Mystique 2-Person

Went on a 12-day through hike in Norway a few years ago with 2 friends. All of us bought a different tent for about the same price. One bought this Quechua one, I bought the Jack Wolfskin Gossamer, and one bought the Alps Mountaineering Mystique. The Quechua was the worst quality overall, the Mystique was the best footprint/pack size, and the Gossamer was the best bug netting/materials at the expense of packed down shape (very long, which actually helped with outside backpack attachment) and you can’t sit up in it really. I don’t remember weight differences but we all managed just fine carrying our own tents up mountains with our 65L packs, and ultimately all did the job well enough.

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.

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….

Alps mountaineering got me into backpacking. Even after I took up backpacking as a very regular activity, the 2-person tent was among the very last items to be replaced. Just the right dimensions, good weight, reliable, and damn near bulletproof. It outlasted a hail storm that would have given me concussions otherwise. To be fair, I was freaking the hell out in that tent the entire time...

I like the Alps tents. Wife and I moto camp off our KTM’s and the two person has aluminum poles (fiberglass poles break) and two vestibule for our Mosko luggage and riding gear. It keeps it all dry but out of the tent. I use a stuff sack to pack it small.

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

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