How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus Tent - 2020
This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
With new architecture that adds floor space and more head and shoulder room, the 2020 REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus tent gives you plenty of room to stretch out—or even bring your favorite camp dog.
Shop newer version- Hubbed, color-coded pole assembly simplifies setup
- Mesh panels in upper portion of tent improve ventilation and views; ripstop panels in lower portion provide privacy, reduce drafts and exposure to blowing dust or dirt
- Fly design allows sides and ends to be rolled up to maximize views and airflow; everything also rolls down quickly if a storm blows in
- Fly has 4 ceiling vents that provide airflow to prevent condensation buildup
- REI Exclusive tension-truss architecture creates stable vertical sidewalls for generous space and plenty of headroom
- 2 large doors and 2 vestibules offer easy access and additional covered storage
- When zipped open, doors stash out of the way in pockets just inside the door opening
- Pockets and hang loops help organize the interior
- Includes guylines with tighteners, pole-repair tube, pole bag, 8 stakes and stake bag
- Made with solution-dyed mesh to reduce water and energy use in manufacturing
- REI Half Dome 3 Plus footprint sold separately
- Uses 2020 Half Dome tent design
- REI Co-op brand is certified to The Climate Label; we actively fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions across our business and support climate projects around the world
Imported.
View the REI Co-op Half Dome Product LineView all REI Co-op Backpacking Tents| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 3-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 5 lbs. 14 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | Not applicable |
| Packaged Weight | 6 lbs. 6 oz. |
| Packed Size | 7 x 23 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 92 x 80 inches |
| Floor Area | 50.1 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 22.5 square feet |
| Peak Height | 46 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 1 hubbed poleset |
| Pole Material | DAC Pressfit aluminum |
| Canopy Fabric | 40-denier ripstop nylon/20-denier nylon mesh |
| Floor Fabric | 70-denier taffeta nylon |
| Rainfly Fabric | 40-denier nylon |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Design Type | Freestanding |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
All around good buy
ConundrumJubilee20156 years ago
Tent weight: 4/5 - Definitely on the heavier side, can replace the stakes with lighter ones
Tent capacity: 5/5 - So much room for activities. We fit one retriever, one large man and one average sized woman comfortably in this tent with space enough for two backpacks and still more room. Enough headspace for all you giraffes out there to sit like a yogi cross cross apple sauce.
Set up: 5/5 - Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Set up in the living room in 4 minutes while fiancé was in the shower. Purchased as a birthday gift. Surprise!
Ventilation: 5/5 - Pretty dang good. If you open all four vents and the vestibule it will look like a giant angry frog. This frog breathes well.
Weather proofness: 5/5 - Sometimes 10% rain actually means 100% rain with wind gusts of 20 mph. In these cases of normal weather conditions you will stay nice and dry in this giant angry face frog tent. The storm passed right over us and even though it wrecked havoc outside the tent didn’t even waiver.
Color: Pick the green one, or else it probably won’t look like a frog and you won’t be able to pretend to get swallowed by it when you crawl inside. Don’t miss out on this moment.
Cons:
Weight. But it’s sooo spacious, you won’t even notice it weighs half a pound more than it should.
Bulkiness. With the fly, tent, footprint (not included) all in the stuff sack you’ll feel like you’re back in fifth grade carrying home your 3 text books, your sweatshirt, your lunchbox, trapper keeper, dual colored crayon box, and stack of Lisa Frank sticker books all over again. Ok, it’s not that bad. But this thing will take up most of your pack. Recommend splitting the weight.
Poles: One pole set makes set up a breeze. One pole set also means you can’t split the weight between two packs. If you’re carrying this just for yourself then maybe you’re also training to be a Sherpa.
Tent stakes: Only 8 included. Need 10 to properly stake. Recommend ditching the ones that come with the tent and replacing with a lighter set with the appropriate number.
Overall: If you’re seeking comfort and space BUY THIS TENT. If you’re seeking something lightweight consider another option. Like my dog.
ConundrumJubilee2015
Nashville, TN
163 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Not the quality expected
EmmaBB4 years ago
My partner and I had the Half Dome 2 for almost ten years. This was the quality I expected, but instead after one season of relatively light use (~5 camping trips) the tent seams are coming apart, there’s already a hole near the screen, and the zipper seams are fraying. The stuff sack is so frayed and ripped it’s not even worth using anymore - we’re reusing the old HD2 sack. So very disappointing - what happened to REI’s quality?
EmmaBB
15 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Bambells
North GA
The tent you need in the rain
5 years ago
This tent has been nothing short of perfect. I’ve used on a few backpacking trips with my son or both sons and it’s been great. But this past weekend I did a backpacking trip with my oldest son and it poured non stop from 10am through 3am or so. This tent held up like a champ. Not a single drop of water inside. In those conditions good gear will make or break you. I couldn’t possibly be happier with this tent. I can’t recommend it enough. Sure it’s not the lightest tent out there. But when you split the poles and the tent between two people it’s very manageable. I also find the several gear pockets throughout it invaluable. I love this tent.
Yes , I recommend this product
Curtis
Hillsdale, NY
Great tent!
6 years ago
I hadn't set up a tent in years but this went up in minutes. It's roomy, it's got great pockets, great ventilation, and the blue color is really lovely. I put a queen air mattress in it with extra space for gear, even a little table and laptop for a movie in my own woods at home, and am now confidently taking it solo cross-country to Arches, Bryce, Joshua, Mojave, Yellowstone, Glacier and I can't wait! It's so easy to set up. Great tent! It was recommended to me by another REI member who knows more about tents than I do, and after struggling with other tents recently I know this one will be a dream on the road. For two people it's a palace.
Yes , I recommend this product
agostisha
Appleton, WI
When Available?
4 years ago
We OWNED this tent. Other then a little on the heavy side for backpacking, we absolutely love it! It fit our need in every way, but wish it was just a pound or two littler. The set up was a breeze. My husband and I took it on our backpacking trip to Maroon Bells. There was plenty of room inside for us and our equipment. Can't say enough about the pockets and the storage compartments all over inside the tent. We gave this tent to our daughter and planned on buying another one but they are no longer available. I wanted to cry! Please bring it back or get the one you are replacing available on the shelves soon please!
Age:45–54
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'2"
Yes , I recommend this product
kathryn_face
Creede, CO
First Tent!
6 years ago
I don't know much in the ways of what makes a good tent as this is the first one I've ever bought and used, but I thought this was an excellent tent. I remember on some college course we went camping to orient ourselves as new Freshman and I just stood aside as people put up their tents because I had no idea what to do. No such problem with this. It's incredibly straight forward and easy to set up. Moreover, it's very roomy with enough head space as well. There were tons of pockets inside as well which made is so much easier to access my phone (surprised there was service up there in Hanson's Mill), my flashlight, and some bear mace if I needed it. We didn't. There were a few cows sniffing (and doing another thing that starts with "s") around our tent throughout the night though. I haven't used this in the rain or snow but I'm hoping to get the chance in the future and see how this fares against bad weather! I kind of wanted the tent in Blue Heaven but the Green Spirulina is an absolutely gorgeous color as well if you're worried about the aesthetic. I'm sure you don't but hey, we've all got our color preferences. I think having this tent in addition to a few other REI gear really encouraged me to go camping more and I'm excited to use this more often!
Yes , I recommend this product
EljerSloan
Upstate NY
Disappointing with this tent.
4 years ago
I purchased my REI Half Dome 3 Plus in August 2019 after extensive research and reading the glowing reviews. I wish my experience was similar to the reviews I read. I used it 4 times since I purchased it. On Labor Day Weekend my family camped and an unexpected moderate wind storm occurred overnight. My Kelty Sequoia 6, REI Trail Hut 2 were completely fine. My Half Dome 3 Plus's poles bent and caused the rainfly to rip. The tent was staked down properly and the stakes held, however the material failed. I called REI and they told me to take it to a store for a repair or replacement, however the store did not do that and I wasted a 2 hour trip.
Age:35–44
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'4"
No, I do not recommend this product
Evas
Madison, WI
Outstanding tent!
6 years ago
We love this tent! Really smart engineering and very good-looking in blue. Easy set-up, luxuriously roomy, great tent and pocket construction construction, solid-feeling fabric. Many smart pockets both low and high. Well-ventilated. Poles emanate from a central point to create an easy, efficient, solid system. We camped in dry weather so can't comment on rain/wind durability but I'm confident this tent will be wonderful in those conditions. We purchased the matching footprint-- great fit and good fabric. My photo doesn't show top vents open--we always opened them. Easy to use. Very nice feature. Reasons for not giving five stars: 1) REI sends eight stakes. You need ten.. the directions even say so. 2) A loop to hold back short end of unzipped fly would be appreciated. It drags on ground if left unzipped. The long side has a loop.
Yes , I recommend this product
Kelso_0
Great product!
6 years ago
For a new camper this tent was worth every penny! Light weight and easy to assemble!
Yes , I recommend this product
Howard
SF Bay Area
Luxury tent for one or two!
7 years ago
With two knee replacements,I no longer backpack . We still car camp and having a smaller tent for one or two people for short trips makes sense to us. We have a Kingdom 6 for longer trips. This tent has plenty of room for our Thermorest cots and REI airbeds. Plenty of wide and headroom. The doors on either side make access very easy and the vestibules add a lot of space. I recently camped at 3000 feet under windy conditions. Didn't need extra guylines, but the tent was pretty aerodynamic with the vestibules staked out and closed. Not much wind noise.
Yes , I recommend this product
ConundrumJubilee2015
Nashville, TN
All around good buy
6 years ago
Tent weight: 4/5 - Definitely on the heavier side, can replace the stakes with lighter ones Tent capacity: 5/5 - So much room for activities. We fit one retriever, one large man and one average sized woman comfortably in this tent with space enough for two backpacks and still more room. Enough headspace for all you giraffes out there to sit like a yogi cross cross apple sauce. Set up: 5/5 - Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Set up in the living room in 4 minutes while fiancé was in the shower. Purchased as a birthday gift. Surprise! Ventilation: 5/5 - Pretty dang good. If you open all four vents and the vestibule it will look like a giant angry frog. This frog breathes well. Weather proofness: 5/5 - Sometimes 10% rain actually means 100% rain with wind gusts of 20 mph. In these cases of normal weather conditions you will stay nice and dry in this giant angry face frog tent. The storm passed right over us and even though it wrecked havoc outside the tent didn’t even waiver. Color: Pick the green one, or else it probably won’t look like a frog and you won’t be able to pretend to get swallowed by it when you crawl inside. Don’t miss out on this moment. Cons: Weight. But it’s sooo spacious, you won’t even notice it weighs half a pound more than it should. Bulkiness. With the fly, tent, footprint (not included) all in the stuff sack you’ll feel like you’re back in fifth grade carrying home your 3 text books, your sweatshirt, your lunchbox, trapper keeper, dual colored crayon box, and stack of Lisa Frank sticker books all over again. Ok, it’s not that bad. But this thing will take up most of your pack. Recommend splitting the weight. Poles: One pole set makes set up a breeze. One pole set also means you can’t split the weight between two packs. If you’re carrying this just for yourself then maybe you’re also training to be a Sherpa. Tent stakes: Only 8 included. Need 10 to properly stake. Recommend ditching the ones that come with the tent and replacing with a lighter set with the appropriate number. Overall: If you’re seeking comfort and space BUY THIS TENT. If you’re seeking something lightweight consider another option. Like my dog.
Yes , I recommend this product
EmmaBB
Not the quality expected
4 years ago
My partner and I had the Half Dome 2 for almost ten years. This was the quality I expected, but instead after one season of relatively light use (~5 camping trips) the tent seams are coming apart, there’s already a hole near the screen, and the zipper seams are fraying. The stuff sack is so frayed and ripped it’s not even worth using anymore - we’re reusing the old HD2 sack. So very disappointing - what happened to REI’s quality?
No, I do not recommend this product
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