Rei Quarter Dome 1 Real Review

When it comes to lightweight, minimalist camping, the REI Quarter Dome 1 stands out as a top contender. This tent, designed specifically for solo adventurers, combines innovation with efficiency to deliver a remarkable camping experience. The REI Quarter Dome 1 is not just a shelter but a well-engineered space that balances weight, durability, and functionality. Whether you're hiking through rugged terrains or enjoying a weekend in the backcountry, this tent promises to be a reliable companion. In this review, we'll delve into the features and performance of the REI Quarter Dome 1 to see if it lives up to the hype and meets the needs of avid campers.

"My home away from home.This tent is so easy to set up, even in the dark. It’s been reliable in Death Valley windstorms, Canadian Rocky downpours, and Denali mosquito swarms. The combo of a mostly mesh tent and full rain fly keeps me dry from both condensation and rain. In the desert skip the fly and fall asleep under a blanket of stars. Light enough for backpacking, roomy enough fully recline and sit up, and plenty of space to store pack+ in the vesitibule in bad weather."

"I've taken this tent to Yosemite on 3 trips. Its light, very room for a single person. It withstood rain and wind. The pockets near your head and overhead are very useful. it's easy to assemble once you've done it a few times. It is light. It has not ripped or torn or been damaged."

"I have had this tent for two years now and have not had a single issue with it. It is super easy to set up and take down. Once staked down, the tent has astonishing strength - it survived winds of 50 - 60 mph in the Scottish Highlands with only the slightest deformation. The almost full mesh inner lining allows for consistent airflow to reduce condensation but even during a 4 day trip with rainy cool nights, the water that accumulated drip down the exterior tent lining with no drips entering the inner tent itself. The tent is roomy enough to fit my 6'2" 250 lb frame. There is enough headroom to change my clothes or sit and have a cup of tea. The vestibule is spacious."

"Great 3 season tent. Ample space to sit up. The mesh pockets on the ceiling is a great place to stick your headlamp to light up the space and pockets at the head of the tent for things you need to reach in the night. The vestibule is large enough for the backpack and for cooking in rainy weather. They only beef I have is the rainfly could be a few inches longer on the sides, particularly at the foot of the tent. Still the fly fits snug and does a good job at handling summer thunder storms in the Sierra."

"Ok my initial use of this tent I would have given 5 stars! It’s lightweight, easy set up, larger vestibule, loved it! UNTIL We got caught in rainy weather! Then the disappointment set in. I woke up with literal puddles of water in my tent, everything was wet! Not what I expected or hoped for this supposed to be 3 season tent! Also, this was only the second hike this tent had been on!"

"This tent is AWESOME!!!!! I like to backpack/camp by myself. A bivy was too small for me so I was looking to get a 1 person tent that wasn't too heavy. After doing a lot of research and reading reviews, this REI tent seemed to fit my wants/needs. For instance, freestanding was a necessity after I borrowed my friend's bivy and it collapsed on me at 2am (apparently stakes don't work well in the sand at White Sands). Anyway, I was eager to try out my new tent until COVID-19 shut everything down. However, last week in the San Diego region we had a torrential downpour for over 24 hours straight. I figured it would be a good chance to see how it would do in the rain. I wasn't able to stake it down because of the astroturf in the backyard. At one point the wind blew it over (unsure at what point overnight). When the rain passed, there was only a tiny bit of water inside, and I was confident it was only because it tipped over. Last night it was supposed to rain again so I decided to camp out in the backyard to test that theory. I am happy to report that I woke up completely dry (and it was cool hearing the rain on the tent)! FYI: I did buy the footprint separately and used it. It should be mentioned that the color coding on the tent is helpful, and I love that it is just one pole. I am only 5'3" so I'm also able to fit my backpack in the tent with me since I don't like leaving it outside. Lastly, without trying to set it up quickly for a record time, it is easily set up in under 4 minutes. Love this REI tent so much! Can't wait to take it out on a real trip when this pandemic is over."

"Got this for a backpacking trip in September 2019. My local REI was out of the newer version but had this one in stock and I liked the simplicity of the four basic corner stakes instead of the newer version's corner thingy anyway. Thunderstorms rolled through the first night and slept like a baby. In the morning everything inside the tent was bone dry and everything seemed to be in place except one shoe that a Fox probably pulled out from the vestibule as it was a few meters away and soaking wet. Last night temps dropped to mid thirties. With a 30F bag I remained plenty warm in a tshirt and boxers and was the best nights sleep of the trip. I'll likely upgrade to the 2 person version next year for just a little more living room."

"I used this on my PCT 2019 NOBO adventure and probably have over 100 nights using this tent! It's super quick to set up once you do it a couple times and has much more room than people expect when they looked inside. It withstood some windstorms that I thought was gonna destroy it. It also worked well in a late season "snow storm" of about 3 inches of wet snow. I didn't get to fully test it in the rain, since I wasn't ever down-poured on, but there were some nights of heavy wind and moderate rain that this tent out performed many other thru hiker shelters."

"I own both the 1 and 2 person versions of this tent. The 1 person has become my go-to for the lighter weight and reduced footprint in camp. Used it during 5 day downpours in Glacier NP, ice storms in Rocky Mtn NP, mosquito plagues in Olympic NP, and believe it or not during quite a few beautiful weather days! Super easy setup, bomber construction, best in class features and regardless what you read elsewhere - weather tight!! Neither I nor my gear have gotten wet due to this tent. Love it and if anything ever happens to it i’ll buy another! My Son, Son in Law, and at least 3 others own them at my recommendation - all with similar results. Features, weight, floorspace, price, durability, weatherproofness and ease of setup, You can’t beat the Quarter Dome! I dare you to try, nothing else comes close!!"

"I have the older version of this tent and used it for the first time in rainy conditions. The rain was a straight down rain, but my shoes still were soaked in the vestibule and the floor as well. I was camping on a dirt camping pad that was level and off the ground. If anyone has recommendations. For dry conditions, the set up and weight is ideal!"

In conclusion, the REI Quarter Dome 1 proves to be a standout choice for those seeking a lightweight and practical tent for solo adventures. Its thoughtful design, including the innovative pole structure and efficient use of space, enhances both comfort and functionality. The durability of materials and ease of setup make it a dependable option for various weather conditions. For solo campers looking for a balance of weight, space, and durability, the REI Quarter Dome 1 is a tent worth considering. With its blend of performance and practicality, it firmly establishes itself as a top pick in the realm of lightweight camping gear.