Hi Everyone,
I'm new here but I have been scouring this forum looking for a tent recommendation that fit our needs and finding none am asking for advice. My wife and I need to replace an old, heavy 3-4 season SD Polaris whose fly is no longer waterproof. I'm taking this opportunity to consider backpacking tents that are lighter weight than the 6.5 lbs of the Polaris. I have spent hours searching tent review sites and have found only 1 or 2 tents that fit our needs but I know there must be more options to consider. Here is what we are looking for in a new tent:

-A 3+ season tent for use in early spring/late fall when it's cold, so less mesh on the tent body, especially low, and more solid material. We have an airy full mesh tent (NF Slickrock) we use for warmer weather backpacking. We often get rained on in early spring when it’s cold so we want to avoid tents with condensation issues, like single wall, especially since we use down bags.

-roomy enough for 2 to sleep comfortably. This has been the big factor most often disqualifying 99% of tents. Tents are so narrow nowadays! Occasionally we need to sleep head to toe (snoring) so a wide tent foot area is necessary as well. My wife finds 50" too narrow. We got in three new tents to see what feels wide enough and what doesn’t. 88” x 54” is wide enough whereas 90”x 54”/44” (foot width) she found a little too narrow and 86” x 52”/42” (foot width) felt unreasonably narrow to both of us. She is 5’4” and I am 5’10” and both of small build.

-We’ve been using the 6.5 lb Polaris for cold weather backpacking for 15 years so anything over a pound lighter will feel like a real upgrade. We are comfortable carrying a little more weight to get a little more elbow room; 5 - 5.5 lbs seems reasonable for a good night sleep.

-We live in WI and are often backpacking in the northern midwest where soil can be thin and the rock hard so we prefer freestanding. We do hike with walking poles so would consider a partially freestanding tent that uses a pole or 2 for support.

-2 side doors or 1 front door so we don't have to climb over one another at night

-At least 1 vestibule big enough for 2 packs and boots

-I am an outdoor professional so I can get some tents at a discount. That said, for the perfect tent I can justify paying $400. But, most outdoor professionals don’t get paid much so I would rather pay in the $250-$300 range.

Strangely, one of the only tents I can find that seems to fit all of our needs is a tent made by the gear wholesaler Liberty Mountain/Peregrine Outfitters. It’s called the Radama 2. It’s 5.5 lbs and super wide at 59”. There aren’t many reviews of it so I want to consider other options before heading to Isle Royale NP for 6 days this June with a $150 tent. Thanks for any suggestions or recommendations!

Re-do your research and include 3-person tents. Nowadays, the width of 3-person tents is similar to the old 2-person tents. One reason tents have narrowed is that they now are designed with steeper side walls so even if the floor is narrower you have more usable sideways space (if you get a 2 side door tent). If you have a store within reach you should get inside a narrower tent and see how it feels. Include "mountaineering" tents when doing a search. Sometimes tents with less mesh are put in that category.

My husband snores but I bring ear plugs so do not have to sleep head-to-foot.

Most tents eventually go on sale. Often you can pick up the last season's model at a considerable reduced price.

You're going to find that a tent with more mesh and less solid walls will have less condensation. I don't imagine a solid wall is any warmer than a mesh wall. The rain fly wrapping around entire tent will block the wind. Both of my backpacking tents are all mesh with exception of the tub style floor, and I've backpacked in 17 degrees while snowing! It sure is cozy and warm in the sleeping bag!

With that said, check this tent out: Tarptent Rainbow 2 Disclaiminer: I have never used this tent, I do have the Moment from Tarptent and I been putting it through the ringer lately! I just recommended this tent to give you something different to look at that you will not find in big box stores. There is another 3 person tent on that website that has a dual door as well. If your budget stops at $150, you might want check into massive tarp and bivy or rig a big bug net under it. Tarptent has a serious fan base and is well known in the backpacking community.

An Easton Kilo 3p is a palace for two and still weighs less than 4#. Just one door and still needs guying and staking for the wind, but you'll have room to roam; heck, sleep sideways. Can skip the fly for stargazing.

cheers,

Exactly my thoughts, daisy. I'd start with the Copper Spur UL3 by Big Agnes - but depending on preferences and locales, I wouldn't rule out TarpTents. You might get a 3-season TarpTent for the same weight as a two person "traditional" tent. The big issue with TarpTent, in the east (Isle Royale), could be condensation; I don't have any experience with them, so I'm mentioning it in hopes others who use them in the east might chime in with some good info. (It's not meant to dissuade you from looking at TarpTent.)

I guess I should have kept reading before I responded to Daisy.

Just an addition to what Daisy said--look up the specifications of various tents on the manufacturers' websites and use masking tape on your living room floor to block out the actual floor space (with string and some strategically placed poles and furniture you can model the height, too). You may find some of those so-called 2-person tents too tight a fit. This method is a lot quicker than running from store to store or ordering online and sending them back!

I personally am a single-wall tent fan because I want my condensation where I can wipe it off instead of collecting on the fly and dripping down through the inner. Your mileage, of course, may vary!

I starting thinking about 3 person tents exactly as you suggested but upon looking at specs on 3p tents I noticed that they usually start over 6 lbs. I haven't looked at many however so good suggestion. I will look at some of the ultralight tents in 3p and see what they weigh in at. Thanks for the suggestion!

Tarptent has quite an underground following. I've never heard of them until doing some research lately for this purchase and I see Tarptent mentioned in several forums. I pull up their website again and specifically look at the ones you mentioned. Thanks!

Measuring out the dimensions on the floor is a great idea!

I've been using an REI T2 Quarter Dome for a 2 person backpacking tent (until today: I just bought a Big Agnes Fly Creek 2:) I put it on the scale and w/o the footprint, it weighed in at 4lb 6oz: not super light, like say my new BA, but not bad, and personally I think it is very roomy. The amount of headroom blew me away when I first got it, and it has 2 vestibules and doors. It has been a very comfy tent for two, and has done ok in a couple snow storms. You can also lighten it up significantly by fast pitching it with only the footprint and rainfly. It is also on sale pretty cheap right now at REI

I think we've settled on the Copper Spur 3! I can't believe I hadn't considered BA 3p tents before. I looked into other manufacturer's 3p tents and those were the heavy ones. But the 2014 Copper Spur 3...about 4 lbs! Great suggestion! The BA Slater 2+ was also in the running but it doesn't have any rainfly vents and in the moist, cold midwest rainfly vents are a sure way to combat condensation. Thanks everyone!

Right on. Big Agnes are cool tent (I have one), you will love it.

I think you will be happy with the copper spur.
I have the Jack rabbit 2 from Big agnes.
Similar to copper spur. daughter and I loved it.
She is a teen so basically full size.
we are both about 5'7"
sleeping pads were next to each other we had ample room in the feet area and by our heads.
The Jack Rabbit has sewn in storage pocket sin the corners.
I am sure the spur does also.
the 3 will definitely be roomy
I love the side doors.
For camping by myself I have the fly creek two.
I opted for the xtra room in case of bad weather and am still at 2lbs for shelter which works for me

suggestion on a roomy two person tent is to buy normal three person tent add a large footprint and a vestibule.
The footprint doubles as a tarp for those rainy days to cover you and tent while sitting outside waiting for the rain to stop. The vestibule is to hold and keep dry your gear and boots