User Review: Marmot Limelight 2P

Summary

Overall a decent tent but a tight fit for two average-sized guys. Quality construction and excellent waterproofing.

I've been a fan of Marmot products for several years thanks to quality products that hold up to a lot of use.  The Marmot Limelight 2 is no exception — a quality tent for the right price.

My partner and I have used my 3 season, 3 person ALPS tent until last year when I decided to make the switch to something smaller and lighter. After looking at a number of tents within my price range, I settled on the Limelight since it included a footprint and gear loft.

Setup is a breeze and takes a single person 8-10 minutes to pitch and completely guyout. The stakes are high quality with a hexagonal design that helps prevent them from bending like a standard aluminum stake. The only issue was that on arrival, I was shorted one guyline.

Ventilation in this tent is exceptional. We just got back from a trip in the High Uinta Wilderness where we were rained on daily and had overnight temperatures of about 40°F. We didn't experience a single drop of condensation and had 0 leaks with all the rain. Also, given the weather we were having, the window in the vestibule was a nice addition making it easy to decide whether or not to sleep in.

There are a couple of drawbacks that are more of an inconvenience than a deal breaker. First, the tent is small for two average sized guys. I'm 5'9" and 170 lbs, and my partner is 5'8" and 180 lbs.  We're a tight fit in the Limelight and having a single door and vestibule means one of us has to climb over the other when nature calls in the middle of the night. It's also not the lightest tent on the market, so if you're an ounce counter, go with something ultralight.

Ending on a positive note, the reflective guyout points are a bonus and once you've got it all staked out, it stands up to substantial wind, rain and even snow.  All in all, a high quality tent for a great price.