REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+

The Half Dome SL 2+ is our choice for the best combination of price, spaciousness, ease of setup, and durability. Costing less than $300, it boasts 35.8 square feet of floor space, two 11.3- square-foot vestibules, and a 42-inch peak height. “I’m 5’11” and I had plenty of headroom and space to sprawl out,” one tester said after a weekend in Big Dominguez Canyon, Colorado. “It’s extremely livable for two, and you could even squeak in a dog.” Two closeable ceiling vents and plenty of mesh in the upper tent body keep air moving, and our testers experienced no condensation during 35°F nights in western Colorado. The Half Dome offers ample interior storage for headlamps, phones, and other small items in its six pockets—one at each bottom corner, and two up top. The interior stayed dry during passing storms.

2P