Review: REI Half Dome 2+ Tent (2025 version)
The 2025 REI Half Dome 2+ offers a durable, spacious, and affordable option for campers and backpackers alike — building on a long history as a trusted favorite since 1980.
The Half Dome has been a staple for campers and backpackers since its debut in 1980, with many updates over the years. I first used it in 2016, when I purchased the Half Dome 2+ for both car camping and backpacking trips with my husband. In 2024, REI introduced a lighter Half Dome SL, which I reviewed here and remains my favorite version of the Half Dome line — but that model has since been discontinued.
Who is this tent for?
If you don’t camp or backpack often and want a single tent that can handle both, the Half Dome’s versatility makes it a great choice for everything from car camping to occasional backpacking trips.
For backpackers, the Half Dome 2+ is a solid choice if you’re looking for a spacious, easy-to-pitch freestanding tent built with durable materials. At 6 lbs. 4 oz., it’s definitely not lightweight by backpacking standards, but it offers significantly more interior space and a much lower price point compared to ultralight models without needing to upgrade to a three person tent. To make carrying it easier, two people can divide the weight — one carrying the tent body and stakes, the other the rainfly and poles.
For car campers, this tent doesn’t take up as much space as larger “stand up inside” options so you can fit into smaller campsites, yet it still provides plenty of space for two people.
My favorite way to use this tent is when I’m camping solo. It has plenty of room for a wide 25-inch sleeping pad, with extra space along one side to organize all of my gear.
Specs
- type: freestanding, double-wall 2-person tent
- floor area: 92 inches by 56 inches
- floor area: 35.8 square feet
- peak height: 42 inches
- number of doors: 2
- fabric, low wall: 75-denier polyester taffeta with polyurethane coating
- fabric, upper wall: breathable 75-denier polyester taffeta
- fabric, mesh: 20-denier nylon
- fabric, floor: 75-denier polyester taffeta with polyurethane coating
- fabric, rainfly: 40-denier ripstop nylon with polyethylene coating
- sustainability: Climate Label certified; made with nylon mesh that is solution-dyed, which supports reduced water and energy use compared with a conventional dyeing process
- weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz.
- price: $369 (watch for frequent REI sales and member discounts to lower the cost)
Features
Freestanding design: The Half Dome is a fully freestanding tent, meaning it stands on its own without needing stakes — making setup easy on a wide range of surfaces, from rocky terrain to compacted soil. This is especially useful for being able to move the tent into an ideal location, though it’s still wise to stake the tent. The freestanding design also adds stability and resilience in windy conditions.
Full-coverage rainfly: the rainfly shields the tent from both rain and wind, while two spacious vestibules offer protected storage for gear outside the sleeping area. Four extra guylines are included for added stability in strong winds, with additional tie-out points at the ends of the rainfly. A flap over the doors helps keep rain from getting inside.
Solid fabric panels: The tent body includes ample solid fabric for added privacy and protection, helping to block wind and prevent debris from blowing inside.
Ventilation: Two large vents at the top of the tent promote airflow and help minimize condensation. Thanks to their protective overhangs, the vents can stay open in all but sideways, wind-driven rain without letting moisture inside.
Pockets: The interior of the tent features four pockets for gear storage, with two on the sidewalls and two at the top of the mesh. I like to keep my phone and eyeglasses in the lower pocket, and my headlamp and trail hat in the top pocket.
Footprint: The included footprint helps to protect the tent floor and attaches to the tent body with a strap and toggle so you can leave it attached, or remove it for cleaning. Even though the tent’s floor is made of a sturdy 75-denier fabric, I prefer to use a footprint to keep the floor dry and free of sap, which is common in the Pacific Northwest and difficult to remove.
Top-loading storage bag: for ease in loading, the storage bag provides ease in loading the tent components and includes a cinch cord and compression strap. To shave 4 ounces off the carry weight, I leave the storage bag at home.
Room for Improvement
While the updated Half Dome 2+ is a solid tent overall, a few changes didn’t work as well for me. First, it’s heavier than the previous version — and a full 1.5 pounds heavier than the SL model, which used lighter fabrics that help reduce overall weight.
I also preferred the SL version’s vestibule door design, which used two stakes and opened on the tent side rather than down the center, making it easier to zip and unzip without a long reach.
An additional detail I preferred was the teardrop-shaped mesh doors on the 2016 version, which could be opened from either side — something that made setup more flexible depending on tent orientation.
Comparable freestanding 2-person tents
Within this weight range, there are several tents that have similar features to the Half Dome, but none of them are as large without moving up to a three person tent model.
MSR Elixir 2 Tent
- floor dimensions: 84 inches by 52 inches
- floor area: 30 square feet
- peak height: 41 inches
- weight: 6 lbs. 3 oz.
- footprint: included
- price: $319.95
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 2 Tent
- floor dimensions: 88 inches by 54 inches
- floor area: 33 square feet
- peak height: 42 inches
- weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz.
- footprint: included
- price: $500.00
Sea to Summit Ikos TR2 Tent
- floor dimensions: 84.6 inches by 53 inches
- floor area: 31.2 square feet
- peak height: 42 inches
- weight: 5 lbs. 3.6 oz.
- footprint: not included
- price: $335.00
Through every iteration, the Half Dome has remained a dependable, affordable tent built with long-lasting materials, and it’s still a strong option today.
Disclosure: this item was donated for the purpose of a review.