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New designs and lightweight materials can make two-man tent camping more comfy and carefree. Think lightweight aluminum alloy poles, fancy polymer windows that won't crease or cloud up, and stronger fabrics that wick away moisture. After all, no one wants to wake up covered in dew.
SPLURGE
Mountain Hardwear Approach (pictured)
A quick pitch is crucial in the cold, dark, or rain, and the Approach's canopy design pops into shape in minutes. Throw the rain-fly overhead, drive in the stakes, and watch the storm from within. The two UV-film windows won't fog up or crease at high altitudes or low temperatures. The nylon tent weighs 4.5 pounds and breathes like a second skin. Because of its sloping design, the 32-square-foot interior feels roomy.
$315, www.mountainhardwear.com.
BEST BUY
Kelty Raptor
Perfect for a summer bike trip or fall hike, the Raptor packs all you need into a 6-pound bag. The aluminum tent poles easily fit into openings marked with bright green fabric. Though it'll take slightly longer to set up than the Approach, anchoring the rain-fly in high winds is easier. The spacious 31.6-square-foot tent has two photochromatic windows that change color to filter out light as the day gets brighter.
$250, www.kelty.com.
OVERRATED
Marmot AT
You really can sacrifice too much for a superlight tent. The 4.2-pound AT is a snap to put up, but its single-wall construction doesn't breathe in 90-degree heat, and its sagging walls make for claustrophobic conditions. The removable 26-square-foot plastic floor is waterproof, albeit strangely sticky — sand and cracker bits accumulated as the trip wore on.
$179, www.marmot.com.
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