Originally submitted at REI
The REI Cirque ASL (All Season Light) 2 tent reflects the classic backpacker layout with side doors and vestibules to maximize livability, access and storage for 2 occupants.
Super sweet tent!!
By laggy311 from Portland, Oregon on 9/11/2010
Pros: Sturdy, Windproof, Waterproof, Fly Works Well, Comfortable, LightweightBest Uses: Backpacking, Car Camping
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist
I've been searching for quite sometime for a great backpacking tent that was spacious for me, light, durable and liviable through the 9/10 range of conditions that i come across. Being in the Pacific NW, I need a tent that can enable me to get out in fall and even winter. So i needed a true 4 season, but single walled. I finally settled on the Cirque vs the Arete. I was also looking at tents like Bibler, MH Spire, MSR Fury (2x walled).
I chose the Cirque over the Arete because of a little weight diff and the dual entries and vestibules, and thus the seemingly better airflow.
I did set up on before any trips, which you should do. One knock against this tent is the poles take some wooing to get all the way thru, could be me though so it doesn't warrant me taking off a star. Once in, thought tent is solid. Ingenious system to hold down fly and footprint. Says it comes with 8 stakes, but only got 6, which is fine as the extra 2 would only serve as extra guy points. Btw, this tent has tons of extra guy points.
Ventilation system is superb in the day. At night when temp drops, just seal it up. I spent a very wet night in Trapper Creek Wilderness, WA and the tent was bone dry DESPITE several wet articles of clothing in the tent with me.
I spent another cold night on Mt. Adams, about 6000ft with decent winds. Tent was toasty and did not budge. I bet this tent is great in high winds simply because there's really not much by was of squared edges. With the fly, it takes on a pretty round shape.
Interior pockets and gear loft are a nice touch. Tent is SUPER easy to roll up and store. I leave the fly attached for a "fast pitch" option. Seems ok, but like I said poles seem kind of tough to get past the high mid-point/crossing point. There is no fly/footprint only option as pole sleeves are on the tent. However, the fly and footprint could be set up if you have some utility cord.
Only other thing is that the doors don't open all the way. The picture shows the top of the tent door as far as it will go (bottom zips open, obviously). This cuts down on weight tho (less zipper), makes for less heat loss (cold weather tent). I'm short (5'7) so I don't have issues getting in and out.
I am SO happy with this tent and really need nothing else. If I'm camping in a desert in summer or hiking Everest, then I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!
I chose the Cirque over the Arete because of a little weight diff and the dual entries and vestibules, and thus the seemingly better airflow.
I did set up on before any trips, which you should do. One knock against this tent is the poles take some wooing to get all the way thru, could be me though so it doesn't warrant me taking off a star. Once in, thought tent is solid. Ingenious system to hold down fly and footprint. Says it comes with 8 stakes, but only got 6, which is fine as the extra 2 would only serve as extra guy points. Btw, this tent has tons of extra guy points.
Ventilation system is superb in the day. At night when temp drops, just seal it up. I spent a very wet night in Trapper Creek Wilderness, WA and the tent was bone dry DESPITE several wet articles of clothing in the tent with me.
I spent another cold night on Mt. Adams, about 6000ft with decent winds. Tent was toasty and did not budge. I bet this tent is great in high winds simply because there's really not much by was of squared edges. With the fly, it takes on a pretty round shape.
Interior pockets and gear loft are a nice touch. Tent is SUPER easy to roll up and store. I leave the fly attached for a "fast pitch" option. Seems ok, but like I said poles seem kind of tough to get past the high mid-point/crossing point. There is no fly/footprint only option as pole sleeves are on the tent. However, the fly and footprint could be set up if you have some utility cord.
Only other thing is that the doors don't open all the way. The picture shows the top of the tent door as far as it will go (bottom zips open, obviously). This cuts down on weight tho (less zipper), makes for less heat loss (cold weather tent). I'm short (5'7) so I don't have issues getting in and out.
I am SO happy with this tent and really need nothing else. If I'm camping in a desert in summer or hiking Everest, then I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!
Soda Peaks Lake, Trapper Creek Wilderness, WA
Tags: Picture of Product
(legalese)
I love the photos, especially the bottom one of Hood.
ReplyDeleteIf you should leave Portland, where do you think you would go?
About experiencing the natural environment, that's one of the things I like about Oregon. I've dealt with chronic pain issues that made it impossible for me to camp last year, and I was only able to make a few short trips this year. Oh, well, maybe next summer. Like you, I feel the stress of the city--even here in Eugene--but often won't even be aware of how bad it is until I've been to the woods, and then returned to town.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Laggy. I too used to envision a simple rural existence, and even built a house in the woods in which to pursue it. I later discovered though that, for me, it's better to live in town and visit the woods than to endure the isolation of the woods and visit town. Also, at age 61, I need both health insurance and ready access to good hospitals and diverse medical specialists. It's funny how inconsequential such things once seemed.
ReplyDeleteA reader of my blog recommended a book to me recently, and I will now recommend it to you: "The philosopher and the wolf: lessons from the wild on love, death, and happiness" by Mark Rowlands. His thoughts about our society being based upon legal contracts and why that's a bad thing represent the first ideas I've come across in a long time that I had neither thought of nor read about.