
The North Face
Wawona 6
Spacious vestibule, strong in storms, but rainfly tricky solo.

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I have the older Limelight 3P and the newer Limelight 3P with vertical side walls. I've noticed no difference in how it holds up in rougher weather. Both kept me dry!
Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, or Alps are my current go-to’s - just get a basic dome tent with a full length rainfly. I have the same requirement of strength over lightness for my canoe trip tents. Get a good quality polyester tent IMHO, many benefits with modern polyester over nylon. You won’t get any benefits other than a bit of weight reduction by spending more on a Big Agnes, MSR, Nemo, etc…
I have an old Limelight (like 3 generations old) and it’s a great car camping tent. Got one of the newer versions (non-UL) and didn’t like the vestibule access. Ended up returning it and getting a Sea to Summit Telos TR3. Would definitely recommend the tent. Maybe a hair shy of a UL, but not by much
I have an old Limelight (like 3 generations old) and it’s a great car camping tent. Got one of the newer versions (non-UL) and didn’t like the vestibule access. Ended up returning it and getting a Sea to Summit Telos TR3. Would definitely recommend the tent. Maybe a hair shy of a UL, but not by much
I have this tent too. It doesn't have too many miles, but has held up great. Went through heavy rains and nickel sized hail. OP, Marmot makes good stuff.
I have a limelight 3p that I bought a number of years ago and have no complaints about the tent, its been a solid little tent and has held up well. I wouldn't call it a backpacking tent just due to the weight but its still doable, I've taken my limelight 3p out once and I felt every pound after a while.
I’ve been a Tarptent user for most of my life and only pulled out my old Marmot Limelight 3P when I needed something for car camping. The Alpha Breeze has been a huge upgrade. I wanted something a little more leveled up for the amount of car camping I’ve been doing, but mainly for getting my son outside. My wife bought it for me on Father’s Day and it has been the only tent I’ve used this year. The rear wall has never bothered me. I’m used to tighter quarters, so I usually put my head back there and forget about it. The pole system took a little time to learn, but once the routine clicked I can set it up solo without any issues. It feels solid and well thought out. The real strength is the design and the vestibule. Being able to open or close different panels for airflow or privacy has been great, and it’s easy to tune for comfort. The vestibule has become my favorite place to end the night with a glass of bourbon and a book. If it fits your style of camping, I’d recommend it. Let me know if you have any questions.
*\*Image of my Alpha Breeze at the AAC Gunks Campground* Hey all, looking for some tent recommendations for a pretty specific setup. I spend a decent amount of time climbing up at the Gunks and usually camp nearby. When I’m solo, I’ve typically just used a small 1P Tarptent since it’s what I already have for backpacking. It works, but it’s not the most comfortable for hanging out at camp. On the other end, I’ve got a Snow Peak Alpha Breeze that I use for family trips. It’s great, but kind of a pain to set up solo. Also, there are times I end up sharing a 12x12 tent pad with other climbers, and the footprint on this is too big to allow that. It's nice to have this tent there, but I would like to simplify. Between the Tarptent and Alpha Breeze I’ve been using an old Marmot Limelight 3 that my dad gave me, which has been a nice middle ground, but it’s starting to show its age. I'm open to getting another Marmot Limelight, but wanted to open myself to other options first. So I’m trying to find something in between: * Freestanding * Quick and easy to set up solo * Compact footprint that works on a shared pad * Not ultralight, but not bulky either * Good ventilation and solid in storms * Bonus if it fits an Exped LuxeMat Duo, but not a must, I have other pads Basically something comfortable for a couple nights at a basecamp without turning setup into a whole production. Any ideas would be appreciated!
This is awesome, really appreciate you taking the time to set it up and share all the pics and details. Super helpful. That actually confirms what I was thinking. If your mat has that much extra space, I could probably size down and still make my pad work without any issues. Trying to stay a bit more space conscious, and a 4p might be more than I need for this setup. How was it getting everything tensioned out? I zoomed in and saw the cord system you mentioned. My current Marmot has something similar and it’s held up surprisingly well, so I’m curious if this feels comparable or a little more questionable. Overall though, this looks like a really clean setup.

The North Face
Wawona 6
Spacious vestibule, strong in storms, but rainfly tricky solo.

Gazelle Tents
T4 Hub Tent Series
Fastest setup, durable, but bulky and awkward door.

Durston
X-Mid 2
Ultralight, spacious 2P, but not for very strong winds.

Durston
X-Mid 1
Budget ultralight 1P, spacious, but large footprint.

Naturehike
Mongar 2 Backpack Tent (Nylon)
Budget 2P, spacious for price, but not for 4 seasons.

Ranked #1
Durston - X-Mid 2

Ranked #1
Gazelle Tents - T4 Hub Tent Series

Ranked #1
Gazelle Tents - T4 Hub Tent Series

Ranked #1
Durston - X-Mid 2

Ranked #1
Durston - X-Mid 2

Ranked #1
SlingFin - Portal 2