Limelight UL 2-Person Tent

The Marmot Limelight UL 2P is not quite UL (3.2 lbs), but it's a legit tent.

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)

Same as in another comment - I've also enjoyed many years with my Marmot 2P Limelight as my primary car camping tent. Recently I invested in a SnowPeak Alpha Breeze and that setup changed my life. The upgrade was a result of having a son and wanting to take him camping, but I find myself using it more for solo car camp trips as well. While the Alpha Breeze is out of the gear stipend budget, I'd highly recommend looking at other options from Snow Peak - possibly the Amenity Dome Medium, Land Nest Medium, or Vault. All are well designed/built and I appreciate the generous vestibule on rainy days/evening.

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.

My go-to car camping tent is a Marmot 2P Limelight. I’m 6’1’’ and it fits me well. The poles have a bend that makes the lower part of the walls more vertical which makes it feel roomier to me. Palo Pinto in Texas? That looks really nice.