REI Co-op - Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint

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

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.

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

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? 

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

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

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 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

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. :)

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.

+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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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...

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).

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.

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.

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!

+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.

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

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.

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.