For a light 2P Freestanding Tent: REI T2, T2 Plus, CS UL3 or other? Comments on T2 appreciated

I have a 4 or 5 year old quarterdome t2. Love it. It's the one tent that i will probably always keep as backup for my "crazy trekking pole tents" (my wife's words). the almost vertical side walls are really nice for fitting 2 people in there.

Everyone loves BA tents. Me — not so much. I find them incredibly cramped-feeling (so does my husband). We used a BA Fly Creek UL3 for the JMT, and I think I'm going to sell it. Sure, BA's tents' stat.s sound great, but when you're inside one, the actual dimensions, and how it "feels" don't add up.

Let me propose another possibility: Sierra Designs Flash UL2 (2014 model is on sale, but is 10 oz heavier than 2015 model). Still within your weight category (4lb 3oz), and 86" x 50" floor.

But what you can't know until you've been inside one is how ROOMY it feels. The ceiling is HIGH, and it feels airy, and you can sit up (or even kneel) without your head touching. Combine that with a dry set-up (inner is attached to fly), and it's a really nice free-standing option!

If you end up being stuck in the tent during a long, unexpected storm, you won't be so miserable.

quarter dome t2 on the Tahoe Rim Trail

Thanks Andy that's good to hear. Any cons? And would you consider going for the slightly larger T2 Plus for any reason? I lean toward the lighter T2 for the weight savings unless there's some downside to the T2 that the T2 Plus improves upon.

Thanks Valerie, I'll check out the SD.

When i bought mine I thought i was ordering the t2 plus. (i'm 6'3") Somehow i actually wound up getting a regular t2. (probably my fault) It's a bit of a squeeze for me, the bottom of my sleeping bag gets pushed up against the netting if i slide down at all. I usually don't worry about it too much, i can curl up on my side or get diagonal into my wifes space (she really looves that.. jk).

Being REI i'd order the regular, try it, and if it's too short just do the return/exchange thing. Thats just me though :)

Here's a shot that might be helpful. I'm in a long sleeping bag.

I can't think of many cons. The pole clips can hurt your fingers in the cold.. but thats not really a big deal.

Pros: Two people can sit up side by side, the side pockets are nice. Sets up as net tent really nicely too.

Thanks Andy, that looks like a great use of space.

Just found out that the T2 and T2+ design is pretty radically changing for this year, with more of a Big Agnes-like design to save further weight. Do you think these new designs are just as strong as the previous versions? With the current sale they aren't much more expensive than last year's versions.

The Quarter Dome T2 Plus is being replaced with the Quarter Dome 3, which looks like a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 clone/killer. Floor is going from rectangular, to a wider design that tapers at the foot. Lighter weight than the T2 Plus: http://www.rei.com/product/862425/rei-quarter-dome-3-tent#tab-specs

Minimum trail weight 3 lbs. 12 oz.
Fly / footprint pitch weight 3 pounds
Packaged weight 4 lbs. 3 oz.
Packed size 8 x 24 inches
Floor dimensions 90 x 70 / (foot width) 64 inches
Floor area 39.4 square feet
Vestibule area 6.7 + 6.7 + 5.6 square feet
Peak height 42 inches
Number of doors 2 doors
Number of poles 1 hubbed poleset
Pole material DAC aluminum NSL
Pole diameter 8.5 millimeters
Canopy fabric 15-denier ripstop nylon/20-denier mesh
Floor fabric 30-denier ripstop nylon
Rainfly fabric 15-denier ripstop nylon

The Quarter Dome T2 is being replaced with the Quarter Dome 2. Floor is again going to be wider than the T2 at the head, and narrower at the foot (too narrow for my taste): http://www.rei.com/product/862423/rei-quarter-dome-2-tent#tab-specs

Minimum trail weight 3 lbs. 1 oz.
Fly / footprint pitch weight 2 lbs. 6 oz.
Packaged weight 3 lbs. 9 oz.
Packed size 7.25 x 20 inches
Floor dimensions 90 x 54 (foot width) 44 inches
Floor area 28.7 square feet
Vestibule area 6.7 + 6.7 square feet
Peak height 40 inches
Number of doors 2 doors
Number of poles 1 hubbed poleset
Pole material DAC aluminum NSL
Pole diameter 8.05 / 8.5 millimeters
Canopy fabric 15-denier ripstop nylon/20-denier nylon mesh
Floor fabric 30-denier ripstop nylon
Rainfly fabric 15-denier ripstop nylon

Well, i've always been impressed with the t2's ability to get a super taut pitch. I hate having a flappy tent, so if there is weather brewing i put the fly super tight. It's withstood some pretty windy/rainy nights without budging.

I was hesitant about the pole set up of mine when i got it.. seemed overly complicated. But after pitching it 14 days in a row i grew to understand and love it. I have a similar feeling about the new design.. looks overly complicated. Probably would grow on me though.

I do like the look of the nice big vents on the fly though. The t2's are kind of dinky.

the new one's zippered 3rd vestibule looks neat, but could wind up being just gimmicky.

+1 BA UL3 – great tent, I like the extra width as I toss and turn quite a bit. Great headroom and has worked very well in high wind (when staked out correctly). Best wishes.

Been using the BA UL3 for a number of years when sharing a tent; I am 6'2-3" and have shared the tent with people ranging from 4'11" to 5'6". Entry and exit out the single door is fine and internal room is sufficient though I do find that I would like a few more inches of headroom; if two tallish people attempt to sit up it is cramped. Very light and has weathered some storms… though the vestibule is small. I hate the pole-hub design, but that is just me. I would not pay retail for it, but space to weight is hard to beat.
Although heavier, I found the REI T2+ to feel roomier due to steeper sidewalls throughout and the double doors are great. For the Outlet price it is what I would get.

It would be hard to beat the T2 for price and comfort… the weight!… was the Dash in the running or not free standing enough ?…

My wife and I were using the original T2. Excellent tent except as noted by another poster above its usable length. The side walls are rather steep but the end walls slope such that at 6 feet 2 inches, I always found myself poking through the wall either at my feet or at my head.

So we traded for a Henry Shires TT Double Rainbow. Now we have lots of length but not as much headroom as the T2.

Have you considered a Big Sky International Mirage 2P? I've used one the last year and am really impressed with the overall design, incredibly easy taut setup, and live able space and two doors/vestibules.
The quality and attention to detail is on par with other high end manufacturers….and is one of the lighter free standing 2p tents available.

@Jon, The BA is very nice for the weight, and while narrower head room for its footprint than more vertical walled setups like the T2 and T2+, it’s a very roomy tent overall for the weight. BTW, will be sending my Flat Cat order soon. Can’t wait to shake and bake and provide some extra motivation for the Ms. and friends : )

@Michael F, found out that the the T2+ has been REI’s most popular tent and they made a huge batch – they have +1000 available now, not because of lack of popularity but because they increased production based on the popularity and material the vendor had available (a reminder that manufacturers often make new products for lower price point discount/outlet distribution – in other words not all products on discount sites are overstock or older models). Good chance there will be an outlet Daily Deal on remaining ones in the fall. The size and vertical walls are ideal for me, the question is whether to swallow the extra 9 oz weight (4 lbs 7 oz) over the T2 (3 lbs 14 oz).

@Michael D, I never knew about the Dash 2 – thanks for the heads up. By not free standing enough, do you mean because the vestibule has to be staked out? It looks free standing. Weight is awesome, only downside is that I want the ability to use two wide 25 in. pads and the narrow foot end may be too narrow for this. The foot end starts to taper well before the full 90 in. length, and at 90 in. the width is only 42 in. I don’t mind using tapered pads, but I’m not yet sure of the size of the wide Xtherm and Exped models I was looking at – checking now. Fly coverage looks a bit minimal for wind-blown rain and drafts compared with the T2 and T2+.

@Bruce, the Double Rainbow is a brilliant design. The Ms. and me tried sitting in one at a GGG – love it except for the very narrow headroom at the top. If it were just a few inches wider at the top (which would require a spreader pole) we’d really like it. I’m 6 ft tall, she’s 5 ft 6. We find 50 in. width essential, and I’m hoping that 84 in. length won’t be a problem. I find 90 in. length ideal for storing/organizing some stuff by your feet.

Barring the Dash 2 being wide enough at the foot end for two wide pads, which is unlikely, looks like it's a choice for us between the T2 and T2+, both of which have vertical walls.

Leaning toward the T2 for the weight savings, and upon setup if the 84 in. length doesn't work for me, I guess we can swap for the T2+.

@Christopher, the Mirage 2P and Revolution 2P are nice tents. Only limiting factor would be that they are narrower at the foot end – perhaps too narrow for wide pads. What's the width of your Mirage 2P inner 66 inches and 72 inches from the head end?

Re previous customer service experience – I once ordered a Revolution 3P from Bob at Big Sky a few years ago, after written assurances it would ship within weeks. It was delayed a little longer but eventually arrived. However, upon setting it up I noticed it was defective – missing guyline loops and something was reversed. After sending it back, I was told another would arrive in months but he wasn’t exactly sure when, and then offered to send me another type of tent as a loaner. My request for a refund was met with delay tactics until I had to notify him in writing that I was reporting him to the State Attorney General for fraud. That got my refund.

All that said, Big Sky has nice designs, and I’d even be willing to give Bob another chance because it’s not uncommon for new cottage makers to get in over their heads. He made some mistakes, which I hope he learned from, and I hope he’s on more solid footing now.

My boyfriend and I have used a T2 Plus for years. It was not much wider than the T2, certainly not big enough for 3 people, but it was longer, which allowed us to put our packs at the end of our pads. Looking at the new tents, they have sacrificed space in the name of weight savings. A false economy in my opinion. I personally can't stand tents that narrow at the foot end. To me, they took a tent that stood out, and made it like all the others.

I'm fairly happy with my BA CS UL1. I've also owned an original single wall TT Moment, and I currently own a Scarp 2 and Hogback. I think you'd be comfortable in a CS UL3.

Although, given those specs and prices, I'd probably go with a T2 Plus myself. It's about what my Scarp 2 weighs once I added floor/fly waterproofing and de-slicked the floor with inside/outside coats of silicone.

@Diane, agreed about tents that are much narrower at foot end with walls that slope too far inward. That's true of the new REI Qaurterdome 2 and 3. However, REI just made a plenty large new batch for REI T2 + to sell through REI Outlet, so they can ask for a premium price for the new narrower designs while still selling the "older" popular T2+ and T2.

I'd love the room of the T2+, but to save 9 oz first trying the T2. It's less of an issue for the Ms., but for me it's tight to keep my pack at my feet in an 84 in. tent. The vestibules though look large enough to store your pack.