Brand: REI Gear Reviews
Model: Quarter Dome 3
[lightweight bargain]
Why we like it This three-season dome saves weight and money. Bonus: Organizers will love it.
Protection Sustained rain and lashing 30-mph wind in Colorado’s Park Range barely rattled this freestanding shelter.
Ventilation “The best airflow I’ve ever seen,” raves one veteran tester, praising the mesh walls, vestibule vents, and the 1- to 2.25-inch air buffer between canopy and fly. No condensation accumulated during drizzly nights in Wyoming’s Hoback Canyon.
Livability Three sleeping pads fit with just inches to spare, but sufficient headroom and vestibule space mitigate the cramped floor. Credit the 42-inch peak height and near-vertical walls, as well as a gear closet for each occupant. Both side doors have 6.7-square-foot vestibules, and another area on the end (accessed via a zipper in the tent wall) provides a third covered space. Bonus: Getting in and out requires no gymnastics.
Fave feature A mesh pocket runs around the entire perimeter, setting a new bar for organization.
$379; 3 lbs. 12 oz.; rei.com