We put the tent to the test... A 7 day canoe trip where it rained every day... The tent took in a lot of water even with the fly on and we had all of our sleeping gear wet from day one... We then put a good old $10.00 tarp over the tent and it still had puddles on the floor the next morning.... Great tent for summer, good weather camping, but not weather proof. Our option... Safe your money and buy a $ 40.00 tent and a few tarps and stay more dry then using this tent!

I'm biking across America and I've broken the tent poles three times so far in seven weeks of camping. The poles are just too flimsy for long-term camping.

This is an excellent tent that I have owned now for over 7 years. We used it to camp in California, in Glacier National Park, in the Alps in summer and more recently in Madagascar. It is very sturdy and always performed well. The only two negative points are : * the absence of panel door which may be a problem in alpine conditions (in the Alps even in summer subfreezing temperature are common) * the absence of a true vestibule. So the best option is to have a backpack cover to store the bakcpacks outside while the shoes are stored in the vestibule.

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SkyView 4. Best for winter camping but heavy...

I purchased this tent late last fall and use it primarily as my car camping tent. It's great, easy to set up, roomy and well vented. The first time I used it was an early winter trip to Joshua Tree. The weather was extremely windy and cold. I could have used a warmer bag but that's an easy fix, I'd rather have good ventilation. It withstood the winds very well and remained taughtly pitched - no flapping fly. I like to have a storm door and mesh door on my tents so I asked around and priced the addition of a storm door. Turned out Mountain Hardwear had the best deal - only $50. A great tent!

Customer Service

Fast, accommodating, very professional. They did seem puzzeled when I asked to add the storm door - figured their tent was perfect as designed, I guess.

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SD Meteor Light, Eureka Zephyr, MH Hammerhead II, Walrus Windsheer, (I like to test tents, looking for that "perfect" one)

I purchased the LW3 over the winter. I did not get to try it out over the winter, but took it up to the Presis in NH in early May. I was car camping. I found the tent easy to set up, it was waterproof (got poured on one of the nites), and allowed plenty of ventilation. In regards to the ventilation, if you are planning to use this tent in cool climates you should take a bag rated for colder temps. The air flow is excellent and I was actually chilly This was the first time I can remember being cold in a sleeping bag and I have used this bag in the winter before. Granted, I slept in boxers and a teeshirt and the temp dipped down into to 29 degrees. I am taking it out backpacking in a couple weeks and am very sure it will acquit itself well.

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Eureka dome

I've used this tent to camp out for several weekend kayaking trips where the weather was great for kayaking (It poured). The inside stayed dry every time. It's reasonably lightweight and compression stuffsacks will make it pack smaller for backpacking. It goes up very easily, even with one person setting it up. The ventillation is great for warm weather camping. It's performed flawlessly for what I've used it for. My only question about the tent would be why is it called a 3 person? If 3 people are going to get into this thing, they'd better be rather cozy with each other.

Customer Service

not needed

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REI Half Dome Plus, bunch of cheap ones.

I have owned this tent for 5 years and have been quite satisfied with it. It's light weight enough for me to carry it when I go solo for the weekend and is perfect for 2 people. Great ventilation and waterproofness. I have used it for winter backpacking in +4 degree windy conditions and occasionally you do get a breeze / draft thru the front mesh door. I used 2 other tents since this one for different uses and still love this one the most.

Customer Service

One reason I am writing this review is to completly applaud the customer service practices of MH. The floor in my LW3 seemed to allow water to seep in after the first time I was using in in the rain. When packing it away I noticed water seeped thru the floor. I contacted MH and advised of the problem, they asked me to return it to them, they tested it and sent me a brand new tent which I received back in 5 days!! Wonderfulllll

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Walrus, Eureka Zeus

I am really impressed with this tent. My wife and young son all backpack together, so a tent of this size was what we needed.the weight is not bad and can be broken up well among the three of us. the room so far is good, it will get tighter when the boy gets bigger. the weathertightness is really good, totaly dry in some big mountain thunder storms.

Customer Service

I have never had to use Mountain hardwares customer service and I own a lot of their gear, deos that tell you something?

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Eureka, North face

I took this on a trip up Mt. Hood. Camped on snow with high blowing winds most of the night, averaging 35 mph+.

Tent performed very well. I would have no problem using in the winter with strong securing. The only drawback is it has a mesh door. I wish it had a fabric door.

I got a great buy on this tent. Definitely a keeper.

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None

Great tent, in a category so deplete with choice. Slept 2 weeks in colorado and Arizona last autumn with a tall friend (6'2") and we had plenty of room with our gear. No big rain yet but so far, not a drop inside.

I wonder however why MNW adds small strings with the tent to tie the flysheet. The straps which serve to guy the tent down are excellent, but the strings, when used for the flysheet are ridiculous. Considering the overall quality of the tent, which is quite good, I am surprised.

Customer Service

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Marmot swallow, excellent design and vestibule, but heavy.

Sierra Design, excellent, light, but discontinued