ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Backpacking and Camping Tent

I bought this tent over 5 years ago and I thought I would come back to write a long term review.I have been backpacking for over 20 years and I've been through a lot of tents at all price ranges. I bought this one almost on a whim. I was looking for something at a lower price point, but that was functional for 2 people in most conditions and this tent fit the bill.It quickly became the tent of choice for me and my long time backpacking and camping partner. In the past 5 years we have taken it on dozens of backpacking and car camping trips and it has never failed us. It's exactly the right size for 2 adult men with a bit of space left over for clothes and the usual tent gear. The vestibules on both sides offer space for your backpack if the conditions are bad. Or just to protect your shoes overnight.It's extremely easy to setup. Just 2 poles that snap together easily. Coordinate with your partner to snap in the corners and lift while connecting the central point. Then hook the tent to the poles. All that's left is to throw over the rain cover and stake down. It truly couldn't get much easier.Is it the smallest and lightest tent in the world? No. Would I take it up Everest? No.But for the price point it more than gets the job done. We have used it in all sorts of conditions and it has only sustained the slightest signs of wear in 5 years. One big note for me is that often in tents at this price point protection for storms becomes a concern. I can happily say that this tent has protected me in some pretty gnarly storms and I never had to worry about a thing. Excellent rain protection and solid wind defense as well.Definitely would recommend. My only concern now is getting a backup before they inevitably stop producing this model.

At the best of times, tents seem to be a struggle to get back into the bag. If I camp in the rain, I don't even bother trying. With this tent though, it's easy to tell that whomever was on the design committee knows the frustration of putting a wet tent away. I've used this tent since January 2020 and everytime it rains I'm still able to stuff the tent into its bag! This feature really cannot be stated enough, and it's one of the first questions I ask when it comes to researching tents. Home run right here!The oversized bag aside, I'm also a big fan of the aluminum poles since they can stand up to higher winds. I have the clay/rust color model and I love the favt that it blends in reasonably well with the trees and forest floor. It's no camo, but the brown really matches the natural colors and helps keep the site of a tent from being the main feature while out camping, helping to enjoy the natural scenery even more. Quick setup and teardown time, and spacious for a 2-person tent; I have room for me, gear, and some moving around without tripping over everything. The vestibules are a good size to stow wet boots and a small hiking stool. Oh and the roof vents on the faintly are a good size for ventilation, I've been down to 10F and have had no condensation problems at all.My only gripe is weight. This is more of a car camping tent than a backpacking tent, however it can serve that purpose if you really need it to since it stores small enough to carry strapped to a pack. 6lbs for just the tent, I wouldn't carry it more than a few miles (for reference, my backpacking sleep system with shelter weighs 6lbs). It's great as a car tent though, since it stores small saving space in a vehicle. Still, best tent I've ever had!

Great tent. For a 2 person, it is really roomy and feels like a 3 person tent. Very easy to set up. Love that it has 2 doors. Good value.

After twenty nights in this tent, I feel like I can finally give it an honest review. To start, I am not a backpacker; I end up camping out of the back of my car (or, sometimes, in it!). However, the lightweight, quick setup, and compact nature of the backpacking tent made it a priority, since many times I would have no extra space in my car.The tent is pretty generous in size. It is listed as a 2-person tent. It's definitely not a three-person tent, but it can and has comfortably slept two people, so it's not like many high-performance ultralight tools that have zero margin for error. I'd call it a "2.5 person tent" rather than a two person sent.Second, the tent goes up and comes down pretty quickly. If I'm just setting up the tent itself (no fly), I can get the tent up in about three minutes. The fly adds about two minutes, and if it's going to be windy or rainy, I do a much better job of securing it. Lately, I have been sleeping in the desert in as low as 15 deg F, so I've been using the fly to trap as much heat as possible, even though it was dry.I think the thing that truly makes this tent shine is the thought that went into it. On the top of the sleeping area is a mesh spot that functions as a bedside table - my headlamp and glasses end up there. On both ends, there is a small pouch for car keys, phones, and the like. The original tent bundle comes with two small blue ribbons that you use to tie the tent once it's rolled and ready to go back in its bag. When you buy something worth owning, you notice that the design is very, very much functional, and that's the feeling I get from this tent.I do have a couple of complaints, though, both of which stem from the lightweight nature of the tent. I managed to put a small rip in the corner of the floor while trying to set up this tent in the wind. It probably caught on something, so it's probably my fault, but I don't remember the actual rip. It must've been relatively small. Since the tent is obviously optimized for weight, it is a little less tough than it could be. The other complaint is the same thing, but from the fly - sometimes, it's hard to unzip the fly as the fabric doesn't have much give to it. Seriously though - my biggest complaint is that a backpacking tent is too light.Worth your money, and I would definitely buy it again. I believe there is a "revised" version of this tent that I imagine is even-better thought through.