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The REI Half Dome SL 2+ is one of the most livable and comfortable backpacking tents in this review. It provides the most bang for the buck of any model in the category. With a spacious interior and thoughtful construction, it is a good choice for taller folks or anyone who opts to bring their pet on the adventure. We love it for its exceptional comfort, luxurious dimensions, and good ventilation, as well as its wide array of interior storage pockets.
All that interior space comes with additional weight. As one of the heaviest tents in our fleet, it is more than double the weight of the lightest models in the category. It may be inconsequential over short distances, especially split between two people, but for longer trips, we would look elsewhere. It is best suited for weekend backpacking, canoe trips, and car camping. Overall, this tent is a real rock star that comes at a comparatively affordable price.

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If you’re looking for the right combination of performance and price, it’s hard to beat REI’s iconic Half Dome. This tent has gone through multiple iterations over the years, and the most recent SL (“superlight”) is one of the most balanced offerings yet. For $329 (price jumped by $50 recently), the SL is well-built, easy to set up and take down, relatively durable with a 40-denier floor, and has ample mesh for stargazing and ventilation. Yes, you can save with the cheaper REI Passage below, but there are real tradeoffs in terms of interior space, weight, and packed size. All told, we think the Half Dome is a great value for what you get and should keep many backpackers happy—it’s the tent we recommend most to family and friends.

For over $170 less than the top-rated Copper Spur, the Half Dome SL offers a bump in durability, and its generous dimensions (4 in. longer and wider than the Big Agnes) make it a very roomy tent for two. But you can’t have it all, and in the case of the SL the big compromise comes in terms of weight and bulk. At over a pound and a half heavier than the Copper Spur, “superlight” is a bit of a misnomer, although you can drop about 8 ounces by leaving the included footprint behind (the Big Agnes does not come with a footprint). Despite the nitpicks, we think the Half Dome SL is in a class of its own among value options, making it a reasonable choice for avid backpackers and beginners alike... Read in-depth reviewSee the REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+

REI’s Passage above is a function-first tent that will save you a lot of cash, but their mid-range Half Dome SL 2+ is the more well-rounded design. For $329 (price unfortunately jumped $50 recently), you get a sizable boost in livability thanks to roomier dimensions and modern features like pre-bent poles and a ridge-pole structure, both of which spread out the headroom and create steeper walls throughout. It all adds up to a nice amount of space for two adults, and with the "plus" designation, you’ve got room to squeeze in a smaller companion like a child or canine, too. Impressively, the Half Dome still manages to check in 14.5 ounces lighter than the Passage, and the whole package is noticeably more premium: finishes like a DAC-brand hubbed pole set and larger vents and vestibules give the tent a high-end feel that goes head to head with many of the top designs on the market.

The main reason the Half Dome SL dips into the budget category is weight: while it’s reasonably light compared to base models like the Passage above, it can’t compete with top-tier tents like the Big Agnes Copper Spur ($500; 3 lbs. 2 oz.). Simply put, if you’re headed out for weeks at a time or plan to cover a lot of ground each day, it might be worth spending up. But you can drop 8 ounces by leaving the included footprint behind, and the robust 40-denier floor should stand up well to rocks and branches. And if you’re looking to keep both weight and cost low, a tent like the Big Agnes C Bar is worth a look, but you’ll give up a good deal of livability with a tapered floor plan and single-door design. All told, for the best of all worlds at a sub-$350 price point, the Half Dome SL is without rival—in fact, it’s the tent we recommend most to family and friends... Read in-depth reviewSee the REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+

The REI Half Dome SL 2+ is one of the most livable and comfortable backpacking tents in this review. It provides the most bang for the buck of any model in the category. With a spacious interior and thoughtful construction, it is a good choice for taller folks or anyone who opts to bring their pet on the adventure. We love its exceptional comfort, luxurious dimensions, and good ventilation, as well as its wide array of interior storage pockets.
All that interior space comes with additional weight. As one of the heaviest tents in our fleet, it is more than double the weight of the lightest models in the category. It may be inconsequential over short distances, especially split between two people, but for longer trips, we would look elsewhere. It is best suited for weekend backpacking, canoe trips, and car camping. Overall, this tent is a real rock star that comes at a comparatively affordable price.
Read more: REI Half Dome SL 2+ review

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Switchback Travel | REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent Review

REI Half Dome 2 Plus Tent Review

The NEMO Dragonfly 2 strikes a prime balance between comfort and weight. Two substantial side doors, two-tone mesh for increased privacy at a busy campsite, and wind-resistant lower sidewalls add to this tent's allure. The fabric is durable, and the trapezoidal rainfly stays taut &#40;and quiet&#41; in the wind, which turns out to be a surprisingly rare feature in a tent. The massive vestibules provide plenty of space for gear storage. Its exceptional design means that six-foot-tall sleepers have enough head-to-toe length when lying down and enough vertical headroom for sitting up.
This tent is great, but the interior width of 50" tapering to 45" leaves some foot-end pinching. Though it comes with an impressive array of storage pockets, they aren't super conveniently located and require a long reach from a lying-down position. All things considered, this tent is exceptional for its balance of performance and weight &mdash; a combination that we would take with us on almost any adventure.

The NEMO Dragonfly 2 strikes an excellent balance between comfort and weight. Two substantial side doors, two-tone mesh for increased privacy at a busy campsite, and wind-resistant lower sidewalls add to this tent's allure. The fabric is durable, and the trapezoidal rainfly stays taut &#40;and quiet&#41; in the wind, which turns out to be a surprisingly rare feature in a tent. The massive vestibules provide plenty of space for gear storage. Its exceptional design means that six-foot-tall sleepers have enough head-to-toe length when lying down and enough vertical headroom for sitting up.
We love the Dragonfly, but the interior width of 50" tapering to 45" leaves some foot-end pinching. Though it has an impressive array of storage pockets, they aren't super conveniently located and require a long reach from a lying-down position. All things considered, this tent is exceptional for its balance of performance and weight &mdash; a combination that we would take with us on almost any adventure.
Read more: NEMO Dragonfly 2 review

The NEMO Dragonfly 2 strikes the ideal balance between helpful features and a reasonable weight. The interior is roomy enough to comfortably fit two people without feeling crowded, and there are enough pockets to store all your odds and ends. A good-sized gear loft can fit any larger items you don't want on the floor with you. We especially love the size and shape of the dual vestibules; located on the long sides of the tent, they offer more useable space than average. Color-coded webbing and poles make setup a breeze, and reflective stakes help to keep them highly visible even late at night.
As is typical for most types of gear, tents included, all the great features of the Dragonfly 2 come at the cost of weight. However, this is a trade we are happy to make, as we feel the Dragonfly finds a happy medium. The rain fly offers excellent weather protection; however, we think it could benefit from better ventilation. The zippered openings in the vestibules help some, but they don't stretch wide enough to prevent condensation. We have few other complaints about this tent and would happily carry the NEMO Dragonfly 2 into the backcountry for almost any multiday adventure.
Read more: NEMO Dragonfly 2 review

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Review: Nemo Dragonfly 2P Ultralight Backpacking Tent - The Big Outside

NEMO Dragonfly 2 Person Tent Review

One of the most well-rounded backpacking tents on the market for years running, MSR’s Hubba Hubba offers exceptional livability and weather protection in a durable, lightweight package. Revamped for 2022, the newest version shaves a considerable amount of weight (10 oz.) off of the outgoing model with the use of thinner materials, but the overall design remains the same. A non-tapered floor plan, 40-inch peak height, and near-vertical walls offer excellent interior space, and you get great weather resistance with a long-lasting waterproof coating on the fly and a hubbed pole design for stability in high winds. Checking in at just 3 pounds 4 ounces, all signs point to this being the best Hubba Hubba yet.

How does the Hubba Hubba measure up to our top-ranked Copper Spur? With the Big Agnes you get 4 inches more length and a few inches more width at the head, and the steep walls and non-symmetrical pole structure create an impressive amount of headroom at one end. On the other hand, the MSR’s non-tapered build offers more width throughout, which means you'll have the option of sleeping head-to-toe with your tentmate. Another factor to consider is the Hubba Hubba’s solid tent walls (the Copper Spur is more mesh-heavy), which will be better in high winds but result in less ventilation overall. Finally, both tents are relatively similar in terms of durability: The MSR’s floor is 20 denier vs. the Big Agnes’ 15x20 denier. In the end, the Copper Spur maintains the top spot due to its unparalleled ventilation and livability, but for $20 less, the Hubba Hubba is hot on its heels... Read in-depth reviewSee the MSR Hubba Hubba 2P

Backpacking Tent Comparison