How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
Sea to Summit Telos TR3 Tent
$524.00
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With room for 3 (or 2 plus the dog), the Sea to Summit Telos TR3 tent is spacious and lightweight, and it can transform into into a semi-open communal shelter with the help of your trekking poles.
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- Unique Tension Ridge™ architecture with an inverted brow pole allows for extensive interior living space, increased ventilation and higher doors
- The oversize Apex Vent™—positioned at the highest point of the tent—efficiently expels warm air to prevent condensation and can be zipped closed from inside the tent
- Adjustable vents at the base of the tent allow you to control airflow and effectively manage humidity and condensation in wet conditions without letting the rain in
- In wet conditions, set up the rainfly first to keep the inner tent and your gear dry; do the reverse when packing up
- Rainfly can be rolled up to the Tension Ridge for stargazing, then deployed quickly and secured from inside the tent when needed
- Get out of the rain or sun with Hangout Mode™: Use 2 standard trekking poles or the Hangout Mode Pole Set (both not included) and convert the rainfly into a semi-open shelter
- The Lightbar™ pole storage sack can be mounted at the tent peak; slide in a headlamp or 2 and its semi-rigid, translucent material delivers soft illumination to the whole tent
- High tent doors allow for easy entry and exit, and better views of the outside when you're within
- Machined aluminum clips—more durable than plastic—attach the pole to the inner foot with ease
- 8 Ground Control Light tent stakes, made from 7075-T6 hardened aluminum, have a multi-notch design that helps you to attach the tent close to the ground, even in hard terrain
- Adjustable peg-out points at each corner and on the doors give you flexibility with where you place your stakes
- 6 Ground Control guylines can be attached or removed as needed with quick-connect V-toggles; easily control their length with integrated adjusters
- The 3-piece, modular FairShare storage sack system allows you to easily split the load with a friend; after setup, the stuff sacks transform into gear storage pockets
- The combination of DAC Featherlite NSL and Pressfit pole segments with varying diameters maximizes strength while minimizing weight
- Optional accessories (not included): gear loft for additional storage; 2 footprint options; Hangout Mode Pole Set
Imported.
View all Sea to Summit Backpacking Tents| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 3-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 4 lbs. 3.8 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 3 lbs. 5.9 oz. |
| Packaged Weight | 4 lbs. 10.7 oz. |
| Packed Size | 19.3 x 6 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 90.5 x 71/58 (L x W head/foot) inches |
| Floor Area | 40 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 21.5 square feet |
| Peak Height | 52.5 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 1 |
| Pole Material | Aluminum DAC TH72M |
| Pole Diameter | 9.6/9.5 millimeters |
| Canopy Fabric | 15-denier polyester mesh |
| Floor Fabric | 20-denier ripstop nylon |
| Rainfly Fabric | 15-denier ripstop nylon |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Design Type | Freestanding |
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Awesome
logan1233 years ago
Great tent. It's pretty light, very easy to set up.
Took it to Sierra NF on a backpacking trip, shared with my dad. We're both 6'2+ and about 230#. Plenty of room inside for both of us to sleep with room for headlights and other odds and ends you'd keep in a tent. We were able to sit up just fine and maneuver around easily.
Two mirrored side doors allow for easy access into the tent. The bathtub comes up pretty high, which is nice. The material is very thin and light. We had the top vent open, but the tent was soaked by morning. My guess is that the lowish ambient temp did that - and we didn't open the tops of the doors to help with ventilation (double zipper rainfly - if you move the shuttles to the top you can create a vent).
The poles are color coded with the aluminum tabs they slide into - pay attention! The gray and blue aren't super different, so I set it up goofy a couple times. The way the rainfly attaches is with aluminum "claws" that you slide over sideways, then straighten out to grab the stake pockets. It is by far the coolest setup I've seen on a tent, and I have used a bunch of them.
It was easy to fit into my 50L pack. I didn't use the stuff sack except for the tent body (don't want any chance of something snagging the mesh). Rainfly compresses enough that you can stuff it almost anywhere in a pack.
I felt like I must've been crazy to try a tent that cost this much, but after using it, and comparing it to the other ones I used backpacking, it's worth it. Everyone at camp thought it was the bees knees.
logan123
clovis
20 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Awesome Concept But Bug Mesh Too Thin
Jonathan5133 years ago
Really awesome innovative features and was really impressed in the beginning. Setup takes a little getting used to as expected but gets better with a little bit of practice.
I owned this tent for about 2 months. I encountered a fairly serious design flaw which caused me to return it. There are metal buckles in all four corners of the tent body and if the bug mesh touches them when stashed away it could rip the bug mesh. See pictures to better understand. That damage is from 2x setup in living room and 2x one night test trips. The bug mesh had over 10 holes in it. The fabric held up a lot better but still had a few holes. None of these areas touch the ground when the tent is setup and I did also use the footprint. Footprint held up fine. The tent was transported in the bags that came with it, not a compression sack.
Sea to summit is a really good company and they have really cool products which I own many of. This is their first tent and it seems like there are a few issues for me at least. If a second revision came out that was heavier but had stronger bug mesh and tent material I'd buy it again.
Jonathan513
Cincinnati, OH
28 people found this review helpful
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Jonathan513
Cincinnati, OH
Awesome Concept But Bug Mesh Too Thin
3 years ago
Really awesome innovative features and was really impressed in the beginning. Setup takes a little getting used to as expected but gets better with a little bit of practice. I owned this tent for about 2 months. I encountered a fairly serious design flaw which caused me to return it. There are metal buckles in all four corners of the tent body and if the bug mesh touches them when stashed away it could rip the bug mesh. See pictures to better understand. That damage is from 2x setup in living room and 2x one night test trips. The bug mesh had over 10 holes in it. The fabric held up a lot better but still had a few holes. None of these areas touch the ground when the tent is setup and I did also use the footprint. Footprint held up fine. The tent was transported in the bags that came with it, not a compression sack. Sea to summit is a really good company and they have really cool products which I own many of. This is their first tent and it seems like there are a few issues for me at least. If a second revision came out that was heavier but had stronger bug mesh and tent material I'd buy it again.
Age:35–44
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:6'0"
No, I do not recommend this product
Brad G.
BWCA Tested
5 days ago
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I recently used my Telos tent for a 4 night stay in the Boundary Waters Wilderness area of northern Minnesota. The Telos performed great and I’m really glad I made the decision to acquire it. Pitching the tent was very easy and quick (I practiced a few times at home). The color coding makes the process very intuitive and simple. I utilized a Bigfoot XL ground cloth which integrates easily and effectively. The Telos is lighter and roomier than the previous tents I’ve taken on this trip. My son accompanied me and at nearly 6’7”, the young giant still had plenty of headroom to sit up and space to move around when needed. I really appreciated the design of the rainfly and the various position it can be deployed. For the most part we kept the sides rolled up to maximize airflow and ventilation. But when weather threatened our area it was quick and easy to fully deploy the fly in a matter of minutes. I’d highly recommend this tent to anyone looking for a lightweight shelter for hiking or canoeing into your camping spot.
Originally posted on Sea to Summit
logan123
clovis
Awesome
3 years ago
Great tent. It's pretty light, very easy to set up. Took it to Sierra NF on a backpacking trip, shared with my dad. We're both 6'2+ and about 230#. Plenty of room inside for both of us to sleep with room for headlights and other odds and ends you'd keep in a tent. We were able to sit up just fine and maneuver around easily. Two mirrored side doors allow for easy access into the tent. The bathtub comes up pretty high, which is nice. The material is very thin and light. We had the top vent open, but the tent was soaked by morning. My guess is that the lowish ambient temp did that - and we didn't open the tops of the doors to help with ventilation (double zipper rainfly - if you move the shuttles to the top you can create a vent). The poles are color coded with the aluminum tabs they slide into - pay attention! The gray and blue aren't super different, so I set it up goofy a couple times. The way the rainfly attaches is with aluminum "claws" that you slide over sideways, then straighten out to grab the stake pockets. It is by far the coolest setup I've seen on a tent, and I have used a bunch of them. It was easy to fit into my 50L pack. I didn't use the stuff sack except for the tent body (don't want any chance of something snagging the mesh). Rainfly compresses enough that you can stuff it almost anywhere in a pack. I felt like I must've been crazy to try a tent that cost this much, but after using it, and comparing it to the other ones I used backpacking, it's worth it. Everyone at camp thought it was the bees knees.
Age:25–34
Weight:225–250 lbs.
Height:6'3"
Yes , I recommend this product
Vrooom
Portland, OR
Very creative design, but not perfect
2 years ago
This is an expensive tent and I really wanted it to be my forever one and only tent. I should start by saying I probably own about 10 tents, accumulated over 40 years, searching for that perfect tent. First the good. The tent is very light for a 3 person tent, close to what my one man tent weighs. The tension ridge design that lifts the edges by the door is genius. Head room is great, and you can kneel with your head just barely touching the roof. Ton of pockets inside for storing your stuff. The packaging is good and bad, it does allow you to split the tent up between 2 packs really easily, but is awkward when all packaged as one, and does not have room for the ground cloth, or really anything else, it's a tight fit. The two packs (fly and tent) come apart easily. Now for the bad: In heavy rain it leaks, for me it was coming in through the zipper that seals the vent in the ceiling (a nice feature when it's not wet). It does OK in light rain, but if it's absolutely pouring and windy, rain will drip on your head. It's the smallest 3 man tent I've ever seen, my girlfriend and my 30" sleeping pads barely fit side by side. 3 people would be miserable. A minor negative is that while the tent is color coded to easily setup, the ground cloth is not, and it's not a rectangle. For dry weather camping it's 5 stars, for wet it's 2.
Age:55–64
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'1"
No, I do not recommend this product
alex k.
The tent has lots of
2 years ago
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The tent has lots of thoughtful features that improve the experience compared to other tents, particularly the light bar and the gear bags that double as stuff sacks. Only been used once so I can't comment on long term usage, but so far I'm very happy with the purchase. The guy lines are also incredibly easy to use, although I'm curious how long they will last. What keeps it from five stars is the stakes aren't as durable as I would've liked (wife bent one the first time using), and the hangout mode setup is not practical for a single person in anything but dead still wind, a slight breeze makes this thing difficult.
Originally posted on Sea to Summit
Yuncong M.
Lightweight tent with a lot of luxury functionality
1 day ago
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] It is a light weight tent design with good ventilation for humid weather and avoid condensation. But the top ventilation can still allow some water in during heavy rains. Also the water does not bead up on the rain fly, so I have to hang it around to dry up.
Originally posted on Sea to Summit
Pete
California
Backpacking Palace
10 months ago
I've had this tent in the best and the worst of weather. Insane wind and downpours, and it hasn't failed or left me wet. So far I've logged 25 nights in the tent this season. The TR3 for 2 people is like a palace. The space and headroom you get for a 4 LB tent is amazing. Split up the rainfly with your hiking buddy and you're good on long adventures. After a few tries setup and tear down is easy, and I can do it single handed even in wind. For anyone complaining about durability, maybe they haven't been in other ultralight tents before? I have had 0 issues with pole, fabric. Ultralight tents are all thin, that's what makes them light. You can't toss them around like a car camping tent and not expect damage. Only thing I would and did change out is the tent pegs. Supplement with some MSR long groundhogs and you're ready for adventure.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
Steve
Portland, OR
Great tent for backpacking!
3 years ago
Holds myself, wife and dog just fine. Plenty of room in the vestibule for three packs and boots. Felt pretty light for a three person tent. I really liked how the stuff sacks transform into storage pockets and light bar. There is also some thoughtful touches for standing up the tent like color coded ends of the poles and nicely engineered pole holders. Ventilation is great and when the ventilation was closed we stayed warm in 32 F weather and suitable sleeping bags. The tent is very stable when assembled and properly staked down. Now for some minor gripes. The footprint doesn’t stow easily in the provided stuff sacks. It’s not evident where it fits into the provided storage system. I would have preferred the footprint came in a stuff sack that snapped together easily with the rest of the stuff sacks and poles. The storage system when completely assembled doesn’t fit in the bottom of my pack, so it’s kinda useless because I have to detach the pole sack anyways. This tent, like most, only comes with enough tent stakes to stabilize the tent and fly, but doesn’t have enough stakes to tie down every guyline and the sack that contains the stakes is hardly large enough to accommodate every stake and guyline, let alone 4-6 additional stakes. Only after one backpacking trip the stake stuff sack already has a tear from stuffing the stakes that have sharp corners, so I’ll have to buy another stuff sack anyways. The rain fly attaches easily to the tent on the four corners, but with the footprint requires an additional step of detaching the footprint, attaching the rain fly, then detaching the footprint. Overall I’m really impressed by the design and engineering of this tent and would recommend to others looking for an ultralight 3 person tent.
Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product
Ernie
Dallas, Tx.
Telos TR3 Backpacking Tent
3 years ago
I discovered the Telos TR3 during a deep online search for a new tent. As of my purchase date, August 2021, this tent is not widely advertised or available for immediate purchase / pickup at a brick and mortar store. I purchased the TR3 Tent and TR3 Lightfoot footprint online. I liked the specs and design features published by Sea to Summit but I could only find two product reviews at the time of my purchase: a lengthy and somewhat helpful video review; and a short and not very helpful written review. Notwithstanding this dearth of customer reviews, I took the plunge and ordered a TR3 from REI. Excellent decision to buy the TR3. Sea to Summit specs for the TR3 are accurate and the design / manufacture is excellent. Compact storage and light weight for backpacking. Very sturdy construction. Fast setup for one man or two. Vertical sides and high ceiling are much appreciated by me and my son’s six foot tall bodies. Three people “could” sleep in the TR3 but it would be very tight. Quite comfortable for two people. My first use of the tent was a 7 day outing in the Colo high country for backpacking and 14er climbing. Ventilation and warmth holding features are as advertised. We camped above 10kft every night. One day included 18 hours of continuous mild to heavy rain and wind; the tent and contents remained perfectly dry inside. We carefully staked and guyed the fly. One surprisingly nice feature: holdback ties and zipper grabs have a reflective stripe that nicely shows in the dark night and from a distance when illuminated directly or indirectly by red or dim white headlamps. It helped us find the tent during the moonless nights of our trip. Not sure how this reflective feature would work with moonlight since it was the week of a new moon for our trip. I never had need to attempt the rain set up process described in TR3 Owner’s manual. I was skeptical of this idea when reading the specs online, but I believe this is do-able, albeit with a bit of cautious crawling on the tent body. The fly vestibule seems large enough to accommodate a person setting up the tent from inside the fly. I offer one idea for design improvement: color coordinate the ground cloth corner tabs to match tent and fly corners. Tent, poles, and fly corners are color coded and assist with speedy set up. Great product! Your money will be well-spent buying this tent.
Age:55–64
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
FRANK B.
Great shelter at minimum weight and bulk
1 year ago
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This tent replaces a well-worn SD Clip Flashlight. The Telos is about the same weight, a bit less bulk but considerably roomier on the inside both floorspace and headroom-wise. Important consideration is that the Telos is free standing whereas the CF absolutely had to be staked out. Not a big deal on a forest floor or meadow but much of our useage is streamside, sand and gravel bars. As usual, Sea to Summit's design and engineering is thoughtful and innovative, down to simple things like color coding parts and the modular stuff sack. These guys make crazy good stuff!
Originally posted on Sea to Summit
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