Good Livability and Interior Space

The Flash Air 2 does a good job of maximizing its 29 ft2 of floor area. The hub poles create vertical walls on each side which in turn create more volume and usable space. They also create a nice 42 inch peak height that is centered over the head torso area of the tent where you need it most — room for two to sit up at the same time. Also the large internal volume is key to reducing humidity and therefore condensation.

The trekking poles are well outside of the tent doors for easy entry/exit. The multi-position rainfly doors on both sides increase livability. Our favorite mode with them is for stargazing with the doors peeled back to expose part of the mesh ceiling. But these doors’ flexible positioning allows them to be at least partially open much of the time, even in light rain, for maximizing ventilation and reducing condensation. Our only livability gripes are its minimal pockets (we rigged an additional storage area on the roof). And the tent is fairly low and a bit narrower at the foot end, so no head to toe sleeping.

The Tent Design

The REI Co-op Flash Air 2 is a type of ultralight backpacking tent you might not be familiar with: a hybrid single-walled, double-walled tent (HSDT) that is supported by trekking poles. The advantage is that compared to traditional dome backpacking tents like the Big Agnes Copper Spur, this type of tent is lighter and less expensive for the same (or more) liveable space.

Hybrid single-walled, double-walled construction

This simply means that part of the tent (the sides) are double walled (rainfly outer plus a mesh inner tent) the same as a traditional dome tent like a Big Agnes Copper Spur.  The ceiling of the tent however is single walled. Having the ceiling, and bathtub floor single walled saves weight and cost. The potential downside is that there is no mesh inner fabric to prevent you from brushing up against a condensing (wet) tent ceiling. Most of the time this is not a big deal since condensation does not happen all the time. But if there is a potential for condensation there are things you can do with tent ventilation and door configuration to minimize or eliminate it, and thus stay dry. (We’ll cover this in more detail later in this review.)

This Type of Tent is Not New

I’ve been using these hybrid tents like the Flash Air 2 for over 17 years, all the way back to when I was the gear review editor at Backpacking Light and Henry Shires put his first Tarptents into production. They’ve performed well, even above treeline in the High Sierra and guiding in Alaska and they have kept me and my gear dry. So, while REI has added their own modern tweaks, this is a mature tent design that has been in production by various cottage manufacturers and has been constantly refined and improved over the years.

Trekking Pole Supported

The Flash Air 2 is best supported by your trekking poles, not its own pole system. Actually, it does come with two of its own vertical poles, but replacing them with your trekking poles saves the weight/bulk of those poles and increases tent strength. While this might seem intimidating if you’ve only ever used freestanding or semi-freestanding tents with their own complete pole sytem, the trekking pole system has a lot of benefits and just takes just a little practice to set up quickly.

The Competition

As we said earlier, at under 2 lbs the REI Co-op Flash Air 2 is in rarified company with tents costing $600 to $800. Here is some of the competition and how it stacks up against the Flash Air 2:

• Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent 2.7 lb, $450 is almost a pound heavier and $150 more. On the plus side, it’s freestanding, and the 2020 model has a number of features and creature comforts vs. the Flash Air 2.
• Zpacks Duplex Tent 1.2 lb, $599 is significantly lighter but also $300 more. That light DCF fabric does come at a cost! It’s a bit less user friendly and bit harder to pitch. But for those that want the very lightest 2 person tent, that may be worth it.
• Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 2.2 lb, $400 is a bit heavier and $100 more. Hikers more familiar with dome tents will find it a bit easier to pitch and it has a lower peak height.
• REI Quarter Dome SL 2 2.5 lb, $349 is heavier, $50 more and has a lower peak height. On the plus side the domed shape of the Quarter Dome SL 2 makes it a bit roomier inside for the same floor area, and it has a more familiar pitching procedure for those used to standard dome backpacking tents.
• Tarptent Double Rainbow 2.6 lb, $299 is heavier and doesn’t manage condensation quite as well. It  can be a freestanding tent if you supply trekking poles.
•  Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 Tent 1.8 lb $799 is a similar weight but costs $500 more! It’s not as livable inside. On the upside, with premium DCF fabric, it is much stronger and more storm worthy — likely the most storm worthy sub-2-pound tent.

In summary, the well designed, 1.9 pound, $299 Flash Air 2 tent is tough competition against the best ultralight tents. Except for hikers wanting the very lightest tent (and willing to pay for it!), the Zpacks Duplex, or those wedded to traditional freestanding dome tents like Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2, the Flash Air 2 is worth a very hard look.

Conclusion | A Readily Available and Affordable Ultralight Tent

REI Co-op Flash Air 2 Tent is a significant tent. It is one of the first ultralight ‘tarptent’ style tents to be produced and distributed by a major retailer. Now anybody can quickly and easily procure a sub- two-pound, two-person tent at a reasonable cost. The performance is there, with a great amount of livable area for its meager weight. The hub poles contribute by creating vertical sidewalls and a high peak height. The multiple position doors go from fully open for stargazing and great ventilation, to a porch cooking mode, to fully battened down in storm mode. In all, the Flash Air 2 is a versatile, livable and economic tent that should fit the needs of many backpackers.