2-person Backpacking Tents
Mountainsmith, REI, Kelty, or ALPS?
I needed to buy a tent for an upcoming camping trip and noticed there was no website that made it easy to review / compare tents. In the interest of allowing others save time researching, here’s a breakdown of entry-level tents available on the web as of March 2014, in order of best value:
Mountainsmith Morrison 2
Dimensions: 92" x 56"
Packed Weight: 4 lb 11 oz
Packed Size: 7.5" x 18"
Doors: 2
Vestibule: 14 sqft
Price: $147 Amazon ($123 tent + $24 footprint)
Notes: Winner! Longest tent but still under 5 lbs. With dual doors and vestibule space on either side, the Mountainsmith Morrison had the most to offer in its price range.
REI Passage 2
Dimensions: 90" x 54"
Packed Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz
Packed Size: 7.5" x 22"
Doors: 2
Vestibule: 19 sqft
Price: $184 REI ($160 + $24)
Notes: Most expensive, but you get a lovely looking tent with plenty of interior & vestibule space.
Kelty Salida 2
Dimensions: 88" x 55"
Packed Weight: 4 lb 8 oz
Packed Size: 7" x 22"
Doors: 1
Vestibule: 10 sqft
Price: $178 Amazon ($143 + $35)
Notes: Close second. Lightest tent in this category and purportedly has higher construction quality & better aesthetic which you’ll pay a bit more for. Vestibule space is on the smaller side.
ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2
Dimensions: 90" x 60"
Packed Weight: 5 lb 13 oz
Doors: 2
Vestibule: 20 sqft
Price: $137 Sierra Trading Post ($115 with 30% site discount + $22)
Notes: Heaviest tent coming in at almost 6 pounds but it has ample interior and vestibule storage space. Most affordable. Great for car camping.
Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Dimensions: 82" x 58"
Packed Weight: 4 lb 10 oz
Doors: 1
Vestibule: 6 sqft
Price: $146 Amazon ($120 + $26)
Notes: Lower-end cousin of the Kelty Salida. Smaller, 2 oz heavier, but also more affordable.
REI Camp Dome 2
Dimensions: 84" x 54"
Packed Weight: 5 lb 6 oz
Doors: 2
Vestibule: None
Price: $150 REI ($120 + $30 for a mismatched footprint)
Notes: Warning — no vestibule space and no matching footprint! The Camp Dome falls in no-man’s land of mid-weight, mid-size, mid-price, where you don’t get the best of anything.
