This tent is certainly amazing. I bought it and hten two weeks later took it on a trip with me to the Loyalsock Trail in PA where it performed flawlessly. It survived a snow and ice storm with three people and all of our packs and gear crammed in and it was still incredibly roomy. This tent is extremely waterproof and the vents help in the air circulation. I recommend this tent to anyone really who wants a dependable tent.

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None

After some time in different reviews and searching out different tents I decided to purchase the REI Taj III. Took it on a long trip from the hot temps of Utah Arches National Park to the cooler and somewhat rainy Yellowstone National Park. It lived up to its rep. The Hot temps of Arches the Vestibule in its ability to be completly removed and the sights of the sky and the breathability to keep it cool inside was great. we also got hit with some very hellish winds while up there at the Arches. It could use maybe 2 to 3 more stakes. When we arrived in Yellowstone upon setting up the tent it rain on us for 3 days but mostly in the evenings keep us very dry no leaks and the vestibule and the top vent turned out to be well built. I highly recommend this tent to anyone looking for a new one. One more thing the inside was very roomy.

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Just got this tent and used it on a 5 day backpacking trip in OR. The tent was amazing. Like the guy in the previous review I loved having my pack inside the tent with me. It rained on us very hard and we and our packs stayed bone dry inside the tent. The space to weight ratio is amazing. I could go on but the previous reviews covered it. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Customer Service

REI is the best.

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None

Just picked up the Taj after about a year in the market. I have only used on a few nights so far but in my opinion this is the perfect 2-3 person tent. I will agree with all the positives of the previous review. Sure the vestibules are small but they are enough for boots and rain gear. Being 8' wide and 8'-3" long there is plenty of room inside for your packs. I would rather have my pack next to me inside the tent than out in the mud and exposed to critters. The HUGE gear loft and interior pockets allow me to organize my gear efficiently. Durability seems on par with other tents. Even if you add up the interior space with the vestibule space this tent is still very competitive with other 3 person tents. The volume normally reserved for a large vestibule comes in handy when dressing. At 51 sq ft this is a great 3 person tent and an castle for 2. And it weighs less than 7 lbs. I'm a sucker for fly vents, especially peak vents. There is no better way to get rid of hot steamy air from inside the tent. The plentiful netting also helps. But all that netting is up high so this tent could be extended into 4 season use. The vertical doors keep rain out when entering and exiting. A problem I have found out with most other tents.

Bottom line: This is a VERY comfortable average weight 2 person tent. As a 3 person it is very light and still roomier than most other 3 person tents. The space and venting is amazing but it is strong and warm enough for light duty winter use. If you prefer large vestibules then look elsewhere, but if you are like me and would rather have more interior space than this tent is the perfect choice. And oh yea, the price can't be beat.

Customer Service

REI is tops in the biz. The sales staff is very knowledgable and didn't hesitate to set up several tents for me.

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Sierra Designs Alpha
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I recently purchased this tent because the specs looked perfect for a canoe tent. It is roomy for two people and relatively light for the space.

The vestibules are too small to be very useful, but all other details are well thought out. It pitches taughtly and is easy to assemble. It has a polyester fly to reduce sagging when wet and UV deterioration. The fly has a window to reduce claustrophobia on rainy days.

I especially like the venting options and the amount of screening. There is a vent in the fly at the apex. The fact that there are two doors is also useful (especially in mosquito country in case one zipper goes bad). The tent is also relatively tall, making it easier to change clothes and move around.

The lack of panels backing up the screen netting definitely limit the tent to warmer climates and three-season use. The fly does come to the ground all around the tent however.

Due to the light weight, the floor material is somewhat thinner than on other tents I have, so the durability remains to be seen.

All in all, a well-engineered and well-ventilated tent perfect for providing lots of space at a reasonable weight, especially for canoe camping.

Customer Service

REI has always provided me with excellent customer service, usually fixing or replacing whatever is broken at no charge.

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Sierra Designs Stretch Dome, REI Mountain Hut, Eureka Timberline