Limelight 2-Person Tent

Thanks for the reply! I actually have the updated limelight 2p with the wings and honestly they’re a pretty nice feature, add quite a bit of space inside The marmot tungsten 2p is basically the same but wingless.

I too am picky about the look of my gear, so I get it. It’s not girly per se, but for a tent rec, my Marmot Limelight 2p tent is cute AF (it’s the yellow-red colorway). Super cheerful colorway. It’s also really easy to set up and generally feels like good quality, and perfect size for me and my dog 🐶. I recommend it! My kelty supernova sleeping bag matches the tent nicely - some of their stuff comes in pretty good color combos (and some in confusingly tacky patterns? It’s hit or miss). Other “cute” things I have and like for camping are a mint green camp stove from Eureka, and a lavender Yeti, which feels like an overcorrection 🤣 but I like it anyway! For clothes, I’ve been eyeing halfdays but haven’t bought any yet so I can’t speak to the quality. Agree with another commenter that mentioned Arcteryx. Cotopaxi has bright color combos but is a little twee for my taste. But probably some good stuff to find there regardless (the are also a B Corp which is always a plus to support!)

I haven’t tried many different tents (most just what friends had or tents I rented and I honestly can’t remember what they were. Probably Coleman or Kelty tents, if I had to guess), so my input is probably not that useful; but I have a Marmot Limelight 2p tent for me and my dog - this is probably too small for you but I love it and some of the other Marmot models come larger and have the features I like. It’s super easy to put up: the poles are color coded to the tent corners, so it’s a real no brainer. Also, the tent clips to the poles all the way around - vs some tents where you have to thread the poles through the tent fabric at the top which to me is just a PITA when setting up solo. Stays dry - the rain fly has been very effective, we stayed dry through rainy nights. Tent also seems to hold up decently to wind gusts. I haven’t tested it in high winds (but then again I probably wouldn’t tent camp with high winds in the forecast). I can sit up comfortably (but not stand up; but I see my tent as my “covered bed” rather than a full on living space), and there are lots of conveniences like the “side table” thingies to stash gear and pockets/“hammocks” to put phones/keys/lights/glasses case/etc. fits my megamat duo perfectly. And it’s just damn good quality compared to what I assume were more budget options (rentals, friends tents in our younger days lol). I feel like the Tungsten checks the same boxes in a 4p tent. And it comes in the super cute and cheerful yellow/orange colorway I have and love as a departure from the typical drab olive/navy/brown that outdoors gear always comes in. (And side comment as a solo camper; I personally would not want to wrestle with a 6p tent by myself, seems like a hassle)

Look into how small a 1p tent is. Nothing wrong with getting a Coleman Sundome 2p to start, sturdy bottom and no need for a footprint. If you want to spend from the beginning the Marmot Limelight series is reliable and the 2p has a fun bumpout for gear inside instead of under the rain fly.

I have a Limelight 2P and love it for car camping. I took it backpacking once or twice, but I have since switched to a much lighter 1P for backpacking.

This is the way. If I’m alone and doing something like a multi day road trip, where I’m pulling off to sleep, or I’m driving 6 hours after work to fish in the morning and just want to pass out when I get up there, I’ll puff up my air mattress and pass out in the back. Level it off with blankets and shove my gear next to me. Anything else, and we pitch anything between a limelight 2p to a 16x16 Kodiak tent with a wood stove (and a few in between). If you like the idea of simplicity and being able to easily stay where you are, or go adventure with minimal prep, what we did was get the MOLLE rear panels and shelf, and outfit them with all your shit (wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towel, a micro burner and two cans of ISOpro, mess kit, few packs of Mountsin House grub, water bottles, flashlights, lighters, etc. Then we keep the 2p tent, air mattresses, sleeping bags and camping chairs in the roof top case, so anywhere we are, we have pretty comfortable accommodations, and any time we have a planned trip, all we have to do is pack a cooler with some better food, or maybe a bigger tent, etc but all the small things are always already packed and ready, and you still have your trunk for cargo space. https://preview.redd.it/1c3ldztijpeg1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68c8e3b3b6f356d5b8b264449bc5f6103cc69827 (Ignore the mess. Focus on the happy dog).

I was a guide for 10 years and slept in a tent ~150 nights a year. The only tent I owned that entire time was a Marmot Limelight 2p. I think I broke one pole the entire time ( a non-necessary pole that gives you more headroom) and marmot was able to send me a replacement. It's a good middle ground tent, not heavy, but not ultralight. Reasonably priced. Rugged enough to keep up with the elements (used through many severe mountain storms). I have backpacked with it, but it's a bit too heavy to use it for that solo. I longer guide, but my family's tent is now a Limelight 4p (which is huge IMO). On the other hand. If you want true BIFL, don't care about weight, and are willing to spend a bit of money for the last tent you will ever buy, get a canvas wall tent as others have mentioned (Springbar or Kodiak).

Marmot Limelight 2P or a Eureka Mountain Pass 2P are both fantastic tents. The mountain pass is 4 season rated if needed. I have both.