The Marmot Alpinist 2P, as its name suggests, is designed to hold two people in severe Alpine conditions. The Alpinist 2P four-season/convertible mountaineering tent is made to endure the toughest conditions, as it has both pole sleeves and clips to ensure a secure bond between the tent and the frame.

The three DAC FeatherLite SL 9.0 poles included with the Alpinist 2P are 9 millimeters in diameter, thicker and stronger than most other tent poles. The pole structure also uses a knees-pole design that provides a steep sidewall; this increases usable interior volume and helps shed snow. On the other hand, the peak height of 42 inches is somewhat low. A large D-shaped door allows easy entry and exit even when wearing bulky winter clothes. As with any four-season/convertible mountaineering tent, waterproofing is essential, and in this case, the Alpinist 2P's floor uses a bathtub design so that all the seams are raised off the ground.

To save weight, this is a single wall tent. The waterproof canopy is seam-sealed. The canopy uses buckles for easy attaching, and also features an adjustable vent (a flap with zipper) to vary airflow through the tent -- a crucial concern in a single wall tent where condensation can occur. The canopy is cut to provide one front vestibule for storing extra gear.

The Alpinist 2P four-season/convertible mountaineering tent comes with stuff sacks, fabric repair kit, stakes, pole repair sleeve, guy cords and sliders. This tent also comes in a pale pumpkin color that is selected for visibility and hence greater safety. Because of its sturdy construction it is somewhat heavier than most three-season tents, but in fact because of its single wall construction, it is lighter than many other four-season/convertible mountaineering tents.

The Alpinist 2P is a high performance, but relatively affordable four-season/convertible mountaineering tent that will perform well under any condition.


Pros: Heavy-duty features add durability in adverse weather conditions
Cons: Low ceiling reduces comfort