Mountain Hardwear Trango 4

We splurged on our Trango 4 before moving to Norway almost 9 years ago, anticipating a lot of camping in high winds above the trees. As it turns out, we use the huts a lot and haven't often put it to the test, but we have survived a number of windy and rainy nights in relative comfort. The Trango 2 has been reviewed several times over, and a lot of what has been said about that tent would also apply here.

We found it roomy enough for the four of us when the kids were small, but it would be tight for four adults. For just my wife and I it is a palace, but too heavy and bulky for practical backcountry use for two, even with a pulk. So that makes it about 4 lbs a head for 3 people -- keeping in mind that it is a bomb shelter of a tent.

Lots of attention to detail: Windows over the vestibule and interior, locking clips on the main attachment points, the fly clips in to the frame for anchoring in high winds, lots of pockets inside for stowing gear, fast clips to anchor the fly at the main corners. The four poles are all the same length so there's no ditzing around trying to get the right pole (think Oval Intention). We never really used the gear loft much but we have one.

My main complaint: inadequate ventilation. Because the fly comes within inches of the ground on all sides, it traps a bubble of warm, moist body air that then condenses on the fly, waterproof parts of the walls, and the floor. Most Scandinavian tents have one or two roof vents to let out moisture -- I don't get why so many American designed tents omit this feature. Five stars if they would do something about that.