User Review: Bibler Ahwahnee

Bibler Ahwahnee
Above: The current Ahwahnee, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed January 27, 1999 by Doug Smith

Rating:
Design: 4 season expedition single wall
Sleeps: 2.5
Ease of Setup: (medium) Will probably get easier with practice
Weight: 5 lbs. 4 oz
Price Paid: $637

I bought this tent this week. This is a first reaction review.

Let me say that i have seen fire and i have seen rain. Some of the tents i have used for camping have ranged from miserable to fair. After setting up this Bibler (which was difficult my first time) I think i am in love. Its construction appears to be well thought out and its design gives a tall person like room to live in whether its snowing or blazing. This seems like the optimal backpacker's tent. It's light, unbelievably waterproof (i really like the material they use; very simular to my Gore-Tex jacket only uninsulated) and it is very strong. I was able to compress the stuff sack, with the poles removed, to about half the size of a 3 season tent. This is a jem. The price should be the only thing to set your into a worry. Dont let it if u take camping seriously. This tent is built to last unlike some of the flimsy things i have tried to sleep in. It ventilates just as well as any other tent out there (almost). If u have the guts to take the plunge i recommend the cosmetic blemished version at Northern Mountain Outfitters. I found it to be a little white mark on the top of rain awning not much bigger than a pin head. That saves $130. No regrets yet.