REI Hoodoo 3: a backpacking tent for tall people
July 9th, 2009
Anybody over 6-foot-2 has a heck of a time squeezing into most backpacking tents. This “three-person” tent from REI could be an option, assuming you’re taking a friend along. While cruising for bargains at REI I noticed they’d sliced 20% off the Hoodoo 3 ($249 to $200), which looks like a knockoff of the North Face Tadpole. You’d never solo in this baby — packed weight is north of 7 pounds — but a couple customer reviews reveal an interesting side benefit: room for two tall campers. A snip: “My girlfriend and I are 6′0″ and 6′2″, respectively, and we were quite comfortable sleeping, changing, and playing cards in this tent. Being able to both sit upright with plenty of headroom is a rare pleasure in a tent that is flexible enough to be taken on short backpacking trips.”
The Hoodoo 3 rates an average of 4.5 stars across 53 reviews, and $200 is a fair price for a tent in this range. It’d be a stretch to get 3 adults into a tent this size, but two grownups and a small dog might fit, or a mom and two kids. It has a spacious fly that creates a good front vestibule, and it has a back door and vestibule so you can stow some gear back there that you might want to grab in the middle of the night. The pole setup looks a bit more complicated than I’d prefer, but if there’s two of you it shouldn’t be so hard to figure out. (Foolproof relationship test: if you can get a tent up without hating each other, it has promise).
I’ve had fine luck with two REI tents — they’re sturdy and reasonably easy to set up. And the great thing about REI: if you don’t like, you take back, and they accept your return with a smile .
(Disclosure: I get a 5% commission if you click on a link here that leads to a sale at REI.)
Tags: backpacking tents, rei
July 9th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I saw one set up at the Marina store, and picked it up on the spot. It was big enough for us and two dawgs, the vestibule held the chair, and t – showers were repelled, leaving us warm and dry. For the price ($250 at the time), you won’t find another tent with as many features, or as cozy.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
My brother and I bought this tent at REI Saratoga during the summer clearance sale. It was $179.99. We hope to use it as a 2 man, but we’ll let a third join us on short trips.