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Mountain Hardwear PCT 2

rated 3.5 of 5 stars

The PCT 2 has been discontinued. If you're looking for something new, check out the best three-season tents for 2024.

photo: Mountain Hardwear PCT 2 three-season tent

Got this the beginning of summer '06. Used it about ten times, from 105deg f at Lake Powell to a 30 deg snow/rain mix at 10,000 ft on Tennessee Pass. I purchased the footprint and some MSR groundhog stakes the same day as the tent. If you want to stake out all the guy lines and the tent you will need additional stakes as this is not a free standing tent so the the stakes it comes with are just enough for the tent only.

First off, for $120 this tent is first rate. The two person rating is very generous, but I'm 6'4" 240. The length of this tent was the deciding factor for me it's about 7 feet long. The poles are high quality lightweight easton aluminum. The stakes are also heavy duty super light aluminum.

On to the review FOOT PRINT FOOT PRINT FOOT PRINT. By far one of the best features. Camping out in the desert at 105 deg the foot print and fly make an awesome shelter. It's almost twice the space of the tent itself, tons of ventilation and very sturdy. It's also half the pack weight and size. Withstood 25 mile an hour winds (I had guy lines staked) without any readjustment to the tent. Would imagine it could handle much higher winds if needed and with tent itself.

Camping at 10,000 feet outside of Leadville, Colorado, this tent met tons and tons of rain and cold. The tent remained perfectly dry, I had my boots outside the tent under the vestibule and they too were perfectly dry. When I packed the tent up the next morn the footprint was soaked water poured off in buckets but it did its job in keeping my tent clean and dry.

My only complaint is that this tent is not easy to get in and out of. I actually ripped the seam in the rain fly where it comes over the zipper by standing up a little to soon. It didn't harm the integrity of the fly itself just the zipper flap, but a little mono filament line and some seam seal and it's good as new. I noticed they don't have this model anymore but an almost identical one with a front entry door, which looks much much easier to get in and out of. I imagine I'm not the only one with problems crawling into this.

After five good rainy camp trips last summer I just washed and re-water proofed the tent and am looking forward to another year of outdoor fun. I would definitely recommend picking this tent up if you can find it for about the same price I paid ($120 at Campmor). Not a better tent out there at this price.

Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: Takes me ten minutes set up 5 breakdown (lots of stakes)
Weight: almost six pounds with everything inculding extra stakes. only about 3lbs with footprint and fly
Price Paid: $119

Used it till a bear got to it. Never had issues with it very light and easy to put up. Withstands very well in the weather of Alaska for camping and 10 day hunting.

Design: 3 season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy but not free standing
Weight: under 4lbs
Price Paid: $90

Love the weight and compact size, BUT watch out when it rains. I was on Mount Rainier (Wonderland Trail) for nine days and got wet and very muddy as the edge of the rainfly doesn't come near the ground. Rain drips off the fly, through the 3-4 inches of clearance and splatters on to the ground. I even had the footprint under the tent!

This "clearance" causes everything on the ground to be thrown up UNDER the fly and into to the tent (through the mess). Even the gear in the vestibules had mud thrown on to it. No matter how taut I made the fly, the same clearance prevailed and so did the splattering of mud.

The first thing I did when I got off of the Wonderland was return the tent. I love my Mountain Hardwear gear but this tent has a poor rain design. I wish it had a longer fly.

Design: 3 season, non-freestanding
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy set up, 2 poles, clips and sleeve
Weight: 4lbs 14oz
Price Paid: $175

I really like this tent. It is very easy to set up and has kept me dry in some nasty rain storms. I use it mostly for solo use but it will fit two if needed, though it will be tight. I am 6'1" and appreciate the extra length the PCT2 provides. It is not the lightest tent at 4.6lbs. but is nice to have if you're waiting out a storm. It has 2 vestibules on each side which will hold boots and packs with no problem. This is not a freestanding tent and does require at least 6 stakes. It has alot of mesh so ventilation is very good. This is not my only set-up, but I am glad I have it when needed.

Design: three season tent
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy
Weight: 4.6
Price Paid: $185

Great tent for 1 or 2 people. I gave it 4 stars because it is a suspension design that requires stakes to stand up. Sometimes in snowy, muddy, or rocky terrain this can be a slight problem.

If you have a mummy shaped therm-a-rest this tent will sleep two but it's cozy, with a normal therm-a-rest it will sleep one. I haven't had any problems with rain, but the zipper on the vestibule does regularly bind up over the cloth flap (it's annoying but comes undone easily).

Design: three-season suspension type
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: very easy
Weight: 4"
Price Paid: $150

I have had this tent for years and have to admit that it has withstood some abuse. I have used this tent in all conditions and my only complaint is that it collects a lot of condensation with the fly and the floor leaks without a footprint.

Overall a good tent. It also seems a little heavy at times. One very big plus is m.h. customer service. Lost a pole and they sent me one for $25 and no shipping.

Price Paid: $150

This is a very good one-person tent. It does get a little crowded with two people. Setup is fairly fast, and very easy.

Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: easy setup
Price Paid: $180

This tent is light enough that I don't feel like I'm carrying extra weight when I use it for just myself.  It is rated for two people but I can't imagine having two people plus their gear in it during bad weather. 

One thing I like about it is that it has the room for my pack or panniers so I don't have to leave it out when it rains. It sets up easily and is pretty stable in the wind and rain, even without the guylines attached.

The only thing I don't like is that it is not free standing, so it may be a pain to set up in winter when there is snow.

Price Paid: $149

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Price Historic Range: $98.50-$175.00
Reviewers Paid: $90.00-$185.00

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