ALPS Mountaineering - Helix 2

join hiker direct. they have tons of tents. I just bought a helix 2 and it's super light and very roomy for a two person.

I have the 2 and I've had no problems with it. I've got pretty broad shoulders so a 1 person tent is too small. On the 2 the vestibule is fine.

Alps Helix2 can be found for $200 and less. I paid 196 delivered. It's a freestanding tent that weighs roughly 4lbs, and it is a double wall setup with a removable fly for stargazing or ditching the fly entirely if you know the weather will support that. It also features double doors that are generously sized, too. The one thing I wish they had done differently is to swap the aluminum poles to carbon fiber for weight savings, but at 4lbs, this is a decently light shelter for 2.

Alps mountaineering Lynx series is a great option IMO. Our troop uses the 3 person variant but they do make a 1 and a 2 person size. You do sacrifice a little bulk and weight for very good durability. A lighter but less durable option would be the Alps Mountaineering Helix. Mesh walls and thinner nylon. I have the 2 person size and it’s perfect for 1 person plus gear. This one might be a little outside your budget though.

I am a Scoutmaster for a troop in the PNW. Here are my recommendations. Talk with your troop leaders to see what other scouts are using. Do they truly need a backpacking tent because they are hiking several Miles into their campsite? Or are they essentially car camping on most campouts? This will greatly affect what tent you buy. There is a website called www.hikerdirect.com. It will not pull up on a google search, you must type it into your web address bar and go directly to the site. It is the Alps Mountaineering website specifically for scouts. You can buy brand new gear for half off retail or less. They have sleeping bags, pads, chairs, duffel bags, hiking backpacks and tons more. I recommend looking at the Lynx 3 person or the helix 2 person. The lynx 3 is a great tent for two people to share. It can be carried on a backpacking outing by dividing the contents between the two scouts who will be sharing the tent. The helix 2 person is smaller and lighter. Better for backpacking but it can barely fit two people with no room for gear inside. It’s great for one person with gear though. Tons of other options available but those are my favorites.

What type of camping? Car? Backpacking? Depending on your physical sizes, I love the Alps 2 person Helix tent. Less than 5 lbs. sturdy in weather. I put a cot in it but it’s tight and doesn’t fit all cots. I’m 6’5” and take my 5’10” son. If he sleeps with me, I can’t use my cot and all packs have to be in the vestibule but that works fine. You’ll get a million opinions and all are probably good. Look for a 2-3 person tent at the REI member discount area not rated poorly.

I've had an ALPS Mountaineering 2 person for years. Its been a great tent for me. Less than $140 at the time.

For shelter/ tent… I will give you a pro tip…. Start with a 2man tent… I really like the Alps brand for entry level tents and here is why. We use them in Boy Scout troops where the kids are tough on gear…. They stand up…. You can get them off Amazon for the best prices and there is a huge selection…. They also back up their gear if something breaks- if the tents gets wet - set it up at home to air it out dry….

I have a similar Kelty Gunnison 4 tent. Bought it 20 years ago so it is on it’ll last legs. Check out Alps Mountaineering. I bought a 2p and 5p and like them as much as my Kelty.

I love my Alps tent and they’re not too expensive.

Personally I have two Gazelle knock offs that are just absolute chefs kiss. Unfortunately that company sucks and they don’t make them anymore. I would be hesitant to buy an Ozark Trail tent, but I do have a $30 tent from Academy that I use for outdoor storage and it stays surprisingly dry. I love my Alps tent, and I think it was Eric on YouTube that did a budget trip and the Featherstone tent he really liked.

The kingdom tents from REI are great. the tubeshape and features are quite nice so are the extras.... but if you want easy to put up an down the instant tents from Ozark Trail I used with my family when kids were young in cub scouts for 5+ years. I the integrated poles made for putting it up and down very quick and easy even by myself, and I could stand up and had 4 cots in them. The may be cheaper than others but there are a few brands that make the instant tents with integrated poles. I was surprised how well my ozark held up. also check out the alps brands, they are built well, but heavy.

Anything by Alps mountaineering. Really good warrantee, great quality, good pricing.