REI Arete ASL 2 Tent

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

I have had my tent for just over a year and have used it both summer and winter in the mountains of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. Tempatures from the 70's down to -6 degrees. I have had to set my tent up in winds 25-30 mph and slept (well, stayed the night) with winds as high as 50-60 mph. I've pitched my tent above tree line and in the snow many times. Pitching the Arete by myself is the best feature. the main poles fit into pockets at the end so you only have one end to fit into eyelets. so it takes a minute and your clipping the fly into place. The next best thing about the Arete is it's super stable. Ive camped with climbing buddies that had to put up with their tents collapsing in the wind and bent poles from snow weight. All the while my Arete has out performed even some high priced expadition 4 season tents. I have even take my dog with me on several trips and she stays in my tent with me and the floor has handled it without as much as a mark in the material.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

I'm tall (6'3"), so I spent a lot of time researching tents and reading many customer reviews (on REI.com, as well as in Backpacking Magazine's recent 2010 Editors Choice issue) before I chose the Arete ASL 2. I was looking for a 2P tent that was roomy enough, with good features and a good price. I narrowed it down to the Arete ASL 2 and Northface's Big Fat Frog 24.

Though the "Frog" had a huge vestible, I didn't need all the room and opted to forego the extra weight. I also didn't like the Frog's 42" max. height right at the door that severely sloped down (like a frog's back); I liked the Arete's overall height. Plenty of room inside for me, though with most every other tent on the market- it would be tight with 2 people in there. So, unless it's your partner you're sharing it with, you'd do well to look at a 3P tent instead. ;)

The Arete ASL 2 is considered a bridge between 3- and 4-Season tents (even a "light" mountaineering tent). As the name states (All Season Light), it's not a true winter or hardcore mountaineering tent and that's fine for my needs. I wanted something I could use most of the year (3.5 seasons) that would hold-up better than a regular 3-Season tent.

After reading many customer reviews/complaints about their tent wants/needs/performance, I found most of them overlooked one important consideration- privacy. Sure, all 3-Season tents nowadays are all mesh and offer great ventilation, but unless you slap on the rainfly, you don't have any privacy. Some would argue they don't need any out in the backcountry but I do equal amounts of camping at campgrounds as well as in the backcountry and really enjoy some privacy when needed. The Arete ASL 2 allows me to skip the rainfly when it's nice enough and still get some privacy.

Although I've only used it once so far, I love this tent. I just used it this past weekend in 50 degree temps with gusty conditions and sporadic downpours and it worked great. I love how the rainfly has zippered vents that can be opened (with mesh windows) or be fully closed (with fabric windows). One caveat: I did awake with a few teaspoons of moisture on my bag but I had the fly and tent vents both open and it was to be expected with driving rain and gusts approaching 40 mph. Ventilation might be a problem in high temps at night but there are no perfect tents for every type of climate. A few small complaints: only 8 tent stakes are provided (though a total of 11 are needed for tent/fly combo including guylines); stuff sack provided is not a compression sack.

To wrap it up: the Arete ASL 2 gets high marks from me. A sturdy, easy to set-up, roomy, private tent that's realatively lightweight and offered at a good price. Another great product from REI.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

Since I hike and camp all year round, I needed a tent that was light and yet hefty enough to withstand heavy snows, wind and rain. In January I used it on a two day trip into the Eagles Nest Wilderness, and although it did not snow, it offered great ventilation and insulation through nights that reached lows as low as -18.
But on a recent trip into Lost Creek it endured a freakish May snowstorm that dropped 10-12 inches of heavy, wet snow. It snowed so much and so fast I was initially worried it would collapse the tent -the tent held up under it all magnificently. The only qualm I might have is the perspiration on the inside. It was not enough, however, to make me uncomfortable or to reduce the effectiveness of my down bag.

It is easy to get in and out of with one person and their gear, and is on the tight side with two people. The vestibule is easy to set up but offers minimal space for gear in a rain/snowstorm. So, if traveling solo, this tend offers shelter for you and gear in all situations; if traveling as a pair, it will be tight but not unbearable.

All in all, this tent is REI's best.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

This tent is easy to set up. I'm not the most handy girl and I can do it easily on my own. I'm a 5'3 girl, so for me, 2 people can fit in it comfortably but i can imagine it being uncomfortable for 2 guys. I like the extra space near the door, I can keep my backpack inside. I like that it's 4 season even tho I haven't maximized all of it's uses yet. It definitely can handle wind and rain.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

Being able to use the fast pitch option came in handy, and is a great feature. It started to rain when i arrived at my campsite and being able to pitch the tent with the fly on was a great feature, and kept the tent completely protected from the rain. This tent is easy to set up and goes up quick. After reviewing the directions and setting it up once, setting up at camp was just as easy. The tent performed excellent. Winds were only 15-20 miles and hour at times, but the rain was torrential. I stayed completely dry, and the ventilation was fine. Temps were only in the 50-60 degree range, so i had no condensation issues. Had the rainfly completely closed, and the panel on the door zipped open as well as the ceiling vents and stayed completely dry and comfortable. My gear remained dry under the vestibule which had plenty of room. Had plenty of room to stretch out and sleep without touching either end of the tent, or the sides. This tent exceeded my expectations.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

I use the Arete ASL 2 for one person, usually, on solo treks into the Alaska backcountry. I'm tall and like lots of room inside, so a 2-man tent works well for me. This is a small-ish 2-man, but is not too heavy and is nice & roomy for one. It's very sturdy - it easily managed my worst night so far of 40-50 mph sideways rain on an exposed mountainside. The roof ventilation seems minimal, but I've yet to experience any actual problems, so I'd have to say it's adequate. It's also pretty warm. I have the original Half-Dome, too, which is better for two people when more room & ventilation are needed and it's not too cold out.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

Well designed, great in wind, easily tied down at many points, haven't had much cause to use it in the rain, but it's been perfectly waterproof for damp and misty conditions. Yes, there's condensation - IF you zip it up all the way, and IF you have the rainfly on, and IF it's really cold outside... But not crazy amounts, and it dries off like any other tent in the morning, if you flip the rainfly over.

See, here's the deal - I'm in Wyoming's Wind River Range. 10,000 feet. Mid-September. Nights are down to 25 degrees. I was perfectly warm (and I'm not keen on being cold), with my 20 degree bag, my long underwear, and my Arete. A little condensation's fine.

Also - LOTS of room, and a very well designed tent. little loops and pockets that I kept discovering and which made perfect sense and convenience.

I really like this tent. REALLY.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

Me and my partner used this tent on a trip along the appalachian trail around Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The trip was in the middle of Janurary. I got to tell you a tent this light and such simple structure concerned me at first due to the fact we would be trekking in a couple feet of snow and dealing with high winds and low tempatures. This tent took the two of us about five minutes to set up, and held up to the elements outstandingly. For those who don't like to be cramped up with two people, this tent may not be for you since two are a little snug. Doesn't bother me or my partner though, and this tent has outperformed any tent ive ever used. Which includes tents double the price. This tent is an absolute steal.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

My 9-year old son and I use this tent for multi-day backpacking trips.

The best feature is the ability pull up the stakes, pull out the poles, and roll up the rainfly, tent and footprint all together. When travelling, this makes set-up incredibly easy the next night. Even though we camped in dirt and wetness, the tent and fly stay very clean when you fold/roll up the entire package in the footprint.

Downsides... 1) No room to store your gear if 2 people are sleeping. 2) As a previous reviewer indicated, it would be nice (for two reasons) if the footprint extended out into the vestibule. First, you have to crawl out of the tent to unzip the rainfly door since it extends so far out. Second, the vestibule is your only storage space. In both instances, the extended footprint would help to keep you and your gear cleaner.

Recommendations... 1) The picture of the sleeping pad placement is backwards. Works best with your heads by the door. The pockets are more convenient that way too. 2) The picture shows the guylines used on the corners. Works best if you use them on the rainfly tabs on the end and sides to keep the rainfly stretched away from the tent. Otherwise, condensations collects between the fly and the tent.

I purchased this tent on sale. One of my all-time best purchases from REI. I highly recommend this tent for multi-day trips.

Comments about REI Arete ASL 2 Tent:

I am embarking on an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries in July. I needed a tent that could survive any weather conditions. I read the reviews and decided to give it a go. So far everything about the tent is spot on accurate.

I tested it in my backyard for a few nights and I didn't have a single problem with the tent. Weather was pretty warm, in the 80's at least, but I stayed nice and ventilated with the fly off. I will tell you this. The first night I had the fly on I had to sleep in next to nothing to stay comfortable. I had the top vents screen open and the door screen open but left the vestible door closed. Maybe if I left the vestible door open it may have ventilated more but that defeats the purpose of the fly.

So yes this tent is the bomb. I can't wait to test it at training camp next Saturday. Hope it works as well as expected. I'll try to give an update after my 10 day training camp in the tent.