GoLite Valhalla 2+
Voted the "All-Conditions Champ" in "Backpacker Magazine's" Gear Guide 2009, the Valhalla 2+ is a lightweight and durable offering that's good for any season. Backpacker found that the tent excels in winter and summer and everything in between and praised the tent for a number of qualities, including roominess, stability and weight. The tent is rated for two to three people. The manufacturer provides the weight at just 5 lbs. 2 oz. The tent features a 1,000 mm waterproof EPIC silicone-encapsuled ripstop body. Two mesh doors and two mesh vents provide cooling and airflow in warm months.
Brooks-Range Rocket Tent
Not many tents can claim to get lighter for winter use, but that's exactly what the Rocket Tent does. You might be thinking that it shaves down from 10 to 9.5 lbs., but the Rocket Tent is light-years ahead of traditional winter tents in terms of weight. The two-person tent weighs a stunning 1 lb. 6 oz. in its winter configuration--lighter than almost any ultralight, three-season tent, let alone a four-season tent. The Rocket's magic is accomplished, in part, by smart design. Brooks-Range worked with professional mountain guides to create a design that cuts out redundancy. The tent relies on an avalanche probe and ski poles to pitch, eliminating the need for a separate set of tent poles. The Rocket also uses an ultralight, yet durable, CT3 fabric to cut weight, while offering 5,000 mm plus of water protection. The summer configuration of the tent includes poles, but still weighs just 2 lbs. 4 oz. The tent uses a reflective fabric to keep heat in during the winter and out in the summer.
Mountain Hardwear Taurine 2
The Mountain Hardwear Taurine 2 is a two-person, three-to-four-season tent that features a full coverage fly, 70D nylon shell and four-season Atlas aluminum pole structure that protects against winter elements. It also includes two mesh doors and mesh vents for use in warmer weather. The setup allows the user to pitch with just the fly and footprint for a lightweight, warm-weather option. The Taurine 2 features a packed weight of 8 lbs. 13 oz. The Taurine 2 took home a "Big and Versatile" award in "Backpacker Magazine's" Gear Guide 2009.
