REI Half Dome 2 Tent Review

For many hikers, their first big gear purchase is a tent. Countless hours go into researching materials, weighing the pros and cons of freestanding vs. trekking pole varieties, and trying to find the most bang for your buck. Finding a shelter that works for your individual needs is paramount for enjoying your time in the backcountry.

REI Co-Op has been making the Half Dome tent since 1980: this year marks the iconic shelter’s 45th anniversary. Backpacking technology has come a long way since then, and 45 years of updates and innovations have kept the Half Dome 2 versatile and user-friendly to this day.

REI Co-Op Half Dome 2 Tent with Footprint At a Glance

• MSRP: $299
• Packaged Weight: 5 lbs. 12.1 oz.
• Floor Dimensions: 88 x 52 inches
• Design: Freestanding
• Number of Doors: 2
• Materials:
  • Poles: 7000-series aluminum
  • Tent Body: Low wall – 75-denier polyester taffeta with polyurethane coating; upper wall – breathable 75-denier polyester taffeta; mesh – 20-denier nylon
  • Floor: 75-denier polyester taffeta with polyurethane coating
  • Rainfly: 40-denier ripstop nylon with polyethylene coating

REI Co-Op Half Dome 2 set up for a night of stargazing without the rainfly. Photo courtesy of Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith.

Circumstances of Review

I work as a backpacking guide in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the tent that we outfit clients with is the REI Half Dome 2, so I’m quite familiar with the tent in general. In addition, I recently got to test out the newest version on a multi-night backpacking trip in Rocky Fork State Park in northeast Tennessee. 

Features

Fits Two Comfortably

The Half Dome 2 was designed to accommodate two full-sized adults. Indeed, the latest version features an updated pole structure that provides more functional shoulder and head room. I found it comfortable for myself and my husband, plus there was plenty of room for our packs in the roomy vestibules.

REI also makes a Half Dome 2 Plus and a Half Dome 3 if you need an even larger tent option.

Two D-Shaped Doors

Having a door on each side of the tent makes it easy to get in and out without disturbing your tentmate. The D shape of the doors leaves plenty of room to maneuver in and out of the tent, plus both the doors and the rainfly zips can be secured in an open position. This is perfect for conversing with friends or for watching the rain from the dry oasis of your tent.

Separate Tent Body and Rainfly 

In the gear world, having a separate tent body and rainfly means the tent is “double-walled.” A “single-walled” tent is a tent that’s basically just the rainfly with a little bit of built-in mesh. The beauty of a double-walled tent like the Half Dome 2 is that the user has the option to sleep without the rainfly. 

If the weather conditions are right, you can sleep with just a thin piece of mesh over your head, meaning you have a clear view of the night sky. You are still protected from bugs, but you have a stellar view. If a storm rolls in, you can throw the rainfly over the tent body quickly.

The inside of the Half Dome 2. Complete with multiple interior packets that make storing and organizing items like headlamps and sunglasses easy. Photo courtesy of Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith.

Attached Tent Footprint

There is a lot of debate in the backpacking world about whether footprints are really necessary. They add a little extra weight but can help protect the tent floor from wear and tear.

The Half Dome 2 footprint is made with “75-denier polyester taffeta with polyurethane coating and a nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) that helps moisture bead up on the surface,” according to REI. This helps keep the bottom of the tent dry and prevents the material from wetting through. The footprint comes attached to the tent bottom but can easily be removed if you choose not to carry it. 

Internal Pockets 

The REI Half Dome 2 comes with multiple built-in pockets. These interior pockets offer a convenient place to store overnight equipment like headlamps and battery banks. The pockets also help to keep gear organized and ensure small items are convenient and easy to find.

DWR and Seam Sealing

The rainfly, tent floor, and tent body have all been treated with DWR. This ensures that moisture beads up on the surface rather than soaking through. To help keep the interior dry, the tent body and rainfly are also seam-sealed. These features work together to keep rain, sleet, and snow out and keep your sleep system dry and cozy.

Freestanding Vs. Trekking Pole Tents

In the name of weight savings, many ultralight hikers are gravitating towards trekking pole tents. These are tents that do not use traditional tent poles to hold their shape and instead are assembled using tent stakes and trekking poles. They can be difficult to pitch at first but set up fast once you get the hang of it. 

Trekking pole tents are fantastic until you have to set them up on snow, sand, or rock. Since these tents require stakes to hold their shape, any areas that are difficult to drive stakes into the ground can spell disaster (or at least a less-than-ideal night’s sleep). 

Read Next: The Best Backpacking Tents for Thru-Hiking in 2025

For this reason, freestanding tents are still a popular choice. Freestanding tents rely on tent poles to hold their shape (but can still be anchored down with tent stakes, especially in order to have a proper vestibule). They are easy to set up and very popular for beginners or intermediate level. REI’s Half Dome 2 tent is a freestanding tent, meaning it relies on aluminum tent poles to hold its shape.

Set up is quick and easy with the REI Co-Op Half Dome 2. Photo courtesy of Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith.

REI Co-Op Half Dome 2 Pros

Easy To Assemble

The REI Half Dome 2 tent is ideal for beginner and seasoned backpackers because of how easy it is to set up. The aluminium poles are all one connected piece, and it’s clear how the pieces fit together to form together to provide structure for the tent.

Once a person connects the tent poles, it’s easy to connect the poles to their corresponding grommets on the tent. There are several clips that attach the tent body to the poles. From there a person then has the option to attach the rainfly. 

It can be intimidating to set up a tent for the first time, but I truly believe this tent is as simple and universal as you can get. It was for this reason that the REI Half Dome 2 tent was the tent used on my guided backpacking trips. Setup is easy to understand and simple to execute, even for clients who have never set up a tent before. Like anything, it gets easier with practice. After several nights, I found that clients were pros at pitching this tent.

Can Weather Any Storm

I have used this tent in a multitude of different weather conditions. The REI Half Dome 2 is a 3-season tent, meaning it is appropriate to use during spring, summer, and fall. Selecting a shelter that can keep you dry and safe during inclement weather is crucial. As a guide, I have slept through severe thunderstorms, snow, and even hail in the older model of this tent. 

The Half Dome 2 product page says that the new model has “updated fly material (that) is more durable than the previous version” and that the “fly is also patterned to be closer to the ground for greater protection.” These changes weren’t really noticeable in practical use, but I slept fine in this tent as the rain poured. I woke up with the inside of my tent still dry.

Minimizes Condensation

I also didn’t experience much condensation inside this tent. As a double-walled tent, there is naturally less user contact with condensation compared to a single-walled tent. The mesh tent body acts as a buffer between the rainfly and your stuff, and that slight distance is what can minimize condensation.

In addition, the rainfly of the Half Dome 2 also has two small vents that can be opened on clear nights to limit condensation. These vents can be closed when it’s raining to keep the interior dry. I noticed more condensation inside this tent after cold nights, but overall it was significantly less of an issue than when I sleep in my single-walled tent.

Plenty of space for two in the Half Dome 2. Photo courtesy of Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith.

REI Co-Op Half Dome 2 Cons

Heavy 

My biggest issue with this tent is just how heavy it is at 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Maybe it’s just because I’ve used ultralight tents for several years, but I can’t imagine carrying a tent this heavy from Georgia to Maine! There are similar tents on the market that are lighter, but they may come with a higher price tag.

While using this tent on guided trips, I would always recommend clients find a buddy to share the tent with. This meant they would have a partner to sleep with at night and have someone to share the load with during the day. Typically, one person would carry the tent body and poles and the other would take the rainfly and stakes.

Even separated, these components are still heavy and bulky, but at least each individual is only carrying sub-three pounds of shelter weight instead of five or six.

Rainfly is set up to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep in the Half Dome 2. Photo courtesy of Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith.

Difficult to Connect Rainfly Grommets

The rainfly connects to the tent body at six points: four buckles near the footprint and two grommets on the tent body over the doors. Snapping the buckles in place is easy, but getting the grommets in place is challenging. The connecting loops are on the underside of the rainfly so it is difficult to see them. 

I also found that once the first grommet was in place, it was hard to place the second because there was tension. This tension is necessary to keep the rainfly tight so that water rolls off it, but it always seems to be a struggle to secure the rainfly. This becomes easier after multiple uses since the material stretches slightly.

Conclusion

The REI Co-Op Half Dome 2 is a great beginner or intermediate tent for short trips. Its easy assembly makes it ideal for newbies and folks who want to reduce the headache of pitching a tent. Because of how heavy it is, though, I don’t consider this tent suitable for extended backpacking trips or thru-hikes.

The Half Dome 2 is great for short overnight trips and would be perfect for car camping. For use on a multi-night trip, the best way to manage the weight is to divide the tent between two people. It holds up well in inclement weather and offers a refuge from the elements. Overall, this is a sound investment if its intended use is shorter trips.

Shop the REI Half Dome 2 Tent

Tranquil campsite with the REI Half Dome 2. Photo courtesy of Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith.

Comparable Tents

MSR Elixir 2 Tent with Footprint

• MSRP: $319.95
• Packaged Weight: 6lb 3oz
• Floor Dimensions: 84×52 in

Big Agnes Blacktail 2

• MSRP: $249.95
• Packaged Weight: 5lb 8oz
• Floor Dimensions: 90″ x 52″ 

The North Face Trail Lite 2 Tent

• MSRP: $325
• Packaged Weight: 5 lbs 1.5 oz 

The REI Half Dome 2 was donated for purpose of review