REI Half Dome 2
I usually make good choices when choosing outdoor gear. And when it comes to choosing tents I should be an expert by now, because I’ve been through several of them. But selecting the right tent is something I haven’t done yet. And it’s not really about buying cheap because the tent I’m currently using wasn’t cheap. In fact it’s a good quality rugged tent, but for the past six or seven years I’ve been wishing for an excuse to buy a new one, but the thing just won’t die. Not a tear, not a leak, zippers are working fine, seals up real nice, no mold or mildew, plenty of room inside, yet it’s very compact when packed away. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my tent, except that it’s the most aggravating dome tent to set up. It’s aggravating because there are three fiberglass poles that are connected with shock-cord, and rather than attaching the tent to the poles, the poles are inserted through long sleeves on each side of the tent – a total of six sleeves. During the set-up process snags inevitable occur, making this tent one major pain to assemble. But being a pain to assemble really isn’t enough reason to purchase a new one. Until I discovered the REI Half Dome. It was on a recent trip to Assateague Island where I witnessed a friend assemble her REI Half Dome in what seemed like two minutes. Rain fly, tent stakes and all.
For the best prices and selections on the REI Half Dome tent and other camping tents go to the camping gear authority REI. Visit the REI Website now.Like so many other tents the REI tent attaches to clips on the poles rather than having to run the poles through multiple sleeves on each side. And with my tent, that’s only the one real negative attribute of the tent design, but is it an issue worthy of giving up my old ugly indestructible dome tent over? When you factor in all the other benefits of the REI tent it really does look like an attractive purchase.
REI Half Dome 2 Advantages:
- Light weight at just over 5lbs – not so important for canoers but it is for hikers.
- Packs away very tight with easy adjustible compression straps
- Easily assembles with only two aluminum poles that are already connected at a common hub. The tent attaches to hooks on these poles not the other way around where the poles slide into tent sleeves.
- Plenty of storage with mesh pockets and a canopy.
- Tent stakes are adjustable to fit the rainfly.
- Plenty of ventilation through the flaps at the top of the tent and through the adjustable vestibules.
- Two entry points through the vestibules on each side of the tent.
- The design provides plenty of room for two, or one person like me who always takes along a lot of gear.
- It just looks better than my tent.
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