REI makes some great tents, and the award-winning Quarter Dome series features some stellar designs. New to the lineup is the T2 Plus, an extended size version of the two person T2 that is 10 inches longer, 3 inches wider and 1 inch taller for a grand total of 5.6 extra square feet of living area. It may not sound like much, but when you're cramming in extra gear, people or pets, or if you just want a little more room to move, it's noticable.
The T2 Plus is mostly mesh for a great view and ventilation, and at 4lb 13oz fully packed it's no bag of bricks on your back. It has a bathtub floor and a small area of fabric overhead. The pole system is one of the fancy new arrangements where the intersections have these little hubs so the whole thing deploys as a single unit. Just match the color-coded poles to the webbing and you're good to go; we set it up fast and easy first try following the instructions printed on the tent bag. The way the entries are set up the walls are almost vertical for extra headroom.
The interior space is very livable, with pockets in each corner and large identical doors on either side that store in their own pockets. The vestibule is a tad larger too, also handy for gear, pets and in-laws. Very cool: you can pitch both the tent and the fly stand-alone, use the latter for an ultralight shelter. Everything is included: 8 stakes, pole repair tube and guylines with tighteners. The Quarter Dome T2 Plus is clearly designed for backpackers by backpackers, and with the extra room the Plus model is sure to be a big hit.
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