Gear / Backpacking

REI Half Dome 2+

Roomy, easy to set up, and absolutely indestructible. I love this tent. It is certainly no ultralight backcountry tent but I’m a big guy, and I have always been a believer in packing a little extra weight on my back for a little extra comfort at the campsite. In this case, “a little extra weight” is 6.4 lbs and I do not recommend this for any serious distance trips. But for anything under 8 miles without crazy vertical I think its great. Some of my favorite features are the large vestibules on each side, enough room for me to lay out my Ozark Trail camp cot (!!!), and stability in very windy weather. My favorite use for this tent is to comfortably dispersed camp near my car on a Friday, before setting out on Saturday with a lighter and smaller tent for a serious weekend adventure.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to share a tent with others (I am not) I imagine this would be a great option. Or, if you’re just a big dude who likes to spread out and doesn’t mind working a little bit harder, this is an excellent option.