ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2-Person Tent

Update 2: I have owned this tent for 7 or 8 years now, and I still stand by my 5 star review. It has been through backpacking, camping, music festivals, rainstorms, you name it, this tent has held up super well! It basically still looks like I just bought it. 10/10 world recommendUpdate: I have owned this tent for just under 3 years and have used in it a wide variety of settings. 5 stars still! This tent has been on backpacking trips up mountain, down to 20 degree weather, in heavy thunderstorms, to festivals, and on casual camping trips. It has withstood through it all, and still looks like new! The best aspect is the amount of rain it can withstand is incredible. If the rain is super heavy and prolonged, it sometimes gets a very small amount of water in, but it mostly stays completely dry on the inside.The footprint makes a WORLD of difference, so much better than a rolled up tarp. 9 times out of 10 only the ground side of the footprint is wet, the tent bottom at the most is very slightly damp (dries with a few shakes in the air)Amazing tent, the best I have owned!_______________________________Original review:This tent is awesome, not to heavy and not too small. Even though it's a small tent, it comfortably slept two 5'11' tall people (backpacking tents are always a little crammed). Perfect for camping or for backpacking trips. Very easy and quick to set up and break down. Very good quality as well. Kept the rain out, and had good air flow. Definitely recommend this tent if you're looking for a decent backpacking tent that won't break the bank.

Finally got to take this tent out on my vacation from work. I drove out with my Husky to Cedar Hill State Park when the temps were in the mid 60's before Easter. It's a stylish tent! After setup we both slept in it fine. To give some detail, he's a full grown 70 lb dog and I'm a 5'2" girl, and we had plenty of space to ourselves.Could two adults fit? Yeah, to a point. The double storage vestibules would certainly help with that. In my case, I only needed to use the one on my side for my shoes. I tucked the rest of the gear I might need throughout the night (spare blankets since it got into the low 40's at night, leash and harness, dog food, water, bowls, things like that) into a corner of the tent and whatever I didn't need until the next day went back in my truck. I could've stored most of it in the tent and vestibules, but since I wasn't backpacking there was no need.Expanding on bedtime, you can't fit two large rectangular sleeping pads in here, either one large pad or two contoured person-shaped pads.At over 6 lbs the tent is not lightweight for backpacking unless two people share the equipment. I experimented and packed the tent away in my 55 liter Kelty Outskirt along with my basic necessities and it was pretty darn heavy. You *can* use it for backpacking, but you'll have to pack light on the rest of your gear.I can't say anything about water resistance because it didn't rain the whole time we were there, but seeing all the positive reviews about rain I'll go ahead and give that aspect 5 stars until I can update with my own experiences. I noticed the rain-fly didn't stretch all the way down past the area where you're meant to lay your head, but that could've been a user error when I staked the vestibules out as far as they'd go.The mesh storage canopy you can attach on the inside is neat but be careful what you put up there because it might fall out the side onto your head while you're laying down. Can confirm! The storage pocket closer to the ground might be a safer place to put slightly heavier objects like your phone, while the spot above is better for maps, keys, a tent light, etc.I tested the zippers plenty. They were strong and didn't show any signs of weakening after multiple bathroom breaks, and taking things in and out of the tent. I kept that thing zipped shut when not in use as I wanted to prevent as many bugs from getting in as possible. No loose spots after a lot of use, little to no bugs, but I always use Natrapel wipes around the outside.Definitely get the footprint Alps sells separately because the floor of this tent is *thin*.The poles are magnetic! Y'all should've seen my face when I realized. Strong too, no issues with anything breaking. I'd also like to note how easy it was to stretch the pole ends down into the base loops. I've spent 15-20 min struggling with this on other tents.Positive experience from setup to takedown, would recommend to the discerning camper. If anything changes my mind I'll update, but so far I plan on taking this on our next trip, wherever that will be.

Review updated 10/3/2018. I have now had this tent for almost three years and camped or backpacked with it about 50 times. This was my second tent I ever purchased, and now I have something like six. This has still been by go-to tent when solo backpacking and conditions allow me to carry a few more pounds (otherwise I can go down to a one person bivy). The rain fly creates two vestibules and that are worth their weight in gold around here. Less expensive tents generally don't have these, and they keep your backpack and shoes covered, and you can cook in more comfort if it is raining/windy/cold.It is big enough for two people but my wife has a 30" air mattress and there isn't enough floor space left for me to get my 19" in there, so when we are together I do now pack a different tent, but it is slightly heavier and no vestibules. This tent is getting older but is still competitive for weight, durability size, and price (but tent prices are going down and this price needs to fall in my opinion).It is not a four season tent for most here in the pacific northwest. The rain fly is solid, but there is a couple inches of space between it and the ground and the inside layer is just mesh. Not that you can't use it in the dead of winter, but it isn't warm and as others noted, snow could just blow inside. It also does not like high winds. One time I was camped out at 7000 feet on Mt. Saint Helens and the wind flattened it. I did have the tent pointed into the wind and the high winds still bent two of the aluminum rods. The wind also blew away the tent carry bag but that's on me. I was able to get replacements from the company and all was well.I got a Hilleberg Unna for those extreme adventures. I have a coleman big tent for summer car camping. I have an REI tent I just got at a garage sale (no vestibule!) for the now getting bigger kids. And a few others.But I kept using this tent for most of my backpacking and camping. I was in in during an all night rainstorm once and it stayed bone dry inside. Half the other campers packed up and went home in the middle of the night because their tents leaked.And as the years go by, I could see the rain fly aging a little. This last weekend I was in the Sisters wilderness and it rained all night, and sadly the rain fly let some water in. I emailed the company the day after I returned, and they are sending a new rain fly for free!You can't beat that! All of these tents now use some siliconized fabric for water resistance and I have heard you get about three years of use from them. So I would have happily paid for another fly.Tents have been getting lighter and less expensive over the last years, but I haven't see a tent with this list of features and good design for less money (yet).

While technically a 3-season tent, it doesn't do a whole lot to keep you warm. It is designed to deal with wind, but it can be difficult getting the shell to "seal" to the ground. Because of this, wind gets up underneath the shell and cools the interior. I didn't get to test it for rain, but the seams appeared pretty reliable and the tent looked like it could handle a bit of ground moisture. Overall, I'm satisfied. The tent kept me comfortable in about 34F weather with light wind, and it was pretty easy to set up on my own.Edit: I finally tested this in the rain, and it did pretty well. There is a cross-bar on the frame that causes some pooling of water though. This can probably be mitigated a bit by making sure the rain fly is pulled tight. Even though I had pooled water on the top of the fly, it only leaked a few drops through the night.

Although I purchased this tent 6 months ago, I wanted to give it some heavy use before writing a review. I am on the trail typically every month, and look for gear that will hold-up like a tank and not a toy. I have used this tent extensively in Ozarks and the Rockies, and it is a solid piece of equipment that I expect to use for years. Let me quickly run down the pro’s and the (minor) con’s:Con’s:Weight - The tent is heavy-ish. Coming in at a trail weight of 4 lbs 11 oz, this tent is about a pound (give or take) more than most tents in its class, excluding the real ultra-lights (Zpacks etc.). This is only, in my experience, a minor issue. Since I only use this tent when packing with two people, each of us carries half of the tent (tent body and stakes, fly and poles) resulting in a per-person pack weight of just over two pounds - not bad.BTW, I think that the whole “ultra-light, shed every ounce that you can” craze is just that, a craze. Yes, obviously, there is no longer any need to pack cast iron pots and an axe, but after getting a good pack, bag and tent, the best way for most hikers to cut weight off the their total load is to lose 5 - 10 pounds.Size - For a two person tent, the Zephyr 2 is small-ish. I am 6’ and 200 lbs and have used this tent over several nights with my son, who is 5’9” and 185 lbs, and though we both fit, it was snug.Pro’s:Set-Up - This tent is freestanding and sets up in a flash, faster than my Sierra Designs’ Clip Flashlight 2.Materials - This tent is well made and has held its own through some serious Ozark storms (think tornado producing, torrential raining Midwest weather) and high-Rocky Mountain downpours. I have used this tent some twenty time, in rainy and very humid conditions, and have never had a leak or condensation issues. The poles are as good as my Sierra Designs tents, the stitching is solid and all seams are well tapped. I expect this tent to last for years.Vestibules - This tent has two roomy vestibules, one on each side for each user. They are big enough to stash my 80 liter pack and boots without touching the tent.Access - With two big, all mesh doors on both sides of this tent, getting in and out without climbing over someone is great.Price - I have four, light or feather-light backpacking tents, and at just over $100 you cannot get this much tent for that price anywhere else. The company that makes the Zephyr 2 is Alps Mountaineering, a Missouri-based company that is an up-and-comer. Keep your eye on these guys.Bottom Line: A solid tent that, although slightly heavier than other tents in its class, is a great piece of equipment that I expect to hold up well, trek after trek.

See 2 updates at the end - have used this tent for about 3 years now with great success.I have used this tent for backpacking in the Adirondacks as well as regular car camping. I love almost everything about this tent:1. Lightweight2. Easy for one person to assemble quickly3. Poles are high-quality and simple (only 3)4. Surprisingly roomy5. Two doors6. Enough room for both people to have their backpacking supplies under the rain fly (not just day packs)Two of my friends are the kind of people they make fun of in the TV show "Portlandia" - they have to have the most expensive and lightweight gear available no matter what. This tent costs literally half of what they paid and I believe it stands up to theirs in just about every way (theirs are very light, but this tent is far from heavy in my opinion).I really love this tent, and it kept us dry for several days of pouring rain, but the rain fly NEEDS to be better insulated against the rain. The water didn't get through, but if you touched the rain fly, your hand would come back damp. Maybe this is something ALPS assumes everyone will do with their tent when they first get it - I've had many tents throughout my life and never had to spray one once. It was disappointing, but I think it will be easy to resolve and this tent is just too impressive to mark down points.MAKE SURE you buy the footprint!UPDATE: I've had this tent for another year since and it still functions as great as the first day I got it, despite more rain and more hiking. I've added a second picture from this year's trip bushwhacking in Vermont.SECOND UPDATE: The only thing that has "broken" on this tent is the tent bag - like most tent bags, it isn't built to last and tore apart. Bought a dry sack for it and that works great. The tent is still as great as the day I bought it, despite years of regular use.

First off, I am an avid camper of over 25 years. I have extensive experience with all types of tents imaginable. I have used cheapo $15 tents, US Army canvas tents and even very high-end tents capable of the most extreme conditions as well as everything in between. With all this experience I have to say this tent is one of the best I have ever seen anywhere near this price. My wife however, has very little experience with tents and she loves how easy this tent is to setup!PROsHigh quality stitching, materials and POLES!Easy setup and take-down.Probably the easiest tent to get back into bag!Solid warranty and support!CONsSlightly heavy for a backpacking tent, but not really if you are used to it.A bit small for two unless you are intimate with the 2nd person. (Anyone over 6'2"-6'3" may want to look for something larger.)Now, the reason I say to ignore the "pole" guy.. These poles are designed perfectly. I have a much more expensive Nemo brand tent that uses this same type of pole, but they are not quite as well as this Alps tent's poles are. The peg is made to come out of the pole easily when things are in a bind during take-down so that nothing breaks. To put the peg back in, simply make sure the knot goes in first and everything fits just fine. See my photos for details. As for the guy's warranty complaint, to me it sounds like there was nothing wrong with his tent and the manufacturer just wanted to tell the guy how to properly put the peg back in. However he wouldn't listen and instead gave an unfounded bad review telling everyone to avoid the brand altogether. When I saw his pictures I recognized the same type of poles from my other tent and this actually convinced me that I did want to buy this tent. I am honestly very glad his negative review actually talked me into buying it. I have used it twice now in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at temps in the low teens (F) with no issues.

I'm giving it 5 stars for now but I will update if needed after I use it. I set it up in the yard and it seems to be another ALPS Mountaineering quality product. It's light weight and free standing and set up was easy and quick, about 7 minutes rain fly and all. The directions are attached to the inside of the stuff bag if you need them. It seems very sturdy and is roomy enough for 2 however I am single and ordered the 2 man just for the extra room. Good ceiling height and has a storage shelf and mesh pockets for storage and a light loop for hanging a small light. Seams are all sealed and the floor seems thick enough to stand up to the riggers of camping however I did order the footprint and it fits perfectly. Nice sized vestibule and the buckles should keep the wind and weather out. It is light enough for backpacking and It packs down to about 18" long and 6 1/2" wide when packed in the stuff bag. I wrap my ALPS Mountaineering footprint and my ALPS Mountaineering sleeping pad around the tent and put all 3 in a 3 strap ALPS horizontal compression bag so it can all be attached to the outside of my pack and still be safe to transport while leaving more room inside the pack. I own several ALPS products from this tent to my sleeping bag and liner, 2 compression bags, my backpack and sleeping pad. I have nothing but good things to say about the quality of their products, their prices and their customer service dept. if you have a question or a problem. I would and I have recommended their products to others. Enjoy the outdoors.

Got it at a really good price. Comfortable to move inside even with 2 “normal” sized persons. Spacious with lots of space for other things and equipment.

Para pessoa de baixa estatura é excelente, da para guardar as duas cargueiras. Fácil de montar e é leve.

La estrené con lluvia intensa y temperaturas debajo de los 10 grados. Perfecta. Pesa aprox 2.5 kg con todo y huella (que se compra aparte)Me encantan los amplios vestíbulos. Excelente relación precio calidad

سهلة الفك والتركيب

Buen producto en realidad el diseño es bastante bueno, los materiales se sienten bastante bien, cierres lucen y se sienten resistentes. Lo único que no me agradó mucho es que el piso de la casa se siente delgado y frágil, en un lugar donde pueda haber ramas, piedras etc. puede que se vea afectado y Alps lo sabe ya que vende un accesorio aparte que es un protector de la parte inferior de la casa de campaña.En general el producto se ve de calidad y viene bastante amplio en el interior, algo que me agradó es que tiene dos accesos y no tienes que brincar a nadie para poder salir de la casa, además tienes dos vestíbulos bastante amplios en los que puedes resguardar botas y mochilas.Buen diseño, buen producto y seguramente cumplirá con mis expectativas al probarlo en el exterior.