need suggestions on budget lightweight 2 person tent

Kevin, REI-outlet has a sale going on right now. An additional 20% is taken off items when you add them to the cart. MSR Fling will be around $100 and the REI Quarter Dome will be about $130. They weigh about 4lbs PACKAGED so that's less than 2lbs per person. I'm sure you can get the weight lower…they claim 3lbs 6oz min. for the MSR Fling. I have the Fling and it has some generous headroom to sit up in. Alternatively, you could get a much more expensive Tarptent Double Rainbow which will be might lighter but around $260.

I have a Eureka Spitfire 2 I bought on Ebay for about $110(new). I am very happy with it for the room, bombproofness, and quality for the cost. I believe it is about 5# with the pegs and a groundsheet without the carry sacks. I think it is more roomy than the ones already mentioned, but I have not compared them enough to know the details. I think it is at least worth checking out. I do hear good things about the REI 1/4 dome and 1/2 dome tents, although I believe the length may be a bit short on those. If you want the lightest option, I would spring for the extra money and go with Tarptent. They are excellent and a great company to deal with.

I just looked up some of the stats for the Eureka Spitfire 2 tent and it says "floor size 10'9"x'5'10"x4'4.5",3'7" center ht. 4.3# min wt. packed size 5"x17", 38.7 sq.ft. For a fairly lightweight double walled 3.5 season shelter and cost it is a lot of tent for the money.(Imho). BUT! You can get almost as much room for probably 12oz less wt. with a single wall Tarptent double rainbow. Or check out the Rainshadow 2 for even more room and even less weight than the Eureka if you use treking poles. Or, choice number four would be the Tarptent rainbow. I think you would find it adequate size for you and your son and only carry 2#. Personally, I would spend the extra on a Rainbow and have a really nifty lightweight shelter for a man and a boy, especially if it was for summer use.

yea the spitfire is a great tent i love my spitfire solo

i put my big agnes mummy sleeping pad in it and its like being at home also its nice to be able to sleep with the
vestabule door open on summer nights one night last
summer i was in my spitfire in kings canyon and two deer were chasing each other towards our camp they both ran right toward my tent and when they saw it they locked up the brakes heard the dirt hit the front of my tent and when i shined my light outside they looked at me and
ran the other way i was waiting for the wreck lol
anyway the spitfire 2 man would probably be a good choice along with the msr fling the other choice i looked at was the kelty teton 2 i think its around 4-4.5 lb i have a friend who has one and he loves it
hopefully i can find a good lightweight tent for a good price soon
divr6347

I was looking at the Kelty Sirius 2. I think it was http://www.sunnsports.com

I think it's right at 4 lbs and $89 with shipping included.

Kevin,

Moabsports.com is currently offering the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 for approximately $100 w/ free S&H (they have the Teton listed as well but is "currently not available").
This is very similar to the Teton 2 in weight and size although the Grand Mesa has a single door front entrance vs the Teton's single door side entrance.