Marmot Tungsten 2 Budget Tent Review

Bottom Line

The Marmot Tungsten 2 is an exceptionally roomy tent made from durable materials and has many useful features for enhancing any car camping adventure. It even sets up in under five minutes! The blue color-coded pole tips and red tabs near the rainfly clips ensure that the tent is positioned correctly. Weighing in at 6.2 pounds with 30 sq ft of interior space, the Tungsten 2 is just over 7 feet long. It has a slightly tapered floor plan starting at 4.5 ft at one end and slimming down to 3.8 ft at the other end – though this is hardly noticeable when sitting inside. 

With two large double-tier hanging pockets, five upper loops for hanging support, plus a unique light diffusing lamp shade pocket, the Tungsten 2 is well prepared to handle all of your gear storage needs. Packs and wet boots can be stored outside under the vestibules and the smaller essential items and lights can be tucked away in the interior pockets. The Marmot Tungsten is also available for downsizing or upsizing depending on your capacity needs with 1-person, 3-person, and 4-person variants. Overall, the Tungsten 2 is a great budget buy for a dependable, durable, and very comfortable shelter with excellent amenities. For more options head back to our complete guide to the best budget tents.

Comfort

The Marmot Tungsten 2 is a very comfortable and spacious freestanding tent. With a generous amount of headroom and increased ceiling width thanks to the ridge pole, it offers plenty of length for tall hikers. Featuring 30 square feet of interior space, the tapered floor plan is not lacking when it comes to a livable interior. The 7.3-foot length easily accommodated our air mat with extra room to spare on all sides. Two people could definitely fit and, although the tapered design might not leave huge amounts of space in between sleeping pads, there’s still plenty of vertical space to move around.

The large dual doors and vestibules are a big plus, adding to the great accessibility and convenient ease of entering and exiting the tent; these features also protect the gear you wish to store outside while keeping it safe from the elements and easily reachable. The oversized double-tiered hanging pockets, five hanging loops, and lamp shade pocket for overhead diffused light help to keep the sleeping area clutter-free and more inviting for a hard earned rest after a long day. The zippers glide freely without snagging due to good fabric tension. When pitched with just the poles and not staked out, the zippers can still be operated easily with one hand.

Weather Resistance

Constructed of a seam-taped 100% polyester taffeta floor and a seam-taped 100% ripstop polyester fly, the Tungsten 2 is more than weather-ready for the rain and wind. When camping near the top of Reyes Peak in the Los Padres National Forest, we were very thankful for the extra reinforced attachment points and included guy lines due to increased winds at the end of the day and into the night. These features helped our gear analyst stabilize and secure the shelter quickly before going to bed as the winds escalated overnight. The Tungsten 2 is as stable as a rock when fully staked out and with guy lines deployed.

We also appreciate the extra attention to detail with features like the reinforced wing-flaps where the extra guy lines attach. Small features like this equate to an extended product life for gear that can see a lot of action and stress. Not only does the rainfly have color-coded tabs for quick identification during assembly or low light, but there’s also tension adjusters on the corner buckles and vestibules to cinch down the fly for added stability and a snug fit. There’s only one upper strutted vent on the fly so positioning properly with the wind or increasing ventilation by opening a door might be needed if condensation occurs. Seeing as though it’s a double wall tent, this should not be as much of an issue.

Durability

The Tungsten 2 boasts high-quality materials with a robust and durable feel. The 100% polyester fabrics of the fly and floor are very strong to the touch. The ripstop weave of the rainfly ensures a thick and impenetrable roof, while the floor is equally as durable, especially when combined with the included footprint. The poles are built from a strong velocity HD aluminum for extra strength and long lasting durability. It comes with a 5 inch pole splint for emergency repairs, but it’s unlikely that you’ll need it. The Tungsten 2 is also reinforced where the ridgepole sits in the fly; this extends the life and slows down the wear and tear of a noticeably susceptible spot, especially on tents that have protruding ridge poles. 

Another great attribute of the Tungsten 2 is the colorfast solution-dyed fabric, which helps in reducing UV fading of the tent material. This is also environmentally beneficial because it uses significantly less water and harsh chemicals compared to conventional dyeing methods. Overall, the Tungsten 2, when combined with the included footprint, should endure many seasons of use.

Portability

The Marmot Tungsten 2 mostly falls into the car camping subcategory of our budget tents lineup because of its hefty 6.2 pound weight and relatively longer, bulkier size. Separating the components and splitting it up is possible for a short backpacking trip, but probably not worth it considering the multitude of larger and lighter tents that are better suited for that purpose. 

The poles are 21 inches long when folded, making it difficult to roll them up with the fly and tent body while also trying to compress it all down to a reasonable packing size for a backpack. The provided storage bag is just a basic cinch sack with no handles or easy way to comfortably carry it long distances by hand. It’s much better to just grab it from the car and set it up.  Although the heavier polyester material doesn’t compress down as easily as other models constructed of nylon and lighter materials, the carrying bag has extra room for quickly and loosely storing it without having to overly compress it.

Ease of Use

The Marmot Tungsten 2 is very quick and simple to set up thanks to its familiar x-pole design and quick clip system. We had no problem setting it up in under five minutes, and with the color-coded fly, pre-bent poles, and corresponding grommets, there’s never an issue or question about how anything gets assembled. The guy lines are not pre-assembled or attached so it’s recommended to put those together before taking the tent out if you plan on using them. 

The included footprint has grommets for the poles, so there’s an additional option to set up the structure in minimalist mode with just the fly, footprint, and poles. The rainfly has fasteners that connect to the poles for added stability. This is very handy for a quick midday lunch shade structure or for a fly-first setup for protection from sudden rain while you pitch the inner tent. Having a minimalist mode option with your freestanding tent is a huge plus and is very useful in many situations.

Should You Buy the Marmot Tungsten 2?

The Marmot Tungsten 2 is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, durable, and spacious shelter capable of providing excellent comfort and great storage capabilities. It is uniquely well-suited for folks who don’t plan on backpacking, but rather spending time at their favorite frontcountry campsites. The Tungsten 2 is a comfortable, simple to use home away from home for any outdoor adventure. At a very affordable price point, given all the great features of this shelter, the Tungsten 2 is well worth a look if you prioritize comfort, ease of use, and durability. 

However, if you’re more in the market for a lighter or larger shelter, the Tungsten 2 may not be your first pick. At just over 30 sq ft and made from 100% polyester, it’s not the best pick when it comes to interior space or weight savings compared to others. However, as mentioned before, the Marmot Tungsten does come in other sizes including 1-person, 3-person, and 4-person tent options for different capacity needs.   

What Other Budget Tents Should You Consider?

Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2 Review: With the largest interior space of the lineup, the Morrison EVO 2 is 6.9 pounds and 36 sq ft with an incredible amount of interior storage, including door stow pockets. It also includes a footprint and the option for a minimalist mode setup. This tent is a great option for those seeking similar weather resistance and durability as the Tungsten 2, but with  more interior room and unsurpassed storage capability.   

REI Half Dome SL2+ Review: Another great option to consider when looking for a dome style tent with ample interior space and vertical sidewalls is the popular REI Half Dome SL2+ model. This tent boasts a longer length, unified hubbed pole structure, and a lighter weight. Unlike the Tungsten 2, the Half Dome is on the higher end of the price spectrum in our lineup.

Clostnature Polaris 2 Review: At a less expensive price and weighing only 5.34 pounds, the Clostnature Polaris has a bigger interior square footage than the Tungsten 2. Users will appreciate the familiar and simple to use X-pole design and clip system. Although there is no ridge pole, the fly comes equipped with a deployable shade awning for those extra sunny campsites with no shade.