Another new tent, this Marmot Fortress 2P is intended (by me) for “front country” use – a.k.a. car camping. I’ve used a Marmot Early Light 2P for several years in this role. It was my first backpacking tent but I quickly realized it was way too big and heavy for that. The Early Light’s fatal flaw is that it has 2 transparent windows in the fly. After 7 years the adhesive failed and the windows started detaching and leaking. I reglued them but have no confidence it will hold so I think it’s time to retire that one.
The Fortress 2P package includes 12 stakes, 6 line tensioners, 6 guy lines, 1 pole splice, and no footprint. The advertised package weight is 5 lbs 5.5 oz but I measure it at 1 lb heavier. The tent has a vestibule on each side but one is slightly smaller. The full-fabric canopy with 3 zippered ventilation panels is probably a great thing in cold windy conditions but may be stifling in an Arkansas summer with little or no breeze. We’ll see.
Left side
Head end
Right side
Interior head end. Note the ventilation panel at the bottom. The zippered opening at the top is for access to the fly vent. There are 2 small triangular gear pockets at mid-height.
Interior right side. Only the upper half of the door can be unzipped for ventilation.
Gear pockets – one on each side at the head end.
Interior left side. The fabric on this door can be fully unzipped for ventilation.
The bend in each end pole segment makes for a more-vertical wall at the head and feet.
The poles breakdown to a bundle 21″ in length. The 2 main poles are permanently connected in the center by a swivel thingamajig.
The fly has one vent, in the head end, that can be propped open or zipped closed.
There are several guy line attachment points to keep the tent in place during high winds.
There is an (optional) additional tie-down at each corner.
The product was purchased with my own money. I have no material connection with any companies, products or services mentioned in this post.
