For the backpacker that counts every ounce on every piece of gear while backpacking, finding the right tent that can balance weight, function, and space is not always a simple task. Some tents either offer a lot of room, but are too heavy, some are super lightweight, but they feel like the big bad wolf could blow their tent down. The Marmot Eclipse 2P is a 4 pound tent that blends lightweight with durability, and depending on your size, this tent could be just right or a tad small.
The Marmot Eclipse 2p weighs in at 4 lbs. for the whole package and 3 lbs. 8 oz. for trail weight. When it comes to backpacking tents, this is definitely on the lower end for weight which is one of the reasons this tent cost a little more than the average tent. The Marmot Eclipse 2p tent comes with 2 DAC pole systems. The main pole system runs down the center of the tent and has two connection points at the back of the tent. There is also a cross bar pole that is used to spread the tent out allowing for additional headroom. The other pole sits at the front of the tent and connects to the main pole system. The actual structure of the tent is very good and performs well in both windy and rainy conditions, meaning it doesn’t sway from side to side a lot.
To cut down on weight, Marmot decided to make this a one vestibule tent. While I prefer two vestibules on a tent, I can understand the reducing the number of vestibules to one to save on weight. The shape of the tent is almost tube like and instead of having a vestibule on the side of the tent, it’s located at the front, or end of the tube if you will.
Space inside the Marmot Eclipse 2p tent
For two people backpacking, the Marmot Eclipse 2p works well for those who generally don’t take up a lot of room in a tent. At 6’0″ tall with my camping partner wife at 5’9″, it can be a tight squeeze once you add in our packs. We also have 2 larger dogs, Airedale terriers, and they just don’t fit in the Marmot Eclipse 2p tent with us in it. If you have a larger dog or dogs, I suggest moving up to the 3p tent. Along with the smaller space also comes a lower ceiling in the tent. I found at 6’0″, my head pretty much hits the ceiling when sitting up anywhere in the tent. For shorter people, this will not be as much as a problem.
Marmot Eclipse 2p without fly
For sleeping pads, you will need a mummy shaped sleeping pad or one that doesn’t take up a lot of room. This goes along with the idea of saving weight while backpacking. The larger luxury sleeping pads such as the Thermarest Anteres 20 or Exped Downmat XP 9 just won’t fit if you have two people sleeping in the tent. However, they would fit great if you had just one person. The total square feet of floor space is 28 sq ft.
Rain Fly
Eclipse 2p Rain Fly
The rain fly on the Marmot Eclipse 2p tent is seem sealed and keeps the rain from entering your tent when place on the body appropriately. The rain fly itself is two toned with one color being a bright orange and the other color is a muted off-white color with the Marmot logo. I personally like the look of this rain fly as the bright orange pops and allows you to find your tent easily.
Other features
Eclipse 2p Pocket
As the rain fly is seam sealed, so to is the tent floor. This is nice in case the ground beneath the tent becomes saturated because you won’t get water seeping in through the seems of the tent floor. There are 7 tent stakes that come with this tent and while they are not high end stakes, they do the job. For storing small items like phones, camera’s, keys, etc., there is a small pocket on the inside of the tent wall. For a little airflow through the tent without opening the vestibule, the designers at Marmot added a neat little feature where you can open a little flap on the rain fly and use a small stand to keep it open.
Eclipse Air Vent
Final thoughts
The Marmot Eclipse 2 is made for a specific purpose and when making a decision to purchase, you need to keep this in mind. The purpose of this tent is for ultralight backpacking and this tent fits the bill to a T when it comes to that category. While I am happy to carry a little more weight on my back while in the backcountry for a little extra room and this tent is not best suited for me, it is great for the backpacker who likes to travel light. For more information on the Eclipse 2p Tent and other Marmot gear, please visit www.marmot.com or www.amazon.com/marmot.
