Backpacker 3/06 Aeolos 2P

Spacious and Strong

Cathedrallike living space and outstanding sturdiness for a tent under 5-1/2 pounds – that was our testers’ impression after they stayed comfortably dry through steady rain in the Olympics. Credit two long crossing poles that bend midway to make the walls more vertical, and two short bridge poles that increase headroom. At 90 inches long, the interior lets tall guys stretch out, and it’s wide enough for two pads plus gear and clothing. The two big doors and vestibules are spacious enough for boots, packs, and cooking. Detailing is five-star, from the welded window and vent to the taut pitch using dual-diameter DAC NSL poles (which taper from middle to ends for stability). The price, alas, is also five-star.

Backpacker 4/06 Aeolos 2P

Aeolos 2P Sets a New Weight-to-space Standard for Double-wall Tents

Sure, we get pretty worked up over ultralight tents. But the truly rare find is a traditional double-wall that cuts weight without slashing features or stability. Enter the Aeolos. We slept in it through deluges in the Olympics, sandblasting winds in Utah, and dripping humidity in the Catskills, and we’re still looking for something bad to say about it.

Marmot’s design acumen comes through in details like the Aeolos’s pole clips. Not only are these the strongest clips we’ve seen, but they also combine with smooth-sliding pole sleeves for an easy, secure pitch. One editor had it up in minutes – by headlamp – her first time out. Other stuff we like: the dual-diameter poles, which are thicker in the middle (where strength is crucial) and thinner at the ends (where weight-shaving makes sense). The large doors and vent that eliminate condensation even on soggy nights. The door design that keeps rain from dripping inside when we get in and out. The huge vestibules, which fit two big, drooly dogs, plus gear. And the rainfly-only pitch (with $40 optional footprint), which shaves nearly 2 pounds.

But this tent’s most impressive feature is its awesome space-to-weight ratio. With Marmot’s unique knee-pole design – the main crossing poles are prebent to create steeper sidewalls – and two short bridge poles across the roof, even our tallest testers were happy with the headroom. Four people can play cards here in a rainstorm, and two 6-footers could think they’re sleeping alone. Yet the weight comes in under 5-1/2 pounds. OK, one nitpick: instead of standard stake loops, the tent has strips of webbing whose slots aren’t big enough for T or Y stakes, only Marmot’s flexy needle stakes.

Women's Adventure 3/06-4/06 Aeolos 2P

This Tent Has it All

A lightweight two-person, three-season tent? You got it! This tent truly has it all. The new pole design allows for increased stability, and it has two doors and two vestibules, so you won’t wake up your tentmate for those middle-of-the-night nature calls. The Aeolos also has great windows for stargazing. And at a mere 5 pounds 12 ounces, it won’t weigh you down on the trail.

Outside 2006 Buyer’s Guide Aeolos 2P

The Perfect Workhorse

The perfect workhorse, this do-it-all two-person shelter is light enough for summer, sturdy enough for shoulder-season storms, and big enough for a pair of tall strangers to share. The stable pitch is drum-tight and condensation-free, and two doors and vestibules make for easy living. While its 40-inch peak height isn’t best-in-show, the inner space feels XXL due to Marmot’s bent-knee pole system and “brow” poles that pull walls nearly vertical. In the Grand Canyon, the Aeolos comfortably fit two guys and hid our ten-person group’s food bags from the canyon’s marauding mice. We also like the cherry colors. Bonus: Rock-solid pole structure can handle a snow load.