i had been interested in this tent for some time, and when i found it on sale (because it had been discontinued), i was stoked. i wanted it for it's space to weight ratio, and the discounted price made it that more appealing. i have used this tent for 4 years, from the deep snows of alaska to the sunny beaches of belize, and it has performed quite well everywhere. the setup is easy once you get the hang of it- one pole slides in, stake it out and there you go- shelter.it does have a large footprint- wide open space is required for this tent, and good staking ground is preferable. as everyone else seems to agree, condensation is the main problem. in deep snow, the perimeter mesh is beneath the snow level, so getting good cross-ventilation can be a bugger- opening up the rear vent, propping up the peak vents and leaving the top of the door unzipped a bit, if possible, will remediate some of the problem. in warm, humid conditions, even with all of the vents open and the perimeter mesh exposed, i still experienced some condensation, but in warm dry climes, such as belize, i had little or no dew inside the tent. so it really seems to depend on where you use it, and the weather in your area. other than that, it has stood up to some strong winds- just make sure to set it up so the broad side isn't into the prevailing wind, and with the guy-out points on the sides secured, i had no problem. space-to-weight it this tent's strong point- it is light enough to carry for a solo palace, and big enough for 3 people and gear, as i found out in guatemala once. in that particular instance, i set it up in a fierce rain, in the dark, and we all hurriedly dived into the only dry spot in the jungle. in the morning i discovered that i had inadvertently set it up on top of a huge anthill, and the ants were not happy about it at all, but not a single one of the little jawed, stinging beasts got inside, which was very impressive. so, in conclusion, i would recommend this tent, if: you don't intend to use it in very humid conditions (it is a single-wall tent after all), and you relish lots and lots of space, and if you appreciate a simple, but not quite hassle-free set-up. there are sturdier tents out there, there are lighter tents, and perhaps even bigger ones, but to get all of the features this tent has in a package this lightweight and spacious, look no further.

Customer Service

the literature accompanying the tent said that the burrito stuff sack converted into a gear loft- maybe for other tents, but not this one. i had to call marmot and make sure that it just wasn't my tent that lacked the proper internal loops for this feature, but other than that, i haven't needed marmot's help for anything.

Similar Products Used:

sierra designs, the north face, MSR, eureka

This tent has a lot of room. Marmot calls it a 2 man tent but I backpack w/my 4 kids and we fit 3 in this tent comfortably. A breeze to put up. Ventilation is poor and condensation IS a problem. It held up great in a bad storm while backpacking the Ozark Highlands Trail, winds high enough to blow over trees in the area, torrential rains. The only water we got in the tent was the fine mist falling from the sides: condensation! I like the looks of the tent: it's cute and colorful. Didn't get any bugs thru the "hole" others have stated in their reviews, I just plugged it up. Anyhow, my only complaint is lack of ventilation, too much condensation. Otherwise, nice little tent.

Customer Service

No experience.

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The North Face, Kelty

A great light weight tent. My wife and I and our three (75lb) dogs spent 2 nights in the allegheny national forest. We did get some condensation on the tent walls, but thats to be expected. There is plenty of room for two people, three dogs and gear. There is enough head room for playing cards etc, but only one at a time for changing clothes. It dries very quick also. A great buy room + light + low cost.

Customer Service

I did not deal with them.

Similar Products Used:

seirra designs, bibler, north face

I have used this tent only in the summer in the Cascades of Oregon. It does require somewhat level ground to get a good pitch but is very sturdy when done right. I had no condensation problems and if you work with the venting system and get a good feel for what you need it works fine. I did end up patching the small hole at the top and also two small holes at each front corner that seemed to go unnoticed by Marmot Quality Control. I do like the room inside and the weight I was dissapointed in the small holes that Marmot neglected to find. (important factor in bug country) Overall I like the tent and plan on using it a lot this summer

Customer Service

Very dissapointed (Did Marmot get bought by Vanity Fair also. Several phone cals and e-mails unanswered. Whe the e-mail was answered it was a canned response. What ever happen to the customer service

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Eureka/ Northface

Like most the other reviews, this tent had major condensation problems. Even with the vents opens my sleeping bag was wet in the morning from the condensation. This was in freezing temps and 4-6 inched of snow. Other than that, the tents light weight and easy setup was great. I ended up exchanging it if a Moss which I love.

Customer Service

REI was happy to take it back in exchange for something else. I love the customer service. As far as Marmot goes, I own several products and have never had a problem.

Similar Products Used:

Moss, Mountain Hardware

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None

Like other reviewers, I have used other Marmot gear and have been very satisfied. The Area 51, however was a big disappointment. Despite my best efforts, I simply couldn''t keep the condensation at bay during a trip along the AT in North Carolina. The skies were absolutely clear, yet the water fell from the tent''s ceiling all night long. Given its single wall design, I expected some condensation. What I got was a drenched ceiling and puddles of water in all the low spots. My sleeping bag was my only protection against the onslaught of water. The design simply will not work in the humid Southeast. In this part of the country, there is often enough humidity in the air on relatively clear days to cause problems with single-wall designs. Out West this level of moisture is rarely present outside rain storms. I returned the tent for a store credit and will buy a double-walled tent next time. Otherwise I was pleased with the ease of setup.

Customer Service

No problems with the return. This must be fairly commonplace around here.

Similar Products Used:

Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight Kelty Vortex

OK so I like to X Files and the name of this tent appealed to me. Plus it looks like an alien spacecraft... Regardless I bought it because it appeared easy to set up and given the fact is has one pole and no fly I thought it would be light. And it is. The inside of this tent is HUGE. For a 2 person tent you could sleep 4 people in there. I didn't see the issue some people had with a hole letting bugs in either, perhaps it's been fixed. There a 2 slick vents on the roof and you can fold back the fly on the end of the tent to let air in around the base of the tent. Air comes in the bottom, rises to the top and voila goes out the vents. I think how you set it up relative to the way the wind blows is important. I feel condensation would be minimized this way. It goes up faster than any tent I have ever owned. 5 minutes tops. Even that is a stretch. I also think that some people expect too much from a single wall tent when it comes to waterproofing. Single wall tents are designed to be used at high altitudes where it doesn't rain. It snows. Ergo waterproof doesn't really apply. Bottom line for me is I am happy as all get out for what cost me 200 bucks. It's a steal in my books and this tent will be my main squeeze. 4 seasons too.

Customer Service

Marmot is good.

Similar Products Used:

North Face single wall (I forget the model name)

The Area 51 apparently derives its name from the total area covered by the tent - 44 and 7 square feet apiece for the canopy and vestibule, respectively. The packaged weight of the tent is approximately 6 pounds including pole, stuff sacks, and repair kit. I purchased the Area 51 after doing extensive research which included calculating the price and weight per square foot for tents from various "expedition" companies - this tent definitely comes out on top in those measurements. The tent's design is a reworking of the old pup tent - with a few ultramodern twists. The Area 51 uses only one pole, which is threaded through a central pole sleeve to provide a 42" center height with an 88" x 88" square floor plan. All stakeout points (except for those housing the pole grommets) are adjustable and provide tension for the floor as well as the fly/canopy. The tent body is single-walled 75 denier polyester ripstop with a mesh door, two (closeable) mesh canopy vents and a mesh strip running between the floor and the canopy. Setup is a breeze, even for a single user; and the interior is well ventilated enough for all but the most sweltering weather. The vestibule, though small, is well-shaped (and the interior is large enough for two large backpackers and gear). I haven't had the Area 51 out in wet weather yet, but windy conditions (up to 40 mph gusts) have not been a problem for this tent. Condensation may be a problem in weather colder than the 30-40 overnight temperatures in which I've used the tent, but the fly/canopy fabric is very quick-drying. Since this is a new design, I'll keep you posted on any defects that surface. For now, though, I must say that I'm very impressed with the way this tent works - and even happier with the price...

Similar Products Used:

Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight CD - I still use it for solo trips.

2001 marks the second year for this tarp-like tent that attempts to provide maximum floor space for the least weight using a single walled, floored bug/rain-proof shelter. The SD clip-3 is the only rival that I am aware of. Both weight 5 lbs and 8 oz for 44 sq ft of floor space (REI scales: tent, poles and rainfly for the clip 3).
See marmot web site and reviews at outside online and backpackermag.com. Note that the back vent adjustments are now accessible from the inside via one foot long zippers in the 2001 model and the small hole at the top/front is now closed.
I have only set up the 51 in my house. It provides palatial floor space for two, has a nice sized vestibule, though slanted side walls for minimal cornerspace. Persons will likely sit somewhat front/back in the tent instead of side by side.
My impression is that taunt tent staking with preferrably a flat surface is crucial for proper venting to prevent condensation. Given this criteria, I see no reason why the 51 would not be a very roomy, stable, light shelter. It definitely deserves a 4 to 5 rating.

Customer Service

None, though I love Marmot gear.

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None

I purchased this tent mainly for backpacking and it has worked extremely well. It dries fast and is also lightweight considering all of the space it offers. The only problem I have found is a condensation problem on the inside of the tent. although I have not yet tried it yet, waterproofing may help. As to the hole where insects get in, simply stuff the hole with tissue

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None