Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

A good lightweight starter tent that is reasonably priced and easy to set up.
Could it do better? Yes.

I bought a Quarterdome for my son and me, as we needed a freestanding tent for coastal and late season snow trips, where staking out is an issue. This was the first freestanding I had owned in years. I found that I hadn't missed FS tents, non freestanding tents adds a minute or two more to set up-and I didn't have to fight with putting in tent poles! My biggest gripe about the QD is that the poles are one way only, and the pole sleeves are tight when cold or wet. It can take two people to get them in.

What I like: It is easy to set up in nice weather, once you remember which direction the poles go in. I like that half the tent is mesh, as the walls make it warmer in the wind. It handles rain and wind well, and I woke up to a frozen fly more than once this year. Like many REI tents, condensation hasn't been an issue for me, the ceiling vents work well. It packs small also.

But, at 4.4 lbs (includes tent, fly, poles, stakes, guylines and all bags), I don't consider this a true lightweight tent. It is light, yes, compared to a traditional FS 2 man tent, but not light. But it does offer convience and a return policy.

My other issue lies in that for it to be a two man tent, you have to really like who you are sharing with. Head to toe seems to work best. It does have two doors, and two vestibules, so offers a good amount of gear storage. If you have a light on at night, the tent is nearly naked, as the fly is very thin.

It has it's good points, but also bad sides. While weatherproof, you pay for that with weight.

Rating: 4 / 5

I own four tents, but when Im not sure what the conditions will be, I take the quarter dome. I wish it were lighter, but there are few lighter alternatives meeting its specifications. Its heaviness gives it strength, and it has the correct ratio of tent/vestibule area.
Good:
-Peak vent (not negotiable IMO)
-Completely waterproof in rain
-Dual doors and vestibules
Bad:
-No fly/footprint option

If it just had that fly/footprint option it would meet all my criteria (as mentioned in another of my posts), and I could return my other tents! As is, I use an REI Halfdome, SD Lightning, or TNF Talus23 when I need the f/f option.

My recommendation is buy the Quarterdome for its low cost, or the Kelty Ridge2 if you have more to spend on a similar tent with f/f option.(That's what I would have done had I known about it).
Big Sky tents would be another option, but they seem to be made of unobtainium; and that's another thread indeed.

Rating: 4 / 5

I like this tent pretty well.
Good: relatively light for two person tent.
mostly good protection (reason for tent at all) in weather.
easy to set up.
spacious for one person.
Not so good: wind howls through tent.
close fit for two people.

All in all, it's a good tent.

Rating: 4 / 5

If you must have a double walled tent, this one is hard to beat. For the price, you're getting a great package.

I've had the Quarter Dome for a few years now and it's been quite a serviceable little tent. It's heavy at just over 4 lbs (carrying 6 stakes and using a lighter stuff sack) but has been bomber for me. I've used the tent in high winds (gusts I would estimate well over 30 mph), heavy rain, and even some wet snow. I've had little or no condensation in high humidity with myself and my wife as occupants. The design of the tent is tried and true and very functional.

Space is a little tight for two occupants. Two six-footers might feel somewhat constricted.

Features of the tent are very well thought out. I love the way the vestibules fasten and the guyline tensioners on the fly work great. The dead-end pole sleeves are a great touch and really make setting the tent up easier. Aesthetically, I wish there was a little more mesh at the top of the dome for better nighttime views when not using the fly.

Durability has been excellent, with only a minor snag on the no-seeum mesh where it came into contact with the velcro on the peak vent prop. I use no groundsheet and have notice zero wear to the floor. Of course, REI's service policies are excellent so if any issues were to arise, I'm sure they'd do right by me.

I really can't ask for much more than this tent has delivered other than shaving a pound off of the weight. Without radical redesign of the tent that's just not possible.

Rating: 4 / 5

I am on my second quarterdome. The first one got a small tear near the floor, which I noticed one day when I was inside during a very long rain storm. REI gladly exchanged that tent with the one I'm using now.

I agree with another reviewer that sometimes it takes two people to get the poles in, and then other times, it's easy.

On my trips, I've replaced the stuff sacks with lighter ones. I keep the fly attached to the tent, unless there is condensation on the fly. In that case, the fly is stuffed into a pocket on the outside of my bag.

Rating: 4 / 5

I enjoyed owning my QuarterDome T2, but eventually sold it and opted for the tarping scene. I took this tent on the JMT and I never had any complaints. No problems with durability or condensation. When it rained it kept me dry, when it was windy it kept me warm, and when the mosquitos drove me to the brink of insanity it was my safe haven. I used this as a one-man palace and it is certainly a great tent for hanging out it. I have also even squeezed 5 people in here to smoke and play cards although 4 is best. The plentiful pockets were greatly appreciated as well. All-in-all its a great tent thats cheap and light, I just wanted a change so I sold it on Gear Swap to pay for tarps. The biggest plus was all the mesh-made for great star-gazing!