Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Outfitter Budget Tent Review

Bottom Line

The Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Outfitter is conspicuously appealing to those looking for a spacious, budget-friendly, and easy-to-use tent with all the necessary features to relax comfortably after a day of backcountry trekking.

At just 3.7 pounds and a generous 34 sq ft. of space, this tent has copious amounts of interior living space for you, a partner, and gear that you want to keep close by. While camping in the Los Padres National Forest, we were able to keep a 50L backpack inside the tent thanks to the extra space.

With the added headroom and structural support from two small dual curved poles that fit over the doors and create an arched roof, the Lunar Duo Outfitter is nothing less than secure and spacious. We had no issue climbing in and out of the tent without having to crouch too low or crawl.  

Dual doors and vestibules allow for seamless and easy access to both sides of the tent, while upper vents double as pole pockets and help secure the structure when staking out the corners and tension lines.

Overall, the Lunar Duo Outfitter is a steal when opting for a 2-person backpacking shelter that’s intuitive for getting camp set up quickly to relax and recharge for the next day ahead. See how it compares to our other favorites on our guide to the best budget tents.

Comfort

When it comes to comfort, the Lunar Duo Outfitter is unsurpassed within the small collection of backpacking shelters in this lineup. Starting with the 34 square foot interior with a 7.4 length, 4.5 foot width, and almost 4 foot peak height, this tent is as roomy as they come given its weight. Taller hikers can rejoice knowing that they’ll fit inside with some room to spare. Two air mats can easily fit without feeling tight; the dual curved poles also distribute the apex of the tent to alleviate the feeling of restricted interior space that some backpacking tents exhibit.

The large dual doors and vestibules make it incredibly convenient to access gear and extra layers from both sides of the tent. The ample 12 square foot vestibule storage area is spacious enough to store boots and a backpack for the evening, keeping everything dry from the fog that rolled in as the sun was going down. The low-cut single piece bathtub, which attached to the rest of the mesh, kept our gear analyst dry and bug-free all night. 

Storage is limited for anything aside from small essential items, seeing as there’s only two modest side wall pockets and two hanging hooks above each door – understandable if the objective is to keep weight low, but something to keep in mind if you like a lot of interior storage.

Weather Resistance

The Lunar Duo Outfitter is constructed of the more cost-effective 190T polyester material and does not come seam sealed from the manufacturer. That needs to be done separately to fully waterproof the tent if you anticipate rain during your trip. That being said, it can easily be done at home by purchasing some seam sealer. This tent has a robust tension system and deep, downward facing hooded vents that also double as the trekking pole pockets when pitching. 

Including the four main canopy corners, the pre-attached pole guy lines, and the reinforced pull-outs on the outer panels, this tent has eight attachment points for guy line tension, which ensures maximum stability during high wind. Along with the stakes, you do have to bring 2 extra lengths of guy line to utilize the side panel pull-outs.

You can also adjust the floating canopy by raising or lowering pole height to better suit the conditions and increase ventilation to mitigate condensation. This was something that we didn’t experience while using it, but nonetheless possible with this style of tent. When the weather is good, the vestibule doors can be rolled back to further boost ventilation or enhance the view.

Durability

The 190T Polyester material might be more cost-effective to produce, but that doesn’t detract from its unmatched resistance in rough outdoor campsites or after years of rigorous use. Since the canopy and the floor use the same polyester material, it has equal durability from top to bottom with an equally tough 40-denier mesh.

It’s a good choice for dog owners and also allows more freedom in campsite selection because you can rest assured that the floor of your tent is strong enough to handle rougher surfaces. Six Moon Designs does offer footprints for their shelters, but this tent can easily hold its own without one, allowing you to cut down on pack weight. 

As with any non-freestanding shelter, it’s imperative to observe and take extra care of the areas that see the most use. For this tent, some of these areas include the four corner anchor points, the elastic shock-cord coming from each of those anchor points, and any other area that seems particularly susceptible to failing in the field or that endures constant strain. 

While adding proper tension to your shelter is very important during high winds or bad weather, it’s equally important to remember that things like over tightening adjustment points can cause undue stress and make seams tear prematurely. However, the Lunar Duo Outfitter is built with great attention to detail and, with proper care, should last many years of use.

Portability

With a very reasonable weight of 3.71 pounds, the Lunar Duo Outfitter is well-suited for short solo treks or longer journeys where the weight can be distributed with a partner. Even with the thicker polyester material, we had no problem packing this tent down and rolling it back up into our pack with plenty of room to spare for other gear. The tent’s interior mesh helps keep the weight down by reducing the bulky nature of polyester where it’s not needed. The dual curved poles for the roof collapse down to a small manageable size and can easily be packed with the tent, or elsewhere in your pack, without hassle. 

Given that there are lighter shelter alternatives out there, it’s fair to say that the Lunar Duo Outfitter may not appeal to all backpackers – especially those seeking the best ultralight gear possible where sub ten pound base weights are non negotiable. However, for those willing to carry a little extra weight for increased durability and comfort, this tent is a prime pick.

Ease of Use

Despite the necessary learning curves inherent with pitching non-freestanding tents, we had no issue figuring out how to set up the Lunar Duo Outfitter on the first try. Staking out the four main corners first makes it easier to insert the poles up through the opening at the bottom of the hooded vents. Even as the sun was going down, we experienced no issue locating the anchor points for the stakes because they all had a pre-attached length of guy line ready to go. 

With that being said, it is still advisable to get a few practice pitches in before setting it up on the trail. This helps to limit the time spent figuring out the process and adjusting everything to proper tension, leaving more time for cooking a hot meal and getting a good night’s rest for the next day. We found that it was easiest to extend the guy line a little further than you need it before looping on a 45 degree angled stake, then tense it out to straighten the pole and make it sturdy. Same thing with the four corner pull-outs and the tension adjusters.

As with many freestanding tents, the density of the ground or soil will affect how well the stakes hold up, if at all. Positioning your stakes at an outward angle helps secure them better otherwise  you might have to identify and utilize natural environment anchor points to work around rock surfaces or sand.

Should You Buy the Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Outfitter?

If you find yourself in need of a spacious, 2-person, lightweight backpacking tent at a very reasonable price, then consider the Lunar Duo Outfitter. Taking design inspiration from the ever popular Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo, the Lunar Duo Outfitter might be heavier due to the use of 190T polyester, but at half the cost and with all the same features, it’s certainly a great budget buy. 

Especially if you prioritize durability and interior living space, the Lunar duo Outfitter can’t be beat. The dual curved poles are perfect for extracting extra headroom for two people sharing the same space and the adjustable floating canopy is crucial for maintaining heat in colder weather or raising up to increase ventilation when it warms up. 

However, if you’d prefer a freestanding tent that’s less finicky when it comes to tension adjustments or something that is constructed of lighter silicone-coated nylon fabric with sealed seams, this won’t be the one for you.

What Other Budget Tents Should You Consider?

Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout 2 Review: For those seeking an ultralight, 1-person backpacking tent under 2.5 pounds with extended length and ultimate ventilation and stargazing capability, check out the Skyscape Scout. It’s another great option from the SIx Moon Designs team and a CleverHiker Editor’s Choice pick.  

Tarptent Stratospire 2 Review: This is another great shelter for the backpacking sub-category in our Budget Tents lineup. This tent is just 2.7 pounds and features a unique hexagonal shape, strutted floor vents, superb silicone coated ripstop nylon fabrics, and many other great features backpackers will appreciate while out on the trail.   

Naturehike CloudUp 2 Review: If you want the low weight of a backpacking tent, but can do without the fuss of a non-freestanding design, then check out the CloudUp 2. Coming in at just 3.4 pounds and constructed of light but durable 20D silicone-coated nylon and factory-taped seams, It’s less expensive than the Lunar Duo Outfitter and a great option for folks who prefer a more compact tent without the extra length and unnecessary space.