REI Co-op - Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint

This was my primary backpacking tent for five years and it was really solid for a beginner. Easy to pitch, plenty of space, and very durable.

Hello! If you only had to buy one tent, I would suggest buying a 2p tent that can *accommodate 2 wide pads*. Wide pads are generally defined as 25 inches in width. I personally believe this is the best compromise between weight and comfort. When used alone, the extra space will give a comfortable amount of space for stretching out and gear space. When used with two people, a tent that allows for two wide pads will ensure that at the bare minimum, both individuals will sleep comfortably and you'll usually still have ample of storage space in the vestibule. If you'd like a few suggestions for tents: REI has a sale on their [Half Dome SL 2+](https://www.rei.com/product/185632/rei-co-op-half-dome-sl-2-tent-with-footprint?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-153770-_-191526-_-NA&avad=191526_b3a8c77b5). At 4lbs, it's heavier than what most people on /r/Ultralight would take, but it's a wonderful deal for $245 and comes with REI's wonderful return policy. If I had to choose my first 2p tent for backpacking, I would probably go with the [Tarptent Double Rainbow DW Ultra](https://www.tarptent.com/product/double-rainbow-dw-ultra/#tab-id-2). The tent is $520 but this model has been trusted by countless campers and weighs in at around 2.5lbs. The Ultra fabric means the fly will never hold onto moisture making it very weather resistant and ensures easy cleaning. They also sell their original[ Double Rainbow](https://www.tarptent.com/product/double-rainbow/#tab-id-2) tent for $300, which is single-walled and uses a silnylon material instead. It's the same weight as the ultra!

For a 2P tent, I’d say that if you prioritize space, the MSR Elixir 2 or REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+. If you're looking for ultralight tents, the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 or Durston X-Mid 2. And if you prefer a non-freestanding design, the Tarptent Moment DW may do it. Others I personally vouch for are either the NEMO Dagger OSMO 2 or MSR Elixir 2 which are both ultralight and very durable. Ive used both of them and they’re great. the MSR Elixir 2 also has the reputation for being “bomb proof” because of how good the material and build is. For gear suggestions, hope you already have a headlamp and some sort of water filtration system! It could help - [50 Hiking and Camping Gears](https://alaskanarrows.com/5o-best-hiking-and-camping-gears/) Also, get a tent repair kit and have it in your backpack just in case, you’ll thank yourself later if you have a small rip in your tent and water starts leaking in, other than that, cheers and hope you have fun mate

Depends on the tent itself, as some are roomier than others. I have a 1p (S2S Alto TR1) for when it's just me, but it has enough room for my backpack inside, plus the vestibule. When my wife tags along, I take my 2p (REI Half Dome SL2+), which is also roomy enough for both of backpacks. If it weren't for the extended sizes, I would've moved up a size for each.

We have done this a couple of times. We have flown with our Half Dome SL2+ and it worked out great. Looking at upping to the three person ourselves actually. The biggest downside of most of these is that none of them are tall enought to stand or crouch in, all of them are sitting height. Because of that, if you're headed anywhere with trees I'd also highly recommend grabbing a lightweight camp tarp and a bunch of Paracord so you can rig up some extra sheltered area to avoid spending every rainstorm in a tiny tent. The Trailbreak tarp would be a decent start but larger is better if you catch lots of rain.

I've had this tent for years, and it has been on many trips. I was curious why REI discontinued it, and that search led me here. It has never let me down, and I've seriously tested it. It's been in the highlands of Iceland, numerous backcountry national parks, and even camped at 13,400ft with it. If anyone knows why REI discontinued it, please chime in

I definitely would. I have used one for the last 5 years or so and love it. It’s not the lightest tent out there if one person carries it but the price, size, features, and weight work for the 1-3 backpacking trips I take each year. It also works with car camping

No reason not to if it meets your needs. Just an FYI, it is more of a introductory tent in that it is heavier, bulkier, and has less features than a higher end tent. It'll still perform just fine as a simple shelter but if you want to invest in a tent for the long term, you may want to look at Nemo or Big Agnes or other popular brands.

On closer inspection I realize the version I had used in the past is different than the one they sell today. The one I had had only one door, wasn't very waterproof, and had no internal pockets. The only thing I see that I don't like about the current version is the packed size and weight.

I just picked up a the REI Half Dome SL 2+ and my wife and I used it in Kings Canyon on the Rae Lakes Loop last month. We’re both just shy of 6 ft tall and 170-200 lbs. I thought the tent was great, amazing value with the footprint and rain cover included, and fit us comfortably with some room for gear inside. Only complaints are that it’s on the heavy side with the footprint and rain fly, but that’s relative to you and your hike. I also thought the rain fly is a little weird to put on, but nothing major. Overall we liked it a lot and are happy with the purchase

6.6lb would be a deal breaker for me personally. My Half Dome SL2+ sleeps 2 plus gear and weighs 3.1 lb, my hammock setup is under 2lbs if I’m solo (and I can cowboy camp on the ground with my tarp shelter and trekking poles if there are no trees, although this is rare for my area. True ultralight tents that use your trekking poles as poles can be under 2lb although you lose some structural strength. If you love it, you can still pack the heavier tent and keep your total weight reasonably low, you just gotta prioritize that and cut weight other places.

You're underselling it, it's a great tent and completely comparable to similarly priced tents from BA and Nemo. What features is it missing? 

Those 2 person tents are tight for two people. The REI is going to be your best bang for your $$$. My last trip I didn’t even sleep in a tent. I just slept on a pad

Excellent tent. My first tent and I liked it so much I bought it again after my first was stolen from me. After owning it and using it for a few years I had to replace the cord in the poles, but other than that it has held up well.

The REI Coop 2P tent line is solid imo. No complaints from multiple uses thus far

rei half dome

I also have an alps mountaineering zephyr 2, it's more of a backpacking tent, sleeps 2, and has 2 doors. also, kelty makes a good small one. we have several because we each had one coming into the relationship. we bought the half dome together. we were lucky enough to get the mt rainier one.

We had a half dome (still do) and used that for years. After we had our daughter we found a 6 person base camp as a return at REI. It’s been a life changer, being able to stand up and move around, bigger sleeping area and storage. 100% worth it IMO especially for longer trips.

Not sure what your budget is. Coleman is ok (we have one) but... I've had this REI Half Dome for *ages* and it has been awesome and a great value. I got a lot more features on par with higher end tents for a lot less. Features; Proper full coverage rain fly, with guy lines galore and decent vestibule. Gear loft. By extrapolation, I suspect their larger tents could be equally good values. At a quick glance the Skyward 6 might be worth checking out. Depends on if you think you're gonna use it enough times to justify the price. Of course something like a Coleman Sundome is less than half the price. The only downside is the lack of a full rain fly I guess. With my REI, I never have to worry about getting wet but with an exposed door like the Coleman or a Kelty Discovery you would probably want / need a tarp. Maybe for light, brief rain it is ok IDK. Seems like the good outdoors stores carry Kelty, Marmot, Eureka, North Face and others. I have no personal experience with them though. But those names have been around a long time.

Nemo Aurora for extended stays, Big Agness Tiger Wall for backpacking, REI Half Dome for everything else. If I could only pick one it would be the half dome all day. I've had it going on 8 years and it's a great, versatile tent. It's a little too heavy and big when packed for backpacking unless you're splitting it with someone imo but other than that it's a winner.

Comparing the Copper Spur HV UL2 to UL3: a 3 person tent will be about 25% heavier (12 oz, 35g), only marginally more expensive, and the extra space will help with keeping your bags inside. To me, the worst part is the extra weight, and the extra size of the tent would prevent it from fitting in the side pouch on my bag. But if you're strapping it underneath anyway, and you're not weight-constrained, maybe it's fine. I went with the UL2 because I think it's fine to leave my pack in the vestibule of the tent, only taking the essentials inside. You can possibly find space for it near your feet if you're not big people. After all, when you're at camp, all the bulky things aren't in the pack any more! I like my tent, but there are lots of good brands out there. You might find a better deal online, but check your local outdoor store to get a feel for how big/heavy they are. If feasible, buy it there, too! I liked my REI Half Dome tent but it was so much larger and heavier than the Copper Spur, and I'm glad I replaced it.

Yes. Been camping my whole life. 43 y/o married father of two kids (10, 8). We have 4 tents for different occasions. I use the Half Dome for solo trips (or my bivvy if going lightweight). Use the Camp Dome for all 4 of us if doing a quick 1 or 2 nighter. Will use our massive Wonderland tent if going for many nights. My wife and I love the extra space, but the bigger tents are really only worth the hassle if out more than 2 or 3 nights (we’ll go out for a week at a time - love the long trips). So, yes bigger tents are nice, but more work, and often only worth if staying long.

Same. Upgraded to the Base Camp from my Half Dome once I became a family man. Kids got bigger now we have a roomy REI Wonderland. Up to 4 tents now (and a solo lightweight bivvy).

Coleman 6 person Skydome for my car camping, REI half dome for my backpacking/solo car camping.

The Paria and the Marmot are both excellent shelters. They however are going to have large pack sizes and will weigh a decent amount. The Tungsten will take up the entire length of an average pack so you will have to lash it to the outside of your pack. The REI Half Dome is a good tent with a crap warranty. 1 year, REI doesn't sell parts and they don't repair gear. While you may not mind carrying a 6 or 7 lb tent 10 miles it will eventually wear on you and will get harder as you age. I would probably recommend getting the Sierra Designs Meteor Lite 3p as a good budget middle of the road tent. Weighs 2-3 lbs less than the Marmot, smaller pack size and can very comfortably fit two plus gear. Sierra Designs has it direct for $275 with the MEMORIALDAY coupon code. This is for the previous blue and yellow version; the 2024 model has more muted colors but costs $125 more. You can use Activejunky.com cashback to save a few more bucks. https://sierradesigns.com/meteor-lite-3-prior-year/ https://sierradesigns.com/meteor-lite-3-person-tent/ Another great option is the Durston X-Mid 2p. This, unlike many 2p tents, can actually fit 2 25" pads side by side and has huge vestibules for storing plenty of gear. Under 3lbs and easily fits into your pack. If you don't use trekking poles you can use aftermarket support poles like the Durston Zflicks. https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking

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. :)

Been really happy with our REI half dome.

Is the only difference between the ultralight and bikepacking the length of the poles? I've been considering the ul version for some time now. I currently have an REI half dome that I actually do like but looking to loose some weight. Edit. I just found a video showing the difference. That's slick thanks for pointing this out!

I have a Big Agnes Copperspur 1 for solo backpacking. I have a Half Dome for backpacking with my daughter. And I have what we fondly call the party tent, for car camping with my husband (who refers to himself as the Great Indoorsman!) and/or the whole family. It’s an REI Wonderland 6 and is cushy as hell.

Before I met my husband I had never camped before. I don’t remember exactly when our first camping trip was but I just immediately fell in love with being out in nature, hiking, the campfire, roasting marshmallows, making food… eventually we tried backpacking too. Although it was really rough (I was super slow and out of shape) I still enjoyed the experience so much! For backpacking, starting out he tried to carry as much as possible so my load would be light. Now I’m the one who’s planning all our camping and backpacking trips (but he’s still the most knowledgeable in terms of backcountry safety skills, navigation, etc from his Boy Scouts experience) I recommend picking destinations that are really beautiful. That’s the main draw for me at least. There’s nothing like seeing a sunrise over a lake, or the stars at night, sunlight filtering through a forest. We have had the REI half dome tent for a long time. It’s great! Finding a good sleeping pad is key. We got sleeping bags that can zip together into one giant one. We tend to just do 1-2 night trips, maximum 3 nights. That’s about as long as I can go without showering. I know some campgrounds have showers but I’d rather take a nice shower after getting home. Good luck!

REI Half Dome - easy to set up, big vestibules and freestanding.

I camped forever with a half dome, ostensibly a 2 person tent but really a solo tent, and even brought my kids a few times. Finally bit the bullet and bought a 6 person tent (north face wawona) and the only question I had for myself is why I didn't do it sooner.

Yeah, if you must own a tent and have 30 bucks I guess this is for you. But I wouldn't trust the durability of a $23 tent, and I certainly wouldn't use this for backpacking. Generally an REI dome tent is going to be the entry point for a solid backpacking tent.

Highly recommend a 2-person tent, even if you'll never share it with anyone, unless you plan on doing any backpacking with it and weight is a concern. 2-person tents don't take up much more closet space than a 1-person, but you'll appreciate having a little extra room when you're trying to change your clothes in a busy campground or store gear out of the rain. That being said I've been really pleased with my REI Half-Dome. It has lots of nice features, it's well-designed, the construction and materials are good quality, it's quick and easy to set up, and it's relatively inexpensive. Whatever you end up buying I recommend getting a footprint and a few extra stakes/guylines.

We also have an rei half dome, used a lot when bike camping. We progressed to car camping long trips and bought a north face tent that my spouse ( and me too) can stand up and move around in. Fantastic!! On multiple day stays we love it. we took the little tent too and if just getting somewhere late and moving on the next day we used that. The bigger one has a porch and in bad weather having that space and more inside space is so good.

Cabelas six or 8 Alaskan Guide Tent. I have owned this tent for 15 years. Did lots of family camping and kept us dry. Backpacking I just use the rei 1/2 dome. Seam seal it. However my hard core backpacking day are behind me.

I owned the REI Half Dome 2 1/2 or 2+ (forgot the exact name). Great tent. Only replaced it because I went lighter for a 2 person bikepacking tent. I currently have the Mountain Hardware Mineral King 3 for car camping. Both tents are good, and both have a full rain fly which I consider a must. Either will serve you well

I like my BA Copper Spur 1p tent. But I started with an REI half dome 2p tent because I was going with others more often. My next tent will probably be a Dursten tent to save weight on the poles.

i used to use a half dome, loved it easy setup roomy for a 2 person, easy find a flat clear spot. Now the wife glamps with an air mattress in a gazelle T4. T4 is worth the money if you want a big tent the size of a 10 sleeper, and can fit a 6ft tent in your vehicle.

I think Coleman and Ozark Trail are what my company uses for our weekly camping trip with tours. The stakes are super cheap and you have to be careful with the zippers, but otherwise they're good relatively durable tents. They're not lightweight and good luck getting them back in the bag but otherwise totally fine. I've had my personal Coleman 4 person tent for over 20 years and it's been through all sorts of weather and I still use it often. I upgraded the stakes to steel ones from Walmart plus a mallet for like $15 and that was definitely worth it. My REI 2- person tent is a scrappy little thing. Have definitely backpacked with it and there's no way you could take the Coleman backpacking. It's also survived all sorts of weather. I would say if you think you might venture out into backpacking, get one of the smaller ones even if they're more expensive. You can always take a backpacking tent car camping, but not vice versa.

I’ve been looking for a lightweight (not necessarily ultralight) two person tent. I’ve been leaning toward a freestanding like the Copper Spur or a Nemo. I realized that both the Copper Spur and Nemo’s (Dragonfly or Hornet) taper at the foot. I use a long/wide sleeping pad (25” wide), so the pad of a second person would overlap, unless both of the pads are regular 20”. I’m 6’ and 215lbs, a side sleeper and roll around a lot, so the wide pad is helpful. I was about to order the Copper Spur during the REI sale, but pulled back because of the tapering. I would like to stay in the low $300 range and in the low 2lbs for weight. I love my REI half dome 2P, but it’s over 5lbs. The only thing I found that seems to meet these criteria is the Durston X-Mid 2P. It is 52x92, 2lb 4oz and $280 plus $43 for the footprint (the 2P pro is a bit overkill for me and north of $650). I usually backpack with poles anyway, so am now leaning this direction. Anything else out there folks suggest that is both wide, lightweight and relatively affordable?

Bought mine in 2019.

Rei half dome. I'm a little tall for it at 6'4.5" but it's OK if I lay on an angle.

+1 for the half dome. This will be year 10 with it for me too. I’ve taken it on all sorts of trips and the only issue is the elasticity in the poles but it’s an old tent. I haven’t replaced mine though like you did, I need to get around to that.

+1 for the half dome,I actually use a three person version for 2 people, adds about half a pound, but a comfy 3 season tent that can stand the test of time, mine is 11 years old.

I've had a REI half dome tent for nearing 10 years. Had to replace the cords in the poles because they lost their elasticity but otherwise it's been holding strong over multiple backpacking trips and car camping in rain and snow. Not the most lightweight but it does the trick. Can likely find a used one too for <$200. They have options of 2 person and 2+ if you want a slightly bigger one.

Hey OP, if you did have interest in the half dome I have one I'm trying to let go of. PM me or see my post on geartrade. It's a great tent. Mods hopefully this isn't against the rules to say...