User Review: MSR Ventana

I LOVE this tent. Bought it slightly used in 2006 and spent 3 months backpacking over Northern Argentina with it, and slept in the tent more than I slept in a bed. Also spent 6 weeks of a summer living in it in the alpine. There's room for two, even without romance, with more than enough room for backpacks and boots; and with just one it's palatial, with room to sit up, get dressed and turn around.

The smaller vestibule has poor access except from the inside, which was a bit inconvenient at times - on the other hand, I don't mind the missing weight of one less zipper. Rain protection is pretty good if you get the fly tight; I spent 17 hours in a torrential tropical downpour without leaving and the worst was some dripping in the middle where the fly touched (possibly not staked tight enough, or the stakes shifted with the rain). Admittedly the fly can be a bit tricky to get good and tight. Ventilation isn't the greatest but again - fewer zippers=less weight, and when the fly comes off for a nice starry night, there's no better view. Easy-peasy to set up, which is great in a downpour, mosquito swarm or tricky spots.

Overall it's a 4.5-5; I'd like something a *bit* lighter but it seems to be sold as one of the lightest on the market, so maybe it's an issue of getting better poles.