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You are here: Home / New Features / REI Quarter Dome SL 1 Review

REI Quarter Dome SL 1 Review

by Ryan Jordan on May 17, 2019 New Features, Performance Gear Reviews

Introduction

The REI Quarter Dome SL 1 is a single person, side entry, single side vestibule, double wall, mostly mesh inner, semi-freestanding tent. Its trail weight (fly, poles, inner) is only 32.3 oz (916 g) and it costs only $280, about $75 less than the category average.

The video review below provides detailed setup instructions for both inner-first and fly-first pitches. I also discuss how I camp and organize gear in a tent like this and performance in windy and humid conditions. Much of the information in the review is applicable to all tents in this category and not necessarily unique to the Quarter Dome SL 1, so users of similar tents from Big Agnes, MSR, or Nemo may find some value in it as well.

The video description at YouTube provides a timecode index.

Category Overview

This category of tents (single person, side-entry, single side vestibule, double wall, mostly mesh inner, semi-freestanding) has evolved significantly over the past five years.

The tents have become appreciably lighter and roomier, owed primarily to a hub-based pole set that creates a pseudo-geodesic panel framework. The primary US manufacturers include REI, Big Agnes, Nemo, and MSR.

We’ve included a comparison table below (see the Compared To… section) with ten models having a trail weight (fly, inner, and poles) of less than 3 lb. These tents have an average trail weight of 34 oz / 964 g (range is 23 oz / 652 g to 48 oz / 1361 g) and an average cost of $353 (range is $280 to $450).

The REI Quarter Dome SL 1 has a trail weight of 32.3 oz (916 g) and a cost of $280, which makes it the best value of the bunch.

Features

  • Double wall, single entrance, side entry.
  • Full mesh inner tent with 4 in (10 cm) bathtub floor.
  • Trapezoidal floor plan.
  • Vertical sidewalls.
  • A shock-corded hub-and-pole assembly is color-coded to simplify setup.
  • A large door on the rainfly vestibule for ease of entry can be rolled out of the way when unzipped.
  • Stake-out vestibule with a large side entrance for easy entry and adds storage space for your gear.
  • Roof vent improves airflow and helps control condensation.
  • Exterior guyline tie-out loops and rainfly rollback loops provide setup options for different types of weather.
  • Four pockets and six hang loops help organize the interior.
  • Reflective stake loops and guylines.
  • Fly/footprint minimalist pitch option lets you leave the tent at home and use the fly, poles, and footprint (sold separately) as a lightweight shelter, or aids in pitching the outer tent (fly) first and inner tent from inside.
  • Includes a stuff sack, stakes, guylines, and tighteners, as well as a pole-repair tube, a pole bag, and a stake bag.

rei quarter dome sl1 review vestibule

Specifications

  • Weight (actual measured values):
    • Fly: 11.2 oz (318 g)
    • Inner tent: 11.8 oz (335 g)
    • Pole set: 9.2 oz (261 g)
    • Stakes: 3.9 oz / 111 g (includes ten 6 in (15 cm) v-channel aluminum stakes w/head cords)
    • Guylines: 0.7 oz / 20 g (includes three)
    • Footprint (optional add-on): 4.1 oz (116 g)
  • Packaged Weights:
    • Minimalist (fly, poles, footprint, 5 stakes) – 26.5 oz (751 g)
    • Fair Weather (fly, poles, inner, 5 stakes) – 34.2 oz (970 g)
    • Inclement Weather (fly, poles, inner, footprint, 10 stakes, guylines) – 40.9 oz (1160 g)
  • Packed size: 6 x 19 in (15 x 48 cm)
  • Floor dimensions: 88 x 35/27 in / 224 x 89/68 cm (L x W head/foot)
  • Floor area: 18.9 sq. ft (1.76 sq. m.)
  • Vestibule area: 9.6 sq. ft. (0.89 sq. m.)
  • Peak height: 38 in (97 cm)
  • Pole material: 7000 series DAC aluminum
  • Fabrics:
    • Fly fabric: ripstop nylon
    • Floor fabric: ripstop nylon
    • Inner tent: noseeum mesh

rei quarter dome sl1 review inside

Performance Notes

After using this tent in rainy and humid conditions, I found condensation management to be excellent, attributable to an ideally-located and generously-sized roof vent and steep fly walls.

I also suspected that the fly fabric was made with a low emissivity material, at least when compared to the silnylon and polyurethane (PU) coated nylon fly fabric samples in my possession. Using standardized emissivity measurement methods that use an infrared temperature sensor and an adjustable-emissivity thermal imaging camera, I was able to confirm this suspicion. However, my methods are crude, so I don’t yet have enough confidence in my data to publish comparison numbers.

rei quarter dome sl1 review overhead

Wind-resistance is very good and the tent stays quiet and stable in winds up to about 30 mph (the maximum I experienced in this tent) – assuming it’s pitched properly and tightly with all of its stakes and guylines.

A vestibule that’s roomier than most single side entry tents, four interior mesh pockets, and six hang loops gives you plenty of options to stay organized.

Strengths

  • One of the lightest and most affordable tents available in this category (see Compared To section below) without using expensive, less durable materials (e.g., exotic fabrics, low denier fabrics, or carbon poles). Best value in its category.
  • Canopy (fly) pitches very tight, as a result of quality design and manufacturing and enough fabric stretch. This helps with snow shedding, wind stability, and condensation resistance.
  • Very quiet and stable in wind, when pitched properly with all stakes and guylines.
  • Can be pitched fly-first in inclement weather (optional footprint required, sold separately).
  • Generous vestibule space.
  • Inner tent floor area is large enough for a wide, long pad with additional room inside for gear storage.
  • Vertical sidewalls help minimize getting water inside the tent during entry and exit in rain.
  • Fly fabric doesn’t sag in response to increasing humidity/rainy conditions when the tent is properly pitched and tightened initially.
  • Good condensation performance.

rei quarter dome sl1 review roof vent

Limitations

  • Fly buckles can be difficult to snap in very cold weather (small, hard to use with mittens or gloves).
  • Vestibule door zipper guard is very drippy if opened in wet conditions, and some of the water can enter the tent upon entry/exit. A slight awning over the door and as part of the open vestibule would be helpful here.

Compared To…

In the following table, the REI Quarter Dome SL 1 is compared to other similarly-sized double-wall, mostly mesh inner, semi-freestanding (i.e., no trekking pole tents), side entry tents that have a maximum trail weight (fly, inner, poles) of 48 oz (122 g). This table features US tent manufacturers only.

* Note: the Tarptent Rainbow is a hybrid single/double wall tent, but has been included here because of its similarity to other 1-person, side-entry, single-vestibule tents.

Modelweight (fly, inner, poles, oz)MSRP (US$)peak height (in)floor area (sq. ft.)type of entry# vestibulesvestibule area (sq. ft.)packed size (L x W, in)pole material
REI Quarter Dome32$2803818.9side19.66 x 19aluminum
REI Quarter Dome 139$3004218.9side19.86 x 18.5aluminum
MSR Freelite 1
32$3903618.0side19.06 x 18aluminum
MSR Carbon Reflex 123$4503417.0side17.05 x 17carbon
MSR Hubba NX 139$3803618.0side19.06 x 18aluminum
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 134$3803820.2side19.04 x 16.5aluminum
Big Agnes Manzanares HV SL148$3003820.0side19.06 x 18aluminum
Nemo Hornet Elite 124$4503921.8side16.94 x 19aluminum
Nemo Dragonfly 132$3503920.3side110.04 x 19.5aluminum
Nemo Hornet 131$3303922.3side17.34.5 x 19aluminum
Tarptent Rainbow 137$2694323.9side18.24 x 18aluminum

If price and weight are plotted against each other and a linear trendline is regressed to the data, we can get a feel for the value provided in this market category:

rei quarter dome sl1 value chart v2

Points above the line represent a below average value while points below the line represent an above average value. The farther away a point is from the line, the worse (or better). This makes the Big Agnes Manzanares HV UL1 and the MSR Hubba NX 1 the lowest value tents and the REI Quarter Dome SL 1 the highest value tents.

This analysis comes with a few caveats:

  1. It’s only applicable to the tents in the table above.
  2. It only considers weight and cost in the value proposition – not other performance metrics.

Review Rating: Recommended

rei quarter dome sl1 recommended

The REI Quarter Dome SL 1 earns a Recommended Rating for its wind stability, condensation resistance, livability, and value.

The only thing separating it from a Highly Recommended rating is that it’s still a half pound heavier than the two lightest tents on the market in this category – the Nemo Hornet Elite 1 and the MSR Carbon Reflex 1. However, at $170 cheaper than either of those options, the REI Quarter Dome SL 1 offers a very compelling option when it comes to its price:weight ratio.

  • Our Rating: Recommended (learn more)
  • MSRP: $279
  • Weight: 32.3 oz (916 g)
  • Buy Now: REI

rei quarter dome sl1 review guylinerei quarter dome sl1 review backside

Product Review Disclosure

Updated September 15, 2018

  • How we acquired these products: Product(s) discussed in this review were either acquired by the author from a retailer or otherwise provided by the manufacturer at a discount/donation with no obligation to provide media coverage or a product review to the manufacturer(s).
  • We do not accept money or in-kind compensation for guaranteed media coverage: Backpacking Light does not accept compensation or donated product in exchange for guaranteed media placement or product review coverage.
  • Affiliate links: Some (but not all) of the links in this review may be “affiliate” links, which means if you click on a link to one of our affiliate partners (usually a retailer site), and subsequently make a purchase with that retailer, we receive a small commission. This helps us fund our editorial projects, podcasts, instructional webinars, and more, and we appreciate it a lot! Thank you for supporting Backpacking Light!

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  • Author
    Posts
  • May 17, 2019 at 10:27 pm #3593458
    Ryan Jordan
    Admin

    @ryan

    Locale: Central Rockies

    Companion forum thread to: REI Quarter Dome SL1 Review

    The REI Quarter Dome SL1 is a single person, side entry, single side vestibule, double wall, mostly mesh inner, semi-freestanding tent.

    It represents one of the best values in terms of weight and performance found in this category, which includes tents from Nemo, MSR, and Big Agnes.

    May 18, 2019 at 12:20 pm #3593499
    Adam Holbrook
    BPL Member

    @pharmer

    Locale: SW Ohio

    Looks nice.  I’ve been looking for something lightweight and with steep sidewalls.  For some reason it isn’t showing as available online.  I’ll check at my local store to see what’s up.  Thanks for the look.

    May 18, 2019 at 7:35 pm #3593555
    David P
    BPL Member

    @dwpyle

    REI web site lists this tent as “No longer available”.

    May 19, 2019 at 1:18 am #3593595
    Rick M
    BPL Member

    @yamaguy

    Did anyone notice this design looks to be VERY similar to the Big Agnes Tiger Wall series? I am a little suspect of the long term durability all these paperthin 15D silnylon fabrics tents. Perhaps REI is rethinking the warranty implications with this SL series?

    May 19, 2019 at 8:14 pm #3593705
    jscott
    BPL Member

    @book

    Locale: Northern California

    this is a pretty darn good tent it seems. I mean, it looks excellent in terms of storm worthiness and living space.

    I wonder about the fiddle factor for the velcro loops. they seem to slow down the set up a bit.

    May 19, 2019 at 10:17 pm #3593715
    Ryan Jordan
    Admin

    @ryan

    Locale: Central Rockies

    Long term use of 15d should be fine. These fabrics have actually been around for awhile.

    The SL1 sold out yesterday, it will be available for pre-order again in about 3 weeks and is projected to start shipping the next production run around July 10 (source: REI).

    I’ve found it to be more stable than the Tiger Wall, but the latter tent has larger unsupported fabric panels and the pole structure is a little more wobbly.

    May 21, 2019 at 5:45 am #3593916
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    Well the Tarptent Moment DW and Scarp 1 and 2 are freestanding IF you add the optional Crossing Poles.

    PLUS, unlike this tent, they can be set up without getting the inner tent soaked.

    May 21, 2019 at 11:16 am #3593921
    Randy Cain
    BPL Member

    @bagboy

    Locale: Palmdale, CA

    Eric, the video demonstrates the rainy day setup at ~ 16:55 where the inner is set up last.

    May 21, 2019 at 12:36 pm #3593925
    Jeff McWilliams
    BPL Member

    @jjmcwill

    Locale: Midwest

    In the video you say that there are other tents that are competitive with the SL1, including the MSR Carbon Reflex.

    The Carbon Reflex 2 has a peak height of 34 inches.  A friend of mine has one.  Who is that tent designed for with a 34 inch peak height?  Hobbits?

     

    May 21, 2019 at 11:24 pm #3594019
    Randy Martin
    BPL Member

    @randalmartin

    Locale: Colorado

    What is interesting to me is the increase in the number of tents in the 2lb category.  Previously the difference between Ultralight shelters and traditional shelters was significant and you could expect to get a 2lb savings easily.  Now it seems these tents are not much heavier than a Tarp plus net tent combo or Duomid or other UL shelter of choice.

    In terms of the future I would think it may increasingly become hard to justify a UL shelter for weekenders like me that rarely do more than 2 nights out.

    May 22, 2019 at 11:52 am #3594069
    Jeff McWilliams
    BPL Member

    @jjmcwill

    Locale: Midwest

    Randy – agreed.

    People compare the pros and cons of a trekking pole shelter vs these mostly free standing shelters:  Nemo Hornet, Big Agnes Tiger Wall & Copper Spur, and now the REI Quarter Dome SL series.  They’re so light now that the incremental weight difference justifies, for them, the benefits to sticking with a traditional tent design that they are comfortable with and know how to manage.

    Jun 29, 2019 at 6:11 am #3599884
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    I stand corrected. And chagrined. After all the work Ryan did to demonstrate this feature guess who didn’t bother to watch the video? :o(

    The inner can be pitched after the poles and fly are pitched. In fact Ryan says its one of the easiest to do it this way of this type of tent. That’s good, but still not my cup of tent.

    I much prefer to have a tent where I can leave the inner tent attached to the fly and pitch both together in the rain or snow. Less fussing around setting up the tent.

    I do like the geometry of this tent. REI makes some well thought-out gear. And the fact that the fly has Velcro to fasten it to the poles is even more proof of their design thoroughness. This greatly helps in high winds to prevent flapping. I’ve done it on my modded Tarptent Moment DW and Scarp 2 where I read the X-inb poles inside the fly and secured them with Velcro cable wraps sewn to the fly interior. Great minds… (hee, hee)

    Jun 30, 2019 at 7:21 pm #3600052
    John Z
    BPL Member

    @feather

    The REI Quarter Dome SL1 is on sale for $195.29 (30% off) through July 4, 2019.

    Jul 11, 2019 at 8:36 pm #3601557
    Alice Hengst
    BPL Member

    @moondust

    Locale: Southern Sierras

    I dislike the design of these semi-freestanding “one pole in the back” tents. In a strong wind the tent bends over no matter how well staked it is. I have the Fly Creek UL 1 and experienced this in a storm. The walls of the tent bent over and touched me, and I could feel the hail hitting. And for those thinking I should have not set up the tent sideways to the wind, I didn’t. The wind shifted.

    My next tent will be a real free-standing model even if it weighs a few more ounces.

    Aug 6, 2019 at 4:16 am #3604953
    Sam Farrington
    BPL Member

    @scfhome

    Locale: Chocorua NH, USA

    “My next tent will be a real free-standing model even if it weighs a few more ounces.”

    Agreed, for several reasons.
    Although for its weight this tent is very roomy in all dimensions, so would be a cardboard box of similar shape and size. While space for weight is very important, it may be of greater importance that the tent have an aerodynamic shape to shed wind. Just in case the weather gets nasty, which for longer distance hikers is sure to happen, and can happen unexpectedly to weekend overnighters. As Alice found out, even one episode if this was not acceptable. For those who reject masochism and backpack for enjoyment, this is generally the case. Except for the front vestibule, the walls on this tent are much too close to vertical to shed wind, and in high winds, will be prone to creating barriers that the wind just loves to blow away. Of course you can carry a bunch of stakes and guylines that will brace a tent wall against high winds; but wouldn’t it be better to save the added weight and carry a tent that is aerodynamic enough to function without it; unless you are one of those tornado chasers who would be better off to carry a shipping container.

    Like Eric B, I did not catch Ryan’s set up method for a dry pitch in rain, as the video was quite long and time was limited; but from Eric’s comments, think I get the general idea. Just as you can make a tent stable in winds with many guylines, you can dry pitch most tents if there is plenty of time to do it. However, really nasty storms are the epitome of times when there is not a lot of time to get sheltered and dry in a safe place, especially if fleeing to a nearby motel is not an option, which I think can be the case for longer distance hiking which can be just a few weeks and doesn’t have to be for months.

    Last, as Alice suggested, a tent supported by a frame should be self-supporting, and need stakes only to anchor it, not support it. All these tents that scrimp on a pole or two, and need stakes to hold the occupied section up, do not meet this test, and certainly are not what hikers generally regard as free-standing. (There is really no reason to make a vestibule free-standing, especially when with good design, it can substitute for guy line supports, protect shelter access and egress, and greatly increase storage space, all without needing more pole(s) to stabilize the tent.)

    I put the above on the article thread because Ryan should know that in the minds of many, tents like the SL1 really do not move the bar forward. Will leave it a that.

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