Marmot - Limelight UL 2-Person Tent

I own Kelty, North Face and Marmot backpacking tents, and can attest to their durability, ease of use and agreeable weight. I've used them both in the backcountry as well as when going car camping.

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 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).

I'd add marmot to that list too for the 3-season and backup the canvas with stove for freezing weather.

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.

Marmot Limelight, Marmot Halo are both excellent. If you can still find it getting that Eureka Spacecamp is also excellent. Johnson Outdoors has discontinued the brand but you will be able to get it for quite a bargain price.

My marmot limelight is pretty simple to set up and has lasted forever.

Imagine you went for a long hike, and got turned around. Not lost, really, just heading back to camp late. You're tired and thirsty. You come up on a ridge overlooking the valley you camped in. You look down into a valley of green trees. Where is our campsite? This is not good. There are three trails going down into the valley. If you take the wrong one, it could take a long time to backtrack and try a different trail...oh look! There's our orange tent! Thank you REI, thank you Marmot tents! This happened to me. But it was sunset, and I was dehydrated and exausted.

Same. This is mine and plenty of room for me/wife and dog. Easy setup and while bot ultralight I think it fits your description on weight.

Used to be an avid backpacker before having my son.  I use a Marmot Limelight 2P for our scouting trips.  It’s been all over and continues to hold strong, great water resistance.  Surprisingly after 15+ years of use it’s still going strong and has survived a few years of Cub Scout camping weekends.  All my Marmot gear has really held up through the years and adventures.   I have a Coleman 6P with a porch area and it’s nice for car camping but not something I would want to take to Scout weekends.  It’s huge and heavy, and would take up more space than me and my son need, blocking others who have bigger families.