Marmot Aura 2 is a keeper

By brian_heck2213096 Ranked #23 - 3-Season Tents June 20, 2008

I have to be honest: I purchased this tent because the Black Diamond Firstlight was not in stock. The Marmot Aura 2 was my second choice, only because it was about a pound and a half heavier than the Firstlight. I had plans to return it after a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon and after the Firstlight was in stock. But the Marmot is a keeper. Sure, a pound and a half can be a lot more weight if you have trimmed the weight in your pack and need or want to trim more. When you decrease the weight of a tent significantly, something is going to suffer--or you're going to have to be willing to sacrifice some benefits and/or features. Here are the pluses and negatives. Yes, the Aura 2 is a two-person tent, but it is a bit snug. And with two people in the tent, you're not going to get your packs in there with you. However, the Aura 2 vestibules (two doors, two vestibules--nice!) provide adequate space for all of your gear. The Aura 2 proved itself to be tough in the wind, repel water well--and it breathes nicely. No condensation problems, which seems to be an issue for the Firstlight, according to other reviewers. The setup took me a bit longer to figure out (longer than I expected), but the second and third setup times were significantly faster. While heavier than the Firstlight, the Aura 2 is, feature for feature, still lighter than many other two-person tents. I have high praises for Marmot gear; the Aura 2 is no exception.

View Details: Marmot Aura 2-Person 3-Season Tent

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