1. Loads of space for little weight: Thanks to a three-pole, cantilevered design, the Emerald Mountain is packed with features—two doors, a massive vestibule, a six-pocket gear loft, and a respectable 29 square feet of interior space—but still weighs just a few stakes
over four pounds.
2. What really sets this tent apart is an optional vestibule that provides more shelter—for cooking, dogs, excess gear, or an extra buddy or three. Simply zip off the standard vestibule (already generous) and zip on the pole-supported version ($129, 14 ounces). At 27 square feet, it’s nearly as big as the tent itself.
3. Setup is a snap. Shake out the one main, double-hubbed pole and you’re halfway there. Attaching the body is just as easy, thanks to the remarkably user-friendly pole clips. Not only are these clips lighter than standard, but their ergonomic design beats all others in the easy-on, easy-off department.
4. Anodizing aluminum tent poles (to make them stronger) is an inherently toxic process. But Korean pole maker DAC has figured out a way to do it that uses just a fraction of the polluting chemical products, and the Emerald Mountain is one of a handful of tents on the market that use the new poles.
5. Thanks to its 100 percent mesh canopy, two doors, and two overhead vents, we never experienced any condensation. And it’s plenty stable for a three-season shelter; it had no problem weathering high winds and a few inches of snow in New Mexico’s Pecos Wilderness. Bonus: It comes in a three-person version too.
4.2 lbs; bigagnes.com