How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Tent
This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
Lightweight and weather worthy, this sturdy 3-season tent offers many comfortable touches for 2 backpackers, along with an expressive twist—you can choose from 6 different fly colors.
Shop newer version- 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
- Curved zipper tracks on fly operate smoothly; fly's 4 ceiling vents provide airflow to prevent condensation buildup
- Hubbed pole assembly simplifies setup
- REI-exclusive tension-truss architecture creates stable vertical sidewalls and generous headroom while minimizing pole weight
- 2 doors and 2 vestibules offer easy access and additional covered storage
- Pockets and hang loops help organize the interior
- Includes guylines with tighteners, stakes and pole-repair tube, compression stuff sack, pole bag and stake bag
- Fly / footprint minimalist pitch option lets you leave the tent at home and use the fly, poles and footprint (sold separately) as a lightweight shelter
- REI Half Dome 2 Footprint is sold separately
- 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 all REI Co-op Backpacking Tents| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 2-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 4 lbs. 9 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 3 lbs. 4 oz. |
| Packaged Weight | 4 lbs. 15 oz. |
| Packed Size | 6 x 21 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 88 x 52 inches |
| Floor Area | 31.8 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 7.9 + 7.9 square feet |
| Peak Height | 40 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 3 |
| Pole Material | DAC aluminum |
| Pole Diameter | 8.7 millimeters |
| Canopy Fabric | 40-denier ripstop nylon/20-denier nylon mesh |
| Floor Fabric | 70-denier nylon taffeta |
| Rainfly Fabric | 40-denier nylon |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Design Type | Freestanding |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
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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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Most Helpful Favorable Review
164 people found this review helpful
9 years ago
Half Dome 2 - Water Tight
Camped at Lake Jocassee, Saturday July 16 we experienced a crazy thunderstorm. I had packed my gear in the Half Dome to get it out of the rain. The tent pad unfortunately did not drain at all. The tent sat in 2 - 4 inches of water. The bathtub floor did its job and everything stayed nice and dry.
VipperDan
Most Helpful Critical Review
69 people found this review helpful
10 years ago
Tent pole problem (echoed)
Let me first say that I absolutely love REI products. I am still running on a pair of REI hiking boots that they (regrettably) no longer make after 7 years of steady use. I bought my first backpacking tent, the REI Half-Dome 2 in 2007, and have used it hundreds of times in very different climates/environments from desert to mountain, thunderstorms and snow. It's an amazing tent. So after 8 years!!!!! it's still doing pretty well, but the wear and tear means there are a couple tiny holes and I have a bent pole, so I thought it was time to get a new Half-Dome. I didn't even really consider other tents, and I read the user reviews and dismissed the tent-pole problem that was mentioned in several others as user error.
I took my new Half-Dome to Red River Gorge and the first two nights went great. I like a lot of the design features of the tent; plenty of built in storage, headroom, and just like it's predecessor was very fast and easy to set up. The third night, we were still being very gentle with the tent, our new baby, home away from home. Similar to other reviews, however, the cross pole that fits into one of the 3-way hubs cracked where it enters the hub. This made it impossible to fit it in, and as a result there was no way to erect the tent. We were forced to use our tarp for a pup-tent in a pretty heavy rainstorm.
I am not sure if this is primarily a problem with the pole material or the pole setup design. With the old pole design (Simple X), a cracked pole such as this would not have prevented setup.
I will gladly go back to the Half-Dome if they redesign the poles to the simple two-pole X shape of the older versions of the Half-Dome. It breaks my heart a little bit to write a critical review of an REI product, but I wanted to give some weight to the pole claims of other reviews to prevent anyone from having the same problem.
No, I do not recommend this product
Heller
Denver, CO, United Statesgeoallen
Pasadena, CA, United States
Great while it lasted
8 years ago
I used this tent for six years about a dozen times in total (bought it in 2010). I loved everything about its design. However, this past year, I got it down from storage and all the waterproof surfaces (the base and rainfly) were extremely sticky. Did some research online and talked to REI and apparently, this is a common problem with a lot of modern tents. If this tent is stored damp or stored in high heat the waterproofing agent breaks down and the whole tent will be need to be replaced. Wish this would have known this before I stored it in my hot attic over the summer. Thought I was going to be using this tent for many more years.
Yes , I recommend this product
GMilner
Gulfport, MS
Keeps You Dry
10 years ago
My husband and I bought this tent for backpacking and we were not disappointed. We both have REI Camp beds and the inside of the tent was the perfect size to accommodate those plus a change of clothes, a book, flashlights, etc. Backpacks easily fit under the vestibules. We recently went backpacking in the Shining Rock Wilderness of Western North Carolina and it rained most of the trip, but we stayed DRY! The design allows for excellent ventilation and the fly is waterproof. The tent is super easy to set up and take down too-- Plus there's enough room to change clothes inside.
Yes , I recommend this product
Hilwith1L
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Very simple to set up and a wonderful tent!
9 years ago
I bought this tent as a birthday present to myself. I considered a 1P tent, but decided the 2P was more practical (if camping alone I would appreciate the extra space for gear and I would still have to option of camping with a friend. I recently drove from California to Louisiana and decided to skip a hotel, and booked a campsite instead. I was nervous because it had been a while since I had pitched any tent, and I had not yet set up my new one at all. But I needn't have worried! Setup was straightforward, took around 15-20 min and very manageable for one person. Everything I needed was included (footprint purchased separately), and though I will pick up a couple more stakes and guy lines for future use, the tent was very stable even in some breezy gusts. Breaking down was around 5 min and I was on the road again. I had even made a friend! I think he thought my tent was the mother of all beetles. :)
Yes , I recommend this product
Southern Wanderer
Memphis, TN
Excellent tent
9 years ago
I've used this tent for the last five years and have loved it each time. It is extremely easy to set up, even in the dark. I have camped in intense summer heat and bitter winter cold and have been fine (though you will want to make sure you have the proper sleeping bag for the type of weather you'll be in). I've had no problems with water leakage or anything like that. Like most other tents' recommended occupants guide, it is best to halve it. It really sleeps one person very well with gear. You can stuff two people in it, but it's pretty tight quarters. I am extremely happy with it and will gladly buy one again if I need another backpacking tent.
SoftKittyHiker
Medina, OH, United States
Broke in less than 10 uses
8 years ago
My husband and I always loved REI and even registered for our wedding there. We bought this tent to hike short sections of the Appalachian Trail twice a year. We set this tent up less than 10 times before it broke. We had just set up the tent while on the AT and the pole snapped out of the connector and frayed the end of the pole making it completely unusable. We attempted to exchange it at REI or to at least purchase low cost replacement poles, but it had been just over 2 years since we had purchased it. They told us to get replacement poles through an outside company which cost $99. Meanwhile this entire tent was on sale for $132.99! We had much better luck when my husband's pack's frame broke. (We returned it to Cabelas and they completely replaced it even after 2 years.)
No, I do not recommend this product
Don Key
San Jose, CA, United States
This tent made me look like I knew what I was doin
10 years ago
I just had my first backpacking trip with this tent and it performed beautifully. I'm 6' tall. My hiking partner and I ended up sharing the tent and it fit us both comfortably. The vents in the rain fly are a really nice touch and the extra space the rain fly creates gave us plenty of room to store our packs, boots, etc. just outside the doors but protected from the elements. The interior pockets were convenient and I was glad to have been able to stuff a sweater up there when things got chilly in the night. Setup and tear-down was a breeze, (Orange to orange & black to black). Get the optional footprint that REI sells for this tent. It fits perfectly.
Yes , I recommend this product
Kitten
Boulder, CO, United States
Survived a foot of rain in Hawaii!
7 years ago
We spent one night at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park last week. It rained all day and all night (a total of more than a foot of water). Well, this little tent survived, no water got inside and everything was dry. The tent was floating literally in the water, in fact my teva sandals that were outside floated away during the night. The tent floor felt like a water bed, but it did not leak! One thing to take into account though is the fly is a bit short and sometimes it touches the tent walls, the design is poor on that side, but the tent itself proved to be waterproof. I attached picture to show the magnitude of the flood.
Yes , I recommend this product
VipperDan
Half Dome 2 - Water Tight
9 years ago
Camped at Lake Jocassee, Saturday July 16 we experienced a crazy thunderstorm. I had packed my gear in the Half Dome to get it out of the rain. The tent pad unfortunately did not drain at all. The tent sat in 2 - 4 inches of water. The bathtub floor did its job and everything stayed nice and dry.
Rob
jacksonville, fl
easy to set up, great all around tent....
10 years ago
We have owned this tent for 5 years now, and its our go-to tent. It has held up well through the torrential rains, wind, cold and heat. Once you get used to the design, you can set it up in less than 3 minutes. A few notes: the fly vents vents could use a bit more fabric overlap during heavy rains, know this if you set it up for such...and make sure you stake the rain fly tabs, to keep the fly off the tent, (not just the vestibules). We have just upgraded to the larger half dome plus, to allow our 100 lb lab puppy more room in the tent. There are items I miss about the original though...
Max1290
NC
High quality tent, low price
10 years ago
I got this tent for a 2 month research trip to the Andes and Amazon of southern Peru and, needless to say, it got a baptism by fire. It is small, lightweight, easy to set up, durable, and very much waterproof. Full mesh makes for great summertime ventilation when the fly is off and vents in the top make it bearable when the fly is on. I slept in alone for much of those 2 months and it had plenty of space for me to move in, lay out and organize gear and clothes, and still have a place to sleep. When backpacking it provided plenty of room for 2 of us and the vestibules were plenty big for our gear. The bottom line: I have always found REI brand gear to be nothing less than top notch at great prices and this tent is no exception.
Yes , I recommend this product
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