REI Quarter Dome T2 Review

Livability
The Quarter Dome competes with twelve other two door tents we tested that aim to provide the most space for the least amount of weight. This tent does OK when pitted against tents that cost considerably more. 30 sq. ft. of interior space and two small 6.5 sq. ft. vestibules give two people enough room to sit up comfortably and store a pair of shoes under the vestibule. Each vestibule is about the size found on ultralight single entrance backpacking tents; other tents that weigh the same amount have larger vestibules. For example, the Hileberg Rogen has nearly twice the vestibule area and weighs the same.

One of the Quarter Dome’s largest drawbacks is its relatively short 84” length. The aggressive inner tent angle can make the tent cramped for people around or over six feet tall. During rain combining a tall person with a lofted sleeping bag can lead to either or both a wet head or a wet sleeping bag bottom.

We believe the Quarter Dome’s best feature is the tear shaped doors that unzip and tuck into small pockets above the door. These make getting in and out of the tent effortless and also more sustainable (you’re less likely to snag and tear the door if it’s not hanging in your way).

Weather Resistance
The Quarter Dome offers solid protection from the elements in what we call fair to moderate conditions. The pole design is such that two of the three poles (the orange ones) only touch the ground once. This puts the majority of the stress on the primary pole that runs from one corner to the other corner and reduces the overall strength when compared to tents with two primary poles, such as the Hilleberg Rogen. The Quarter Dome does, however, have four corner guypoints that add a considerable amount of strength compared to tents with only two mid-level guy points (MSR Hubba Hubba, Carbon Reflex 2, Hoop, Sierra Designs LT Strike, etc.).

The Quarter Dome’s polyurethane coated ripstop nylon floor and fly are the greatest area for potential improvement. They’re excellent considering the cost of the tent, but we believe they’re no where near as durable or as strong as silicone impregnated nylons, and are a far cry from the stunning performance of cuben fiber (found in ultralight tents).

Weight and Packed Size
The tent weighs 72 oz., or 4 lb. 8 oz. and is far from ultralight.

Adaptability
We give the tent a score of 1 here (the highest score is 3) because it must be pitched in the exact same way every time, which can be a drawback for long distance hikers or anyone forced to camp in sites that don’t allow an optimal pitch. Ultralight shelters are much more adaptable. We don’t believe fast-pitching (using the fly, an optional footprint, and the poles) is viable for serious backpacking. Nor do we recommend using footprints for backpacking. See our Buying Advice Article for more info on these topics.

Limitations
The Quarter Dome includes very poor quality stakes that have low holding power and are heavier and harder to use than many other stakes that come with tents we've tested. We highly recommend purchasing better stakes. Consider the 6" Easton Nano Nail stakes, a good value, or for the ultimate lightweight get the Easton Full Metal Jacket stakes. See the photo below. There's also not enough guy line for every point. Bluewater 3mm Niteline is a good value.

Best Application
Luxurious three-season adventures in mild to moderate conditions.

Value
The REI Half Dome 2 weighs only 13 ounces more and is stronger, more spacious and costs $90 less than the Quarter Dome. The Quarter Dome, therefore, saves 0.32 ounces per dollar. In contrast the Tarptent Double Rainbow, which is 30 ounces lighter, considerably stronger, and better for tall people than the Quarter Dome saves 0.45 ounces per additional dollar compared to the Half Dome. Thus, by our standards the Double Rainbow is a much better value than the Quarter Dome if saving weight is a top priority.

See our Price versus Value Chart to see how the value of all tents compare.

Other Versions
There are many sizes of this tent. The Quarter Dome T2 Plus ($299 is 10” longer and 3” wider and weighs 9 oz. more. We have not yet tested the one or three person version of the tent.