Protection

4.6 “Some rain blew in under the fly because of strong crosswinds,” says one tester who camped on a Utah ridge during an all-night thunderstorm. “But we stayed perfectly dry thanks to the 5-inch waterproof sidewalls and a half-solid canopy that blocked all stray precipitation.”

Livability

3.9 Our 6’2” tester appreciated the 90-inch length, tied for longest in the test. The large, 34-square-foot rectangular floor makes up for the single 9-square-foot vestibule in terms of gear storage, but testers got frustrated with just one small door located along the long side. “When the inside person has to exit, it’s awkward,” says one tester.

Ventilation

4.2 Half-mesh canopy walls allow good venting, which minimizes condensation buildup. “We appreciated the two covered vents on each end of the fly—they improved airflow and are large enough to let us peer out at the weather,” says one tester.

Durability

4.6 Thanks to the 75-denier polyester canopy and polyester floor (the thickest in the test), the Lone Spring withstood four months of backcountry abuse capped by a busy weekend of camping with kids and dogs along California’s Lost Coast. It also aced our abrasion test.

Overall Score

4.5

$230; 4 lbs. 7oz.; footprint sold seperatly ($40, 8oz.) bigagnes.com


The Scale: 1=save your money – 5=perfect gear.

*Overall score is not an average of others scores; It’s a gut-level assessment of performance and value.