User Review: Marmot Aeolos 2P

Marmot Aeolos 2P
Above: The current Aeolos 2P, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed August 10, 2006 by Daniel

Rating:
Design: 3 Season Backpacking Tent
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Easy as pie
Weight: 5-6 lbs.
Price Paid: $325 w/footprint

I purchased this tent after reading nothing but good things about it in several leading outdoor magazines. I recently used it on a trip to Big Bend with my girlfriend and it performed very well.

The first night was windy (15-25 mph gusts) and it looked like it might rain so I set up the tent with the fly on, but left the vestibule doors open. I didn't guy out the fly, but it held up just fine despite the wind. It didn't rain that night, but we both slept soundly and the tent stayed very well ventilated. I noticed the fly had stretched slightly after being left on for the night (probably because it was the first time I had fully set it up), but it was easy to get it tight again with Marmot's Stake Tape design that gives you multiple stake holes. This allows you to adjust tension on the tent body and fly without reposition stakes, very handy! I was able to keep the fly drum tight and it only draped slightly on the area between the brow poles over the tent door. I don't believe this would lead to any problems with water leakage. I kept the vestibule doors open with the ties, and although they drape down a little bit, they don't hang down to the ground as mentioned in a previous review, and I wouldn't see them creating problems with getting water in the tent.

The second night our backcountry site had limited space to pitch the tent, so I set up the Aeolos sans fly and luckily the sky was clear. It was nice to star gaze as we fell asleep, and the tent was very well ventilated and comfortable. I like the combination of lots of mesh with some nylon for the tent body. It allows for great ventilation. I prefer it to designs that use all mesh for the tent body.

Overall, I was very pleased with the tent's performance. Interior space is definitely one of its strong points. I'm 6'1" and I can sit up with plenty of room in this tent. Even with the gear loft, there was plenty of space inside. The vestibules are good sized too. The tent pitches tight without having to guy it out, the DAC NSL poles are very strong and stable in the wind, and there are lots of nice details like the two vents and welded windows on the fly. Although I have not tested this tent in the rain yet, I am confident it will be weathertight. I'm more than satisfied with this tent and would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, reliable, and detailed three season shelter.