Technical Information

A Warmlite tent starts out light and stays light. You won’t be carrying several extra pounds of condensation or rain soaked inner tent, like the typical porous tent with fly.

The standard of performance in severe weather use, Warmlite® tents are the warmest, lightest, easiest to assemble, and most versatile in the world. Exceptional dependability, ease of use, and light weight along with options not found in other tents has made them the first choice of experienced backpackers, expedition members and canoe, bicycle, or airplane campers since 1964.

Warmlite® tents have been proven in the most extreme conditions throughout the world. The shapes have been copied, but performance never equaled. We’ve made many important improvements since 1964, but even our early Warmlite® tents had many of the following unique advantages over others:

Elliptical ARC Shape for wind stability, strength, quietness, headroom and space. This shape gives stable air flow and the lowest wind loads while diminishing stress on materials, flapping, noise and failure common in other tents and designs. No need for many annoying staked out lines and their stress points. Conical ends form built-in “vestibules” for cooking and gear storage, and uniformly distribute loads from stakes, directed for best holding power. Well placed pockets aid gear storage and organization.

Most Room for sitting and working with good headroom. 60″ width (89″ in Model 5). Two people can sit side by side in front half of Model 2 or anywhere in 3, or 4 across in Model 5. Floor shape gives best fit for sleeping bags and gear.
“Vestibules” for gear and cooking are standard, not an expensive extra weight option, and are floored to keep gear clean and dry for a stable, easily cleaned cooking space. Model 2 tents have vestibule at front, others at each end.

Fast, EASY Set Up. Two permanently curved poles slip easily into full-length sleeves. Setup is quick and simple even during fierce winds when other tents can’t be setup. Only three stakes are needed to hold a Model 2, four for Model 3 or Model 5. “Free standing” domes need stakes at each pole end for any wind resistance. Imagine trying to get poles in or fly on to a partially erected dome in the rain with strong winds whipping it about! When you are tired and short on air in a wild storm, you need the simplicity of a Warmlite tent!

High Wind Durability: Designed for smooth airflow in high wind, Warmlite tents resist 95 mph winds or, with optional inside wind stabilizers up to 160 mph. This is very important for safety in severe storms. (Most other tents fail in wind under 60 mph. Many tents fail in winds under 60 mph, some deform or fail in winds under 40 mph.

EASY TENSION ADJUSTMENTS, from INSIDE for tight wind-stable tent without leaving your warm, snug bed.

STRONGEST POLES – Our 7178T6 poles are much stronger than those in many other tents, not only do we use the highest strength aluminum alloy to build the poles, but they are also pre-curved to shape to allow the poles to hold the highest loads and not waste their strength on being bent into a curved shape when placed into the tent pole sleeve. This material and shape allow the pole and tent to hold its shape and stability in any wind. Our poles resist 20 times more force than thin flex-to-shape poles used in most other tents, these poles use 80% of their strength just flexing to shape. Warmlite® poles need no load sacrificing flexing and are stronger and stiffer to begin with.

ADJUSTABLE VENT SYSTEM for full control of warmth and humidity. High vents let out humid air while Low vents let in heavier dry air. This “chimney effect” assures excellent venting even in still air, when other vent schemes fail. Upper vents have zippered inside covers for easy incremental control of venting. Lower vents can be closed against excessive wind or dust, but open when winds die, always providing safe ventilation.
Optional windows on each side open from inside (once the outer cover is raised) for views and cooling. Open them any amount, in any location, or close as tight as if they weren’t there. They have no effect on storm resistance when closed.

DRY AND WARM: Double walls, silicone coated fabric and sealed seams provide full rain protection, best warmth, and least condensation. The inner wall is kept warmer by an insulating air gap between walls. The tent stays dry inside; warmth of inner wall eliminates the miserable condensation so common in other tents, and aids differential height chimney venting. Warm, humid, lighter air rises up and out the top vents, while fresh, dry air is drawn in through the lower vents.
Sealed one-piece construction. No loose fly to get heavy with condensation, soak the inner tent, or let the inner wall soak up rain during setup or take down, the worst problem of old style tents. Tradition isn’t good when it leaves you wet.

LIGHTEST Weight: The lightest yet strongest tents in the world. Only 1 to 1 and 1/2 pounds per person.
Weight may vary due to coating thickness (seldom over 2 oz) or by seam sealing efficiency.

2X = 2.33 lb     3X = 3.25 lb     5X = 4.7 lb     2R = 2.75 lb      3R = 3.75 lb     5R = 5.6 lb