Slingfin Crossbow 2 4-Season Tent Assessment

Backside Line

The SlingFin CrossBow 2 is an excellent versatile four-season tent that performs nicely throughout most of our testing classes, together with consolation, sturdiness, and climate resistance. It’s roomy sufficient for 2 adults to sleep comfortably, and it has helpful options like twin vestibules, loads of pockets, and adjustable air flow for various circumstances. The distinctive WebTruss design makes it strong in heavy snow and powerful winds, so you may rely on it in powerful climate.

At simply over 5 kilos, it’s surprisingly light-weight and packs down smaller than many three-season tents. You may also tweak the setup to avoid wasting weight or add further power, making it a strong selection for year-round adventures. Though the setup requires extra effort than some easier tents, the flexibility and weatherproofing make it value it. In the event you’re searching for a dependable, high-performing tent, this one’s laborious to beat. For extra choices, take a look at our information to the perfect four-season tents.

How We Examined

We examined the SlingFin CrossBow 2 over two months of early winter circumstances, placing it by means of snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and gusty winds reaching as much as 40 mph. Whereas we’d have most well-liked testing it throughout epic 24-inch powder days (and snowboarding by means of them), the tent confronted gentle snowstorms, biting chilly, and relentless excessive winds. Although not precisely our dream circumstances, they nonetheless offered helpful insights into its efficiency in powerful winter situations.

consolation

We regularly discover that tent capability rankings could be exaggerated, however the Crossbow actually delivers on house. There’s loads of room for 2 adults to sleep and sit comfortably, and there are pockets galore to scale back gear muddle on the tent flooring.

The Crossbow is designed with a number of methods to tailor the quantity of airflow to your current circumstances. The pinnacle wall has one giant vent with three choices: the totally closed nylon layer, the mesh venting layer to be used in buggy circumstances, or totally open free of charge airflow. The nylon on the doorways additionally zips away to disclose mesh home windows on either side, and you’ll prop open the highest of the flysheet with Velcroed struts to chop down on condensation at evening.

Many 4-season tents are designed with a single entrance entry door or a back and front door, with the again door and vestibule being a lot smaller than the entrance. However the Crossbow has two giant aspect doorways with two giant vestibules very similar to a typical 3-season backpacking tent. This makes it a lot simpler for 2 folks to make use of the house and retailer their gear comfortably. 

Weight & Packed Dimension

At simply over 5 lbs., the burden of the Crossbow is nicely beneath common in comparison with different 4-season tents. And contemplating that the Crossbow holds up higher to wind and snow loading than some heavier tents just like the Mountain Hardwear Outpost 2, we’d say the burden is exceptionally low. On high of that, you may depart behind the WebTruss, fly struts, Outrigger system, further stakes, and further tensioners to avoid wasting about 14 oz. That is nice for when retaining weight low is a much bigger precedence than the necessity for optimum climate safety.

The Crossbow is without doubt one of the most packable tents on our Finest 4-season Tents record, overwhelmed out solely by the HMG Ultamid 2 tarp (which finally ends up being bulkier when you get the full insert to make it an entire tent). With a packed measurement of 14 x 6 in., the Crossbow even takes up much less backpack house than lots of our favourite 3-season backpacking tents.

Climate Resistance

This tent stands out as a four-season tent constructed to deal with harsh climate with spectacular reliability. Its progressive WebTruss design delivers distinctive structural stability, permitting the tent to face up to winds as much as 70 mph when correctly secured. The fly, constructed from 20D nylon ripstop material with a 1500mm waterproof score, successfully shields occupants from heavy rain, whereas the 20D nylon ripstop PE flooring with an 1800mm score prevents floor moisture from seeping in.

The tent’s breathable but sturdy physique blocks wind, spindrift, and sand, making it appropriate for varied environments, together with high-altitude and desert circumstances. For added resilience in heavy snow, SlingFin’s OutRigger attachment lets customers reinforce the construction with trekking poles. 

Whereas we didn’t get the possibility to check the CrossBow 2 in 70 mph winds, we did put it by means of its paces throughout a number of Colorado snowstorms with gusts reaching as much as 40 mph. All through our testing, the tent proved to be rock-solid and virtually windproof, dealing with the cruel circumstances with ease.

Ease of Setup

The Crossbow’s pole construction is simple to arrange and it may be tensioned from contained in the tent if winds begin to choose up. The distinctive WebTruss system helps you to totally assemble the bones of the tent with out having to combat the wind to get your poles by means of pole sleeves.

The WebTruss attaches to the tent physique with buckles that we discovered simpler to function than the inflexible clips on many different 4-season tents we’ve used. For gentle climate journeys, you may swap the WebTruss out with the included pole clips to make organising as fast and simple as any customary 3-season backpacking tent.

Sturdiness

The Crossbow makes use of one of the crucial distinctive pole constructions we’ve ever seen. The WebTruss design improves upon conventional pole sleeves and additional reduces flex in your poles – thereby lowering the probabilities of a pole snapping in excessive wind. Slingfin’s Outrigger system can be included. It lets you connect your trekking poles to the tent cross pole so as to add much more power for snow hundreds and excessive wind. This design has a a lot better strength-to-weight than many different 4-season tents.

Versatility

The worth of the Crossbow is common on our Finest 4-season Tents record, nevertheless it’s much more versatile than many others. In the event you solely plan to personal a single tent that may deal with just about any circumstances all year long, that is your tent. The Crossbow design lets you simply tailor the power of the construction to the circumstances you’re in. Connect your trekking poles to the crossbar to face up to heavier snow and wind, or depart their particular tent pole and trekking pole attachments behind and use the included clips to avoid wasting 6.2 oz. on journeys with gentle circumstances. If it will get scorching out, open the massive vent on the head and zip the nylon on the doorways away for a great cross-breeze.

Ought to You Purchase the SlingFin CrossBow 2?

The SlingFin CrossBow 2 is a superb selection for adventurers wanting a dependable, four-season tent that may deal with difficult circumstances whereas remaining light-weight and versatile. Its spectacular climate resistance, spacious inside, and adaptable air flow are perfect for these tackling high-altitude, winter, or year-round adventures the place sturdiness and efficiency are vital.

The CrossBow 2 stands out for its progressive design, providing extra power and flexibility than many heavier four-season tents, making it a terrific possibility for backpackers who prioritize packability with out compromising on safety.

Whereas the setup can really feel barely extra concerned, particularly for brand new customers, the tent’s stability and luxury make the additional effort worthwhile. In the event you’re an off-the-cuff camper sticking to gentle, fair-weather journeys, this stage of efficiency could also be overkill. Nevertheless, the CrossBow 2 is a high-value, rugged, adaptable, and light-weight shelter for many who repeatedly enterprise into harsh circumstances.

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

In the event you’re eyeing the SlingFin CrossBow 2, listed below are a number of different excellent four-season tents which may fit your wants. For extra nice suggestions, take a look at our information to the perfect four-season tents.

MSR Entry 2 Assessment: Good for shoulder-season and lightweight winter adventures, the Entry 2 is lighter than the CrossBow at 4 lbs. 1 oz. Whereas it’s not as rugged in excessive circumstances, it’s a superb selection for backcountry skiers and backpackers in search of a stability of weight and safety. The Entry affords good air flow and an intuitive setup, making it versatile for colder however much less extreme climate.

Samaya 2.0 Assessment: For ultralight fanatics targeted on fast-and-light alpine missions, the Samaya 2.0 has distinctive waterproofing and weight financial savings. Whereas it doesn’t fairly match the CrossBow’s sturdiness, its compact measurement and lack of vestibules make it greatest fitted to solo adventurers.

REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Assessment: In the event you’re searching for a extra budget-friendly possibility, the Arete ASL 2 is a strong four-season possibility. It’s heavier and fewer versatile than the CrossBow, nevertheless it is a superb choose for a reliable winter tent for below-treeline adventures.