Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 Tent Evaluation

Backside Line

The Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 is a good worth possibility within the four-season tent class. It isn’t solely budget-friendly but additionally well-made. This tent stands out due to its spacious inside, two giant vestibules for gear storage, and sturdy design that performs effectively in wind and snow. The twin kickstand vents successfully handle condensation, and the included gear loft and a number of pockets make organizing your gear simple. For winter tenting and below-treeline adventures, it’s a robust contender.

Nevertheless, the Tasmanian 2 has a couple of quirks. Organising the rainfly may be cumbersome as a result of inside pole sleeves, particularly in windy circumstances. The poles, whereas sturdy, require some endurance throughout setup. Moreover, the tent’s weight and packed measurement are on the heavier aspect, making it much less superb for minimalist backpackers or long-distance journeys.

The Tasmanian 2 is a strong worth for adventurers looking for an reasonably priced four-season tent that delivers dependable efficiency in winter tenting and basecamp situations. For extra choices, try our information to the very best four-season tents.

How We Examined

We spent over two months testing the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 in Colorado’s mountains and foothills. We tried it out in every kind of circumstances, from automotive tenting to backpacking and ski touring, to actually get a really feel for what it does effectively, the place it struggles, and who it’s greatest suited to.

Consolation

We persistently discovered the Tasmanian 2 snug all through testing, notably for our taller gear analysts. 4-season tents aren’t sometimes designed with consolation as a main focus, however this one stands out in a couple of key methods.

With a 46-inch inside top, this tent is among the tallest we examined, making it tremendous simple to take a seat up and alter garments. Our taller gear testers particularly liked the additional headroom—it made a noticeable distinction in consolation. One other main contributor to consolation is the ample gear storage. Chilly-weather tenting usually requires bulkier gear, even for minimalists.  We admire the 2 spacious vestibules. They make a wonderful place to stash objects you don’t want fast entry to however wish to maintain dry. The underside of each sidewalls is lined with mesh pockets, which assist immensely with group.

Our taller testers additionally appreciated the tent’s spectacular 92-inch size, permitting them to retailer gear at their ft with out feeling cramped. Air flow was first rate in colder, drier circumstances, however the tent grew to become noticeably stuffy throughout a heat spell with high-altitude solar and temperatures nearing 60 levels.

One notable draw back is the small, low-to-the-ground door, which is usually a literal ache within the neck to crawl by—particularly in snowy circumstances. Whereas the door’s design is useful for retaining heat, it detracts from the tent’s total consolation.

Weight & Packed Measurement

The Tasmanian 2 isn’t precisely a winner relating to weight and packed measurement. At just below 8 kilos, it’s the heaviest tent we examined. Splitting the load between two folks helps, however should you’re heading out solo, you’ll undoubtedly really feel it in your pack.

Its packed measurement doesn’t do it any favors both. Measuring 21 inches lengthy and 6.5 inches in diameter, it’s about as cumbersome as a typical Z-style foam sleeping mat, which eats up valuable pack house. That stated, the carry sack does embrace compression straps, which make it a little bit simpler to handle.

We took this tent on a couple of in a single day ski excursions, and after feeling the load in our packs, we determined to load it onto a pulk as a substitute. Hauling it on the sled made the load a lot simpler to handle and stored our packs lighter and extra snug for the trek.

Whereas it’s not superb for lengthy treks or ultralight backpacking, the load and measurement are extra forgivable for shorter journeys or basecamp setups the place consolation and sturdiness matter greater than portability. In case you’re on the lookout for a sturdy winter tent and don’t thoughts the additional weight, it’s nonetheless a strong possibility.

Climate Resistance

Whereas we chased a few small snowstorms with this tent, and it dealt with the few inches of snow we obtained flawlessly. The 75D polyester fly with a 1500mm waterproof coating must be adequate for many winter circumstances, and the sturdy 5000mm waterproof-coated flooring held up effectively towards melting snow. We even deliberately set it up over melting snow and puddles to check its sturdiness, and it carried out as anticipated. We’ll proceed testing it all through the remainder of winter and spring and can replace the evaluate accordingly.

The Tasmanian 2 carried out impressively in excessive foothill winds and chilly temperatures, with in a single day lows within the mid-teens. When correctly guyed out (you’ll want to connect your individual guylines), it simply withstood winds exceeding 40 mph. Moreover, the tent retains warmth effectively, staying persistently hotter inside than the frigid temperatures outdoors.

Ease of Setup

The inside tent is about as easy to arrange as you possibly can hope for. It options two longer color-coded essential poles and a middle cross pole, all of which match into corresponding color-coded grommets on the webbing. The tent physique then clips simply to the poles. As a part of our testing course of, we at all times arrange tents for the primary time with out directions to simulate the expertise of somebody unfamiliar with the setup. The Tasmanian 2 handed this take a look at with ease.

Nevertheless, the rainfly is a bit trickier. The fly contains two further poles to maintain it taut and the vestibules spacious. Whereas this can be a strong design in principle, the poles should be threaded by sleeves on the underside of the fly and secured into grommets on the corners. This course of may be manageable in calm circumstances however turns into considerably more difficult in excessive winds.

General, establishing the Tasmanian 2 is generally a optimistic expertise, however the rainfly design provides a layer of complexity that will frustrate some customers in troublesome climate circumstances.

Sturdiness

Whenever you unpackage the Tasmanian 2, you’ll instantly discover the load and thickness of the supplies. The material feels sturdy and confidence-inspiring, supplying you with the impression it could actually deal with extreme climate. All through testing, we by no means felt like we needed to tiptoe across the setup course of to keep away from damaging something—apart from the stakes. The included stakes are a weak level. We examined the Tasmanian 2 on frozen, rocky floor within the Colorado foothills and nonetheless managed to bend a couple of stakes, regardless of being additional cautious. To keep away from pointless complications within the backcountry, we’d extremely advocate upgrading to sturdier stakes—it’s a easy improve that’s effectively price it.

The tent is constructed from heavy-duty supplies that dwell as much as its four-season designation. Throughout our exams, the sturdy 75D polyester rainfly and 5000mm waterproof-coated flooring effectively dealt with moist and snowy circumstances. Regardless of being subjected to wind, snow, and prolonged use, nothing broke or confirmed indicators of wear and tear.

That stated, correct setup is essential with this tent. Totally guying out the tent is critical to make sure the rainfly stays safe in tough climate. Twin man strains and strengthened attachment factors make this tent much more sturdy, but it surely’s as much as the person to set them up accurately.

Versatility

In our opinion, the Tasmanian 2 doesn’t fairly measure up when it comes to versatility in comparison with a number of the different tents we examined. It sits firmly within the four-season tent class, which means it’s greatest suited to winter use. At almost 8 kilos, it’s too heavy for us to wish to backpack with throughout hotter climate when the additional weight isn’t essential. Whereas the tent breathes effectively and presents strong air flow, the heft and bulk make it much less interesting for non-winter outings.

That stated, should you can pitch this tent with no need the fly (a giant “if”), it could possibly be a consideration for much less excessive circumstances. However realistically, this tent shines in colder climate situations, the place the sturdy supplies and strong building are well worth the added weight. It’s a reliable possibility for winter tenting or basecamp use however not one thing we’d seize for year-round versatility.

Ought to You Purchase the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2?

The Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 is a strong possibility for these looking for a dependable, budget-friendly four-season tent. It’s well-suited for winter tenting, basecamp setups, and cold-weather backpacking journeys the place sturdiness and climate safety are key. With its spacious inside, sturdy supplies, and ample gear storage, this tent presents wonderful worth for adventurers who prioritize consolation and reliability in difficult however manageable circumstances.

Nevertheless, this isn’t an expedition-grade tent and isn’t constructed for excessive circumstances or above-treeline use in extreme climate. It’s additionally ​​not the most suitable choice for these on the lookout for a light-weight, versatile tent for year-round use. At almost 8 kilos, it’s too heavy for minimalist backpackers or these planning prolonged treks in milder climate.

In case you’re out there for an reasonably priced, sturdy winter tent that may deal with snow, wind, and chilly temperatures, the Tasmanian 2 offers you strong efficiency with out breaking the financial institution.

What Different 4-Season Tents Ought to You Take into account?

In case you’re contemplating the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2, there are different nice four-season tents price exploring in our information to the very best four-season tents. Listed below are a couple of of these choices: 

REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Evaluation: A extra versatile various is the Arete ASL 2, which stays comparatively budget-friendly whereas having usability past simply winter circumstances. It’s lighter and barely smaller than the Tasmanian 2 however maintains a comparable peak top, making it a strong selection for taller customers looking for year-round performance.

The NEMO Kunai 2 Evaluation: This is a wonderful selection should you’re on the lookout for a tent that bridges the hole between three- and four-season use. It’s lighter and extra compact than the Tasmanian 2 however nonetheless sturdy sufficient to deal with chilly and wind. It’s superb for adventurers tackling high-altitude trails with average winter circumstances. It’s additionally fairly a bit dearer. 

Large Agnes Copper Spur HV3 Expedition Evaluation: A sturdy, spacious, and weather-resistant 3+ season tent. It presents extra inside room and higher air flow than the Tasmanian 2 however comes at a a lot greater value. Ultimate for these needing additional house for gear or shared tenting journeys in different circumstances.