We count on a couple of easy issues from our tents lately: a domed roof; two vestibules, two doorways and two vents for 2 individuals; poles that information you thru straightforward setup with out the necessity for a physics diploma. However when these configurations hit the market through the years by means of a number of iterations of the REI Half Dome line, beginning with the very first in 1980, they had been uncommon—and sometimes revolutionary.
“Generally you create a brand new product in a class,” says David Mydans, a former REI senior product designer who formed the way in which tents had been designed on the co-op for many years. “Generally you simply change the class itself.”
This yr marks the forty fifth anniversary of the primary Half Dome, which is a formidable (mile) marker in itself. So, too, is the tent’s stake in placing REI on the map as one of many innovators in designing, and never simply promoting, gear. However all that’s simply the icing on our s’extra. We’re elevating our YETI Ramblers to the numerous memorable nights within the backcountry that the Half Dome has facilitated, from tenting with the grandkids to weathering sudden snowstorms.
“The entire iterations have been in service of livability,” Mydans says. “We simply need to assist individuals get outdoors and to make it as great an expertise as we are able to for them, so that they do it extra.”
What’s the key behind the Half Dome’s longevity? “It’s a Goldilocks,” says REI Co-op senior design engineer Shon Hancock. He labored on a number of iterations during the last decade, together with the 2025 updates: Half Dome 2, Half Dome 2 Plus and Half Dome 3. “It has an ideal utility throughout a broad vary of tenting pursuits.”
That versatility is as a result of the Half Dome tent balances need-to-have sturdiness and comfort with nice-to-have options and creature consolation. With roughly 71 cubic ft of inside quantity, the 2-person mannequin supplies a spacious haven—anticipated for automotive tenting, luxurious for backpacking. On the flip aspect, its modest 4-pound, 10.3-ounce (minimal path) weight fits these carrying it over lengthy trails and delights these toting it from their SUV to the fireplace ring. On all 2025 variations, the full-coverage rainfly protects campers and their sleep programs from windy and moist circumstances and rolls again for stargazing and ample air flow. Setup is even breezier with color-coded poles and an up to date hub design. And naturally, the Half Dome’s signature attribute—two giant, vertical, D-shaped doorways—supplies bunkmates with their very own entrance door and vestibule.
“When somebody comes into REI and says, ‘Hey, I need a actually good tent to make use of for all kinds of issues, particularly backpacking,’” Hancock says, “the Half Dome 2 is a no brainer.”
It’s not simply the (admittedly biased) co-op designers who suppose so. “If we had been to advocate a single tent for year-round tenting in virtually each local weather,” Backpacker wrote in 2002 upon bestowing the tent with an Editors’ Alternative Award, “this may be it.” Eight years later, Outdoors Journal echoed that approval with a Gear of the Yr Award for the 2010 Half Dome 2 mannequin, including, “It’d be tent at any value, but it surely’s an unbelievable tent at this [$179] value.”
A Historical past of Tent-Making
The legacy of tent-making at REI goes again so far as 1938, when co-founder Mary Anderson hand-sewed tents for members in her Seattle residence—a minimum of when she wasn’t scaling mountains or creating the co-op’s mail-order enterprise. REI historian Will Dunn says these early tents had been seemingly two or three easy pup tent designs from patterns.
The primary iteration of the Half Dome didn’t hit the market till the spring of 1980. Although the two-person tent had just one door and a window, members knew it was one thing particular. That’s as a result of the Half Dome numbered among the many first tent fashions to undertake a curved roof structure.
Although tent design tendencies had been altering within the Seventies, the most well-liked choices of that point remained pup tents, these doghouse-like A-frames with roots in navy surplus, or wall tents sufficiently big to face inside. The previous was light-weight with cramped dwelling quarters, whereas the latter was spacious however cumbersome and heavy. Each used straight poles and tightly strung cords with waterproof cloth and weren’t the only to arrange.
Developments in versatile, lighter but nonetheless sturdy pole supplies utilizing fiberglass and aluminum extrusions made the dome silhouette attainable. “This was a giant step ahead in making a tent that was actually for anybody,” says Dunn. This was a tent designed for leisure, not navy or survival, makes use of. With the Half Dome, “we had been focusing our power on ensuring that if you went outdoors, you weren’t solely going to outlive it; you may have the ability to take pleasure in it as properly.”
The Mydans Contact
By the flip of the century, the Half Dome had turn into one of many best-selling merchandise within the co-op’s lineup. (The Half Dome 2 and Half Dome 3 stay the No. 1 promoting tent at REI immediately.) Mydans, nevertheless, utilized experience earned over many years of stitching his personal tents (beginning as a young person) and numerous nights tenting to make the Half Dome even higher. When he acquired the inexperienced gentle to introduce two vestibules, two doorways, and two vents for 2 individuals, he created a Half Dome mannequin in 2001 that was bigger than its predecessor with out compromising on weight (or value, for that matter). “We had been taking note of the area within the tent, the breathability of the tent, the air flow of the tent and the doorways and comfort of the tent,” Mydans says. “It all the time got here all the way down to livability.”
The optimistic reception from the outside neighborhood was great. There was that Backpacker Editors’ Alternative Award for The Half Dome 2 in 2002 (after testers skilled the tent’s competence in a shock mountain tempest). Different awards adopted, together with recognition within the Backpacker Gear Corridor of Fame as an all-time favourite. “The short and enduring embrace of the Half Dome 2 isn’t only one factor,” Dunn says. “Its intuitive, strong design and accessible value make it everybody’s tent, but it surely’s the livability that makes it the simple alternative for any tenting expertise.”
Backpackers and members, too, have raves and recollections of their very own. REI Co-op Member Cyndi Gyugyi first purchased her Half Dome in 2005 for her son’s highschool backpacking journey to Kings Canyon Nationwide Park. One other son later used it for Boy Scout tenting journeys. “It has weathered rain, snow and scorching warmth through the years,” she shares, “and it’s nonetheless in service and awaiting its subsequent journey!”
From Then to Now
Over the many years, the Half Dome has advanced together with supplies know-how and outside tendencies. The poles are actually made with light-weight 7000-series aluminum. They characteristic HubCheck
, a quartet of small home windows within the pole hub that reveals if the poles are totally secured. The rainfly has been up to date with rugged 40-denier ripstop nylon with polyethylene coating, which presents further sturdiness and safety. Colorways have ranged from daring teals, purples and a golden orange hue dubbed “lion” within the mid-2010s to immediately’s extra pure palette—achieved partly by means of a water-saving solution-dying course of–of stone inexperienced, earthen grey and golden sulphur.
The tent’s pocket sizes, location and supplies have modified, too, to suit the wants of immediately’s backpackers and the tech they bring about alongside. In the meantime, the ground dimensions have expanded (with out including vital weight) to accommodate wider sleeping pads (or furry buddies) with the Half Dome 2 Plus and extra campers with a 3-person model. Most lately, all the Half Dome household launched a far-easier-to-pack top-loading stuff sack, basically a duffel bag with a cinch-down string.
Hancock likens the Half Dome’s evolution by means of the work of product groups to the artistry of a bonsai tree, which is likely to be handed from gardener to gardener for a whole bunch of years. “Every designer who has been charged with the duty of taking good care of the Half Dome 2 has carried out so with the purpose of preserving its magnificence and utility,” he says, “whereas additionally recognizing that the issues that we wish in a backpacking tent are going to vary as the way in which we benefit from the outdoor adjustments.”
To find out when these tweaks are mandatory and what they need to be, co-op designers flip to the last word advisors: its members. Why? Though the designers are gear wizards who personally spend a formidable variety of nights snoozing in tents, they need to know the way members use their Half Domes and what may make the tent much more journey prepared. “Getting views from clients,” Hancock says, “people who find themselves in numerous circumstances and have totally different needs and calls for for the performance of their tent, is a crucial factor.”
REI designers pore over buyer opinions–taking each optimistic and unfavourable feedback into consideration–and speak instantly with buyers. Questions posted to REI.com in regards to the merchandise present additional perception into wanted options, functionalities and instruction guide descriptions. So, if you happen to’ve ever puzzled if it’s price taking the time to share your suggestions on a product, the reply is “sure.” That suggestions is what has stored the Half Dome line a straightforward alternative for outdoorspeople of all types.
This spirit of collaboration over time, throughout designers and with member enter, has formed the Half Dome into what it’s immediately. “The Half Dome household actually will get at one thing that has been core to REI since we based in 1938,” Dunn says. “It’s all the time been about specializing in neighborhood wants that guarantee alternatives for everybody to spend time outdoors.”
What is going to the Half Dome household appear like in one other 45 years? It’s onerous to say. Perhaps designers will make it even bigger however simply as light-weight. Or maybe they’ll use new materials that breathe higher whereas protecting the weather at bay. What we all know for positive? Identical to our members, the crew at REI will proceed to not simply suppose outdoors the field when iterating the Half Dome, they’ll adamantly, tenaciously suppose outdoors.
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