Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 4-Season Tent Review

Bottom Line

The Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 is a great value option in the four-season tent category. It is not only budget-friendly but also well-made. This tent stands out because of its spacious interior, two large vestibules for gear storage, and durable design that performs well in wind and snow. The dual kickstand vents effectively manage condensation, and the included gear loft and multiple pockets make organizing your gear easy. For winter camping and below-treeline adventures, it’s a strong contender.

However, the Tasmanian 2 has a few quirks. Setting up the rainfly can be cumbersome due to the internal pole sleeves, especially in windy conditions. The poles, while sturdy, require some patience during setup. Additionally, the tent’s weight and packed size are on the heavier side, making it less ideal for minimalist backpackers or long-distance trips.

The Tasmanian 2 is a solid value for adventurers seeking an affordable four-season tent that delivers reliable performance in winter camping and basecamp scenarios. For more options, check out our guide to the best four-season tents.

How We Tested

We spent over two months testing the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 in Colorado’s mountains and foothills. We tried it out in all kinds of conditions, from car camping to backpacking and ski touring, to really get a feel for what it does well, where it struggles, and who it’s best suited for.

Comfort

We consistently found the Tasmanian 2 comfortable throughout testing, particularly for our taller gear analysts. Four-season tents aren’t typically designed with comfort as a primary focus, but this one stands out in a few key ways.

With a 46-inch interior height, this tent is one of the tallest we tested, making it super easy to sit up and change clothes. Our taller gear testers especially loved the extra headroom—it made a noticeable difference in comfort. Another major contributor to comfort is the ample gear storage. Cold-weather camping often requires bulkier gear, even for minimalists.  We appreciate the two spacious vestibules. They make an excellent place to stash items you don’t need immediate access to but want to keep dry. The bottom of both sidewalls is lined with mesh pockets, which help immensely with organization.

Our taller testers also appreciated the tent’s impressive 92-inch length, allowing them to store gear at their feet without feeling cramped. Ventilation was decent in colder, drier conditions, but the tent became noticeably stuffy during a warm spell with high-altitude sun and temperatures nearing 60 degrees.

One notable downside is the small, low-to-the-ground door, which can be a literal pain in the neck to crawl through—especially in snowy conditions. While the door’s design is functional for retaining warmth, it detracts from the tent’s overall comfort.

Weight & Packed Size

The Tasmanian 2 isn’t exactly a winner regarding weight and packed size. At just under 8 pounds, it’s the heaviest tent we tested. Splitting the weight between two people helps, but if you’re heading out solo, you’ll definitely feel it in your pack.

Its packed size doesn’t do it any favors either. Measuring 21 inches long and 6.5 inches in diameter, it’s about as bulky as a standard Z-style foam sleeping mat, which eats up precious pack space. That said, the carry sack does include compression straps, which make it a little easier to manage.

We took this tent on a few overnight ski tours, and after feeling the weight in our packs, we decided to load it onto a pulk instead. Hauling it on the sled made the weight much easier to manage and kept our packs lighter and more comfortable for the trek.

While it’s not ideal for long treks or ultralight backpacking, the weight and size are more forgivable for shorter trips or basecamp setups where comfort and durability matter more than portability. If you’re looking for a sturdy winter tent and don’t mind the extra weight, it’s still a solid option.

Weather Resistance

While we chased a couple of small snowstorms with this tent, and it handled the few inches of snow we received flawlessly. The 75D polyester fly with a 1500mm waterproof coating should be sufficient for most winter conditions, and the robust 5000mm waterproof-coated floor held up well against melting snow. We even intentionally set it up over melting snow and puddles to test its durability, and it performed as expected. We’ll continue testing it throughout the rest of winter and spring and will update the review accordingly.

The Tasmanian 2 performed impressively in high foothill winds and cold temperatures, with overnight lows in the mid-teens. When properly guyed out (you’ll need to attach your own guylines), it easily withstood winds exceeding 40 mph. Additionally, the tent retains heat well, staying consistently warmer inside than the frigid temperatures outside.

Ease of Setup

The inner tent is about as straightforward to set up as you could hope for. It features two longer color-coded main poles and a center cross pole, all of which fit into corresponding color-coded grommets on the webbing. The tent body then clips easily to the poles. As part of our testing process, we always set up tents for the first time without instructions to simulate the experience of someone unfamiliar with the setup. The Tasmanian 2 passed this test with ease.

However, the rainfly is a bit trickier. The fly includes two additional poles to keep it taut and the vestibules spacious. While this is a solid design in theory, the poles need to be threaded through sleeves on the underside of the fly and secured into grommets at the corners. This process can be manageable in calm conditions but becomes significantly more challenging in high winds.

Overall, setting up the Tasmanian 2 is mostly a positive experience, but the rainfly design adds a layer of complexity that may frustrate some users in difficult weather conditions.

Durability

When you unpackage the Tasmanian 2, you’ll immediately notice the weight and thickness of the materials. The fabric feels sturdy and confidence-inspiring, giving you the impression it can handle severe weather. Throughout testing, we never felt like we had to tiptoe around the setup process to avoid damaging anything—except for the stakes. The included stakes are a weak point. We tested the Tasmanian 2 on frozen, rocky ground in the Colorado foothills and still managed to bend a few stakes, despite being extra cautious. To avoid unnecessary headaches in the backcountry, we’d highly recommend upgrading to sturdier stakes—it’s a simple upgrade that’s well worth it.

The tent is built from heavy-duty materials that live up to its four-season designation. During our tests, the robust 75D polyester rainfly and 5000mm waterproof-coated floor efficiently handled wet and snowy conditions. Despite being subjected to wind, snow, and extended use, nothing broke or showed signs of wear.

That said, proper setup is important with this tent. Fully guying out the tent is necessary to ensure the rainfly stays secure in rough weather. Dual guy lines and reinforced attachment points make this tent even more durable, but it’s up to the user to set them up correctly.

Versatility

In our opinion, the Tasmanian 2 doesn’t quite measure up in terms of versatility compared to some of the other tents we tested. It sits firmly in the four-season tent category, meaning it’s best suited for winter use. At nearly 8 pounds, it’s too heavy for us to want to backpack with during warmer weather when the extra weight isn’t necessary. While the tent breathes well and offers solid ventilation, the heft and bulk make it less appealing for non-winter outings.

That said, if you can pitch this tent without needing the fly (a big “if”), it could be a consideration for less extreme conditions. But realistically, this tent shines in colder weather scenarios, where the durable materials and solid construction are worth the added weight. It’s a dependable option for winter camping or basecamp use but not something we’d grab for year-round versatility.

Should You Buy the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2?

The Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2 is a solid option for those seeking a reliable, budget-friendly four-season tent. It’s well-suited for winter camping, basecamp setups, and cold-weather backpacking trips where durability and weather protection are key. With its spacious interior, strong materials, and ample gear storage, this tent offers excellent value for adventurers who prioritize comfort and reliability in challenging but manageable conditions.

However, this is not an expedition-grade tent and isn’t built for extreme conditions or above-treeline use in severe weather. It’s also ​​not the best option for those looking for a lightweight, versatile tent for year-round use. At nearly 8 pounds, it’s too heavy for minimalist backpackers or those planning extended treks in milder weather.

If you’re in the market for an affordable, robust winter tent that can handle snow, wind, and cold temperatures, the Tasmanian 2 will give you solid performance without breaking the bank.

What Other Four-Season Tents Should You Consider?

If you’re considering the Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian 2, there are other great four-season tents worth exploring in our guide to the best four-season tents. Here are a few of those options: 

REI Co-op Arete ASL 2 Review: A more versatile alternative is the Arete ASL 2, which remains relatively budget-friendly while having usability beyond just winter conditions. It’s lighter and slightly smaller than the Tasmanian 2 but maintains a comparable peak height, making it a solid choice for taller users seeking year-round functionality.

The NEMO Kunai 2 Review: This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a tent that bridges the gap between three- and four-season use. It’s lighter and more compact than the Tasmanian 2 but still durable enough to handle cold and wind. It is ideal for adventurers tackling high-altitude trails with moderate winter conditions. It’s also quite a bit more expensive. 

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV3 Expedition Review: A durable, spacious, and weather-resistant 3+ season tent. It offers more interior room and better ventilation than the Tasmanian 2 but comes at a much higher price. Ideal for those needing extra space for gear or shared camping trips in varied conditions.