Heavy on features...and weight

By Adam Lewis Ranked #2075 - 3-Season Tents June 23, 2008

I have the 2003 version of this tent and have gotten lots of use out of it over the years. The tent body and especially the fly are very durable and versatile, with plenty of storage space and ventilation options. If you are not expecting rain, the relatively light tent body is plenty to cut wind and keep you warm. The bathtub floors, heavy fly and stake-down options make the Swallow a true 3+ season tent. It was quite comfortable and warm when I brought it snow camping and the vestibule space easily accommodated all our gear and boots. I also like how each side's sizable vestibules allow you to shelter your gear on one side while cooking or from the other in a storm. They also prevent you from crawling over everyone else in the tent during those middle of the night forays into the woods.

The two biggest downsides of this tent are that at almost 9lbs it's quite heavy and becomes hard to pack into the "burrito cover" Marmot gives you when out in the field. On the flip side, if you are looking for a durable, comfortable, well-designed tent to use year-round and you are more concerned with durability and comfort than weight, this is a great option. By far one of the most well-designed tents I have used. I prefer my Mountain Hardware Skyledge for summer and in more temperate conditions.

Most recently I used this tent for a month long climbing trip in the High Andes and Aconcagua and it performed like a champ. It withstood 70-90km/hr winds without the poles bending as well as heavy hail and snow up to 5,900m (19,000ft). The Swallow's performance was a pleasant surprise considering it's a 3+ season tent rather than a 4-season or mountaineering-specific model. I had my doubts about taking the Swallow to Aconcagua but I was quickly sold. This tent does not shine on 2-3 night trips due to its weight, but I truly realized its value while living out of it for the better part of a month. For trips where you will encounter highly variable conditions, this tent can do it all.

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

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