Keeps chugging

I bought my Timberline 2-person about 25 years ago and am only now considering replacing it because tents in general are so much lighter now (my old model weighs about 10 lbs). Aside from that, it's still going strong. I use it primarily with the fly on, as I hike in the White Mts (N.H.) where it's usually chilly at night even in the summer. I have no problems with condensation. I have used it about 20 nights all told in the Southwest, and had no problem with ventilation or over-heating - even with the fly on. I've camped for 5 straight days in Maryland where it rained hard every night and stayed dry. I've never winter camped, so I can't attest to that.

Mine has a full mesh door and full "solid door" at one end, which adds up to a lot of zipping and unzipping sometimes to get things just so, but it's worth it to be under the fly, but have a full open view out the front if you want. The back has a fixed mesh triangle at the top with a solid flap that zips over it. Unzip the flap to "open the window", unzip the apex of the front door w/ the fly covering and you have a nice little cross breeze up top. Like I said, a fair amount of zipping and unzipping, but I can get really comfortable in my Timberline, and have been for 25 years.

My zippers all still work, but yes, the bottom zippers (mesh and solid doors) do take a bit of a beating. But once again, there's a bright side, too. It's much easier to scoot in and out of the Timberline on your butt or knees compared to the "bathtub" design. Just put a ground cover under your tent (you should anyway) to protect those bottom zippers from the grit and grime.

This tent sets up faster than any tent I've ever seen - period. Truly, a monkey could do it. I recently went on a 4 day trip in the Grand Canyon (w/ the Field Institute - great org) with 5 other singles/couples with tents. They were nice tents, and set up fast, too, but the Timberline is just dead simple to erect. Another review mentions the "arrow" faintly marked on the little plastic junction tubes. Take a magic marker and color them in - they always go on the right.

Well, that's enough. If you are an intermediate to advanced backpacker without a ton of money to spend this is a durable, comfortable tent that will last for years.