Marmot Alpinist 2P Expedition Tent Review

Features:

From Marmot, "A weatherproof single wall, a strong and unique pole structure and attached vestibule make the lightweight Alpinist an ideal choice for high-end mountaineering or lightweight crest-trail cruises."

The Marmot Alpinist 2P two-person expedition tent is a 4-season mountaineering tent weighing under six pounds. It is easy to setup with its three external lightweight DAC NSL aluminum poles. Blizzards are kept at bay by the weatherproof Marmot MemBrain® Assault 3L fabric. The Alpinist 2P features a built-in vestibule with clear window and adjustable airflow ceiling vents. It is factory seam-taped and carries Marmot's lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.

Specifications:

Minimum Weight: 4 lbs 15 oz / 2.2 kg
Maximum Weight: 5 lbs 8 oz / 2.5 kg
Dimensions: 40x52x88in / 102x132x224cm
Packed Size: 8 x 20 in / 20 x 51 cm
Vestibule Area: 8 sq ft / 0.7 sq m
Tent Poles: 3 / DAC NSL Dual Diameter Pole
Floor Area: 30 sq ft / 2.8 sq m
Tent floor Material: 70d 100% Nylon 5000mm W/R, F/R
Tent fly Material: 40d 100% HT Polyester Assault MemBrain® 3L

Initial Thoughts (01/24/12):

The tent body material of the MarmotAlpinist 2P expedition tent is much thicker and substantial than a standard 3-season tent. It feels as though it could withstand a hurricane, which is great considering it is a 4-season tent designed for mountaineering adventures. I set the tent up at home in my family room to get a feel for it before testing it on a mountain. I really like the external frame, as it is very easy to setup. In stormy weather it will make it easy to keep the elements outside of the tent during setup. The inside feels roomy enough to comfortably sleep two and the vestibule is large enough to store a backpack (maybe two, but will make it hard to get out).

Guylines are included, but must be cut to length. Marmot also includes a pole sleeve in case of breakage and several patches to repair any small rips or holes that hopefully will never occur. From the perspective of a lightweight summer backpacker, the whole package seems large to me. But by 4-season expedition tent standards, it is quite small. I weighed the entire package at 6 lbs 4 oz., which is 12 oz. heavier than specified. I should be able to reduce the weight slightly when actually packing only the essentials.

Initial Field Test (01/28/12):

My first adventure with the Marmot Alpinist 2P tent was on a snow camping trip to Summit Lake, Oregon. I didn't pack the tent on my back this trip, but instead towed it in a gear sled behind one of my snowmobiles. The conditions were mild, with the temperature just above freezing under a partly sunny sky. Setup was smooth and after staking and guying out, the Alpinist 2P felt bombproof. It felt even roomier inside than in my family room as the guylines pull the tent sides out a bit. I like the side roof vents because they can be zipped completely shut or partially as needed.

I was hoping it would get colder overnight, but it never dipped below freezing. I was hot most of the night and it was evident in the morning by all the condensation on the tent walls. I had the vents fully open, but they couldn't keep up with the amount of moisture my friend and I were expelling. This test goes to show the Alpinist 2P is not designed for warmer weather. A normal 3-season tent would have been better suited to the conditions of this trip. The Alpinist was, however, very comfortable and the overhead pockets were very handy. They worked well with a headlamp to light up the tent before bed. Even with the wet walls, we stayed warm and dry. The burly Assault MemBrain® 3L fabric seemed to really hold the heat in. In cooler weather it should hopefully breathe better and be the perfect companion on high altitude adventures.

See Summit Lake Snow Camping adventure where the Marmot Alpinist 2P expedition tent was used.

Available from amazon.com.