Olivia SanchezAt last count, more than 77 million Americans spent at least a little bit of time camping last year – and this number continues to grow and grow annually. It sure feels like Americans are interested in getting outdoors more than ever before. Some of this definitely has to do with the fact that we lead increasingly sedentary and indoor lifestyles and have lost a little bit of the energy spending time outside brings to the table for sure.
At the same time, there are a lot of folks that would love nothing more than to spend time outdoors but aren’t sure of where to get started when it comes to a gear standpoint. With so many different options out there to pick and choose from – including a whole host of choices from a company like Marmot – finding the right camping tent (let alone everything else) can feel like a real uphill battle.
But that’s why we’ve put together this quick guide.
Below we break down the major differences between the Marmot Limelight and the Marmot elephant, two of the very best lightweight, portable, and reliable tent options you’ll find on the market today.
While we feel like you really can’t go wrong with either of these options we do highlight where these two choices differ and which one might be best suited to your needs and your budget.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Marmot Limelight Review
The Marmot Limelight 2P is a two-person igloo-shaped tent that has a D-shaped entrance. The design is spacious enough to allow exit and entry without disturbing people inside the tent and avoid tripping over on your stuff. The vestibule will keep your wet gears outside to dry and also to put your muddy stuff before getting into your clean tent.
The brand is known for selling the best tents in the market at the right price.
The tent weighs about five lbs. It is easy to set up, which is important if you backpack a lot. It comes in two color choices: cinder, and crocodile. The tent comes with a pre-bent pole, thus providing a vertical wall for extra space and additional headroom. It has excellent water-proofing, so do not worry about leaks and condensation getting inside of the tent.
During the hot season, the mesh keeps the air flowing and keeping insects out. The tent is UV resistant and with the right tightness, it can endure high winds. The package includes a carry bag, guy wires, groundsheets, and tent pegs.
Pros
- It is easy and quick to set up. You can set it up in under 10 minutes. It has no complex parts and methods. It is also easy to fold it back for storage.
- The price is very affordable for the quality. The Marmot Limelight 2P has a lot of features compared to other tents for its value. The package comes with a carry bag, guy wires, groundsheets, and tent pegs for just under $300.
- The package comes with a footprint and is made of high-quality materials. You get good features without shelling out extra money, saving you a lot of money.
- The tent is sturdy enough to withstand strong winds. It can handle 20 -30 mph winds.
- The tent comes from a reputable brand. The company is known for manufacturing high-quality tents, gears for camping, mountaineering, and trekking. You do not have to worry about replacing your tent every few years.
Cons
- It is not an ultra-light tent. If weight is a major consideration for you, then you might want to look at the lightest tent available on the market.
- The tent is small for two average-sized guys. You might find it hard to move when you have to climb over the other to go out of the tent.
- This tent is for a two-season mountain tent. If you love to camp during the sub-freezing season, the Marmot Limelight 2P is not for you.
Reasons To Buy the Marmot Limelight
Fun Outdoor Quiz
A fan favorite for those that like to spend time out in the woods without bringing a lot of stuff with them, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the Marmot Limelight would be considered one of the best backpacking tent options money can buy.
Offering more than 30 ft.² of space, this is a two-person style tent that lids a lot larger than it actually is thanks to the way it’s been configured. This is a design that really emphasizes headroom and internal space without taking up a lot of forest real estate at the same time.
The door style on the Marmot Limelight is a D shape style set up that allows you to enjoy everything that Mother Nature has to offer as far as visuals are concerned without ever feeling like you are constricted inside of the tent. You definitely won’t feel like the walls are closing in on you, that’s for sure.
While the setup is certainly intended for use with two adults it can feel like a very luxurious option when you are backpacking or camping alone. That’s one of the reasons why so many different outdoor resources online consider this one of the best camping gifts you can give someone close to you.
Marmot Tungsten 2P Review
The vast choices of the tent in the market can be tricky when it comes to buying one. To narrow down your choices, you must first know what type of tent you are looking for. The most important thing to consider is the weather condition and how many people will fit in the tent. Shape, color, weight, and price are some of the things to think about before finalizing your thoughts.
Marmot Tungsten 2P is a freestanding and lightweight tent that is a good choice for two persons. The design maximizes the tent’s space. The clip placement gives more interior volume that makes it a more livable space. The tent is approximately 32 square feet of floor space. It has two easily accessed D-shaped exits or entrance way located at the sides.
The front has a vestibule that will protect the outer storage space approximately 9.8 square feet and a small vestibule over the other door to store gear and camping stuff at approximately 7.8 square feet. The lampshade pocket is also a plus, where you can put a flashlight to provide good interior lighting.
The Marmot Tungsten 2P has pre-bent “knees” in its HD Velocity 7000 Series aluminum poles. It pules the tent sides taut to maximize the unusable corners that can be found inside of the tent. The clips are color-coded for easy identification. The tent can be attached quickly and easily to the poles and creates a free-standing design. The extensive mesh on the walls and the ceiling provide good ventilation and keep a little condensation.
The tent comes with a weatherproof rain fly. The floor is sealed and the catenary cut of the floor secures the corners of the tent from the ground in the wet season. The best thing about this tent is that it has a free footprint (that on average costs about 20 dollars). The tent also comes in different color options.
Pros
- It comes with a free footprint. The average cost of a footprint is around 20 dollars. You don’t have to worry about spending extra for a footprint.
- The tent is easy to set up. The tent does not require a complicated setup procedure. It will only take 10 minutes for one person to build.
- It has two doors for easy exit and entrance access.
- The clips are color-coded for easy identification.
- The vestibule can fit big gears and camping stuff.
- Marmot is known for manufacturing high-quality brand of tents. This tent is tough and durable. You don’t have to worry about replacing it after only a few years.
Cons
- This is not an ultra-light tent. If weight matters to you, this tent is not for you.
- During the wet season, the hooks that secure the rain fly tend to slip when setting up.
- The shape of the tent can cause difficulty in dismantling the tent.
- The design of the tent’s zipper allows insects to enter the tent.
Reasons To Buy the Marmot Tungsten
Differing quite a bit from the Marmot Limelight, the Marmot Tungsten may be advertised as a two-person tent but is instead a family size/family style camping tent that can accommodate three or four (and pets) without a lot of headache or hassle whatsoever.
Outside Magazine called this tent “the best camping tent for families” and a lot of that has to do with the extra inside real estate it offers, even though it packs down to a ridiculously compact form factor without a lot of weight added to your gear, either.
You’re going to find it has a little bit of extra room compared to the Marmot Limelight without any extra issue in set up time or layout. This is a big bonus for those that want a lot of extra space while they are out camping as well as for those that are going to be sleeping two or three people to a tent (or more).
There’s 32 ft.² of interior space in the Tungsten (slightly larger than the 30 ft.² of the Limelight) but because of the shape of the walls and the dome of this tent it feels even larger than that.
Build Quality
Both of these options have top-tier build quality across the board which is exactly what you expect from a Marmot camping tent to begin with. They include puncture resistant materials, water resistant seems, and rain/wind shields that can be attached to the roof and walls of your tent with no headache or hassle.
Both of them feature the top-tier warranty that Marmot protects almost all of its products with, giving you a lot of after purchase confidence to know that your purchase will be supported (as well as repaired or replaced) for quite a while no matter how many adventures you get under your belt.
Set Up
Set up is pretty simple and straightforward with both the Limelight and the Tungsten as well.
Some find that the Limelight is a little bit easier to set up because of its design and its overall configuration, but it’s not like you are going to be spending a half-hour or more longer setting up the Tungsten, either.
Both of these camping tent utilize an external support structure system made up of three different DAC Press Fit aluminum poles. This makes these tent 100% freestanding, but it also gives you the utmost interior space possible so that you don’t have to worry about feeling constrained.
Which One Should I Buy?
That depends entirely upon what kind of camper you are. Are you looking for a light and easy option, or would you rather spend a little bit more money and enjoy the luxury of being able to pitch a larger tent?
There isn’t necessarily a wrong answer here, both types of tents offer different benefits depending on who you are and what type of camping trip you’re going on.
However, if you’re trying to decide between the two, we think that the Marmot Limelight is the best overall value. This particular model offers a ton of versatility, including a full-length vestibule area, a spacious interior space, and a comfortable sleeping loft.
FAQs
What Makes Marmot Tents Unique?
The most unique thing about Marmot tents is their ability to provide such high levels of comfort without sacrificing any amount of weight. The reason why we say “without sacrificing” is because when you look at other brands on the market today, they tend to sacrifice one aspect of comfort over another. For example, some companies may make their tents lighter by using thinner fabrics, others might use less durable materials, and still others may choose to cut corners on features like ventilation.
Are Marmot Tents Any Good?
Yes! In fact, Marmot has been making great outdoor gear since 1892, which means that they’ve got plenty of experience producing reliable equipment. Their tents are built tough enough to withstand just about anything Mother Nature throws at them, and they’re backed by warranty that covers everything except normal wear and tear. If you buy a Marmot tent, you won’t need to worry about having to replace it within 10 years.
Are Marmot Tents Waterproof?
Absolutely! The tents come equipped with rainfly that keep water out while allowing air flow through. They even include a special cover for the entrance door if you’d prefer to seal yourself inside instead of letting the elements in. You will definitely notice how much better your sleep feels after getting into bed and pulling the rain fly closed around you.
How Do I Know What Size Marmot Tent to Order?
If you plan on purchasing more than one tent, then you should probably consider buying multiple sizes. That way, you can always pick the right sized tent based on where you’re planning on pitching it. We recommend starting with an 8′ x 12′ tent as a base model, and adding additional models as needed.
This allows you to have room for everyone to stretch out comfortably, but also gives you flexibility so that you don’t end up with too many large pieces of furniture cluttering up your campsite.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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