 Well thought out, great value, high quality tent |
| Review Date: October 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Hester, Tuscumbia, Alabama USA |
I have not camped in this tent yet. I will give my first impressions and hopefully update the review after using the tent.
This tent has all the features of tents costing twice as much. It is a great value. The quality appears to be top notch. The aluminum poles are small and lightweight but fit together perfectly and are strong.
I did a lot of research before purchasing this tent. I liked that it has two doors and two vestibules. Also, I am very weight conscious and the 4.7 lbs is pretty good for this size tent. From my research I would have only saved maybe 3 ounces for a higher priced tent and would have had to settle for one door, one vestibule.
Overall, great value for the money. I am very impressed with the quality of Alps Mountaineering.
UPDATE 11/17/2008 - I finally had the chance to camp in the Zephyr 2. My 5 year old son and I hiked and camped with a friend and his boys. It was getting dark and starting to rain when we got to the camp site. The Zephyr went up very quick, kept us dry all night through some pretty heavy rain. I love the two doors and vestibules - lots of room for gear and you don't have to worry about brushing up against the side and getting wet from condensation. I slept well with no worries about the wind and rain.
I love the tent! I can't imagine a higher price tent being any better quality than this. Good balance between price, weight, and features. |
Great value; high quality
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| Review Date: July 11, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mbirds, Alexandria, VA |
At the price, this is a great tent. The quality is there and it compares well to tents twice the price for a weight penalty of only a few ounces. I set mine up side-by-side with my friend's $250 REI quarter dome T2. He was impressed, and the only differences I noted on his were reflective guy lines, an included pole splint ($5) and a lighter fly. Plus more footroom on his. However, his fly lacked the little windows on the Alps: I actually used mine to check on another camper who was near my bike in the morning.
Here are the only downsides I can find so far with the Zephyr:
1) The footprint is hard to find. Search for "floor saver."
2) There are partial sleeves so you cannot pitch the footprint/fly and then be sheltered to pitch the rest of the tent. However, you can pitch just footprint (not included) and fly for a light shelter.
3) With the fly door unzipped all the way, water can enter the tent. Just don't unzip all the way if it is raining.
4) The tapered design would leave things tight in the foot area if a second person were present. I plan to just use it solo or with one of my kids.
EDIT: I have now decided that #3 is not bad, as it allows a nice view straight up at the stars when you are laying down with the fly open.
All in all, I was very pleased. I found a deal on a Zephyr 3 and snatched it up without hesitation for the rest of the family, or if I need a tent for two adults.
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Nice Tent
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| Review Date: February 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gary C. Christensen, Ft Worth, Texas |
| Easy setup, light weight, sufficient room for 1, 2 in a pinch. This tent has some features that I really like, complete 360 degree visibility and great ventilation when rain fly is not up, easy in and out on both sides, very light weight, easy and quick installation of the rain fly, and quality materials and construction throughout. This may not be the best tent for everyone, but for my needs, it is perfect. |
Great Roomy Solo Backpacking Tent!
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| Review Date: December 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: D. Sherrill, The Desert, Southern California |
First off, this tent should only be considered for two people if you are A: Intimately related to your tent partner, and B: if you are both under 6'2". I am 6'3" and when I lay straight in the middle of the tent, my toes can easily touch the steeply-sloping roof at the foot of the tent. However, if I angle my body towards the corners, it gives just enough room to where my toes do not touch the fabric. All in all, this is a minor issue, and is just something tall people have to deal with. Other than that minor issue, the tent is extremely well designed and built. The materials seem to be very high quality, as are the stiching/seams, which are all factory taped. It has many features that come on tents that cost over twice as much, such as high quality aluminum poles, double doors/vestibules, all mesh body, multiple guy-out points, and a very compact carry size (if you carry your poles outside of the tent sack, it can be compressed much more than its stated pack size).
The only thing I do think is a necessity with this tent is a footprint, because its floor is basically made of the same material as the fly, and while it is not a weak fly material, it probably can be punctured quite easily by ground material. I cut a footprint out of a cheap Wallyworld tarp, and it fits right in the sack with the rest of the tent, sans poles (I carry those seperate anyways). At the end of the day, this is a fantastic little backpacking tent, and I highly recommend it if you want a solo tent with a little extra room than the average tomb-like solo tents. Thank You, Alps Mountaineering! |
Great Tent
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| Review Date: February 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: ministercreek, Currently Akron Ohio |
I should point out from the get-go I have the Zenith 2 AL tent (which I purchased from Sierra Trading Post.com). It is the same exact tent except for the color of the rainfly. All I can say this is one excellent little tent. Very lightweight, has good ventilation, quick and easy set-up and holds up to adverse weather quite well.
I used my Zenith (Zephyr) in weather conditions ranging from hard rains and strong winds to light snowfalls. Held up and continues to hold up very well.
The tent's quality is very good. Hard to find a tent as good for the price. Beats any BIG name brand tents (such as Sierra Designs or Mountain Hardware) in terms of quality and price. A definate great buy in my opinion. |
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