3FUL Lanshan 2 Pro Tent Review

Bottom Line

For budget-minded backpackers or anyone interested in trying ultralight gear without spending a small fortune, the Lanshan 2 Pro is an excellent choice for an ultralight backpacking tent with minimal downsides. What stood out most to us during testing was how familiar the experience felt, even alongside more expensive models.

You don’t get a cramped interior, complicated pitching, or missing features. Instead, we found the interior to be quite comfortable, even for testers close to 6 feet tall. Additionally, the rest of the tent was mostly easy to use, pitching easily even on the first try. Which is more than can be said for many trekking pole shelters. 

The few corners cut for the sake of a low price include a questionable feeling silnylon. We haven’t subjected it to conditions strong enough to test the durability or longevity of this fabric to make a definitive assessment, so we’ll initially remain optimistic that 3FUL has moved on from their reputation for using low-quality materials.

The vents are also a bit oddly designed, featuring an enormous and cumbersome structure that we wish was simplified. The interior has only one pocket, and we found the door design slightly tricky to use at first before we got the hang of it.

Overall, the experience of using the Lanshan 2 Pro was refreshingly uneventful. Even as experienced backpackers accustomed to tents that cost three times as much, we would be happy to take this into the backcountry for a weekend or even a thru-hike (while keeping a careful eye on durability along the way).

Ultralight gear can be prohibitively expensive, and we appreciate gear that enables more people to enjoy the beautiful outdoors without burdening their wallets or backs. The Lanshan 2 Pro exemplifies this type of tent. Nothing else in the budget category comes close to the value or performance it provides.

Comfort

For two people, the Lanshan 2 Pro offers a solidly comfortable experience that should be acceptable for most people. The floor space is average for a two-person tent at 29 square feet; however, like many A-frame tents, the actual usable area is much less due to the sloping walls.

Nonetheless, we found sufficient space for two 3-season quilts on 2.5-inch sleeping pads side by side, without compromising headroom or allowing either footbox to get too close to the end wall. A downside of the limited floor space is the lack of room to store backpacks inside; they’ll fit at the foot end if you’re not too tall, but that’s not an ideal spot for them.

Thankfully, the vestibules are spacious for each person. A backpack and shoes fit easily and stay protected from the elements when both doors are zipped. When fully zipped, the vestibules reach close to the ground, preventing splashback and drafts, which we appreciate.

The zipper is a standard #3 coil covered by a flap, and the interior zipper is also size #3. The interior door design is interesting, featuring three separate pulls converging at the center bottom. In theory, this allows for using both doors or just one. Since the trekking pole is in the middle, we don’t expect to open both doors often.

The materials are worth mentioning since they feel somewhat different from other 20D silnylon we’ve encountered. To be fair, this is a budget tent, so we’re not expecting the highest quality fabrics. However, it still feels odd that the fabric has a somewhat cheap texture. Another drawback is the large and rather cumbersome vent designs. We appreciate having two large peak vents, but the stiff material used to hold the edge of the vent open is unwieldy and extremely frustrating when trying to roll the tent up after use without creasing it too much.

Additionally, the pocket options are disappointing. There’s only one pocket at one end, and it’s large enough for a single phone. Since both doors are designed to roll back, we understand why there aren’t any pockets on the vertical mesh here, but we’d gladly sacrifice one door for a functional pocket instead.

Weight

Finding a balance between weight and affordability is challenging, but we’re genuinely impressed with what the Lanshan 2 Pro achieves. Weighing in at 32.3 ounces on our scale, it remains on the lighter side compared to its pricier counterparts. When paired with the ample floor space, the weight becomes even more remarkable.

Since it is a 100% silnylon tent, it also rolls up relatively small; 3FUL rates it at 5.9 x 13.7 inches, and in our tests, that seems accurate. The cumbersome vent design hinders more casual rolling, but the included stuff sack features compression buckles, which is a nice touch for space-conscious individuals. 3FUL doesn’t sell vertical support poles if you don’t hike with trekking poles.

Ease of Use

Tents with an A-frame style have been around for years, and the Lanshan 2 Pro doesn’t deviate much from what has made them so popular and easy to use. The four corner stakes and two for the door were easy to set up, allowing us to achieve a perfect pitch on the first try.

However, the cords connecting the two doors to the peak vent guyline can be a bit tricky to manage properly. They attach using a ram’s horn-shaped hardware piece that connects to cord loops near the ends of the zippers on the doors, but it doesn’t seem designed for convenient on-and-off use. We only connected one door this way and relied on the zipper to secure the other door, a method used by many other tents, so we’re not concerned about its strength.

Aside from the tricky door setup, the rest of the tent is straightforward. A surprising aspect that impressed us during testing was the fantastic included stakes. They take on a slightly spiraled Y shape like other designs, but after hammering them into somewhat frozen ground, we were impressed with their strength, as some other stakes we tested had bent under the same treatment.

Weather Resistance

With a low rainfly and solid attachment points, we’re confident that the Lanshan 2 Pro can withstand moderate storms without any issues. Although we’ve yet to test it in truly windy conditions, all the fundamentals of good storm-worthy design are present. These include reinforced panel pulls on the large head and foot sections, as well as attachment points at the peaks for additional guy lines that significantly help resist gusts.

Our biggest concern with a budget tent like this is the stitching quality holding up under repeated gusts. Unfortunately, 3FUL doesn’t seam seal tents from the factory by default. They offer the service for $35, or you can do it yourself. Like all silnylon tents, the fabric will sag when wet, but usually adjusting the tension of the trekking poles helps mitigate the issue.

It is important to note that A-frame style tents like this one are not the best design for enduring severe storms due to the large fabric panels that act like sails to catch the wind. While panel pulls do help, for anyone after serious weather resistance, a pyramid design is preferable, or a design that breaks up the fabric panels at different angles to reduce wind catch. This doesn’t imply that the Lanshan 2 Pro would perform poorly in regular weather; rather, it simply indicates that it may not be the top choice for extreme weather resistance.

Durability

The 20D silnylon and reinforced patches give us confidence that 3FUL is improving its tent designs regarding durability. In years past, 3FUL had a reputation for using lower-quality fabrics, but it seems they have made changes since then to address these issues. The fabric on this version of the Lanshan 2 Pro is a different type than that used in their original Lanshan back in 2013.

Long-term testing will determine if they have done enough here. It’s also encouraging to see reports that they will be moving to a 20D silpoly, which should hopefully perform even better. Our initial limited testing wasn’t sufficient to determine real-world durability concerns, but we will update this review with findings as we continue to test.

Should You Buy the Lanshan 2 Pro Tent?

If you’re in the market for an ultralight two-person backpacking tent but feel intimidated by the astronomical prices, the Lanshan 2 Pro is a clear choice for quality on a budget. There’s nothing quite like it when you consider price, weight, and performance if your top priority is affordability. We have some concerns about its long-term durability because we haven’t tested it for months of heavy use, but what we’ve seen so far is encouraging.

Budget tent buyers are often inexperienced or looking to purchase their first tent, and for these individuals, a trekking pole style tent may not be the best choice. While we believe they’re easy to set up with practice and just as durable in storms as freestanding tents, we understand that for those new to the hobby, it might be difficult to embrace something so different in shape from a traditional pole tent. For those individuals, we offer excellent options in our guide to traditional backpacking tents.

What Other Ultralight Tents Should You Consider?

If the Lanshan 2 Pro Tent isn’t the perfect fit, our best ultralight tents guide has many other options.

Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ Review: If the Lanshan appeals due to its low weight but you aren’t particularly budget-conscious, then in the realm of premium ultralight tents, we recommend the X-Mid Pro 2+. It’s spacious, durable, stormworthy, and surprisingly not the most expensive option available, given its top-tier performance. Among all the tents we tested, this is the one we’d be most eager to take into the backcountry and should serve as a great investment for years to come.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Review: If you appreciate the concept of a budget tent but seek something lighter for solo trips, the Lunar Solo is legendary among backpackers for good reason. We loved its spacious floor area, durable materials, and impressive design, which make it a top choice for long-distance hikes or casual adventures.

MSR FreeLite 2 Review: If a traditional pole tent has captured your heart, the FreeLite 2 is our favorite semi-freestanding design. With an excellent balance of low weight and livability, it may not be as spacious for two people at head height as the Lanshan 2 Pro, but for some hikers, not relying on trekking poles is essential.