Marmot Tungsten 2P Review

Overview

The Marmot Tungsten 2P is a freestanding, double-wall, three-season tent with two doors, two vestibules and a footprint in the box. It is built for hikers and campers who want a forgiving, durable shelter at a modest price. The cost of that forgiveness is weight: at 2,670 g packaged, it sits well outside ultralight territory.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	2,670 g packaged; 2,259 g minimum trail weight
Packed size	62.0 x 15.0 cm (24.4 x 5.9 in)
Floor area	2.8 sq m (30.1 sq ft)
Vestibule area	1.5 sq m total
Dimensions	224 cm L x 137/117 cm W x 107 cm H
Doors	2
Poles	2
Footprint	Included
Floor fabric	100% polyester taffeta, 65 g/sq m, 2,000 mm hydrostatic head
Seasons	3-season

Performance

Weight and packability. This is where the Tungsten gives ground. The 2,259 g minimum trail weight works out to just under 5 lb. Better Trail scored its weight and packed size 1.5 out of 5 and called the tent too bulky for anything beyond a short overnight. Adventure Alan, a fan of the tent overall, said 5 lb is about as heavy as it will accept for a backcountry shelter. Splitting it between two hikers brings the per-person load to roughly 1.1–1.3 kg each, which is where the tent makes the most sense. For comparison, Marmot’s own Tungsten UL 2 lists a minimum weight of about 1,355 g, almost a kilogram lighter.

Space and livability. The pre-bent aluminum poles are arranged as a simple cross with a ceiling spreader. They push the walls out and give a 107 cm peak height, which testers describe as generous headroom for sitting up and changing clothes. The floor is 224 cm long and tapers from 137 cm at the head to 117 cm at the foot. A couple who spent seven years of nights in the tent report that two large sleeping pads fit side by side with room left at the foot end for bags. Others find the taper limits usable room once two adults and their gear are inside. A solo tester kept the whole pack inside with space to spare. The two doors are on the small side compared with the big arching doors on premium tents, but each side gets its own vestibule. Together they total 1.5 sq m, enough to cook under in bad weather and store a pack.

Setup. Color-coded clips and a freestanding frame make this one of the easier tents to pitch. Owners describe a few minutes of work, and a single person can manage it without trouble. Because it is freestanding, it can be picked up and shaken out, and it takes pegs or rocks on hard ground. First-time tent buyers consistently single out the pitch as a strength. One reviewer found the fly harder to attach and tension than the inner tent.

Weather and durability. Owners report the tent holding up through heavy rain, packed-sand pitching and sustained high winds. One Reddit user described a steady downpour of more than an inch per hour for three hours with no problems. The 65 g/sq m taffeta floor and the polyester fly are thicker than what is used on lighter tents, so they take abuse without much babying. That is the benefit of the extra weight. The mesh-heavy inner offers good ventilation and stargazing, though some older owner reports describe the tent as drafty in cold, windy conditions. That is consistent with its three-season rating.

Value. Street prices have ranged from roughly $180 to $280, depending on the retailer and sale timing. At that price the tent includes a footprint, which many tents cost extra for.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easy freestanding pitch with color-coded clips
• Generous 107 cm peak height and long 224 cm floor
• Two doors and two vestibules, 1.5 sq m of covered storage
• Footprint included
• Durable fabrics that stand up to wind and heavy rain, according to owners
• Low price for a tent of this size

Cons

• 2,259 g minimum trail weight is heavy for backpacking
• Packs down to 62 cm long, large for a pack interior
• Floor tapers to 117 cm at the foot, limiting room for two with gear
• Doors are smaller than on more modern designs
• Some reports of drafts and a fiddly fly attachment

Who Should Buy This

Buyers who split their time between drive-up campsites and short backpacking trips are the target. So are first-time tent buyers, couples sharing the weight of a tent, and hikers who want a tough shelter that will not need delicate treatment. Thru-hikers and anyone counting grams should look elsewhere. The Tungsten UL 2 or a trekking-pole shelter will save a kilogram or more, and that difference adds up over a few hundred miles.

Verdict

The Tungsten 2P is a well-liked, easy-to-live-with tent that offers more space, durability and gear than its price suggests. It is a weak choice for long-distance hiking, where its weight and bulk work against it. Buy it for car camping and short overnights, and pick a lighter tent for anything longer.