAL tent, not a modified bivy sack or flimsy bug net with shock-corded poles. I am 6'2'' and my sleeping bag of choice is a Marmot Pinnacle Long, and I have never, EVER felt cramped inside this tent. I am surprised by other reviewers who are much shorter than me who complain about the lack of room. If you find this tent cramped, you probably need to upgrade to a 2-person tent. Geez!

Anyway, I love the design: there is room for books, maps, gear, clothing, etc. on the inside and the vestibule works great for shoes, empty beer cans, and other bits of flotsam and jetsam. The fly is bomber, and the whole thing packs down small.

But a recent freak storm in the Grand Canyon convinced me that this tent is beyond cool. I was camped on top of the Redwall along the Tanner trail, and a rain storm hit that night that included 70mph winds. I wish I could report that the tent kept me safe and dry.... Frankly, only a mountaineering tent (properly staked down) would have survived that night. I bailed on the campsite at first light, jamming my muddy tent and bent poles into my pack. The next night, after slopping all the mud out, (mostly) straightening the poles, and mopping out the water...the tent was still waterproof and good as new (albeit a bit mud-stained). I love this tent!

Seriously, this tent is solid for all but the most extreme conditions, it is pretty light, it is easy to set up, and it is roomy. If you think it needs more headroom, more space, a bigger vestibule, or indoor plumbing, you don't quite understand what a solo backpacking tent is all about. All that and the price? Wow. Check out the pic--the poles are a tad bent, but it sets up perfectly despite the abuse.