REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

Summary
This shelter will work for only a few people, but with a little creativity it makes a tent of unbeatable value.

Intro
The REI Bug Hut 2 fits an odd niche. It's essentially a tent without a rain fly. It has a single wide door, a bathtub floor and self-supporting structure. Why would anyone buy such a thing? Well I got the idea from a customer when I worked at REI. Previously I had been using a tarp with my trekking poles to set up an A-frame shelter. All I had to do was put the Bug Hut under the tarp and I had a fully functioning tent. I've used this Bug Hut/Tarp Combo since 2008. I used it for an entire 2 1/2 months in the UK while doing through hikes throughout the country and I've used it for week long backpacking trips in Arkansas's Ozarks and Wyoming's Winds in addition to dozens of shorter backpacking trips, weekenders, and overnights in the Tetons and Gros Ventres in Wyoming among other places. I've always used an 8x10 sil-nylong tarp and, if they existed, 8x11 would work better during a storm.

Durability
It's a strong design and I've only had one pole section break after this heavy usage. The poles are smaller gauge than standard tents and as a result are probably the weekest link but they've taken some abuse and served me well. The two poles are inserted into sleeves and make a double cross pattern, thus returning to the corner of the same side, rather than the far opposite corner. Compared to the standard cross-over pattern, this pole design gives more head room and additional strength without much additional weight. The zipper is holding up well. One point: I like to use groundcloths to protect my tent floor. REI doesn't make a ground cloth for the Bug Hut so I had to use one from a different tent. It doesn't fit perfectly, but it works.

Effeciency
When coupled with a sil-nylon tarp it is about the same weight as the lightest tents available. With my tarp, groundcloth, and steakes it weighs in at 4.25 lbs. This doesn't include the trekking poles, but I don't include those in the shelter weight, since I carry them in my hands for their own virtues. That makes for a lightweight shelter and considering its flexibility and strength, it makes for a terrific shelter for the weight. My only complaint on the grounds of effeciency is its ease of set-up. I don't deny it is no pop-up shelter. It takes some work to set it up, especially when I'm by myself and putting it up in a storm. I've done that and it's no picnic. I have to 'tweek' a lot of the stakes and on a long trip (like when I was in England and Wales for 5 weeks by myself) it gets very tedious.

Comfort
It is almost exectly as roomy as REI's Half Dome. It's real dimensions are 85 x 45 (though its 5 inches wider at the ends). These dimensions shouldn't be compared to tent specs, because they are never accurate. I'm 6'1" and have around 10 inches of extra room on the ends. Overall it's been a great addition to my gear. I love being able to set it up in what I call "fair weather" style, open and airy, most of the time, even if it's raining; and if it's blustery and stormy I set it up in "foul weather" style. Which is far and away the strongest structure I've ever slept in, stronger than my high end mountaineering tent.

Value
It's currently sold for $100 and since I already had the trekking poles and the tarp, it made for an incrediblely cost effective shelter. It's a solid design and terrific cost so I couldn't be happier with my purchase. This is the sort of product that works great if you like being creative with your gear, as I do.

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

I purchased this "tent" for a 12 day backpack/river trip in the Amazon Basin and it was nearly perfect. My traveling companions mosty had bug bivys, and all envied the space in my BugHut. There was plenty of room to keep my pack inside, keeping the insects and other critters from getting into my stuff at night. I was able to sit up inside it comfortably, dressing and applying my Deet without being attacked by mosquitoes. The full floor kept the "creepers" out and the mesh allowed full air movement so I stayed cooler than the others on the hot muggy nights. Easy set up and take down, quick drying and lightweight for packing. Zippers and seams sturdy enough, although I wasn't reckless with it. Minimally larger size packed up than the others' bivys. The only downside was that it kept out none of the heavy condensation, in fact it usually "rained" inside my tent in the ams, while the others were wet but didn't have drops falling on their faces. A tarp system would be helpful in hot/humid climates, but then you'd miss the air flow and star gazing. Overall I was very happy, and have recommended it to many others who need good bug protection while sleeping.

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

My daughter and I like to sleep in the backyard in the summer. We used to use a larger 4 person tent but it killed the grass under the tent and we wouldn't use it often enough so it'd get blown away by the wind. I bought this so that I could easily set it up & move it/take it down every night/morning. It's fantastic for that. It fits my daughter and I perfectly. It fits two sleeping bag pads side by side and has a little extra room at the top and bottom. It also condenses to almost nothing when in the bag. It was an excellent price and I wasn't sure how I'd feel about being so 'exposed' but it is great. I think I might use this too as a mini screen room for reading outside, but haven't yet. The only thing I really wish is that it came with a simple cover for the rain, or had one that I can buy separately. I didn't think I'd want to sleep out in the rain, but turns out I do. I can sort of use our 4-person family tent's cover, but it's not great. Also it has a tiny 'hook' inside that I hand a reading light off of, but otherwise has no pockets or places to hang things from. I know it's minimalist and what I needed, but an extra here or there wouldn't add weight or be too hard I think. Still, 5 stars! I just LOVE the two pole ease and how small it is to store!

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

I purchased this bug tent for a six month back packing trip around Asia in lieu of a mosquito net and it was a very smart choice. Throw in a ultra light tarp, a few guy-lines and a few extra stakes ( I chose a Equinox 8x10 sil-nylon tarp, Kelty triptease line and MSR Needle stakes, all three recommended) and you've got a versatile travel shelter system which can protect you from the elements and biting critters like scorpions or spiders if you choose to sleep under the stars, and you've got a free standing mosquito net which can be pitched on top of your bed to protect you from both bed-bugs and mosquitoes if you find yourself in not-so-posh accommodations.

The REI Bug Hut allowed me to get a good night's sleep in some cheap, convenient and excellently situated dives in Asia that I would not have been able to tolerate otherwise because of the condition of the bedding, and it allowed me to take advantage of some excellent camping opportunities that less well-provisioned travelers missed out on.

My Bug Hut pro plus a sil-nylon tarp has kept me happy and dry on camping trips now in India, SE Asia, the Catskills of New York and east Africa. I'm a 5'11, 165 lb male and I've shared the tent twice with other dudes, one slightly larger and one about the same size with no problems, no touching and plenty of room. With my wife who is a very petite 5'2 there's room for us and two large backpacks inside the tent with room to spare. Good headroom too.

I don't have any real complaints about the tent other than I wouldn't mind if it was a little bit lighter, but there's not much weight that could be shaved realistically. For the price you can't really expect carbon tent poles so basically I would have to say I am a happy customer. I'm only giving the Bug Hut four stars out of five because by itself as shipped its not nearly as awesome; It requires some ingenuity, motivation, and extra purchases on the part of the owner if you want to wring the maximum value and utility out of it. With a little effort and a few accessories the Bug Hut Pro makes an excellent travel companion for adventuresome travelers who want and need options. Otherwise its still not bad as a free standing mosquito net, but probably not worth the bulk and weight for a minimalist traveler who wants to stay light.

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

I have always been a person who leans towards durability but aging and a tired back has directed me to lighter gear, this is where the bug hut caught my attention. Combine this bug hut with an ultra-light tarp and you have a terrific shelter from the biting bugs, great when ther's a breeze for keeping cool, enough room for 2 persons of average build, and very nice for extended backpacking trips. The only place this bug hut failed was the insectshield repelant feature and infact the mosquitoes camped out on the mesh waiting for us to come out, so pack some deet in you're backpack along with this tent. The Pro's out weigh the Con's on this one and is a very good must have!

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

Product is super lightweight and great for backpacking. Only problem is there's no rain fly. I called my local REI and the sales guy said people are always asking about it. I don't know why REI doesn't include it or offer it as an option. It would add significant versatility for minimal cost/weight.

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

my boyfriend gave me this tent as a gift. I'm leaving to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali. It's perfect. I've seen a lot of comments that its not big enough for 2 people. WRONG. this tent is perfect for two. Anyway, I hope this tent last for my 2 years of service! thanks rei!

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

I bought this for my 18 year old son to use in the Solomon Islands on a trip to help out at a school with fairly basic conditions. He's 6'6'' and big and the double was perfect. The construction means that unlike mosquito nets, you can role over in your sleep and you're still protected. It was light to carry and easy to put up. I think it's safer for malaria mosquitos as it sits away from the body so sneaky ones can't easily bite you through the net.

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

I use this as my "base camp" at high altitude hunting in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in August/September. I carry a tarp as a rain fly, a good bag and a high end inflatable pad. I'm 6'3" 215lbs, and it's just about right for me. This tent handled a heavy thunderstorm using the tarp, although the fit wasn't perfect and a little moisture dripped in due to mis-alignment. A purpose-built rainfly would make it perfect for warmer weather purposes. Caveat - carry a great sleeping bag. The bag can protect you when the wind is howling, as the bug screen will NOT protect against the wind. At all. Which is part of the beauty. If done correctly, you can protect against the rain without concern for condensation with the right cover/tarp, and a bag/pad combo will keep you warm.

Comments about REI Bug Hut Pro 2 Tent:

This is not your car-camping luxury tent. It's a free-standing mosquito net, perfect for warm weather, and travel. It does not have a fly and it's not water-proof, but a mosquito net shouldn't be anyway. It's on the smaller side, perfect for one person, or two people if you don't mind cuddling up. I used this tent for 2 years straight while in the Peace Corps and then traveled with it around the world for another year. It's an awesome product and perfect for international adventures. It's super easy to set up (even in the dark) and light-weight. After 3 years of nearly constant use, I retired the tent due to a few minor rips in the netting. Considering what I've put it though, a few minor holes (easily fixed with duct tape) is pretty darn good.