Alps Mountaineering Mystique 2

Owner Review

Name:  Ashlee Gunter  
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 1” (1.52 m)
Weight: 115 lb (50 kg)
Email address: n8trlvr76@yahoo.com
City, State: Baton Rouge (Denham Springs), LA
Date: April 12, 2004

Backpacking Bio
I have been backpacking and hiking in one form or another most of my life.  Actually, I was car camping before I was born.  Growing up, my father was a Scoutmaster.  He would load my sister and me up with packs, just like the guys, and take us along with him on their trips.  As I’ve grown, I’ve had the opportunity to hike and backpack in Florida, Utah and Idaho, and presently Louisiana and Mississippi.  I’ve hiked terrain from high desert to swamp.  I do not really have much experience or desire for winter mountaineering. I spent the majority of the past four years either pregnant or caring for a young child.  As a result, I have been limited to primarily day hiking for the past few years.  My son is now 3 and I get to backpack again. It is really fun getting back into it and I wonder how I was satisfied with just day hiking the past few years.  Because of a busy life, my trips are still limited mostly to day or weekend trips.  My son joins us on most of our trips.  As a result of this, lightweight compact gear is essential for us, although I would not classify myself as a true ultralight backpacker.

Product Information

Manufacturer:	Alps Mountaineering
Web Site:	www.alpsmountaineering.com/
Year of Manufacture:	2003
MSRP:	$139.99
Listed Weight:	5 lb 2 oz (2.32 kg)
Actual Weight:	5 lb 5 oz (2.41 kg)
Tent Type:	2-man, lightweight

Features

• Lightweight 2-pole design
• Shock corded aluminum poles
• Breathable Nylon taffeta walls
• Urethane coated polyester fly and nylon floor
• Factory sealed seams
• 2 large mesh doors and end mesh panels for ventilation
• Full coverage fly with two large vestibules
• Inside mesh storage pockets
• Instructions sewn in storage bag
  
  

Base Size:	5' x 8'  (1.52 m x 2.44 m)
Center Height:	40" (102 cm)
Vestibule Depth:	27" (69 cm)
Tent Area (sq ft):	32 (2.97 sq m)
Vestibule Area (sq ft):	18 (1.67 sq m)
Tent & Fly Wt.:	4 lb 11 oz (2.13 kg)
Total Wt.:	5 lb 2 oz (2.32 kg)
Packed Size:	5.75" x 18" (14.61 cm x 45.72 cm)

Locations
I have used this tent on backpacking and car camping trips in Louisiana and Mississippi.  The terrain in these areas varied from wet marshes with very little (if any) elevation to hills ranging from 200-400 ft (61-122m)  I have used this tent in all four seasons in which temperatures ranged from 25 to 90 F (-4 to 32 C).  Humidity is always prevalent in these areas and rain is common.

Packing
When backpacking with the Mystique 2, my husband has always been with me.  Because of this, I am able to split the weight of the tent with him.  Generally, I fold the tent into a square and place it at the bottom of my pack just above my sleeping bag.  I then strap the poles to the side of my pack using the pack’s compression straps.  Jack will carry the fly in his pack and we leave the stuff sack home.  By carrying the tent this way, it brings my weight to around 2.5 lb (1.13 kg) and it takes up minimal space in my pack.

Setup
Setting up the tent is relatively easy.  I simply lay it out and run the two poles through the sleeves at each end.  Because the Mystique 2 is not a freestanding tent, I then have to stake it down.  It also has the option of using guy lines, but I have not been a situation to use them thus far.  Although I have not used this tent in an area where staking has been a problem, this is still something I do not like about this tent.  When I backpack in other areas in the future, I do not want to have to worry about whether I will be able to stake it down.  Most nights, I take advantage of the mesh doors and panels and leave the fly off of the tent.  This allows air in and gives me a great view of the night sky.  In all but the hottest nights, the mesh has let enough air in to keep me comfortable while I sleep.  On cooler nights, or in rain, I will put the fly on the tent.  Doing this is very simple.  There are 4 clips in the corners of the tent.  I place the fly on top of the tent and use these clips to secure it into place.  Four stakes, two on each side, hold the vestibules in place. 

Sleeping Space
The downside to this Mystique 2 is the 5 X 8 ft (1.52 X 2.44 m) base size.  That equals out to not a whole lot of space.  Additionally, with the low ceiling, it makes it very difficult to sit upright.  Since I am a small person, this has bothered my husband more than it has me.  When we set up camp, we place our sleeping bags in the tent lengthwise.  There is no room for gear inside, so besides my headlamp and maybe some clothing, everything has to stay outside.  When we first started bringing our son along, we weren’t sure how well he would fit in the tent and figured we would just make do.  Although the tent is only five feet across, my son still fits.  There is even room for his sleeping bag in between my husband and me.

Construction and Durability
I initially purchased the Mystique 2 because of price.  Because my father is on the Boy Scout Council he can purchase from Alps Mountaineering at a discount. I already had one of their packs, so I was a little familiar with the company. I knew that they offered the same lifetime warranty as the big companies, and their products were made in the USA, so that sold me as well.  I was still unsure of what to expect of their tents. The first time I set up the tent, I was impressed. The Mystique 2 was constructed very well and appeared strong and durable.  The poles, although heavier than some others on the market, were strong and looked nice.  They were also smooth at setup.  Although the pegs were nicer than others I have gotten with tents, I bent two of them my first trip out, so I replaced them with a set of aluminum Y pegs.  I do not remember what brand they are. They possibly may be Mountain Hardware.  So far, I have had no problems with durability.  The seams have held up well, as has the floor.  There are no tears or abrasions in the tent. 

Field Use
We have taken the Mystique 2 on a number of camping and backpacking trips in the past year.  These trips have been in both summer and winter (in Louisiana, winter is more like everybody else’s autumn).  In the summer we were usually able to keep the fly off the tent.  This makes a big difference in ventilation.  My previous tent had very little mesh and I roasted inside of it during the summer.  This is Louisiana though, which means regular rains and having to put the fly on.  The tent gets real stuffy, real fast when I have to do that.  The Mystique is considered a three season tent.  Because of the mild temperatures here, I can generally use a three season tent year round. In the winter, the Mystique gets a little cold for my taste.  Even with the fly on, cold still creeps in through all of the mesh. For myself, I would prefer to use the Mystique in warmer weather and camp in something more substantial on a cooler night. 

The Mystique 2 has held up real well to rain.  I have not had it in any fierce storms, so I can’t tell you how well it would do under strong conditions but I have had it in light and moderate rains.  The sealed seams have prevented it from leaking and have had no problems with water in my tent from the rain.  The vestibules are large enough to fit my shoes and my pack under one of them.  They have done a good job of protecting my gear.  In a light rain, my pack stays dry.  In heavier rains, I have brought my pack inside for protection.  There isn’t much room for this, but I can make it work by putting it down by my feet.  The vestibules have also done a good job of keeping the frost off of my pack in the winter.  Condensation, on the other hand, is a different story.  I have rarely awakened in the morning without having condensation on the inside walls and my sleeping bag damp.  This is the case even with the fly on.  Humidity is very high in Louisiana, and I have had this problem here with other tents, so it is probably due to the climate and not the tent.

Summary
The Alps Mountaineering is a great tent for the price.  Though it is a little heavier, I believe it is just as good, if not better in construction than its larger competitors.  It has been durable and reliable and has kept me dry in the rain.  Many people believe you get what you pay for when it comes to outdoor gear, but this tent has proved to be an exception.   

Things I Like:	Things I Don’t Like:
Ø      Price	Ø      Does not insulate well
Ø      Mesh ventilation	Ø      Not freestanding
Ø      Ease of set up	Ø      A little on the heavy side