Eureka! Taron 2

[bargain]

Most tents this affordable can’t be trusted to handle real weather—but the Midori earned our respect in stormy Tasmania. “The taut pitch kept the fabric from flapping,” reports one tester who slept contentedly through 25-mph gusts and rain showers that raked breezy Cape Pillar, on the Tasman Peninsula. With the low price and high protection, we expected the Midori to be either cramped or heavy. But it’s neither (comfort specs: a 33-square-foot floor and 45-inch peak height). The ounce-saving trick? There’s just one side door, so plan to draw straws for inside position.

But that’s the sole tradeoff with this livable, freestanding dome. All-mesh walls and a vent on the fly eliminated condensation even in humid conditions. An 8-inch strut pole props up the perimeter of the broad, 10-square-foot vestibule to make it more voluminous than most. Two crossing poles make setup quick and simple, and 75-denier polyester fabrics require no TLC. And although the back-wall occupant has to climb over his partner to reach the door, budget-minded testers deemed that a “small inconvenience for reliable shelter at this price.” $140; 4 lbs. 7 oz.; eurekatent.com

The Taron performance tent features higher waterproof coatings for weather protection, nylon floors and reinforced sewing techniques to increase its performance for the backcountry. This two-pole aluminum dome tent with fly pole is available in a 2- and 3-person format and features front and rear (3 person model) vestibules for stashing gear out of the way, interior wall and side pockets and a gear loft. Each tent features a vertical strut vestibule pole that creates extra volume for protected storage and increased ventilation. Its vectored fly-to-tent pullouts increase tent volume, enhance ventilation and aid stability.