Gear Guide 2009: Mountain Hardwear Taurine 2 Tent Review
The Taurine tackles both light-and-fast summer jaunts and heavy winter expeditions.
Big and Versatile
Ripping winds raked this tent in southeast Alaska, but the Taurine held strong thanks to four-season stability and large-diameter poles. Like the Valhalla, above, this is a four-season tent that can handle horrid conditions. But it’s more versatile than a typical winter tent because the double-wall, freestanding design includes mesh doors and vents for warm-weather use and also permits a fly-only setup. It saves almost two pounds and is ideal for light-and-fast summer trips (where bugs aren’t an problem). And in both configurations it’s plenty spacious for two big campers and excess gear.
The interior organization also earned praise (plenty of storage pockets), as did the white-and-orange color scheme (cheery in foul weather). Two doors and two spacious vestibules made for easy storm living: “We stayed warm, dry, and comfortable during days of heavy rain,” reported our Alaska tester. Drawbacks: Weight is on the high side, due to the heavy-duty poles and fabrics, and the two cross-vents allowed spindrift inside yet proved too small for good ventilation. $475; 7 lbs. 15 oz. Mountainhardwear.com