I started backpacking as a kid in the Boy Scouts doing overnighters. In the last year, I have caught a bug that wants me to go out and see things that a relatively few people have seen. This has drawn me back to backpacking. I have found it to be the most enjoyable thing I know. I have gotten my wife involved and we get out and hike at least once a month. I generally carry about 30 lbs (14 kg) and am in the process of decreasing that weight.

Manufacturer’s Data

Manufacturer- Coleman
Website- www.coleman.com; www.exponentgear.com

Model- Krypton 2 Tent
Size- 31 sq ft (2.88 m/sq)floor
Center height- 40.1 in (102 cm)
Carry Weight- 7.7 lb (3.5 kg)
Fabric- Tent floor: 190T, 70-D Nylon/Taffeta, PU coated to 1500mm, taped seams
Tent rainfly: 185T, Polyester/Taffeta, PU coated to 1500mm, taped seams
Tent canopy: 190T Nylon Ripstop
Use- 4-season tent

Actual Measurements

My actual measurements can be found in the Initial Report.

Long Term Report

Our testing during this final stage with the Krypton 2 was on a very cold night with no breeze. I had a low of 18 F (-8 C) and the night was very still. I set up the tent with a stake at each corner and with one vestibule open and one closed. I also used two stakes for each vestibule. I attached three guy lines on the windward side of the fly and one on the leeward side. When the tent was being erected, we had winds of 20 MPH (32 KPH). I had no problem in the sheltered location getting the tent to go up relatively easily. The poles went right in with the help of my 7 year-old son and it was easy to cast the fly over the tent from the windward side. Once I had a couple guy lines, the tent was secure. I set up the tent about 3PM and by the time we went to sleep the wind had stopped. When the guy lines are used, the tent is very secure. I tried to shake the tent and it did not move. The design of this tent is very strong. I found that many of the other guy lines on this tent are overkill. I would expect that you would have to have some very strong winds to need that many points of attachment. I do agree that there are various conditions that people will use the tent, but I will be removing some of the lines for my usage and will use the guy lines that I leave there in strategic locations on the tent. Included with the tent is a stake for each guy line location, and by using fewer stakes and lines, the weight can be reduced.

During my night in the tent, it was very dry and comfortable when I climbed inside. The floor remained dry. In the morning after waking, there was significant condensation inside the tent. However, it had all frozen into tiny ice crystals. When I bumped the tent, the ice crystals fell on me. Even the zippers were frosty. I make a lot of condensation, as I am a big guy. I expected to have more condensation than I found due to the still, cold night. On a still night the fly can really limit airflow over the tent. I found the zippers were still easy to use even with the frost on them. They were easy to use with gloved hands.

When we went to take the tent down, it started to snow. OK, more like ice pellets, but as I pulled the fly off the tent, the pellets went flying off. I had no sticking and no worries about having to dry the fly. I think the fly would do well in shedding a heavier coating of snow if the situation arose. The tent itself also shed the snow that was falling and did not pick up any moisture to worry about.

Overall, I have found this to be a tent that I would be comfortable using as a four-season tent. It has been very strong and stable for me. It has plenty of attachment points, if not too many, for securing it in stormy weather. The vestibules seem to be great weather protected space for gear. The space inside the tent is large for a two-person tent and is very comfortable. I have found the quality to be very good, and I have had no problems. The weight on the tent is heavier as a complete tent than I would use on a summer trip, but I would be happy to carry it without the fly and with fewer stakes during the summer months. It is very strong for winter use. The only improvements I would recommend would be to have the poles also have an option of attaching to the fly for a lightweight freestanding fly option. As versatile as the fly is, this would make the tent useful for all seasons and give it two lightweight 3-season options.

I would like to thank Coleman Exponent Gear and Backpackgeartest.org for the opportunity to test this great tent.

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Long Term Report

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