How to Choose a Backpacking Tent

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The freestanding REI Quarter Dome T2 Plus tent uses lightweight materials and a unique pole design to create a 2-person, 3-season backpacking tent that's roomy, well ventilated and strong.
Shop newer version| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 2-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 4 lbs. 7 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 3 lbs. 7 oz. |
| Packaged Weight | 5 lbs. 1 oz. |
| Packed Size | 7.5 x 20 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 94 x 54 inches |
| Floor Area | 35.2 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 7.5 + 7.5 square feet |
| Peak Height | 41 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 1 hubbed pole assembly |
| Pole Material | Aluminum DAC Featherlite NSL |
| Pole Diameter | 8.5 / 9 millimeters |
| Canopy Fabric | Ripstop nylon/no-see-um mesh |
| Floor Fabric | Coated ripstop nylon |
| Rainfly Fabric | Coated ripstop nylon |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.


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First Use; I set the tent up and went into Key West for a bit and on the way back a big storm with driving rain and 30 to 40 mile an hour wind gusts kicked up. We were camping at the end of a small campgrond peninsula and I wondered in what condition I would find the tent. WOW! I found it totally secure and dry as a bone. The wind and rain continued through the night and I continued to stay dry. The second night again pouring rain and I stayed dry. The vestubules were great for our stuff and fold bikes leaving so much room inside the tent. I like the fly, it doesn't lay on the ground when unzipped. This tent is great and I would recommend it to anyone!
I bought this tent because my sister and I out grew my old Mountain Hardwear one. We both loved the space this one provided! It's still small enough to pack in a bulk head of a sea kayak and light enough to take on a backpacking trip. I've slept dry and comfortable on windy shores and in rainy woods. I'm really happy with this tent and can't wait for spring break to come so I can camp in it again! It has become my home away from home. :)
I used this tent this weekend and was really impressed. The tent is made very well with quality materials that are light and don't add bulk. Setting up the tent isn't very intuitive so i'm glad I set it up at home first instead of waiting until I was in the backcountry. I really liked the storage on the inside of the tent. There are several mesh pockets to store items in the corners of the tent, as on the ceiling. The space inside the tent is reasonable. It's a backpacking tent and you should expect to be a little closer to the person next to you inside this tent. Plenty of legroom and head room inside. The fly worked really well during the trip. We had gusts around 15 mph and you didn't notice any of it.
Can't say enough good things about this tent! It is light, packs easy, sets up easy, is sturdy and has great features. My favorite feature is doors on both sides of the tent. I bought the larger "plus" version so I had room to put my pack and dog at that bottom of the tent. I have used this tent for almost a year and a half and have had no issues. I bought it for a month long roadtrip to California but over the past year, I have been using it more for multi day and night backpacking trips.
Bought this tent for 2-person backpacking trips and it has performed flawlessly so far. The design is perfect for backpacking as two people fit easily in the rectangular tent area and the gear is protected under the vestibule as the rain fly extends out beyond the tent on each side. We were able to enter and exit the tent easily and tested it in moderate rainfall with no water penetration and no condensation buildup inside. Since the tent body is mesh, it is very easy to regulate temperature by opening or closing the rainfly openings on each side. Well-place interior pockets kept our essentials organized and easy to find. I would highly recommend this tent for 2-person backpacking.
I read tons of reviews for multiple different tents and this one seemed to stand out. I've had it for a couple years now and have used it a few times and love it. The setup is easy as everything is color coded, if the colors don't match up ... you're doing it wrong. I bought the foot print for it as well which is also color coded. Setup is quick but like someone had commented, the instructions aren't really that good but if you've ever put a tent up before, you should be fine without them. There is plenty of room inside for one person and gear or two people with the gear under the two vestibules. The vestibules fit a good amount of gear under them and keeps it dry. The entry way is wide on the tent but the combination of the fly makes it a bit more confined when trying to get out of the tent but it's far from a deal breaker. It packs down nice and fits in my bag without a problem. I would definitely recommend it.
This tent has worked great for the past 4 or 5 years in the back country. I have used it primarily to sleep one on backpacking trips and have never had a problem. I can set it up a 10-15 minutes by myself. Best tent i have owned as it balances being lightweight with also enough room to sit up in.
I've had this for almost a year now. I like the amount of room inside for the weight and price. There's plenty of room to sit up, and change, and to have two people without the side of the tent sagging on you. I also like the pocket space and the pockets to hold the unzipped doors. I've only been in one downpour and it stayed perfectly dry inside. I question if the fly will at some point allow water in since the way it's designed leaves more slack in places where water won't shed as smoothly. I hope it stands the test of time. The only other issue I have is that the bag it comes in isn't really long enough for the poles to fit in properly. Overall, I'm happy with it.
my first backpacking tent of this caliber. I live in florida and I am 6 foot tall so the extra length and supersized use of no-seeum mesh was a driving factor. what arrived at my door blew me away. Roomy as all get out easy to set up fast to take down. soooo light. i would dfinantly buy this tent a second time
I love this tent I am 6'4" and my girlfriend and I both use this tent on our backpacking adventures. At night both our bedrolls fit comfortably we put our packs outside under the fly on one side and use the door on the other just our preferance but everything is covered. It's one of the lighter tent's in the size range we found and set up is a breeze REI is an outstanding company as far as standing behind there products