MEC Nunatak 3P

Just bought the Nunatak recently (within two months) and have already faced 80 mph winds, brutal rainstorms that turn quickly to ice, sleet, tons of snow and all in one 24-hour period to boot. This tent is as bombproof as a tent could be.

It was purchased solely for expeditions and has lived up to its name and dollar's worth of rip-stop. When the temperature drops to -18° the occupants don't complain...much (certainly, not about the tent anyway...).

If I have one grimace, it would be the weight, but I can't see where corners could be cut to save in that area. The bathtub floor is heavy duty as is the fly. The Easton poles are heavy duty as well and slide easily into the sleeve pockets without snagging. The vestibules are larger than most offered in other tents this size, making it handy for storing your dog at night (provided it isn't a St. Bernard or Great Dane...) or other gear.

I've used two candle lanterns together in this tent in the extreme cold and have noted how quickly it warms the room up. (Of course, use common sense when burning candles in your tent.) The pegs are the same mediocre set you get with most tents. I would recommend proper snowpegs or snow anchors with this model. The tent's profile is great for shedding snow, but the wind wants this baby to fly away. With lots of anchor points on the fly, you'll want to take advantage of them for gale force winds.

Bottom line, BUY THIS TENT if you want a dependable tent! Thank you for reading this book!

This tent is fantastic. Four poles (Easton alum). This tent really is bomb-proof.

Holds a ton of snow. First time I used it the tent was COVERED in snow overnight. Rain is no problem; I've used it in some wicked rainstorms, and stayed dry as a bone inside every time. You get a little condensation when it's hot, and when it's raining, but nothing to get excited about.

Two doors and two vestibules give you tons of room for your gear, and the forward vestibule has its own pole support, making it big enough to cook in (and dry off your boots). The fly can connect to the bottom of the poles, or velcro straps can hold it to the pole in bad winds. Six external guy points for REALLY bad wind.

I would buy this tent again in a second.