Marmot Limelight 2P

Active Junky Badass Gear Winner

Sturdy enough even to withstand powerful winds but compact for travel, this Marmot model was our team’s favorite during recent desert exploits.

Field Notes: Given the tent’s weight, our testing team used the Limelight mainly when car camping in the high desert. Still, we pitched it in ruthless winds and it rapidly became our team’s favorite car camping tent. 

Pros: When compared to its competitors, one of Limelight’s main draws is the price. The Limelight was the sturdiest of the sub-$300 tents, thanks to heavier but reliable DAC aluminum poles. Testers gave the Marmot tent fabric top marks in the durability category, too, as the fly repelled jagged rock and thorny brush as though they were gentle raindrops. Internal organizer pockets and floor space were rivaled only by the Kelty Trail Ridge 2, but the Marmot weighs less.

Cons: Setting up the Limelight was easy enough, although the oddly-bent, crisscrossing poles take practice. They also don’t pack tightly as they’re quite curved on the ends. In total, the main concern is the tent’s bulk. 

Favorite Feature: The doors are beyond awesome. Almost 360-degrees around, the doors are enormous and easy to use—a great feature for those who pop in and out of the tent frequently. 

Tester Quote: “My favorite car camping tent, by far. Plenty of space, quiet in the wind, and the door design is a thing of beauty.”

Bottom Line: Heavy for a backpacking tent, upgrade to the REI Quarter Dome 2 to cut weight and stay in this price range. If you’re mainly a car camper, this 2-person tent is spacious, strong, waterproof and user-friendly.