We count on a number of easy issues from our tents lately: a domed roof; two vestibules, two doorways and two vents for 2 folks; 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 way of a number of iterations of the REI Half Dome line, beginning with the very first in 1980, they had been uncommon—and infrequently revolutionary.
“Typically you create a brand new product in a class,” says David Mydans, a former REI senior product designer who formed the best way tents had been designed on the co-op for many years. “Typically 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 surprising snowstorms.
“The entire iterations have been in service of livability,” Mydans says. “We simply wish to assist folks get outdoors and to make it as great an expertise as we will 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 over the past decade, together with the 2025 updates: Half Dome 2, Half Dome 2 Plus and Half Dome 3. “It has an awesome 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 toes of inside quantity, the 2-person mannequin offers 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 hearth ring. On all 2025 variations, the full-coverage rainfly protects campers and their sleep techniques from windy and moist situations 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 massive, vertical, D-shaped doorways—offers 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 types 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 assume 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 could 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 a great tent at any worth, nevertheless it’s an unbelievable tent at this [$179] worth.”
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 house—not less than 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 possible 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 developments had been altering within the Nineteen Seventies, the most well-liked choices of that point remained pup tents, these doghouse-like A-frames with roots in army surplus, or wall tents sufficiently big to face inside. The previous was light-weight with cramped residing quarters, whereas the latter was spacious however cumbersome and heavy. Each used straight poles and tightly strung cords with waterproof material and weren’t the best to arrange.
Developments in versatile, lighter but nonetheless sturdy pole supplies utilizing fiberglass and aluminum extrusions made the dome silhouette potential. “This was an enormous step ahead in making a tent that was actually for anybody,” says Dunn. This was a tent designed for leisure, not army 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 would possibly have the ability to get pleasure from it as properly.”
The Mydans Contact
By the flip of the century, the Half Dome had change 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 right now.) Mydans, nonetheless, 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 obtained the inexperienced gentle to introduce two vestibules, two doorways, and two vents for 2 folks, he created a Half Dome mannequin in 2001 that was bigger than its predecessor with out compromising on weight (or worth, for that matter). “We had been being attentive to the house 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 at all times got here right down to livability.”
The optimistic reception from the outside neighborhood was large. 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, sturdy design and accessible worth make it everybody’s tent, nevertheless it’s the livability that makes it the straightforward selection for any tenting expertise.”
Backpackers and members, too, have raves and reminiscences 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 developed together with supplies expertise and outside developments. 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 exhibits if the poles are absolutely secured. The rainfly has been up to date with rugged 40-denier ripstop nylon with polyethylene coating, which presents additional sturdiness and safety. Colorways have ranged from daring teals, purples and a golden orange hue dubbed “lion” within the mid-2010s to right now’s extra pure palette—achieved partially by way 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 right now’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 associates) with the Half Dome 2 Plus and extra campers with a 3-person model. Most just lately, the whole Half Dome household launched a far-easier-to-pack top-loading stuff sack, primarily a duffel bag with a cinch-down string.
Hancock likens the Half Dome’s evolution by way of the work of product groups to the artistry of a bonsai tree, which is perhaps handed from gardener to gardener for tons of of years. “Every designer who has been charged with the duty of taking good care of the Half Dome 2 has finished so with the objective of preserving its magnificence and utility,” he says, “whereas additionally recognizing that the issues that we wish in a backpacking tent are going to alter as the best way we benefit from the open air adjustments.”
To find out when these tweaks are crucial and what they need to be, co-op designers flip to the final word advisors: its members. Why? Though the designers are gear wizards who personally spend a formidable variety of nights snoozing in tents, they wish to know the way members use their Half Domes and what may make the tent much more journey prepared. “Getting views from prospects,” Hancock says, “people who find themselves in numerous situations and have totally different wishes and calls for for the performance of their tent, is a vital factor.”
REI designers pore over buyer evaluations–taking each optimistic and detrimental feedback into consideration–and discuss instantly with customers. Questions posted to REI.com in regards to the merchandise present additional perception into wanted options, functionalities and instruction guide descriptions. So, in case you’ve ever questioned if it’s value 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 simple selection for outdoorspeople of every kind.
This spirit of collaboration over time, throughout designers and with member enter, has formed the Half Dome into what it’s right now. “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 at all times been about specializing in neighborhood wants that guarantee alternatives for everybody to spend time outdoors.”
What’s going to the Half Dome household seem like in one other 45 years? It’s exhausting to say. Possibly designers will make it even bigger however simply as light-weight. Or maybe they’ll use new materials that breathe higher whereas conserving the weather at bay. What we all know for certain? Similar to our members, the group at REI will proceed to not simply assume outdoors the field when iterating the Half Dome, they’ll adamantly, tenaciously assume outdoors.
From March 25 by way of April 30, REI will donate 20% of proceeds from Half Dome tent full-price gross sales to the Nationwide Parks Conservation Affiliation. Store the Half Dome 2, Half Dome 2 Plus or the Half Dome 3.
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