rei co-op trailmade tent

REI Trailmade 2 Tent Review

Best backpacking camping crossover tent for under $200

The REI Trailmade 2 Tent with footprint (shop now) is about as much tent as you could possibly hope to get from a reputable outdoor brand for under $200.

REI has been really upping their backpacking game lately, and they’ve been especially dominate in the budget backpacking gear department. And this tent in particular is a perfect, functional crossover whether you’re camping or backpacking.

Features

There is literally nothing fancy about the Trailmade 2. Structurally speaking, it’s built with a cross pole aluminum frame with unspecified coated polyester fabric. No top spreader, but the ceiling height of 40″ is respectable. Perhaps where this tent shines the brightest is it’s spaciousness.

It’s not huge, but at nearly 32 sq ft, it’s solidly bigger than average, and definitely way less expensive than average.

REI Trailmade 2 Tent is not exactly feature rich. There are some interior pockets, and like many tents in this class, it comes with a footprint. But beyond that, there just isn’t much else to write about.

Notably, the Trailmade competes with another tent offered by REI Co-op, the Trail Hut 2. They are similar is design, but the Trail Hut costs $20, is 10 oz heavier, and includes a spreader bar at the top and some rain fly vents.

While those are nice add ons, we still prefer the Trailmade over the Trail Hut. 10 oz in weight savings and $20 in cost savings are both a big score!

Verdict

Weighing just over four pounds and costing only $179, the Trailmade is a killer value, and an excellent entry-level tent. We hope this one helps lots more people get into backpacking.

REI  Trailmade 2 Tent Key Stats

  • Price: $179
  • Weight: 4 lbs, 4 oz
  • Material: Coated Polyester
  • Interior: 31.7 ft² | Vestibule: 19.1 ft² | Area/Pound: 12.0 ft²
  • Pros: Very affordable. Spacious. User-friendly. Complimentary footprint.
  • Cons: Heavy (for backpacking).
Shop REI Trailmade 2

You make Adventure Alan & Co possible. When purchasing through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Here’s why you can trust us.

Read about more great tents in our complete guides to the best tents for backpacking, and the best small 2 person crossover tents.