GEAR REVIEW: Big Sky International Evolution 2P Tent

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

Overview

When a backpacker is looking to save weight by purchasing a lightweight tent, she typically compares tent weight and features. A double wall tent is usually preferred by lightweight backpackers, and for a two person model, two side entry doors with vestibules is the most convenient. Nowadays, there are several two person double wall tent models weighing less than 4 pounds to choose from.

One way to go wrong in choosing a lightweight tent is overlooking tent dimensions and specific features. Some manufacturers make their tent lighter by making it smaller, for example, only one entry for a 2-person tent, less floor area, less headroom, and fewer features. Personally, I don’t like to play that game; I want a 2-person tent that’s roomy, fully featured, and lightweight.

Nobody does that better than Big Sky International. The Evolution 2P is a full-size free-standing roomy 3-season 2-person double wall tent with two doors with vestibules, four storage pockets, and total weight less than 3 pounds. And that weight includes stakes and aluminum poles.

The Big Sky International Evolution 2P tent weighs just 3 pounds, yet it’s roomy inside, full-featured, and well-designed.

  Specifications

Model	Evolution 2P (Revision J)
Configuration Tested	SuprSil UL fly, mesh interior with clips, UL DAC aluminum poles, 8 stakes in sack (2 tubular stakes for vestibules and 6 titanium shepherd hook stakes), storage compression sack
Weight	3 pounds, 0.35 ounces (includes mesh interior, fly, poles, 8 stakes in stuff sack, 4 guylines, compression storage sack
Floor Dimensions	91” long x 53/47” wide x 42” high (verified) Area is 31.6 sq ft
Features	Two side entry doors with vestibules, large mesh interior doors with 2-way zippers, 4 interior storage pockets, two closable top vents
MSRP as Tested	$472
Other Options Tested	ShelterSaver groundsheet, grommet kit

Description

Most Big Sky International tents are purchased ala carte, meaning that for each tent component (fly, poles, stakes, etc.) you have a choice from a list of options. As one would expect, the lightest options (such as UL fly fabric and composite poles) cost more to reduce tent weight. This is a really nice approach for knowledgeable buyers, because it allows them to purchase the exact configuration they want. Although the process can be a bit daunting for inexperienced buyers, choosing the basic configuration still results in a very lightweight tent. Hopefully this review will help with those decisions.

The Evolution 2P double wall tent is Big Sky’s flagship model. It first came out around 2005 and is now in Revision J, that’s nine updates since its initial introduction. Big Sky continually updates their tents to incorporate lighter and better components as they become available, and adjust the design. So, the current model is very refined.

The Evolution, like other Big Sky tents, is made of silnylon, which is silicone impregnated 1.3 ounce per square yard ripstop nylon. Big Sky offers two weights of silnylon, or SuprSil as they call it. Regular SuprSil is equivalent to regular Silnylon at about 1.3 ounces per sq yd; SuprSil UL is the lighter version at about 1 ounce per sq yd. There are many versions of silnylon, and the one that Big Sky uses is very high quality.

Another interesting point is that Big Sky tents do not need to be seam sealed like other silnylon tents. I tested that claim with a garden hose spraying 30 psi directly at the seams, without any leakage.

Side View. Both sides of the tent have a large vestibule and entry door, plus a large top vent. Door closed (left), doors open (right).

End views. Head end (left) and foot end (right). The head end has black stakeout loops and the foot end has red stakeout loops, so it’s easy to orient the tent when you set it up. The head end is 6 inches wider than the foot end.

The inside the Evo 2P has four large storage pockets (left), two at the head end and two at the foot end. Each side of the tent has a large closable top vent (right) to enhance ventilation. A top vent is a very important feature to look for in a backpacking tent because it utilizes the “chimney effect” to exhaust moist air from the tent.

Floor dimensions are generous by lightweight standards: 91 inches long x 53/47 inches wide head/foot x 42 inches of headroom (verified). Since the floor is slippery silnylon, it’s a good idea to paint stripes of silicone across the floor. Use McNett SilNet and dilute it with paint thinner to the consistency of pancake syrup, then paint it on. The seams on a Big Sky tent do not need seam sealing, which is a big plus.

The Evolution’s floor fabric is 30-denier silnylon. If you would like a more durable floor, order the Evolution 2P with the Eclipse 2P interior. The Eclipse has the same dimensions as the Evolution but has a 40-denier floor (polyurethane-coated ripstop nylon, seam taped); the heavier floor fabric adds 7.65 ounces to the weight.

My test tent came with the compact UL DAC Featherlite aluminum poles, which fold to a 14.25 inch length, a $7 upgrade. These poles are more compact (3 inches shorter) and  weigh 0.2 ounce more than Big Sky’s standard 17-inch UL DAC aluminum poles.

Field Testing

We tested the Evolution 2P on a number of summer backpacking trips in the southern Rockies, where we experienced lots of weather conditions including warm/calm nights, heavy rain followed by a calm night, strong winds, plus a few bugs thrown in for good measure.

Setup – Setup is easy and fairly fast, but not as fast as a single wall tent. 1) Lay the inner tent on the ground in the orientation desired (black stakeout loops on the head end) and stake the corners. 2) Lay the poles across the tent and connect one end to the grommets (or slide the poles through the sleeves if you have a tent with pole sleeves). Arch the poles and connect the other grommet ends. 3) Attach tent clips to the poles. 4) Lay the fly over the top (again, black stakeout loops on the head end) and hook to loops at the corners. 5) Stake out the vestibules. 6) Go inside and connect eight Velcro loops on the fly around the tent poles. And 7) stake out the four corner guylines and end/center guylines, using the four stakes originally used on the corners.

This full setup requires 8 stakes. We recommend a pair of tubular stakes for the vestibules and titanium shepherd hook stakes for the guylines.

The full setup, as described above, provides a bomber pitch ready for strong winds and wind-driven rain. It also fully extends the mesh interior so it doesn’t contact the fly, and allows maximal ventilation. For a quick pitch in good weather and a protected location, the tent can be secured with only two tubular stakes on the vestibules. However, in unpredictable backpacking conditions and to optimize the benefits of a double-wall tent, its best to go with the full setup.

Wind Stability and Ventilation – For good wind stability, it’s essential to attach the eight Velcro tabs on the fly to the poles. Also, we highly recommend getting the guyline kit when ordering the tent, and using them to secure the four corners of the tent. This requires some extra effort, but it results in a much sturdier pitch and tensions the interior mesh. Bottom line, the tent performs at its best if you do this.

Without the full setup (Velcro tabs not used, no guylines), in a strong wind the poles slide under the fly and the tent deforms badly, springing back after a gust. With the full setup the tent is rock solid.

The combination of a raised fly (about a 6-inch gap above the ground all around the tent) and two top vents provides maximal natural ventilation. This is as good as it gets. In good weather with a low bug count, it improves ventilation a lot to leave the inside mesh doors open at night. Under ideal conditions you can tie all the doors open for maximal ventilation and some star gazing.

Condensation is unavoidable on a calm/cool night following a rain. In a double wall tent the condensation is on the inside of the fly, so the interior mesh shields you from the moisture. You are exposed to condensation on the inside of the vestibules, but you can carefully unzip the door and flip it to the rear, where it will stick if the tent is wet. Bottom line, a double wall tent shields you from contacting condensation, but you still pack up a wet tent, unless you take the time to dry it out before packing it.

Livability – The Evolution 2P has plenty of room inside for two people plus gear, and headroom is abundant. Note in the photos above that the head end is very steep, and the foot end is also a very high angle. This means that essentially all of the interior volume is usable. The floor is 90 inches long and 53/47 inches wide (measurements verified) so there is extra space between the occupants and at the foot of the tent. Four really large storage pockets in the corners hold numerous smaller items to keep them handy. When the inside mesh doors are tied back, the interior of the tent really opens up, adding the space in the vestibules within easy reach

Fly-Only Option – By purchasing Big Sky’s groundsheet and grommet kit, or X-strap with grommets, the Evo 2P’s fly can be set up by itself, providing a lot of interior space and saving a little weight. This setup requires the fly, poles, stakes, groundsheet, and guylines, with a total weight of 35 ounces with the carry bag. In less buggy conditions this is a good way to go because it’s dry and roomy. However, the raised perimeter allows wind/breezes to pass right through, and it’s a single wall tent, so condensation may be an issue. In my testing on a very rainy 3-day trip, condensation was minimal because of the shelter’s excellent ventilation.

Mesh Tent Only Option – In good weather, pitching the tent’s mesh interior only provides protection from bugs and creepy crawlers, and allows some good star gazing. Simply set up the mesh interior with the poles and skip the fly.

Assessment

The Evolution 2P is not the very lightest 2-person double tent to be found anymore. At almost 3 pounds, it’s a few ounces heavier than some of the newest lightweight tents featured in my Summer 2013 Outdoor Retailer Show shelter coverage in the blog post following this one.

What is hard to find however, is a lightweight tent that gets everything right. Many of the lightest tents are missing something – they have only one entry door, small floor area, small vestibules, no top vents, low headroom, or they use exotic materials that are very expensive. Frankly, it’s hard to find a tent that gets everything right.

The Evolution 2P is such a tent – it gets everything right. It’s easy to enter, roomy inside for two people, has great livability, lots of storage in pockets and vestibules, has great ventilation, and is very storm-worthy and wind stable (if you do a fully secured pitch, as described above). The Evolution 2P has received nine upgrades over the past eight years, so it’s very dialed in to make it as good as it can be. And the $450 cost (with options) is reasonable compared to other high quality tents.

The only downside of the Evo 2P is the time it takes to set it up securely. The extra setup time is due to its double wall design; a single wall tent like the Mirage 2P is significantly faster to set up.

GEAR REVIEW: Big Sky International Mirage 2P Tent

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

Overview

The Mirage 2P is a 3-season free-standing single wall tent with the same dimensions as the double-wall Evolution 2P; it’s the Evolution 2P without a fly. The X-configuration poles are external and the tent body is attached with clips.

The beauty of a single wall tent is its simplicity, lightweight, and fast setup. The downside is condensation, or is it really that big of an issue?

The Big Sky Mirage 2P is a single wall version of the popular Evolution 2P. It’s free-standing and has two side entry doors with vestibules.

Specifications

Model	Mirage 2P (Revision E)
Configuration Tested	SuprSil fabric, UL aluminum poles, clip attachment, 8 stakes in sack (2 tubular stakes for vestibules and 6 titanium shepherd hook stakes), storage compression sack, 4 guylines
Weight	2 pounds, 13.4 ounces (includes tent body, poles, 8 stakes in stuff sack, 4 guylines, compression storage sack
Floor Dimensions	91” long x 53/47” wide x 42” high. Area is 31.6 sq ft
Features	Two side entry doors with vestibules, large mesh interior doors with 2-way zippers, 4 interior storage pockets, two closable top vents
MSRP as Tested	$378
Other Options Tested	ShelterSaver groundsheet

Description

Most Big Sky International tents are purchased ala carte, meaning that for each tent component (fly, poles, stakes, etc.) you have to choose from a list of options. As one would expect, the lightest options (such as UL fabric, composite poles, and titanium stakes) cost more to reduce tent weight. This is a really nice approach for knowledgeable buyers, because it allows them to purchase the exact configuration they want. Although the process can be a bit daunting for inexperienced buyers (more on that later), choosing the basic configuration still results in a very lightweight tent. Hopefully this review will help with those decisions.

The Mirage 2P is a free-standing single wall tent with two side entry doors with vestibules. Within each vestibule is a mesh wall with a 2-way zippered entry door and two mesh storage pockets (total of 4). Technically it’s a hybrid tent since the two sides are double wall (vestibule and mesh entry).

Our test tent is made of standard SuprSil fabric, which is a high-tenacity nylon ripstop impregnated (soaked) with silicone; the fabric weight is approximately 1.3 ounces per sq yd. A lighter weight version of this fabric (SuprSil UL, about 1 ounce per sq yd) is available as an option, which saves 3 ounces and costs $50 extra. The aluminum poles tested are the standard 17-inch folded length; UL DAC Featherlite aluminum poles are available as a $7 option. Their packed length is 2.6 inches shorter and weight is about 2 ounces less, so this option is a good value.

Side Views: Big Sky Mirage 2P with doors closed (left) and doors open (right).

End Views: Head end (left) and foot end (right). The head end (black stakeouts) is 6 inches wider than the foot end (red stakeouts), and the wall is steeper for more headroom.

Top View: The Mirage 2P is supported by two aluminum poles in an X-configuration and the tent body is attached with clips. The tent is free-standing but the two side vestibules need to be staked out.

Inside View: Two side entry doors provide separate access and a vestibule for each occupant. The floor is wide enough to provide extra space on the sides and foot end for storage.

Pockets: Every Big Sky tent provides plenty of storage pockets, a total of four big ones.

 

Packed: With Big Sky’s compression stuff sack, the Mirage 2P compresses to a small volume for packing.

Since the floor is slippery silnylon, it’s a good idea to paint stripes of silicone across the floor. Use McNett SilNet or DuPont Silicone II and dilute it with paint thinner to the consistency of pancake syrup, then paint it on. The seams on a Big Sky tent do not need seam sealing, which is a big plus.

 

Field Testing

We tested the Mirage 2P on a number of summer backpacking trips in the southern Rockies. Conditions included fair weather with cool nights, as well as thunderstorms with rain, hail, and strong winds.

Setup – Quick and easy: 1) Lay the tent out in the desired orientation (red stakeouts on the foot end) and stake the four corners; 2) Lay the extended poles in an X-pattern on top of the tent, connect the tips to grommets on one end, then arch the poles and connect the other ends to grommets; 3) Holding onto the poles, connect all of the clips on the tent body to the poles; 4) Extend and stake out the vestibules with sturdy tube stakes; and 5) Stake out the four guylines using the corner stakes.

We found that it’s not necessary to stake the four corners of the tent, if you secure the tent with four guylines. We highly recommend purchasing the guyline kit and using it for a wind-secure pitch. A total of six stakes is required (we recommend 2 tube stakes for the vestibules and 4 titanium shepherd hook stakes for the guylines). Since the poles are external, there are no Velcro tabs to secure the tent body to the poles like the Evolution 2P, so the guyline kit is essential if you anticipate using the tent where there could be high winds. In a protected location, the Mirage 2P can be set up with one stake on each vestibule.

Wind Stability and Ventilation – With the four guyline setup described above the Mirage 2P is very wind stable. A more sturdy tube stake is recommended for the vestibules and titanium hook stakes hold surprisingly well on the guylines; putting a rock on top of each stake will double their holding power.

Ventilation is excellent. The bottom edge of the vestibules is raised about 6 inches to allow air to enter from the bottom and there is a top vent on each side, allowing for cross-ventilation.

 If there is any air movement at all, even a light breeze, the tent will stay essentially condensation-free. However, on a still clear night with a substantial temperature drop, it is hard to avoid condensation on the inside walls of any tent. And in a single wall tent, like the Mirage, you are directly exposed to the wetness. While many people shy away from a single wall tent because of the condensation issue, there is a simple solution: use a lightweight camp towel to wipe down the inside tent walls. It’s easy, fast, and effective, and you pack up a drier tent. You can’t do that as easily with a double wall tent, which collects condensation on the inside of the fly under the same conditions.

Livability – The Mirage has steep sidewalls all around, especially at the head end, so all of the interior volume is usable. Floor dimensions are generous by lightweight standards: specified dimensions are 91 inches long x 53/47 inches wide head/foot x 42 inches of headroom. My measurements verify the widths and height, but the floor length is only 90 inches, which is still longer than many other tents. This provides plenty of room for two people plus gear. If you tie the interior mesh doors open, items in the vestibules are within easy reach and the tent interior is much larger.

Because the Mirage 2P is a single wall tent with external poles, it does not have any fly-only setup or mesh-interior-only setup like the double wall Evolution 2P. However, each side of the tent can be tied completely open, providing loads of ventilation and views (see photos above).

Assessment

I personally prefer a single wall tent, like the Mirage 1P or 2P, because it weighs less, sets up quickly and easily, and it’s less expensive. And condensation is no big deal if you simply wipe the inside tent walls with a camp towel.

While the Big Sky Mirage tents are not the lightest to be found (the very lightest ones have very thin fabrics and use trekking poles for support), they are free-standing, sturdy, roomy, and very livable. These tents will last for years, or a lifetime, depending on how much you use it.

The tent’s floor is 30-denier silnylon, which is adequately waterproof, but could puncture from sharp plant stubs or rocks. To be sure the floor is not damaged, order the Big Sky ShelterSaver goundsheet (5.5 ounces, $25) which is made of durable soft structure Tyvek, or use a light tarp or plastic sheet.

Overall the Mirage 2P has a lot to like and nothing to dislike. Frankly it’s hard to find a tent that gets everything right – light weight, ease of setup, easy entry, lots of interior room and great livability, good ventilation, good wind stability and storm resistance – but the Mirage 2P meets all of those ideals. I have tested a lot of tents over the years, and I always find it easy to review a Big Sky tent because it’s so well designed and refined.

Although the availability issue has mostly been resolved (Big Sky has its own factory now), the ordering process on Big Sky’s website is still a bit daunting, especially for buyers who don’t understand the options. It would really help if Big Sky would create a tent configurator that provides descriptive information on each option and interactively displays the cost and weight of the tent with options selected. Using such a tool would allow the buyer to choose the best configuration to meet his/her needs and budget.

Highlights of the Summer 2013 Outdoor Retailer Trade Show: Lightweight Shelters

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

Note to readers: My complete coverage of the summer 2013 OR Show, exclusive of shelters and backpacks, is at www.gossamergear.com (click on Blog, then Buzz).

Shelters keep getting lighter. Not that long ago, a sub-5-pound 2-person tent was considered “lightweight”. Now that is the case for a 2P shelter under 4 pounds. At the latest OR we started seeing a few dropping into the 2.5 pound range for a hybrid or double wall tent with floor, and less than that for a floorless shelter.

The shelters in this roundup from OR are mostly from larger manufacturers, and I am pleased to see the steady trend toward lighter shelters by incorporating lighter weight materials as they become available. However, note that the very lightest shelters come from small cottage manufacturers that cater to dedicated weight pinchers. For example, a two person single wall Cuben Fiber shelter with stakes and guylines can weigh less than one pound. For more info on those SuperUltraLight shelters, read my series on Mountain SuperUltraLight Backpacking at www.backpackinglight.com.

In this report I will clarify as much as possible what type of shelter each one is, and provide stats on floor area and headroom, and features, because all of these factors contribute to weight as well as user acceptance. Manufacturers can easily lighten a tent by making it smaller and removing features, which make it less acceptable. Buyers need to know that. We all have different preferences for a shelter, and are willing to accept certain tradeoffs to reduce weight, but we need to know what we are buying.

Types of Shelters:

1.      Single Wall – the entire tent is one layer of fabric, often supported by trekking poles to save weight.

2.      Hybrid – part of the tent is single wall (usually the ceiling) and part is double wall (usually a side entry with vestibules). The tent is erected as a unit and poles are external or internal. Some use trekking poles to save weight.

3.      Double Wall – consists of an inner tent (usually LW mesh to save weight and increase ventilation) and an outer fly. A DW tent is usually freestanding and heavier.

Note: Weights listed are manufacturer’s trail weights; what’s included in that weight can vary by manufacturer, and accuracy can vary. I did not weigh the tents. All shelters will be available in spring 2013 unless stated otherwise.

The Mountain Shelter LT by Mountainsmith Weighs Just 2 Pounds (Single Wall, Non-Freestanding, Floorless)
This simple, floorless, trekking pole supported, single wall shelter weighs just 2 pounds 1 ounce to shelter two hikers, and costs just $130. Its A-frame shaped with a vestibuled end entry and has one high vent on the foot end. Great value!

Big Agnes Angel Springs UL2 Almost Breaks the 2.5 Pound Barrier (Double Wall, Freestanding with Floor)
At 2 pounds 9 ounces the 2-person Angel Springs UL rivals the weight of many LW solo tents. It utilizes an X-Pole design to make it freestanding and has one large entry door with a large vestibule. The 29 square feet of floor area is 90 inches long and 52/42 inches wide at head and foot ends; height is 42 inches. Big Agnes uses very lightweight fabrics, poles, and stakes to achieve the remarkable lightweight. MSRP is $380. The 3-person version’s floor is 70/60 inches wide and height increases to 44 inches; MSRP is $450.

Big Agnes Adds New Features to the Scout UL2 Trekking Pole Supported Tent (Hybrid Non-Freestanding with Floor)
The A-frame trekking pole supported Scout Plus UL2 adds vestibule protection to the end entry, and the Super Scout UL2 adds a room at the entry! Interestingly, the Scout Plus has less floor area than the original Scout UL2 (29 sq ft versus 34), and compensates with its 14 sq ft vestibule. Weight of the Scout Plus is 1 pound 14 ounces and MSRP is $350. The Super Scout also has 29 square feet inside, but the front vestibule grows to 44 sq ft! The weight is only 2 pounds 3 ounces (only 5 ounces more for that huge vestibule, which suggests there could be a misprint somewhere), and MSRP is $400. The tent floor dimensions for both are 86 inches long x 54/42 inches wide, and 45 inches of headroom.

Sierra Designs Flashlight UL Tent Uses Trekking Poles to Achieve a Roomy 3- Pound 2-Person Tent (Hybrid Non-Freestanding with Floor)
The tent does have one arched aluminum pole at the foot end to provide more space inside, and front poles are included for those who don’t use trekking poles. The roomy 30 sq ft floor measures 50 inches wide x 90 inches long, and 46 inches high (great headroom). It has 2 doors but vestibules are limited to two gear closets at the head end, plus stash pockets inside. MSRP is $360 for the 2P; a 1P with one entry will also be available at 2 pounds 2 ounces for $300.

Brooks-Range Tension 30 and Tension 40 Tents Feature a “Tension Truss” Structure (Double Wall, Freestanding with Floor)
The 30 and 40 are the floor areas of the two tents and occupancy translates to 2-person and 3-person versions. A lengthwise arched carbon fiber pole is hubbed to two lateral poles near the ends, creating a tensioned truss when connected to the inner tent. The 2P version has one vestibuled door and weighs 2.5 pounds (yes, that’s correct). The floor measures 86 inches long x 50 inches wide, and headroom is 40 inches. The 3P version has two doors with vestibules and weighs 3.5 pounds. Floor measurements are 94 inches long, 62 inches wide, and 42 inches of headroom. Both tents have one top vent and cost $449.

Easton Announces Revolutionary Syclone Composite Tent Poles
This new type of tent pole is made of “multi-directionally wrapped aerospace grade S-Glass composite fibers”. Notice the word “glass”; they are made of fiberglass, but it’s not the fiberglass of decades ago. The technology and strength of these poles lies in the quality of the materials, and the braiding and wrapping. The new Syclone poles are the same weight and cost as aluminum poles, are 80% more durable in wind and flex testing, and are similar in characteristics to carbon fiber. We saw them tested in a demonstration at Easton’s factory; they easily withstood 85 mph winds while aluminum and carbon fiber poles failed under the same conditions. The aluminum poles bent badly and the aluminum ferrules in the CF poles broke, but not the CF pole itself.

Easton Kinetic Carbon 3P is the Rebirth of the Kilo 3P (Double Wall, Freestanding with Floor)
Featuring Easton’s Carbon Ion pole system, the double wall Kinetic Carbon tent delivers 43 sq ft of floor space for three people. Weight is 3 pounds 3 ounces, which is excellent for a 3-person double wall tent. The single door end entry is sheltered by a small 6 sq ft vestibule. The floor measures 93.3 inches long x 70 inches wide x 40 inches high. MSRP is $500. The 2-person version is the redesigned Kilo 2P which weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces and has 29 sq ft of floor area but only 35 inches of headroom. Neither tent has a top vent.

The Ultimate UL Tent: The Easton Si2 Cuben (Single Wall Freestanding with Floor)

For just $2000 you can have the ultimate 2P tent. The new Easton Si2 Cuben is made of a WP/B Cuben Fiber and eVent laminate and supported by Easton’s Carbon Ion pole system. It has two side entry doors with vestibules, which are removable. Two top vents provide climate control. The tent is rated for 4-season use with 44.3 sq ft of floor area measuring 88 inches long x 51 inches wide, and 41 inches of headroom. Vestibules total 14 sq ft. There’s nothing to dislike except the cost. At least we know what the ultimate 2P tent looks like!

The Dash 2 – An Ultralight 2-Person Double Wall Tent from REI (Double Wall, Freestanding with Floor)
We are really pleased to see REI introducing some really lightweight gear. The new Dash 2 is a two-person double wall tent with two vestibuled doors that weighs just 2 pounds 7 ounces (yes, that’s correct). And the cost is a reasonable $349. It’s constructed of 15-denier fabrics, including the floor, and uses lightweight aluminum poles in a sturdy tension truss architecture. The 29 sq ft floor measures 90 inches long x 52 inches wide, and headroom is 42 inches. Vestibules are each 5.3 sq ft. REI’s proud tent designer is David Mydans (right).

Boreas Introduces a Lightweight 2-Person Tent (Double Wall, Non-Freestanding with Floor)
Boreas is a new company known for their innovative backpack designs. Their first tents are the Trava, a 2-person double wall, one pole tent with 2 vestibuled doors that weighs in at 3 pounds 10 ounces. The single lengthwise arched aluminum pole limits interior volume. Floor dimensions are 88 inches long x 50 inches wide, and 41 inches of headroom. Vestibules are 14.6 sq ft each. MSRP is $350. The 2-person Tiago has two lengthwise arched poles to provide proper interior space, but the weight jumps to 4 pounds 8 ounces; MSRP is $400.

The Single Wall Nemo Veda 2P Features Waterproof-Breathable Fabric and Trekking Pole Support (Single Wall, Non-Freestanding with floor)
The Nemo Veda 2P replaces the Meta 2P. The canopy is made of WP/B 20-denier fabrics and it’s supported by four trekking poles on the sides in a V-shape (right). Each of the two entry doors has a vestibule. The WP/B fabric reduces condensation inside, and the head end has a panel of tricot fabric inside to provide a softer/dryer surface should you brush against it. A perimeter mesh panel above the floor increases ventilation. Interior floor area is 35 sq ft with 42 inches of headroom. The weight is 2 pounds 14 ounces and MSRP is $430. The Veda 1P has 24 sq ft of floor area and MSRP of $350.

For Minimalists, the Adventure Medical Kits WP/B SOL Escape Bivvy Weighs Just 8 Ounces and Costs Just $50 (Single Wall Bivy Bag)
The Escape Bivvy (left) is an inexpensive shelter for minimalists. It’s made of a proprietary WP/B material and has a hooped zippered entry.  An even lighter version is the Escape-Lite (right, 5.5 ounces, $40) which does not have the hood or zipper.