Name: REI Co-op Trail Hut 2
Brand: REI Co-op

The REI Co-op Trail Hut’s symmetrical floor plan, which measures 88 by 52 inches (31.7 sq. ft. total), is one of the roomiest backpacking tents we tested. It’s plenty wide enough to fit two standard (20 in.) or wide-sized (25 in.) sleeping pads with room to spare on either side, and the length is great for accommodating tall sleepers. By comparison, the Marmot Tungsten 2P—another relatively heavy, roomy, and affordable shelter—is also 88 inches long and is 54 inches wide at the head, but it tapers down to 46 inches at the foot. The popular Copper Spur UL2 also has a tapered floorplan at 88 by 52/42 inches. Compared to the Trail Hut, these tents’ dimensions result in less livable space, eliminate the option for two wide sleeping pads, and make it much harder to sleep head-to-toe with your tentmate.

In practice, we found the REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 to be wonderfully spacious. One Better Trail editor holed up in the tent during bad weather in Patagonia, where its generous interior made it easy to put on and take off layers and stay organized inside. Getting more space than the Trail Hut will almost certainly involve upping the cost and weight—evidenced in a tent like the Marmot Limelight 2P ($299), which weighs 5 pounds 15.9 ounces and has a funky design that results in a 34.4-square-foot floor. If we have one gripe, it’s that the Trail Hut’s headroom isn’t as impressive as other tents with more complex geometry or pole construction, despite having a ridge pole. The Big Agnes Copper Spur, for example, has prebent poles that result in a more substantial ceiling and more sharply sloping walls.

Floor of REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 backpacking tent

The Trail Hut’s weight and bulk are its biggest downfalls. Its overall large floorplan plays a factor in this, as does its beefy aluminum poles and thick fabrics. At almost six pounds when fully packed, this is not a tent you’ll want to bring on any backpacking trip longer than a few miles. And that’s just fine, especially if you’re a novice working your way up to longer trips—at which point you’ll probably want to purchase a lighter tent. For reference, our top-ranked tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, checks in at just 3 pounds (almost half the weight of the Trail Hut) and offers a decently livable sleeping area for two (read our Copper Spur UL2 review).

However, some hacks make the Trail Hut a bit more palatable for carrying on the trail. If you use a compression sack instead of the tent’s standard stuff sack, you can squish the body, fly, and footprint down to a much more manageable size. Additionally, the Trail Hut’s floor is already plenty thick, so you could leave the footprint at home (this would shave off 7 oz.). Neither of these strategies will go too far in mitigating the tent’s overall bulk and weight, but when it comes to backpacking gear, every little bit counts.

For a budget tent, the Trail Hut impressed us with its solid defense against wind and rain. We’ve tested the tent in incredibly heavy winds, and its sturdy aluminum pole structure—much more robust than the thinner or carbon poles on ultralight models—and generous amount of nylon in the tent body (instead of mesh) offered great stability. Throughout the windy night, the Trail Hut kept its structure and succumbed very little to the heavy gusts. In contrast, our editor’s hiking companions’ pricier and lighter-weight backpacking tents did not fare as well, aggressively bending and even collapsing in the same stormy conditions. What’s more, the Trail Hut effectively kept rain at bay.

Unlike the low-cost gear in most other backpacking gear categories, durability is budget tents’ sneaky strength. The Trail Hut is no exception: It will last for years of camping, even on rough terrain and in nasty weather. Its floor and fly are made from 66- and 68-denier polyester, respectively; both of those materials are much thicker than the usual 15- to 30-denier fabrics found in comparatively lighter (and more expensive) tents like the Nemo Hornet Osmo 2 (read our Hornet Osmo review). Add in the included footprint, and you have a shelter that you should be able to pitch just about anywhere without worrying about how it will hold up. And while the Trail Hut’s components are large and clunky, the design quality is impressively high—something we’ve come to expect from REI’s mid-range backpacking tents.

As a freestanding tent, the REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 is already well-positioned to provide a simple setup process. Its symmetrical design makes it even easier, as you can position the two identical crosspoles quickly without worrying about which end goes where. (The shorter ridge pole is an obvious next step.) While the poles aren’t hubbed like more premium tents, we didn’t find that to be much of a downside. We also achieved a super-taut pitch thanks to a fly that cinches at each corner and is kitted out with plenty of included guylines. Finally, the Trail Hut’s ground cloth comes attached to the tent floor, but you can remove it without much fuss.

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Longevity

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand.

Read Sustainability Report

With a medium amount of mesh in the canopy—much less than ultralight tents such as the Big Agnes Tiger Wall—and two rainfly vents you can prop open, the Trail Hut grants a passable amount of airflow. We liked that the fly doors unzipped all the way to the peak of the canopy, so you can really open the tent up at night for full ventilation. This is super helpful in calm weather, but the tent regresses to average when you have to batten down the hatches. All told, though, its double-wall design still offers better airflow than a single-wall trekking pole shelter like the Hyperlite Unbound 2P (read our Unbound 2 review).

Interior Storage

As befitting of its budget price, the Trail Hut doesn’t have anything special to offer in the way of storage. It only has one internal pocket on each side and no overheard compartments, although it does have ceiling loops for hanging drying lines. One Better Trail member said that the lack of organization resulted in the tent becoming strewn with her gear, and the scene would’ve been even messier if she had shared the tent with a tent mate. The Trail Hut’s interior organization pales in comparison to that of more high-end tents; for example, the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 and Copper Spur UL2 both have massive pockets overhead that are large enough to store layers and jackets.

View looking through door of REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 backpacking tent

Vestibules

The Trail Hut’s vestibules measure 9.5 square feet, each of which is spacious enough to house a large backpacking pack, pair of hiking boots, and trekking poles. These are relatively large compared to what most two-person tents have to offer: For reference, the premium Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2’s vestibules are 9 square feet each, the Tiger Wall’s are 8 square feet each, and the Nemo Mayfly’s are each 7.1 square feet.

REI Co-op Half Dome 2 ($299): Same DNA, Small Upgrades
The Trail Hut 2 and Half Dome 2 share REI’s reliable backpacking tent blueprint: both are freestanding, generously sized, and built with durability in mind. But the Half Dome features a few thoughtful upgrades. Its pole design stretches the walls more vertically for better headroom, and the interior layout includes refinements like light-diffusing pockets and better-positioned gear storage. That said, the two tents weigh nearly the same—just under 6 pounds—so neither is ideal for long-mileage backpacking. If your priority is saving money and you’re okay with a slightly more basic setup, the Trail Hut hits a great value sweet spot. But for roomier livability and a more premium feel, the Half Dome makes a compelling upgrade. To learn more, see our REI Half Dome Review.

Marmot Tungsten 2P ($249): Another Budget-Friendly Alternative

Like the Trail Hut, the Tungsten is a spacious yet heavy backpacking tent with a high-value price point. It’s almost the same weight (5 lb. 14.2 oz.) and likewise isn’t made for hiking deep into the backcountry. But with an included footprint and similarly durable polyester floor, fly, and canopy, this freestanding shelter is another good pick for backpackers who are learning the ropes and want to save some cash. The Tungsten’s floor area is slightly smaller at 30.1 square feet (the Trail Hut’s is 31.7 sq. ft.) and tapers a little towards the foot end, but that’s still plenty for two sleepers. During our testing, we came to appreciate its 42.1-inch peak height, which makes for a more spacious headroom feel than the Trail Hut—although be forewarned, this could create a sail in heavy winds. We also like the Tungsten’s color-coded poles, which hammer in its great-for-beginners credentials, and its headlamp-diffusing ceiling pocket. Overall, the slightly roomier and slightly more affordable Trail Hut gets the edge for us. For more, see our review of the Marmot Tungsten 2P.

Nemo Mayfly Osmo 2 ($400): Base Weight, Begone!
If shedding ounces and questing further into the wilderness is your goal, the Mayfly is a good tent for leveling up from the Trail Hut. It’s much lighter at 3 lb. 8 oz. and packs down considerably smaller, putting it right up there with some of our favorite models that aren’t specifically aimed at ultralighters. It also retains the Trail Hut’s durability with a 68-denier, polyurethane-coated floor—a rarity in a tent of this weight. However, the Mayfly will take some care to set up given its semi-freestanding design; factor in its flawed rainfly attachment, and we don’t recommend it for traveling in windy or above-treeline environments. There’s also the price difference of a whopping $170. That said, less than $400 is a decent price for a lightweight yet durable tent. For more, read our review of the Nemo Mayfly Osmo 2.

REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 ($229)

Unzipping door of REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 backpacking tent in forest

4.1/5

Savings are the main attraction for REI’s venerable Trail Hut, which has an eye-catching price for campers just building their kit. It’s too heavy for anything other than a short-mileage overnight, though.

Shop Trail Hut 2

Type

Freestanding

Packaged weight

5 lb. 15 oz.

Floor dimensions

88 x 52 in.

Capacity

Interior Space

4.5/5

Weight & Packed Size

1/5

Weather Protection

4/5

Durability

4.5/5

Ease of Use

4.5/5

Sustainability

2.7/5

REI Co-op Half Dome 2 ($299)

Backpacker sitting in chair next to REI Half Dome 2 tent

4.1/5

REI’s Half Dome is a classic pick for a first backpacking tent, prioritizing livability, toughness, and a user-friendly layout. Unfortunately, this latest version is heavy and bulky enough to limit its appeal to short adventures or as a crossover design for car camping.

Shop Half Dome 2

Type

Freestanding

Packaged weight

5 lb. 15.1 oz.

Floor dimensions

88 x 52 in.

Capacity

2P (3P)

Interior Space

4.5/5

Weight & Packed Size

1/5

Weather Protection

4/5

Durability

4.5/5

Ease of Use

5/5

Sustainability

4.3/5

Marmot Tungsten 2P ($249)

Rolling back door of Marmot Tungsten 2P backpacking tent

4/5

The Tungsten is an affordable starter tent for hikers just getting into backpacking. Although it’s too heavy for deep backcountry use, its solid, simple design and user-friendliness make it a good-value buy.

Shop Tungsten 2P

Type

Freestanding

Packaged weight

5 lb. 14.2 oz.

Floor dimensions

88 x 54/46 in.

Capacity

2P (1P, 3P, 4P)

Interior Space

4/5

Weight & Packed Size

1/5

Weather Protection

3.5/5

Durability

4.5/5

Ease of Use

4/5

Sustainability

1.3/5

Is the Trail Hut 2 for You?

We place a lot of importance on a piece of gear’s relative value, and the REI Co-op Trail Hut 2 provides plenty. This tent performs much better than its price tag suggests—especially regarding weather protection and durability—and its spacious interior will seem like a luxury if you’re used to being crammed into ultralight sardine cans. If you’re looking for a shelter that will last you a long time and don’t plan to carry it very far down the trail, this is the backpacking tent for you. Budget gear isn’t often a hit, but REI more or less knocked it out of the park with the Trail Hut.