I am like the other guy as I don't write to these websights much anymore but I wanted to set the record straight about this tent as I bought one this spring. First of all any one that thinks that this tent is hard to set up is a moron pure and simple. All you do is put the poles together and slide them thru the sleeves then stake it down, thats it. You don't even have to put the fly on as the tent and fly are made together no clips to snap on, no fly to put on, what could be easier. second this is the lightest 4 seasons tent I have ever seen in my 30 years of back packing I love it I saved 2 and 1/2 pounds over my clip 3 with this tent. I can really feel the difference when I hike and can walk more miles. Third it is very spacious with 44 square feet and I can set up in it. I also have enough roon to store my gear in the vestibule. this tent is the most advanced lightest 4 seasons tent on the market and I love mine this is the only 4 seasons tent for me now. its true that it dosen't come seam sealed but it came with instructions on how to do it with the sealer so I did mine but for 50 dollars more they would do it. so that takes care of that.I had to seam seal every tent I have ever bought any way so this is no big deal to me. as far as ordering I had no problem there either they were very nice and answered all of my questions even when I was skeptical and didn't believe them about the weight of the tent; bottom line this is the lightest most technological 4 seasons tent on the market and I will never go back to the others unless they make somthing lighter than this one Its the best for backpacking hands down no other 4 seasons tent compares to the wormlite for back packing.

Customer Service

havent had to use them

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serria designs, kelty, coleman,camp trails,

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I generally don''t submit to these types of web-sites, but I just could not believe that Stephenson''s tents could warrant anything but a 5! I''ve dragged my 2R everywhere. It''s durable, simple, and weighs practically nothing (under 3 pounds). I''ve slept in a friend''s 3R quite a few times. It''s roomier than my first apartment. It''s true that the seams are not taped standard, but you can (or at least could) special order them that way.

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I own three warmlites, two 2Rs, and one 3R, and have packed them for over 30 years. The oldest is now my daughters and is still usable, though worn. I have never been anything but delighted and giggle when friends squeeze into bivy sacks that weigh as much. I shop for tents whenever I am near a camping store and still have not seen any competition for the Warmlite. If somone can't set this up quickly on a dark, rainly, windy night with a flashlight in under three minutes they have never taken the time to learn how to use this tent properly, and should spend the thirty or so minutes at home needed to learn this simple skill. The poles are the strongest I have ever seen in any tent, including the heavy aluminum from my old Eureka drawtite. Please note the price is as old as my newest tent. I am ready to shell out 5 bills for a new one now and try the new (for me anyway) silicon nylon.

Customer Service

Have used repair service seveal times, mostly they taught me how to fix the problem myself. Always a pleasure to talk to people who know and enjoy what they are doing and have never sold out.

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North Face, Eureka, Sierra Designs

Stephenson's Warmlite; don't usually write here much anymore, but after seeing some of the ludicrous comments, I feel compelled!! Hard to set up!!!I set up my 2R in LESS THAN 2 MINUTES, completely alone; theonly time I took longer was when I first set it up. I've had North Face, Sierra Designs, and other tents, hell this thing is easier to set up than my bivy!(A Moonstone). I have the 2 walled, w/windows, big door, and the "dam" that was mentioned in Climbing magazine. I know seam sealinf is a pain in the ass, that's why I had them do it for, what, $30 or $40, chump change for a job likt that. It has held up to 50 mph winds without a hint of trouble, is huge. I would like some provision for hanging stuff, and perhaps an uncovered vesribule, my two biggest complaints. As for the poor guy that is offended by the female form, all I can say is tsk, tsk, too bad, most people I know laugh it off. Maybe not the best for for everything, but easily the best tent I've used

Customer Service

They were great the several times I talked to them; I ordered one of their down filled air mattresses also; puts Thermarest to shame, but takes a while to inflate.

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TNF, SD

Actually, I have a 3R. I respectfully disagree that the tent is too big and thus too hard to set up in snow. That has nothing to do with the tent itself, only with what one chooses to gear oneself up with. There are plenty of smaller tents out there! I have not had any difficulty setting up, except the first time when I couldn't find the seam to put the poles into. I have timed myself at 5 minutes...not hurrying. With my wife's help, 3-4 minutes. Is this too long? NO. You've been hiking in the rain, presumably, for hours. What is another 5 minutes to set up shelter?
There are NO tents with a better floorspace-to-weight ratio. My 3R is 4.5lbs with the side windows, awnings, double layer center section, & rear door options, and is 52 sq. ft, room enough for two people, two packs, and space to move still. I especially like the outer awnings above the windows on both sides of the tent. I can zip open the inner window covers, from inside to get lots of air & a view, even while it is raining! All other tents require you to go outside & remove the fly to get lots of ventilation or a view. This thing is $$ so I can only give it 4 stars for value.

Customer Service

Jack *is* indeed a little quirky. I got on his good side and we had a coupla nice long chats about tent & sleeping bag technology. Yes, the catalog does contain some pics of nudist/naturalists in/near tents. I don't think people should be offended by that, or even make an issue out of it. Unlike a large percentage of ads we are bombarded with everyday everywhere, Stephenson's catalog is not a "sex sells" kind of thing. My take is, Jack doesn't give a damn about people who don't truly enjoy nature and the outdoors and he isn't in it for the money.

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Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 3 CD
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I have owned a 3R which I used to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.I`m not sure how the person from the other posting could find this tent "complicated to set-up".I`m sorry but there aren`t any tents more simple than a Stevenson.I have never found the poles difficult to fit each other and every night while everyone on the camp site was still setting up, I was preparing my dinner. All you have to do is insert 2 poles in their sleeves, pull th ends of the tent and stake it.I`m sorry but it doesn`t get any easier than that!!
I can also say the wind stability of the tent is so true. I was caught on the AT atop of a 5000 ft mountain while a tornado went thru. Pots were literally flying out of the shelter;those on tents you could see their figure when lighting stroke holding the poles with their hands to not get blown away. I sleep pretty good in my 3R. Stephenson is an aerospace engineer just like me and his design its very sound and mechanically stable.
I know Jack Stevenson in person and I have been at his shop;They will help you with any issue you have on your tent although I must say he DOES expect only intelligent people to use it properly.
Also the window option allows you to open the whole tent in hot nigths.
Proof of how reliable this tents are is the fact on my divorce the tent was the FIRST thing my wife wanted,ja,ja. Now I`m ordring a 2R and I know I`ll love it!!
yes it`s pricey but try getting a custom made tent from your favorite tent manufacturer and see how much it WOULD cost if they agree. Not to mention this tents will last you a lifetime.
As far as tents go, simply the best, silmply the lighest!!

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i had heard great raves about these tents and being in the position i am, i get to frequently demo gear. i got to test drive a 2r last fall (2000) up near raven glacier, camped in a mountain pass in alaskan september weather; wind, rain sleet and snow.

first major hit was, no seem sealing and you get this tube of silicon for a do-it-at-home task. it’s a very smelly, messy and time consuming task for tent that retails over 5 bills.

the biggest problem was in setting the tent up. the poles are very thin walled aluminum and the male to female connection has a very tight tolerance; much force was needed to connect the poles together. the ends of the poles became out-of-round during packing, set-up and take-down, and required time standing in the elements to shape them and connect them. the poles were hard to feed into the sleeves and must be snaked; more time in the elements. it is not free-standing and required even more time out in the elements for erection.

during the night i was shocked to see how well the tent breathed with minor condensation in the head area. but it was set-up with the lower vent at foot end facing the overnight breeze which allowed the most for free-flow of air to push the warm air up and out the high side door end. in a cross / head wind i am not sure how well the tent would breathe.

the footprint is large for the weight. ok for established camp sites but in the snow or backcountry, this again will require more energy and put you out in the elements longer. i cannot imagine chopping a ledge in ice for this huge tent.

in my use and teaching, its all about time and being efficient; this tent with its hard to set-up design kept me out in the cold, windy, and damp weather way too long. i got wet being out there but the biggest thing was, i wasted too much energy staying warm and fiddling with this tent during set-up in nasty weather.

compare the bibler I / integral designs mk single walled tents; a smaller area is needed, pull the tent out, throw gear and yourself inside, set the tent up from inside out of the elements saving time and most importantly, energy.

the 2r might fit your or someone elses outdoor pursuit, but for climbing fast and saving energy in the hills, it doesn’t even come close to what i think a tent should be and do. it's you choice, and like always, buy what ever you think fills that pursuit and get out there in the hills and abuse it.

belay off
High Ice Ak
Personalized Guiding

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currently using: integral designs silshelter for climbing super light and fast. bibler I tent for normal mountain use. bibler bombshelter for basecamps.

This tent is phenomenal! Bombproof!

I've had my 2R for 10+ years and it is still holding up. Stephenson's claim that it will withstand a 150-MPH wind is not exaggerated. I was at Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier and right on schedule, the wind began to pick up around 5:00pm. All through the night the wind intensified where I thought the straps were going to tear away from the tent.

In the morning, I saw other climbers examining their broken tent poles and ripped tents from the strong wind.

The tent is easy to pack due to it's compact size and light weight and will easily fit two people inside, 1 person and all their gear with room to spare.

This is the best tent available in my opinion. Just think of it this way, "Pay me know, or pay me later." Being at 10,000 feet in a gale force wind at 2:00am is not the time to be wishing you would have spent an extra $100 for a better tent.

Customer Service

Due to my 2Rs age, the zipper began to have problems. I called Stephenson in order to find out how to send it back for repair. Instead of taking my money to fix the repair, the very nice lady at Stephenson gave me instructions over the phone how to "pinch" the zipper. The pinching worked and my zipper was fixed.

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