REI Cirque ASL 3 Tent - 2012 Special Buy

Comments about REI Cirque ASL 3 Tent - 2012 Special Buy:

This is definitely NOT a 4 season tent because the materials used to make the tent is by no means strong or robust.

I like the tent for space, head room, weight, vestibule space (warning-not wind tight!!) and unique design.

BUT....

I don't like the fact that the plastic clips bend EASILY, the material is EXTREMELY thin, the zips are TINY and I am very doubtful that they will last any amount of time (if you get the tent material stuck in the zip it is sure to tear the tent and break the zip).

You need to tie something extra on to the lower loops on either end of the bottom of the tent (this being very important) more so than actually using the guy lines (which seem to be placed in very strange positions on the tent),

This tent is NOT easy to set up alone as the bending force needing to be applied to the pole and tent fabric is very great and I was worried that it would actually tear before I even got it up.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE practie putting this tent up first at home, once mastered its pretty simple.

The hole to star gaze through in the fly sheet is NOT very big, its port-hole sized and absolutely nothing like the inner zippered ceiling section.

Comments about REI Cirque ASL 3 Tent - 2012 Special Buy:

It isnt what I would qualify as a 3 person tent but I would call it a comfortable 2 person.
Tent was pretty easy to set up even in fairly breezy conditions.I didnt care for the stakes that came with it. They are easy enough to set, but pulling them up was a little tough as there is not an easy way to get a grip on them. I ended up using a small piece or paracord looped to pull them out. Taking the tent down in breezy conditions was a little bt of a challenge. Leave the doors partially inzipped to let it deflate and not become a balloon.
The fly is well thought out with velcro securing points that attach it to the top of the tent in 6 places. It was pretty easy to setup and take off in the breezy conditions.
Overall I am very satisfied with the tent.

Comments about REI Cirque ASL 3 Tent - 2012 Special Buy:

I set this up in my living room, then set it outside on the deck where it endured several days of torrential rain with no leakage. I then took it down with the fly attached, so I can set it up in a rainstorm without separating the two parts. I like its four-season capability with a three-season weight and volume, for use while kayak touring (for the days I'm stuck inside.) Will report again after I use it FOR REAL!

Comments about REI Cirque ASL 3 Tent - 2012 Special Buy:

Definitely agree with previous reviewer on many points. This is a fairly easy set up, a sharp looking tent, comfortable for two (cramped for three), and also a cool/cold weather tent.

We are fresh off of our first backpacking adventure with the tent. We were in hot weather, and with the rainfly up, even with windows and ceiling opened, the tent was very hot during the day. I would imagine most ASL tents would be. Not sure that the upper ceiling mesh window actually increases ventilation with the rainfly on because the rainfly is quite taught over that area.

The reason this tent is so hot? This tent can tie down tight for wind and rain, and it can close up for cold weather very nicely!

We did not have wind or much rain, so I can't attest to it being windproof/rainproof for certain, but from the feel of this tent, it is strong in the elements.

Interior layout is generous for two bags and some gear. Vestibules are a great size for large packs and small amenities. Relatively easy set up, but definitely practice before going out! Generous height inside, and a beautiful view out of the top of the mesh ceiling when open.

Wall/floor materials are light weight . . . hence All Season Light. I would recommend being careful with it and keep it away from snags/thorns/rocks/sticks.

Weight is absolutely tolerable for an ASL tent. At just under 7 pounds, this packs comfortably lashed under my backpack. I could give the poles to my wife for a couple of pound savings, but didn't need to.

We are parking this tent for the hot season and bringing it out for late fall, winter, and early spring backpacking. We will not use it in hot weather again unless there is risk of serious storms. We just purchased a cheap, mostly mesh tent to backpack in hot weather.

All over performed well. We felt safe and secure inside.

Comments about REI Cirque ASL 3 Tent - 2012 Special Buy:

Use: This is the tent you want to use in early spring and late fall since it has covers that go over the mesh in the doors and the top vent on the tent. The rest of the tent has no mesh so you can make the tent wind tight. I'm sure individuals will want to use it in winter, but it's a light construction not a heavy tough mountaineering tent. It would also be good in windy sandy situations such as a beach or cold rainy windy days. Please note, I set it up on a 85 F degree day with a 5-10 mph wind. With the windows close, it gets quite hot.

Construction: This is an A-frame like tent with two long main poles that overlap, but that start and end on the same side. They go into the sleeve opposite their side. A third short ridge pole goes into a small round sleeve in the rain fly that is 90 degrees to the main sleeves and attaches to grommets on it. This is where the roof vents are and they are above and part of the doors which are on the side of the tent. The main sleeves are vented so air can go from the window vent at the top of the tent and out the door vents on the rain fly. There are Velcro attachments on the rain fly at the middle and ends of main sleeves The plastic clips at the ends of the tent make the ends go near vertical. Each end has a large mesh pocket that goes all the way across from side to side. The plastic is thin and I definitely suggest a foot print or ground cloth. The tent floor is trapezoid in shape with the front end being larger. Only six triangle stakes are provided which is the bare minimum. I replaced them with 12 MSR 7.5 inch ground hogs and used reflective cord.

Looks: REI didn't provide a picture of the rain fly on the tent so I'll describe it in detail. The doors are on the side and are colored a light green with orange accents on the peaks where the zippers are. The main portion of the rain fly is a white green-grayish translucent rip stop. The top is also light green with one round clear window approximately 11 inches on the foot end of the tent. Its view is of the sky and is closed off if the top vent cover is closed. The tent itself is white rip stop with a dark brown bottom.

Setup: I set up the tent twice, first on a 55 F day with 10-20 mph gusts, threatening rain and not reading the instructions; not recommended. Second time it was 85F sunny with only a light breeze, and this time I looked at the instructions. I strongly recommend you set this tent up at home before camping the first time. Warnings: it is very easy to attach the main poles to the wrong grommets. The main poles are the same size, are solid orange at both ends, the ends are identical and they do cross past the sleeves. In the sleeves they look like they are way too long. Most important they start and end on the same side of the tent, they don't go to opposite corners. You use the sleeve on the opposite side of tent. Do not attach the plastic clips to the poles until you get the poles in the correct grommets. You possibly could rip the tent otherwise. If you bought a footprint, attach it after you have the main poles on the tent but before you attach the rain fly. In attaching the rain fly make sure all four grommet ends are fully out to their maximum length. Otherwise, it's impossible to get them into all the grommets; and it doesn't have to be one you're working on to cause trouble. The tent, the footprint, and the rain fly are color coded with black and orange grommet ends, black to black, orange to orange in all cases.

Impressions: It's a nice looking tent. With the front end pointed into the wind, the doors are at the leeward side and hence keep out the wind. There is plenty of room for two even if they are tall, three would be a squeeze. The vestibules are large enough to hold a large backpack and boots each. Headroom is good and the top vent looks like it provides good ventilation. There are four internal attachment points to string either a light or possibly a 3rd party mesh storage unit.