Comments on: Rambling Review – REI Half Dome 2 HC

By: Christian A. Jensen

Christian A. Jensen — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:54:45 +0000

I have had this tent for over three camp seasons, so about 40 trips, and everyone hates me: 1) so easy to set up; and 2) when setup, you can pick it up with one finger and find out where you want to place it. I did bend one pole and was able to bend it back a bit. I would highly recommend this tent! And I did buy the footprint, since I live East of Seattle, you know the drill (mud and rain). Great job REI.

By: azwanderings

azwanderings — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 21:42:11 +0000

In reply to M40. Good to hear. Thanks M40. Ben

By: M40

M40 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:03:33 +0000

In reply to Mike Yavello. Coleman makes a universal tent pole replacement kit. It requires some work on your part to cut the poles to length, but well worth the $10-$15 for the kit (especially if it saves an otherwise perfectly good tent). As for the REI tent, I got one of these and it seems like a decent tent, but packs way too big and heavy for my ultralight tastes. I'll be "regifting" this one.

By: azwanderings

azwanderings — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:14:57 +0000

In reply to Ryan. Very nice. It's a great tent that will serve you well. Ben

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 01:17:22 +0000

I just picked up this exact tent at the REI garage sale. Looks like it was used one time before being returned, practically brand new. I plan to use it for hunting and Scout trips.

By: azwanderings

azwanderings — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:16:29 +0000

In reply to TallAndWide. Good info. Thanks.

By: TallAndWide

TallAndWide — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:38:34 +0000

The REI Passage tent is the renamed version of the REI Half Dome 2 HC tent. The HC was so popular, that REI resurected it as the Passage. The new Half Dome 2 (and 2 Plus) have a “third” pole, the brow pole that crosses the tent at the middle, and holds out the side. This extends headroom, and makes the sides more vertical. This comes at the cost of a small amount of additional weight. The newer Half Dome 2, uses two pole Hubs (in order to deal with the cross pole) and as a result is slightly stronger. (In the west, in low snow conditions, this tent can stretch to 4 seasons) if properly staked and guyed.

For those looking for replacment poles, the REI passage poles will work on an REI Half Dome 2 HC. (Basically same tent). But I have never seen REI sell replacement Passage poles (only their current half dome tent, and the pole sets are expensive ($50).

To repair your REI Half Dome Poles, just use a pole replacement place. Two are listed below.

http://tentpoletechnologies.com/?page_id=17

http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm#TENT%20POLES

By: azwanderings

azwanderings — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 01:58:37 +0000

In reply to Jimothy. Sounds good. I'll have to check it out Jimothy. REI has a habit of making quality products. Thanks for the heads up on the Passage. Ben

By: Jimothy

Jimothy — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:53:59 +0000

In reply to azwanderings. The REI Passage 2 looks to be equivalent to this tent. The colors are different, but it has the same floor dimensions, and a similar door opening. I wonder if the poles for the Passage 2 would serve as replacements for the HC.

By: James

James — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:49:35 +0000

I own the new version of the REI Half Dome and I absolutely love it. Like he said in the review, it is extremely simple which means it is designed very well. It’s a breeze to set up and take down, and is very high quality. It is a tremendous value. It was the first tent I got for backpacking, and I have switched to an much lighter tent called The Moment, from tarptent.com – another incredible value for such a quality product however it is designed for one person. If you are doing some serious distance, cutting your tent weight from 6+ lbs to 2lbs is a substantial difference. But if you are needing a tent for two, split the weight of the Half Dome between two people and you definitely can’t go wrong.