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Brooks-Range Tension 40 Tent Review

It’s one of the lightest three-person tents we've used, yet it has two doors and headroom.

Brand: Brooks-Range

Model: Tension 40


[ultralight]

Why we like it It’s one of the lightest three-person tents we’ve used, yet it has two doors and headroom.

Weight How does the Tension achieve rock-bottom weight without sacrificing performance? It’s not freestanding, which saves ounces but means good staking is required. Ultralight carbon poles and 15-denier siliconized nylon for the floor and walls further shave weight (treated with TLC, they proved durable through a season of use). And the 40-square-foot floor just fits three sleeping pads.

Protection Reinforced corner seams provide surprising structure when taut. Through fierce thunderstorms in New York’s Adirondacks, testers stayed dry and unruffled by 25-mph winds.

Livability
The smallish floor area notwithstanding, the Tension proved comfy, thanks to ample headroom (near-vertical walls and a 42-inch peak height let a trio of campers play cards comfortably). Four big mesh pockets keep fragile items off the floor.

Bummer
Despite all-mesh walls and two fly vents, condensation accumulated on dry, 40°F nights (gear stuffed into the two small, 6.6-square-foot vestibules inhibits airflow). $460; 3 lbs.; brooks-range.com

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