REI Co-op - Flash 2

Yes! My 2 person REI backpacking tent is awesome. Just enough room, easy to set up and breakdown, affordable, and has lasted a decade already with no problems. I strongly recommend to new tent to users to make the investment of buying the “footprint” if theres one that corresponds with your exact tent, or throwing a tarp underneath your tent. And be sure to lay it out in the sun to dry before packing up if possible, or do so once you get home. Just don’t pack up a wet tent for weeks or months.

Yep that’s the backpacking tent I have as well. Love REI gear. The footprint is a no brainer if you want to stay dry for sure! 

My kids first slept alone in my old backpacking tent. It’s an REI clip flashlight 3-D, which I bought in 2001 and is still nearly perfect after a ton of use. I can’t remember exactly how old they were when I let them be in a tent alone, I would say five or six? But my older daughter was always the most independent child on earth so she was eager to do things like that. We always camp in places where two tents would be right next to each other. So she is just two pieces of nylon away from me and I could hear of her zipper opened and she could easily get my attention if she needed to get out and pee at night. She’s a junior in high school now and still loves camping so I feel like we did it right!

Depending what you’re using it for! Do you go camping with your car? Or do you do backcountry hiking? If you’re gonna be carrying your tent you want to go for as lightweight as possible. Ounces really add up. I have an rei brand two person tent that’s super light and still spacious enough for two. If you won’t be carrying it on your back, you can go for more space, maybe a more heavy duty rain cover depending on your most common terrain. I would also find a tent that has its own footprint that can attach to the bottom. Saves on time and space when setting up. :)