Gear Review: Mountainsmith Genesee
This four-person tent costs just $199.
Here’s a new value equation that’s hard to beat: $50 per person. That’s how much the Genesee costs when split four ways. And there’s no compromise on space: The 56-square-foot floor amply accommodates four tall adults (the floor is 84” x 96”).
Setup (just two crossing poles) is so simple that our testers’ kids—6, 8, and 10 years old—handled it solo. Materials are sturdy (aluminum poles made of a strong, 7000 Series alloy, and 68- to 75-denier polyester), and two big doors offer convenient exits for all. Mesh panels on the tent body and two vents on the fly provide adequate ventilation.
The tent withstood a thunderstorm in Colorado, but the two-pole design needs reinforcing in strong wind; be sure to secure the two external guys, and even then avoid exposed campsites. The drip line makes for wet exits, and the vestibules are tiny—at nine square feet each, they barely hold all of your boots. Despite the 52-inch peak height, the sloping walls limit total headroom. But for a bargain shelter that’s both light and durable, testers say these are minor tradeoffs.
> Floor 56 square feet
> Weight 6 lbs. 5 oz.
> Price $199
> Info mountainsmith.com