Backpacker Magazine – Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010

Gear Review: Brooks-Range Rocket A2 Tent

A lightweight, all-conditions shelter for two.

by: Kristin Hostetter

Tags:
• Gear
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• Tents
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• Winter camping
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[ultralight alpinist]
Ignore the space-age look and consider the numbers: all-conditions shelter for two, at just over two pounds. The single-wall is made with a silvery CT3 material. It’s a multilayer, nonwoven fabric, similar to the stuff used in space suits. And seams are fused, not stitched.

Not only is the fabric and construction strong and weatherproof, it reflects body heat so the tent stays warmer than an average single-wall, says one tester who used it down to 12°F. And the exterior reflects sunlight, so you don’t roast when it’s warmer. “The dark interior kept me cool in temps up to 85°F,” says a tester who used it near Bishop, California. “I’d pack this on any ultralight trip, any month of the year.” You can pitch it with ski poles to save weight (13 ounces), or the included DAC poles.

When fully guyed out, says a tester, “It’s amazingly strong. It flapped a bit in 37-mph winds, but held firm and easily shed a few inches of wet snow in Montana.” Space is pinched (25 square feet, with a 38-inch peak height and a seven-square-foot vestibule that holds two small packs, stacked), but ultralight alpinists are used to tight quarters. Three zippered vents prevented all condensation. $600; 2 lbs. 4 oz.; brooks-range.com

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