Review of Mountain Hardware Trango 2 Tents
People looking for a four-season tent expect a
different class of durability and comfort from that offered by typical
three-season tents, as the harsher conditions really emphasize the
difference between a good tent and one that is less than adequate.
Mountain Hardwear was mindful of this distinction when it designed
the Trango 2, a formidable four-season tent built to cater to the various
needs and concerns of the stalwart mountain expedition member.
A staple of the Everest-conquering class for years, the Trango 2 is a
hardy shelter made from sturdy yet lightweight materials, such as its Atlas
Scandium XL poles, which are serviceable on the field without tools,
shockcorded together for assembly convenience, and provide a very strong
foundation for the tent against adverse weather.
The fabric is made of nylon taffeta and kit mesh, both of which are
treated for waterproofing and resistant to ripping and tearing.
The Trango 2 also sports a large vestibule area for the storage of
equipment, and a rip-proof film window that allows you to take a look
outside in blizzards or storms to determine when it is safe to leave the
tent. You don’t need to worry
about being trapped in the tent, either, if one of the ends is buried in
snow, as the Trango 2 comes with multiple points of egress, including two
doors and additional entry points in the vestibule.
The doors can be tied back along with the screens for varying
temperatures and airflow considerations, although the ties themselves could
have been made easier to use for people with gloves.
The vestibule can double as a cooking area in more demanding snowy
conditions.
The tent itself is rather simple to set up, with the
tent body and rain fly taking only 5 minutes to get ready, and the rest of
the tent structure up and hammered down in 20.
The tent fits two persons of above-average height comfortably, and
has plenty of pockets inside to hold all sorts of gear and personal items
for easy access. There is also
an inside vent on the ceiling of the tent, good both for airflow and to
watch the weather. The tent
itself stays very warm in chilly temperatures, maintaining a 55 degree
Fahrenheit interior while the temperature drops to 15 degrees Fahrenheit
outside, and able to stay at around 30 degrees Fahrenheit inside when the
temperature outside falls 10 degrees or more below zero.
A couple of customers have complained that the Trango 2
does not hold up as well as they would have wanted in steady winds blowing
at about 40 to 70 mph, with the rain fly tearing and the poles bending after
being beaten around this drastically.
Another problem that many purchasers have observed is the Trango 2’s
difficulty with condensation.
The last thing any tent inhabitant wants is water dripping from all around
the tent and onto their gear and bodies, so this may actually dissuade many
people from buying the tent.
Condensation problems aside, though, there is much acclaim for the Trango 2,
and the many advantages its provides to the avid adventurer.
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