Two Person Tents

So there are a ton of two person tents on the market out many of them really nice. It doesn't much matter what two man tent you buy - odds are it will be a decent one. But anyways I thought a short buyers guide to tents plus a few recommendations of the ones that really shine would be useful.

Weight - Basically these days tents have gotten pretty sophisticated and pretty light. The weight of a tent is basically governed by the material the poles are made out of and how much mesh is used in the construction of the tent. Lots of mesh = light weight = faster hiking = more fun because your lower back doesn't hurt. You weight the weight to break down to about 2-3 pounds per person so this basically covers tents in the 4-6 pound range. There are lighter tents (pretty pricey). However, most two person tents are less than 6 pounds so when you start to approach the 6 pound mark and you are still paying like 200 bucks you might want to scratch your head. More likely is that you are paying 45 bucks.

Ventilation - I sweat a ton when I sleep. I hate poorly ventilating tents. However, there's some trade-offs, lots of mesh will allow more condensation inside the tent rather than moving that condensation to the ground. So tread carefully, I'd hate to wake up a well ventilated and very damp (so.. cold) camper.

Ease of setup - You want to be able to setup your tent in the dark while it is raining. Otherwise I think this is pretty subjective. People who are naturally good at putting things together won't have a problem with most tents. Just get used to your own.

Floor Space - the magic number you're looking for is 30 sq. feet. This will be a pretty comfortable size for two people plus a few fleeces, books, alarm clocks, whatever. Less is ok but you can imagine that it gets pretty cramped. More is nice especially when you can keep the weight down. Vestibule size is nice too, big vestibule means large area to keep your pack and boots out of the rain as well as a potential cooking location during rain (Although this is most of the time probably a bad idea as spills invariably happen and the last thing you want is a wet animal crawling around your tent.

There are other relevant features but I think this basically sums it up. These are the key important factors. Here are five tent recommendations. (These recommendations are not strictly reviews but me picking out the really good products that you should definitely check out. I've either used these products or checked them out extensively online, read up on them, and then checked them out in stores)

The Ultralight - Big Agnes Seedhouse Superlight 2 - for two people this tent is crazy light. It is almost as light as many solo tents. Wind resistance not so great due to all the mesh but over-all a really nice tent. This is the one I want to buy but won't be buying due to -> ($300)

Check out the rest of the seedhouse family of tents - all good deals on good tents.

Also in this category: the MSR Hubba Hubba. This tent got great reviews from backpacker and outside's gear guy - the one complaint, not great in the wind.

The Still Really Light - Sierra Designs Lightning. Lets face. Sierra Designs makes wicked sweet gear in every category. They are probably my pick for the best all around manufacture. Every product is well made, will last, performs at a high level. The stuffs not cheap but its not ridiculous either. If you take care of it the gear will last for years. So the lightning? What more can I say - 4 pounds two ounces for 31 sq feet. Solid construction, wind resistant design. More reasonable price tag than the Seedhouse Superlight at ($249)

The Best Deal - LL Bean Microlight 2 - this tent is wicked light, reasonably spacious and costs $129 dollars. It is a great tent for ultra light back packers, cyclists, people who like good deals. Plus if anything every goes wrong with it. NOTE: ANYTHING LL Bean will either refund the money of the tent, replace it, or fix it. I'm a mainer and a frequent LL Beaner and I'll tell you, quality is pretty good and the customer service is excellent.

The Taj Mahal of 2 Person Tents - MSR Velo - With a vestibule almost equal in square footage to the sleeping quarters of the tent itself, large enough to fit two bikes underneath (hence velo) this is one plush tent. The price is also plush at $399. But if you can afford it and don't mind carrying the extra weight you really could live in this thing. Its got a mud room.

The Soul of practicality - REI Half Dome Tent - A little heavier at 5 pounds 2 ounces but with a friendly price tag ($159) the Half Dome has long been the fail safe answer to "What tent should I buy?" Its a good tent that has been around for years for good reason. Its a good tent.

I don't know a ton about it but the Gear Guy at outside magazine (a dude's whose advice is really worth listening to) really likes the Mountain Hardwear Waypoint 2. Its a single wall tent (I've slept under tarps but never single wall tents, although very similar in principle.) and because of that its super light weight. Its also pretty windproof. Worth looking into.

Find that tent you want and go camping. Or skip the tent. Sleep out without a tent - more on that next time.

First Post

Hey, I'm dave and basically I'm a gear head. As I am not a member of any support groups I've decided that having a blog about what I think about all sorts of outdoor gear would be a good outlet for me. So look to see lots of views on gear. later.