REI Trail Hut 2 Tent Review and How to Choose a Tent

While I am a very outdoorsy person, my gear closet always has room for upgrades and improvements. In the past, I rented a lot of gear as buying out of pocket can be very expensive; however, I am now trying to build up my own gear inventory, and one of the products I needed was a backpacking tent. To make sure I chose the best tent for my needs, I looked at four metrics: capacity/size, season rating, weight, and livability. Capacity and size refer to things like how many people it can fit or the actual dimensions of the tent. I myself only needed a tent for one person, but I like to have a little extra room for my pack or a friend, so I opted to get a two-man tent. Season rating refers to how weather-proof a tent is; some are only good for warmer, drier weather, whereas others can withstand snow and rain. I hardly ever go backpacking in the snow, but I wanted my tent to withstand some weather, so I looked for a three-season tent (Spring, Summer, Fall). Next is weight, which is super important when it comes to backpacking. A really heavy tent is going to take up a lot of space in your pack and will make the experience a lot less enjoyable. With an ultralight tent, on the other hand, you have extra space to put more weight, and it puts less strain on your body. However, the lighter a tent is, the price often goes up along with it. Most trips I go on are no longer than 2 nights, and I don't travel more than five miles a day, so I could afford a little more weight when choosing which one to get. Last but not least is livability and dimensions. I'm only about 5 feet 2 inches, so I don't need a super-long tent; however, if I were over 6 feet, I might want to look for one that allows me to fit comfortably. This last metric will look different for everyone depending on your size. After I had narrowed down what I needed from a tent, I then looked at the price. I looked at the price last because once you have an idea of what you want from a tent, you can adjust or compromise on features depending on your budget. 

After I had considered all my needs and wants for a backpacking tent and affordability, I decided to go with the REI Trail Hut 2 Tent. This tent can fit two people, is three-season, roughly weighs about 4 pounds, and is over 6 feet long, allowing for ample space, all for about $250. The biggest compromise I had to make was the weight in exchange for a relatively affordable price. After using it for a two-night camping trip to test it out, I was very happy with my purchase! Setup was very easy, and the rainfly and footprint kept my sister and I completely dry from the morning dew. I then took this tent on a two-night backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness, CA, and was super happy with how it held up. While it was definitely on the heavier side to trek up the mountain, it was perfect for the two nights we were up there. We had some light rain overnight and morning dew, and we never got wet. Overall, for beginner backpacking gear, REI is one of my favorite brands, as much of their gear is high quality at a slightly more affordable price than other brands. I would 100% reccomend the REI Trail Hut Tent for those looking for a very versatile tent if a little more weight is not an issue.