Four-Season Tents

Featured review by Stephen C

I trust this tent to keep my family safe on the hills in winter.

We've had this tent for a year or so now and have used it almost exclusively above the tree line.  It's held hard and fast against whatever weather the UK's Peak District can throw at it.  Are you going to be buffeted by 80mph winds? Get this tent. Do you need to keep safe those that you hold dear? Get this tent.  Do you want to look like the King of the hill? Guess what... First off you'll notice that this tent will compress down to the size of a cheaper 2-man tent (Vango Banshee 200 for direct comparison).

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Featured review by Speacock

Prior to this tent, I had made three others to fit the family as it grew. I was intimately familiar with my likes and dislikes (and errors) about a tent and tried the best as I could to incorporate improvements in the next.The Stephenson 2R would have saved me a lot of trouble from the beginning. It is everything I need in a tent..with the exception of the 3R. Didn't buy it because of the extra weight and size I no longer needed. A decision I am not fully convinced was the right one. The 2R sets up quickly in any weather including 40mph gusts at high altitude in a cold rain/ice mixed storm.

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Featured review by CO_forester

I think this one of the best tents out there for car camping. Its most significant downsides—weight and packed size—are directly related to what makes it great, which is its durability and roominess. Even though it's not perfect—no tent is—I'm giving it five stars because it does everything I want it to do.

Setup: Putting the tent up is simple but takes some muscle because the tent and poles are so heavy. The tent rolls out and should be staked down first. Then, the roof rods are put together, and the side poles lift up the roof. There are several videos online that show it being done, and it really can be done in a few minutes unless you really have to pound in the stakes. Stability: I haven’t used this tent in extreme winds, but it seems very strong. The design is like Springbar Tents, and there’s an impressive video online of a Springbar tent in high winds holding its own. There is some flex in the roof poles, but the side poles and the crossbar across the roof are rock solid.

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Reviewed by FromSagetoSnow

If strength and livability are your goals in a four-season tent the MSR Remote 2 may be for you.

MSR Remote 2 The MSR Remote 2 is a tent for when you KNOW the weather will be a challenge and you want a livable shelter; more than just a Black Diamond Firstlight/Eldorado or Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2. I own two other 4-season tents and one 3-season one, and I have “slept” in a wind-shredded 3-season tent at 9,000 feet. I've also survived several raging wind and rainstorms in a casket-sized, yet durable 2-person tent that is little more than a bivy. I was ready to see what a tent with more amenities could offer me for when Mother Nature attacks.

Read more: MSR Remote 2 review (1)

Reviewed by Jake W

The Hilleberg Kaitum 4 is a two-door, two-vestibule, four-person, four-season tent that comes in at a more than respectable 8 lbs 10 oz (that’s a lot of numbers) designed to maximize roominess while minimizing weight. The best part is that is manages to do both, without sacrificing weather proofing or durability. I’ve been unable to find any flaws with the Kaitum and have no doubt this tent will last through years of the hardest abuse.

SETUP Even when setting up the tent alone it can be done in, and around, ten minutes. With another camp mate or better yet a group, it can be under five. There aren't a lot of ways to screw it up, which makes it pretty foolproof, and easy to do even under the worst conditions. Three poles and a tunnel sign make it pretty straightforward. First, stake down one side (doesn’t matter which, one head or foot, although it helps to make sure these stakes have some good purchase in the soil, don’t do it half heartedly as you will need to pull against these to make the tent take shape).

Read more: Hilleberg Kaitum 4 review (1)

Featured review by Rick-Pittsburgh

Pricey? Most certainly; but when I want a bomber 4-season solo shelter that I have to depend on to shield me from when Mother Nature decides to throw a tantrum this is the shelter I want.

Tent Model: Hilleberg Soulo Intended Use: 4(all) season/ harsh weather Occupancy Rating: 1/Solo Design Type: "Truly" free-standing dome Date of initial purchase: November 2011 I am an avid 4-season solo backpacker that has a great appreciation for late winter solo trips. Typically this is around the time of year when the worst of what winter has to offer makes itself present. With that comes different needs in regards to gear. When I am on the trail in January and February here in SW Pa.

Read more: Hilleberg Soulo reviews (8)

Featured review by Wilson

Well made, good quality for the price, but those tent poles need a rethink.

I bought this tent from the REI outlet online (now "the garage"). I actually got this tent sort of accidentally. I already had a four-season, three-person tent, which is an REI Mountain 3. My Kelty Flight 2 finally died and I was looking for a replacement. REI advertised this as a three-season tent rather than a four-season and put it on a pretty nice sale, so I grabbed it. I was pleasantly surprised upon actually getting it. As soon as I got this thing I set it up in the yard for practice and also to let it air out.

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Featured review by Andrew L

This tent is very packable and totally weather proof regardless of what you're up against, and I've lived it all in this tent. The removable vestibule is ample for 2 packs, or to cook in, or for the dog and some gear (I've used it for all 3). NO condensation issues typical with some single wall tents, as its 2 upper vents provide ample ventilation. If you leave the vestibule at home to save weight, you still have total weather proofness and the advantage of star gazing from the comfort of your sleeping bag.

I've used my Sierra Convert2 mostly in the mountains and foothills west of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This is an area of extreme temperatures and conditions, often in the same day. The Convert2 is at home wherever you decide to put it. Its small footprint and ease of use, makes this tent my go to shelter when the conditions are harsh or questionable. The Convert2 comes with an awesome attachable Vestibule, Jakes Corners (small braces placed at each corner for ultimate stability when things really get hairy) a BRIGHT yellow DriZone breathable skin, and everything you need to make this shelter your home away from home - only smaller - much smaller.

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Featured review by Kim Dromlewicz

Good and sturdy, had poor seam strength at door zipper seams, and Marmot replaced the tent quickly.

Original Review: Good design generally, but poor strength at zipper seams in door. Where the door zippers turn from horizontal to upwards the zipper to tent fabric seam pulls apart after two or three camping trips. Even with careful/delicate use of the zipper second time and second door seam has pulled apart at the stitching. To qualify I have 50 years of camping experience and many tents have lasted me 15 to 20 years, but not the Marmot tent. This is the second door tear. The other door, repaired last year, was much worse as I could have put my hand through the hole.

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Featured review by Andrew Stanner

Legendary mountain tent for Australia / New Zealand.

I have been camping, hiking, XC skiing, and mountaineering for 40 (+) years and have owned many (many) tents. Winter experience covers most of the Australian alps, Antarctica, NZ, Patagonia, and a very cold German winter. This is the only 4-season tent I have ever owned, and I suspect that it will last me the next 20 years.  The Macpac Olympus is a very popular / highly regarded tent, particularly in Australia / NZ. Macpac is a proud Kiwi company - the majority of the company is held by an Australian Private Equity group, but their head office is still based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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