First off, to level set, here are the other tents I've owned & used extensively:
Kelty Green River 6 (a cavernous family tent)
Kelty Grand Mesa 4 (my old backpacking tent, huge in size, but about 3lbs too heavy)
Eureka Timberline XT (the heavy old bomb-proof boy-scout classic)
Eureka Apex 2XT (decent, liked the price, but no full rain fly and still a little heavy)
Armed with those things, the Zephyr is *brilliant*. Coming in at under 6 lbs full-kit, the 3-person has plenty of room for two people without having to be wedged up against the tent walls. The different in weight between the 2 & 3 person was so minimal that I decided to spring for the extra real estate. The extra couple of ounces is insubstantial when the tent is broken down between two backpackers.
As an initial test, I pulled the tent out of the packaging and started a timer. The first-time setup took 6 minutes flat, fully-staked & guyed, with no glancing at the instructions. The only thing that slowed me down was trying to figure out which end of the rain fly was which. Keltys have color-coded straps so so you know which corner is which. That would have been a nice touch, and I think I'll mod the Zephyr accordingly. Actual set-ups in the field were 3-4 minutes, and tear downs were about the same (or faster).
With the slope of the roofline, the interior has GREAT head room, and the twin doors are wonderful. Even with tents having the door on the end, you still jostle your partner somewhat as you're getting in and out. That is NOT a problem with this tent. It would be nice if the vestibules were slightly larger, but they serve their duty as a place for your shoes. I can't wait for a nice summer night when I can leave the fly in my pack. The entire upper of the tent is mesh, so there should be great opportunities to look up at the stars from inside the bug-free comfort of the tent.
My first time out with this tent was on a long rainy weekend. HAPPINESS IS A FULL RAIN FLY. We stayed dry as can be, and there was very little humidity build-up inside the tent, which says good things about its ventilation. I always worry that good ventilation means "way too chilly" but it did a good job of also maintaining body warmth into the low 50's (beyond that, it's up to your sleeping bag). Water did collect on the ventilation flap below the "A" (seen in the product picture), but it never pooled and it never bled through the fly. So, probably not an issue.
Another useful point, while it CAN be kept shut and warm, it also ventilates REALLY easily. Like taking a nap in the tent in the afternoon, but can't stand waking up in a sun-baked sweat? Leave one (or both) vestibules pulled back and there's PLENTY of fresh air.
Being a free-standing tent, one could probably get by with 3 stakes under most circumstances. The stakes are solid aluminum. They seem sturdier than a Kelty stake, but are plenty light. I don't feel any need to swap them out for something more high-performance and I suspect I'll carry all of them in the name of preparedness.
The guy lines are REALLY long, and could probably stand to be shortened up by a foot or two. The cord is also a brown and yellow pattern, which blends into the ground nicely. For some, these two things could combine into an annoying tripping hazard. I don't know of any tents that use high-visibility guy lines (and if I ever design a tent, that'll be on my list), but I'm just posting it as a point of interest.
Would I buy it again? Oh heck yes. However, here are the things I am going to watch, long term:
* Zipper longevity. Honestly, I was expecting something slightly more robust.
* Tub wear. The floor of the tent was made of a slightly lighter nylon than I would have liked, but I'm sure that was a decision made in the name of weight savings.
We'll see how it holds up, but the overall design and assembly is very good so I'm optimistic. ALPS also has a great "common sense" warranty, so I feel really good about the purchase overall.
| Special Feature | Lightweight |
|---|---|
| Brand | ALPS Mountaineering |
| Occupant Capacity | 3 |
| Design | Camping Tent |
| Material | Polyester, Aluminum |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Mountaineering |
| Product Dimensions | 89"L x 74"W x 41"H |
| Seasons | 3 Season |
| Color | Gray/Navy |
| Sport | Camping & Hiking |
| Item Weight | 6.4 Pounds |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Shape | Alps |
| Installation Type | Free Standing |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash |
| Included Components | Tent |
| Pole Material Type | Aluminum |
| Size | 3 Person |
| Closure Type | Zipper |
| Fabric Type | Aluminum,Polyester |
| Floor Length | 89 Inches |
| Water Resistance Technology | 1500 millimeters |
| Maximum Height | 41 Inches |
| Floor Area | 40 Square Feet |
| Base Material | Polyester |
| Number Of Poles | 2 |
| Style | Two-pole Freestanding |
| Water Resistance Level | Water Resistant |
| Assembly Required | No |
| Number of Rooms | 3 |
| Stake Material | Aluminum |
| Is Waterproof | True |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 19.4 x 7.1 x 6.8 inches |
| Package Weight | 3.29 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 89 x 74 x 41 inches |
| Brand Name | ALPS Mountaineering |
| Warranty Description | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| Model Name | Zephyr |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | ALPS Mountaineering |
| Part Number | 5322650 |
