Reviews You Can Rely On

SlingFin Portal 2 Review

With two large side doors and plenty of headroom, this lightweight tent is a great balance between comfort and weight
gearlab tested logo
SlingFin Portal 2 Review (Lightweight with plenty of pockets, the SlingFin Portal 2 offers unique weather resistant features.)
Lightweight with plenty of pockets, the SlingFin Portal 2 offers unique weather resistant features.
Credit: Clark Tate
Price:  $560 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   SlingFin
By Ben Applebaum-Bauch and Clark Tate  ⋅  Dec 1, 2023
79
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 18
  • Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 9.0
  • Space to Weight Ratio - 25% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 7.0
  • Construction Quality - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

The SlingFin Portal 2 has many of the standard features we expect in a tent at this price point — two side doors, lightweight construction, and solid packability. However, it is the 'hidden' features that make this tent a real stand out. It comes with an array of storage pockets in a few different sizes. It has 12 connection points for guylines and fly spreaders, protecting campers and gear in heavy weather. It can also be super-stabilized to make it a trustworthy workhorse for years to come, with redundant door zippers and trekking pole compatibility to give it extra strength. This is a lightweight tent that doesn't make durability sacrifices, and we love it. Our full article on the best backpacking tents will show you how it fares versus competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
High peak height
Excellent storage pockets
Detachable kickstand vents
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Shorter length
Thin rainfly
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 1, 2023, after revamping our lineup for this past fall season.

Compare to Similar Products

 
slingfin portal 2
This Product
SlingFin Portal 2
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Two-Person Backpacking Tent
Editors' Choice Award
Best Three-Person Backpacking Tent
Top Pick Award
Best Weight to Performance Ratio
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Buy Award
Best On a Tight Budget
Price $560 List$396.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$304.73 at Amazon
Compare at 4 sellers
$289.99 at Amazon
Compare at 4 sellers
$199 List
$148.93 at REI
Overall Score Sort Icon
79
86
77
68
53
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line A tent with plenty of pockets and great interior volume all in a lightweight packageThis tent offers enough room for three, without weighing you downOne of our favorite tents for all your backpacking needs, it boasts a delightful balance of comfort, water resistance, and weightThis comfortable, airy option can handle some abuse, though that durability adds weightSimple and reliable in mild conditions, this is a good solid backpack tent
Rating Categories SlingFin Portal 2 Big Agnes Copper Sp... Big Agnes Copper Sp... NEMO Aurora 2 REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Comfort (25%)
8.0
9.0
7.5
9.5
5.5
Weather Resistance (25%)
9.0
7.5
7.5
6.0
6.0
Space to Weight Ratio (25%)
7.0
9.5
7.5
5.5
2.0
Ease of Use (15%)
7.0
9.0
9.0
6.0
7.5
Construction Quality (10%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.5
7.5
Specs SlingFin Portal 2 Big Agnes Copper Sp... Big Agnes Copper Sp... NEMO Aurora 2 REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Measured Total Packaged Weight 3.34 3.81 2.99 5.51 5.65
Measured Floor Area., sq ft 27.74 39.20 26.21 30.33 30.21
Interior Floor Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 8.31 10.29 8.77 5.50 5.35
Measured Headroom Area, sq ft 13.24 25.04 12.72 25.28 4.86
Interior Headroom Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 3.96 6.57 4.25 4.59 0.86
Packed Size (length x diameter) 14.5 x 6 in 20.5 x 6 in 20 x 6 in 20 x (8 x 8) in 18 x 8.5 in
Dimensions (length x width x peak height) 85.6 x 51/42 x 44 in 89 x 68/59 x 43 in 85 x 50/39 x 40 in 84 x 52 x 44 in 87 x 50 x 40 in
Vestibule Area 8.4 + 8.4 sq ft 18 sq ft 18 sq ft 9.2 + 9.2 sq ft 19 sq ft
Peak Height 44 in 43 in 40 in 44 in 40 in
Number of Doors 2 2 2 2 2
Number of Poles 3 1 1 1 2
Pole Diameter 8.7/9.3mm 8.7 mm 8.7 mm 8.5 mm 8.5 mm
Pole Material DAC Featherlite NFL DAC Featherlite NFL DAC Featherlite NFL Aluminum Aluminum
Number of Pockets 7 8 4 4 2
Guy Points 12 4 4 4 4
Gear Loft No No No No No
Rain Fly Material 10D nylon 66 ripstop Sil Proprietary patterned random rip-stop nylon with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating 15D 1200mm silicone nylon ripStop 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm) Coated polyester
Inner Tent Material 15D nylon mesh Proprietary patterned random rip-stop nylon with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating Body: 10D polyester mesh, Floor: 20D nylon ripStop 30D Polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh, 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm) floor
Fly Fabric Polyester,
Polyester/nylon
Type Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding

Our Analysis and Test Results

With 8.7mm diameter DAC Featherlite poles for durability and 10D and 20D ripstop nylon for the fly and floor, respectively, the Portal 2 is a shelter that expertly balances comfort and weight. You can also upgrade to 9.3mm poles to tip the scales towards durability.

Performance Comparison


slingfin portal 2 - lightweight with plenty of pockets, the slingfin portal 2 offers...
Lightweight with plenty of pockets, the SlingFin Portal 2 offers unique weather resistant features.
Credit: Clark Tate

Comfort


The Portal 2 will have you sleeping soundly in the backcountry. Though it is a slightly below average at 85.6 inches in length, it makes up for it where it matters, giving you 51 inches across the top for sleeping. It cuts down on weight by tapering to 42 inches at the foot.


The 44-inch peak ceiling height in the center lends the tent an airy feel. With a cross pole that expands the ceiling space laterally, the tent offers a generous 13.2 square feet of floor area with headroom. It makes all the difference when you and your partner need to sit up and move around simultaneously.

You can sit up in nearly half of the floorspace of the Portal.
You can sit up in nearly half of the floorspace of the Portal.
A cross pole holds the tent walls apart to give you plenty of...
A cross pole holds the tent walls apart to give you plenty of headroom.
Strategic design elements make this a comfortable tent.

The two side doors aren't the largest we've encountered, but they are still generous enough to make getting in and out easy. The pockets inside the Portal 2 are dynamite. With seven in total, it has more storage than most models we tested. They are evenly distributed throughout the tent, making it easy to store and reach your items throughout the tent.

Just two of the many pockets for storing both small and larger items.
Just two of the many pockets for storing both small and larger items.
Two side doors create the feeling of more space since each person...
Two side doors create the feeling of more space since each person has their own side.

This tent comes with two kickstand vents that prop open the fly zipper while keeping the fly in place. What makes them different from other models is that they are fully detachable, as opposed to embedded in the fly itself. Though you could certainly keep them attached, we appreciate having the option.

The Portal 2 has fully detachable kickstands that velcro to the fly for added ventilation.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

These vents help cut down on condensation when you're held down by bad weather. When it's nice out, rolling back both sides of the vestibules lets breezes roll through.

slingfin portal 2 - rolling back the vestibule doors let's you relax in the shade with...
Rolling back the vestibule doors let's you relax in the shade with some airflow.
Credit: Clark Tate

Weather Resistance


There are some wonderfully sneaky weather resistance features built into the Portal 2. It has a standard triangle-shaped vestibule geometry, but the tent comes with outrigger attachments at each end of the cross pole. This makes it possible to stabilize the whole structure with two trekking poles, improving its ability to resist wind and snow.


In addition to its impressive ten external guy points and two tabs to pull the rainfly taut on either end, this tent has pre-attached interior guylines at the foot, which can be tightened in windy conditions to take in any slack and minimize wind whip. Additional loops let you rig the same system by the head of the tent if needed.

slingfin portal 2 - there are two orange tabs on the fly to attach guylines. inner...
There are two orange tabs on the fly to attach guylines. Inner connections help them support the poles in strong winds.
Credit: Clark Tate

Like most tents, the Portal 2 can be pitched fly-first so it doesn't get soaked in the rain. It's a great thought, but in practice, we found that it is more cumbersome to do the setup work underneath the fly as opposed to just setting it up normally and moving quickly. The interior of the tent and underside of the fly stayed dry during three days of rain, even after being set up on wet grass.

slingfin portal 2 - the lightweight, ripstop nylon floor held its own in wet weather.
The lightweight, ripstop nylon floor held its own in wet weather.
Credit: Clark Tate

Space to Weight Ratio


At 3.34 pounds, the Portal 2 is worth its weight in our minds. For just a few ounces more than other top tents, it offers far more weather protection and seems very durable to boot. The other factor we consider is how much livable space you get per pound of weight. The Portal is impressive there as well.


The floor measures 27.7 square feet, 13.2 of which offers enough headroom to sit up or kneel. That works out to 8.3 square feet of floor space and 4 square feet of headroom per pound. Those numbers are enough to score above average in this metric. If you split the weight between two people, then you will be hard-pressed to find a lighter tent that is explicitly equipped to stand up to snowfall.

slingfin portal 2 - the portal is impressively lightweight for such a capable...
The Portal is impressively lightweight for such a capable backpacking tent.
Credit: Clark Tate

Somehow, this tent seems to pack down even smaller than we expected. The included stuff stack has some of the smallest dimensions in the category — and it's not even difficult to get the whole thing back in the bag. Similarly, the 10D fly and 15D tent are both very thin (though not too delicate) and stuff easily into the bottom of a backpack.

slingfin portal 2 - the portal gives you a lot of storage and sleeping space in a...
The Portal gives you a lot of storage and sleeping space in a lightweight package.
Credit: Clark Tate

Ease of Use


Pitching this tent is very similar to many other models. The pole segments in the main structure are elastic-bound and click together in a few seconds. Each of the four corners slide into a grommet at each corner, and clips connect the tent body to the poles. Simple enough.


The sleeves that hold the cross pole on the Portal make it one of the easiest to attach in our lineup. Unlike with many other tents, we never had to wrestle with it or pull an excessive amount of tension to secure the second side. Though the loops that secure the fly at each corner are color-coded, the red/black scheme blends into the tent and doesn't stand out as well as we'd like. It's easy to mix up the fly alignment now and then.

SlingFin uses plastic ring and toggle connection points instead of...
SlingFin uses plastic ring and toggle connection points instead of the more common hook and loop closure straps.
The paracord and cord lock door holders are unconventional but...
The paracord and cord lock door holders are unconventional but effective.

As far as day-to-day use, we're overall pleased. You do need two hands to open the inner door. But, since the cross pole extends beyond the tent body, it gives you enough room to duck into the vestibule while you open it. That makes it a much more relaxed experience, even if it's raining. Though some of the elements, like thin paracord loops to tie back the doors and attach the fly, are less elegant than others, they all work well. The generous pockets are large enough to do the same.

The Portal 2 is really easy to set up with two main poles connected with a central hub and a cross pole for head and shoulder room.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Construction Quality


This tent seems very well-made and has shown itself to be durable. Though the fly and floor are relatively thin 10-denier and 20-denier ripstop nylon, respectively, a complement of additional features makes its quality stand out.


The Portal comes with a second set of zipper pulls already installed so that, if the main set fails, you can slide them out of the way and deploy the second set. We appreciate this since zippers are often one of the first components to break. Fortunately, we didn't need to use these during testing, but they are ready to go when needed.

slingfin portal 2 - the bucket floor held up well in our tests.
The bucket floor held up well in our tests.
Credit: Clark Tate

You can also upgrade to heavy-duty poles if the standard 8.7mm isn't burly enough. Though these thicker poles are sold separately, we haven't even seen this option available in many other models. And, though it seems like a small thing, the Portal comes with ten stakes, which is more than it needs for a standard pitch in calm weather conditions and enough to help batten down the hatches when you need to deploy the extra guy lines.

The Portal 2 has many pockets and also has integrated interior guy line for added durability and weather resistance.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Should You Buy the Slingfin Portal 2?


The Portal is a lightweight and comfortable two-person tent with enough storage for all your gear. It's great for those focused on ounce-cutting without sacrificing comfort and storm protection. It is a pricey investment, but one that is well worth it for the pair of backcountry hikers who want to move quickly during the day and sleep well at night.

slingfin portal 2 - the slingfin portal 2 is one of our favorites for adventures that...
The SlingFin Portal 2 is one of our favorites for adventures that necessitate a lightweight but heavy-duty setup.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?


If you like the features of this tent but want a lighter option that has a little more floor space, we suggest the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2. If you want to go even lighter and don't mind a slightly tighter space, the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye is a compelling option. And if you want to stay light but would prefer a little more space, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is the way to go.

Ben Applebaum-Bauch and Clark Tate