REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Tent Review

Bottom Line

The REI Trailmade 2 is the perfect crossover tent for folks starting to backpack and love car camping. It’s a budget-friendly shelter that overperforms its price point for durability, ease of setup, and comfort and easily earns a spot on our best backpacking tents guide. 

Gear Analyst Ian Krammer spent many nights in this tent, camping next to his truck and backpacking to rugged alpine lakes, and it excelled in both scenarios. The Trailmade’s strong zippers, durable materials, and dome design make it a reliable spring, summer, and fall shelter. 

The classic symmetrical, freestanding dome structure makes setup a breeze, and its vestibules offer plenty of space for stashing gear whether you’re five yards from your vehicle – or five miles.

However, this model’s lack of a ridge pole reduces headroom, making the interior feel a bit cramped, especially for two people. It’s also a bit too heavy for long-distance backpacking, though its weight can be split between two hikers, so it’s a reasonable option for less strenuous trips(around three days or less). Although it doesn’t have many technical features, the Trailmade is a dependable, affordable tent for getting into the wilderness without sacrificing comfort.

How We Tested

From frontcountry camping next to the car to backpacking in torrential downpours, we’ve put the Half Dome to the test for dozens of nights in widely varying conditions. In addition to field testing, we also hold each tent under the microscope at home, scrutinizing every last feature and detail.

Weather Resistance

When it comes to weather resistance in a budget tent, the REI Trailmade 2 will keep you dry when the storms roll in. Thanks to its coated polyester fly, the rainfly easily handles heavy downpours. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer stayed bone dry and comfy in his Trailmade 2 during a 13-hour downpour at treeline in southwest Colorado. 

Four additional guyline tie-out points on the rainfly provide decent additional stability during windy storms. Beefy hook-and-loop connection points on the interior of the rainfly attach to the tent poles, adding another layer of stabilization in wind and gusts. The tent also includes two ceiling vents to help circulate air and reduce condensation when it’s wet out.

But even the best defenses have their weaknesses. The Trailmade doesn’t have guyline points at the head or foot of the tent, which means the tent isn’t as secure as competitive designs when winds are really blowing. 

Without these points, it’s also harder to stake out the rainfly away from the tent body. The ceiling vents are basic and functional, but they could benefit from more advanced design to further improve airflow during humid or rainy conditions, as we find this tent collects condensation more than we’d like.

Ease of Setup

The Trailmade 2’s straightforward design makes setup a breeze, even for beginners. If you’ve ever set up a camping tent, the dome design of the Trailmade 2 is as familiar and classic as it gets.

With two identical poles and a fully rectangular base, there’s no confusion about where things go—just insert the poles into the grommets, cross them in the middle, and clip the tent body into place.

Attaching the rainfly is equally simple, thanks to the buckle clips at each corner. The footprint is already integrated, so you won’t have to fiddle with lining it up unless you remove it, and it prevents extra wear and tear on the tent floor on rough terrain. Even without prior experience, you can have this tent pitched in under two minutes by yourself – a great choice for hassle-free camping.

In a pinch, the simple design can hold up pretty well without any stakes. But adding at least two of its included stakes to stake out the vestibules will dramatically improve your pitch. Six or more will make the tent more robust in a storm.

Durability

The Trailmade 2 is crafted with strong 75D polyester fabric and 40D nylon mesh built to endure years of use, even with minimal maintenance. And the quality of the components, from poles and double-stitched seams to burly zippers and tough vent kickstands, ensures that this tent can handle the wear and tear of repeated backcountry trips. 

The Trailmade is tougher than most backpacking tents, so we highly recommend it for camping trips with a harsh weather forecast. The strong, resilient design is perfect for folks who need a tent that won’t blow out after just a few seasons.

The downside of a durable tent is that it’s heavy. While it’s built to last, the extra pounds are a dealbreaker for long treks where every ounce counts. While the tent’s resilience is impressive, it’s better suited for trips where rough conditions are expected, and weight isn’t a big concern.

Should You Buy the REI Trailmade 2?

If you’re looking to save some bucks, you can’t go wrong with the REI Trailmade 2. It’s our top recommendation for budget-conscious campers and backpackers who need a protective, easy-to-use tent without the high price tag.

The Trailmade 2 is perfect for beginners and those who want a tent that’s great for car camping and occasional backcountry trips. Its simple dome design makes setup fast and straightforward, and the durable materials make this tent a go-to for seasons of use and dozens of rips with almost no maintenance. It’s versatile as tents come, since it performs well in most environments and won’t overcomplicate your trip with technical features.

However, the Trailmade 2 is not the best fit if you’re looking for a low-weight and low-bulk tent. Its heft will deter serious backpackers who need to minimize their load, so if you’re into frequent, strenuous backcountry adventures, a lighter, more spacious tent is a better choice. The lack of a ridge pole limits headroom, making the interior feel a bit cramped for two people, and it doesn’t offer much in the way of pockets or storage.

Still, if you want an affordable and classic tent to get out there, this tent checks every box.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

On our full list of favorites, we have recommendations to fit every budget and need from ultralight to ultra affordable.

REI Half Dome 2+ Review: This REI tent takes elements of the Trailmade – freestanding, low-priced, fast setup, and included footprint – but improves on it by adding a brow pole, bigger vestibules, better internal pockets,  and it weighs significantly less. The downside is that it’s more expensive, but this is one of the best value crossover tents on the market.

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 Review: The Copper Spur is a freestanding option that’s similar in size, features, and ease of setup to the Trailmade 2. Even though it’s a lot more expensive, this model is over two pounds lighter, making it much better for long backpacking trips, and it’s also more livable and comfortable.

MSR Hubba Hubba LT Review: The Hubba Hubba LT is becoming one of our favorite tents due to its intuitive design and balanced characteristics. It’s more durable, weatherproof, and comfortable than most ultralight tents while still shedding plenty of weight compared to traditional camping tents.