Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 Tent Overview

Backside Line

The Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 is a good worth choice within the four-season tent class. It’s not solely budget-friendly but in addition well-made. This tent stands out due to its spacious inside, two giant vestibules for gear storage, and sturdy design that performs effectively in wind and snow. The twin kickstand vents successfully handle condensation, and the included gear loft and a number of pockets make organizing your gear simple. For winter tenting and below-treeline adventures, it’s a powerful contender.

Nonetheless, the Tasmanian 2 has a number of quirks. Establishing the rainfly will be cumbersome because of the inner pole sleeves, particularly in windy situations. The poles, whereas sturdy, require some persistence throughout setup. Moreover, the tent’s weight and packed dimension are on the heavier facet, making it much less superb for minimalist backpackers or long-distance journeys.

The Tasmanian 2 is a strong worth for adventurers in search of an inexpensive four-season tent that delivers dependable efficiency in winter tenting and basecamp eventualities. For extra choices, try our information to the most effective four-season tents.

How We Examined

We spent over two months testing the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 in Colorado’s mountains and foothills. We tried it out in all types of situations, from automobile tenting to backpacking and ski touring, to essentially get a really feel for what it does effectively, the place it struggles, and who it’s finest suited to.

Consolation

We persistently discovered the Tasmanian 2 snug all through testing, significantly for our taller gear analysts. 4-season tents aren’t usually designed with consolation as a major focus, however this one stands out in a number of key methods.

With a 46-inch inside top, this tent is without doubt one of the tallest we examined, making it tremendous simple to sit down up and alter garments. Our taller gear testers particularly liked the additional headroom—it made a noticeable distinction in consolation. One other main contributor to consolation is the ample gear storage. Chilly-weather tenting usually requires bulkier gear, even for minimalists.  We respect the 2 spacious vestibules. They make a wonderful place to stash gadgets you don’t want rapid entry to however need to hold dry. The underside of each sidewalls is lined with mesh pockets, which assist immensely with group.

Our taller testers additionally appreciated the tent’s spectacular 92-inch size, permitting them to retailer gear at their ft with out feeling cramped. Air flow was respectable in colder, drier situations, however the tent grew to become noticeably stuffy throughout a heat spell with high-altitude solar and temperatures nearing 60 levels.

One notable draw back is the small, low-to-the-ground door, which is usually a literal ache within the neck to crawl by—particularly in snowy situations. Whereas the door’s design is practical for retaining heat, it detracts from the tent’s total consolation.

Weight & Packed Dimension

The Tasmanian 2 isn’t precisely a winner concerning weight and packed dimension. At just below 8 kilos, it’s the heaviest tent we examined. Splitting the burden between two folks helps, however if you happen to’re heading out solo, you’ll positively really feel it in your pack.

Its packed dimension doesn’t do it any favors both. Measuring 21 inches lengthy and 6.5 inches in diameter, it’s about as cumbersome as a regular Z-style foam sleeping mat, which eats up valuable pack house. That stated, the carry sack does embrace compression straps, which make it somewhat simpler to handle.

We took this tent on a number of in a single day ski excursions, and after feeling the burden in our packs, we determined to load it onto a pulk as an alternative. Hauling it on the sled made the burden a lot simpler to handle and saved our packs lighter and extra snug for the trek.

Whereas it’s not superb for lengthy treks or ultralight backpacking, the burden and dimension are extra forgivable for shorter journeys or basecamp setups the place consolation and sturdiness matter greater than portability. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a sturdy winter tent and don’t thoughts the additional weight, it’s nonetheless a strong choice.

Climate Resistance

Whereas we chased a few small snowstorms with this tent, and it dealt with the few inches of snow we obtained flawlessly. The 75D polyester fly with a 1500mm waterproof coating ought to be ample for many winter situations, and the strong 5000mm waterproof-coated ground held up effectively towards melting snow. We even deliberately set it up over melting snow and puddles to check its sturdiness, and it carried out as anticipated. We’ll proceed testing it all through the remainder of winter and spring and can replace the assessment accordingly.

The Tasmanian 2 carried out impressively in excessive foothill winds and chilly temperatures, with in a single day lows within the mid-teens. When correctly guyed out (you’ll want to connect your personal guylines), it simply withstood winds exceeding 40 mph. Moreover, the tent retains warmth effectively, staying persistently hotter inside than the frigid temperatures outdoors.

Ease of Setup

The inside tent is about as simple to arrange as you can hope for. It options two longer color-coded principal poles and a middle cross pole, all of which match into corresponding color-coded grommets on the webbing. The tent physique then clips simply to the poles. As a part of our testing course of, we all the time arrange tents for the primary time with out directions to simulate the expertise of somebody unfamiliar with the setup. The Tasmanian 2 handed this check with ease.

Nonetheless, the rainfly is a bit trickier. The fly consists of two further poles to maintain it taut and the vestibules spacious. Whereas this can be a strong design in principle, the poles must be threaded by sleeves on the underside of the fly and secured into grommets on the corners. This course of will be manageable in calm situations however turns into considerably tougher in excessive winds.

Total, establishing the Tasmanian 2 is usually a constructive expertise, however the rainfly design provides a layer of complexity that will frustrate some customers in tough climate situations.

Sturdiness

Once you unpackage the Tasmanian 2, you’ll instantly discover the burden and thickness of the supplies. The material feels sturdy and confidence-inspiring, supplying you with the impression it may well deal with extreme climate. All through testing, we by no means felt like we needed to tiptoe across the setup course of to keep away from damaging something—apart from the stakes. The included stakes are a weak level. We examined the Tasmanian 2 on frozen, rocky floor within the Colorado foothills and nonetheless managed to bend a number of stakes, regardless of being additional cautious. To keep away from pointless complications within the backcountry, we’d extremely suggest upgrading to sturdier stakes—it’s a easy improve that’s effectively price it.

The tent is constructed from heavy-duty supplies that stay as much as its four-season designation. Throughout our exams, the strong 75D polyester rainfly and 5000mm waterproof-coated ground effectively dealt with moist and snowy situations. Regardless of being subjected to wind, snow, and prolonged use, nothing broke or confirmed indicators of damage.

That stated, correct setup is necessary with this tent. Absolutely guying out the tent is important to make sure the rainfly stays safe in tough climate. Twin man traces and strengthened attachment factors make this tent much more sturdy, however it’s as much as the consumer to set them up accurately.

Versatility

In our opinion, the Tasmanian 2 doesn’t fairly measure up by way of versatility in comparison with among the different tents we examined. It sits firmly within the four-season tent class, which means it’s finest suited to winter use. At almost 8 kilos, it’s too heavy for us to need to backpack with throughout hotter climate when the additional weight isn’t vital. Whereas the tent breathes effectively and affords strong air flow, the heft and bulk make it much less interesting for non-winter outings.

That stated, if you happen to can pitch this tent while not having the fly (a giant “if”), it could possibly be a consideration for much less excessive situations. However realistically, this tent shines in colder climate eventualities, the place the sturdy supplies and strong building are well worth the added weight. It’s a reliable choice for winter tenting or basecamp use however not one thing we’d seize for year-round versatility.

Ought to You Purchase the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2?

The Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 is a strong choice for these in search of a dependable, budget-friendly four-season tent. It’s well-suited for winter tenting, basecamp setups, and cold-weather backpacking journeys the place sturdiness and climate safety are key. With its spacious inside, sturdy supplies, and ample gear storage, this tent affords glorious worth for adventurers who prioritize consolation and reliability in difficult however manageable situations.

Nonetheless, this isn’t an expedition-grade tent and isn’t constructed for excessive situations or above-treeline use in extreme climate. It’s additionally ​​not the most suitable choice for these on the lookout for a light-weight, versatile tent for year-round use. At almost 8 kilos, it’s too heavy for minimalist backpackers or these planning prolonged treks in milder climate.

If you happen to’re out there for an inexpensive, strong winter tent that may deal with snow, wind, and chilly temperatures, the Tasmanian 2 gives you strong efficiency with out breaking the financial institution.

What Different 4-Season Tents Ought to You Think about?

If you happen to’re contemplating the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2, there are different nice four-season tents price exploring in our information to the most effective four-season tents. Listed here are a number of of these choices: 

REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Overview: A extra versatile various is the Arete ASL 2, which stays comparatively budget-friendly whereas having usability past simply winter situations. It’s lighter and barely smaller than the Tasmanian 2 however maintains a comparable peak top, making it a strong alternative for taller customers in search of year-round performance.

The NEMO Kunai 2 Overview: This is a superb alternative if you happen to’re on the lookout for a tent that bridges the hole between three- and four-season use. It’s lighter and extra compact than the Tasmanian 2 however nonetheless sturdy sufficient to deal with chilly and wind. It’s superb for adventurers tackling high-altitude trails with average winter situations. It’s additionally fairly a bit costlier. 

Massive Agnes Copper Spur HV3 Expedition Overview: A sturdy, spacious, and weather-resistant 3+ season tent. It affords extra inside room and higher air flow than the Tasmanian 2 however comes at a a lot larger worth. Best for these needing additional house for gear or shared tenting journeys in different situations.