ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 3 Tent - Special Buy

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 Tent - Special Buy:

I've spent 5 nights in mine so far, 3 in moderate to heavy rain. For the price, this can't be beat. I was looking at the REI 3-man quarterdome, but I saved about $200 by going with this tent at a claimed 3 oz weight penalty. It was totally worth it.I will focus more on the shortfalls of the tent rather than the performance (which was quite good) since that's what I like to read in reviews... Unless you are really close to your tent mates, this is better suited to 2 people and not 3 (as with most 3 man tents).We did take on a very small amount of water. I used the specific Alps Mountaineering footprint and it extended about an inch beyond the foot end of the tent allowing the rain fly to drip onto it. Due to the shape of the ground under the tent, there was some puddling between the footprint and the tent. After 2 days of rain, some water soaked through the floor. If I had paid closer attention, this was avoidable, but who wants to inspect that they have the perfect site when it is already raining before the tent is up? It wasn't bad, just worth mentioning.The vestibule openings are designed such that, when they are opened in the rain, water can drip in the tent. Solution: don't open the vestibule all the way.If you are not into staking down your tent, with the rain fly, this tent requires no less than 3 stakes. Not a big deal unless you are camping on rock. No stakes required if you don't use the rain fly.As I said before, I focused on the negative for most of this review. This is a very good tent. It held its own at Canyonlands NP this past weekend standing next to an REI Half Dome (2-man) and a North Face single-wall (2-man) tent. I was completely pleased and find it hard to justify the price of any other tent in the same weight class . The weight of a 2 person tent, more space, and cheaper.BTW: I called Alps Mountaineering. If you see tents at other sites named either the Zenith or the Zephyr, they are the same tent.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 Tent - Special Buy:

Alright, for how much this tent costs it's unbeatable. It's fairly light weight and has quality construction.

I've only had it out on a few trips, but so far everything looks great.

True, like the other reviews said the fly will allow water to drip into the tent if opened all the way. Simple solution - just don't open it that far.

Also, the footprint does extend a little from the bottom of the tent. However, I am fairly confident that this can be solved by putting the ends of the tent poles into the holes on tent that allow the floor to be stretched tighter. (Sorry if this description is a little confusing. It will make sense once you see the tent.)If for some reason this doesn't work, one could just lay the footprint under the tent instead of putting the tent pole ends into the holes on it and staking it down. This would definitely allow the tent to completely cover it.

As was also covered in other reviews, this tent is a bit cramped for 3 people, but it is absolutely perfect for 2.

Get this tent, you won't regret it!

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 Tent - Special Buy:

have used this tent twice now. we got caught in rain twice. we woke up and our tent was literally floating in about 3 inches of water. we also use the footprint that you can buy for the tent. definitely a must have.

this tent is the perfect size for two people, gear, and a dog. my girlfriend and i are both 5 foot 8, 130 pounds and it is perfect for the two of us and our dog. i would not recommend trying to squeeze 3 people in it.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 3 Tent - Special Buy:

I've used this tent for five camping trips now and so far, so good. It's plenty roomy for two people but, like mentioned above, is really best with just two. Three would be a squeeze.

The tent is easy to set up and take down. However, don't think this is a freestanding tent. If temperatures are going to dip to dew point or it is going to rain, you'll want to stake the base of the tent and rainfly as tightly as you can. When fully staked, the footprint and tent are the exact same size and water in the tent isn't a problem.

When the vestibules are opened, rain can indeed drip into the tent, but only barely.

Overall, this is the best, lightest, and easiest tent I've owned. It looks pretty sexy to boot.

Buy this thing.