REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Review

Name: REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Brand: REI Co-op

A basic 2-person backpacking tent at a very reasonable price point

The REI Co-op Trailmade 2 may not rank well among the best designs on the market, but this basic backpacking tent is a perfect entry point.

Credit: Arthur McMahon

Price: $199 List

Manufacturer: REI Co-op

By Arthur McMahon ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 23, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#13 of 13

Livability - 35% 6.0
Weather Resistance - 25% 5.5
Weight - 15% 5.3
Packed Size - 15% 6.7
Durability - 10% 7.5

List Price: $199

Check REI price (members get est. 10% back!)

Our Verdict

The REI Co-op Trailmade 2 isn't an impressive backpacking tent, and it doesn't try to be. It's affordably priced, and you get what you pay for: an easy-to-pitch, reasonably spacious tent that's heavier than average and not particularly packed with features. It fits two adults comfortably, with enough space under the dual vestibules for their gear. The durable rainfly and tent body, plus the included footprint, mean the Trailmade 2 will hold up well to bumps and scratches. Even though it packs down fairly small, it weighs over six pounds, so you'll want to share the load with a friend.

REASONS TO BUY

Affordable

Easy to set up

Footprint included

REASONS TO AVOID

Heavy for a modern 2-person tent

Low ceiling

Very few pockets

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product REI Co-op Trailmade 2	SlingFin Portal 3	The North Face Stormbreak 2	The North Face Stormbreak 3	Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Awards		Best for Bad Weather		Best Value for Beginners
Price	$199 List Check Price at REI	$720 List	$220 List Check Price at REI	$260 List Check Price at REI	$150 List Check Price at Backcountry
Overall Score	60	84	72	70	69
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	A basic backpacking tent that's actually affordable, but the tradeoff is that it's heavy and lacks extras that add to quality of life on the trail	With the structure and support required to face fierce winds and rain, this is an uncommonly strong tent, especially given its lightweight	Even if it's a bit heavy, this 2-person tent is comfortable, durable, and easy to set up	This affordable tent is one of the largest we tested, which makes it a comfortable option for anyone just getting into backpacking	A basic backpacking tent that's more like a roomy one-person tent rather than the two-person size advertised
Rating Categories	REI Co-op Trailmade 2	SlingFin Portal 3	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Livability (35%)	6.0	8.4	7.9	8.6	6.3
Weather Resistance (25%)	5.5	8.9	7.0	7.1	6.8
Weight (15%)	5.3	7.7	5.7	4.4	7.0
Packed Size (15%)	6.7	8.6	7.3	5.2	8.0
Durability (10%)	7.5	7.9	7.7	7.7	7.8
Specifications	REI Co-op Trailmade 2	SlingFin Portal 3	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Listed Size	2 person	3 person	2 person	3 person	2 person
True Capacity	Spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for two people and gear; Fits three people with a moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear	Fits two people very comfortably with gear; Very tight for three people with very little gear	Comfortable for one person and gear; Fits two people with a very small amount of gear
Measured Minimum Trail Weight	5.13 lbs	3.72 lbs	5.61 lbs	6.20 lbs	4.31 lbs
Number of Doors	2	2	2	2	1
Footprint Included?	Yes	No	No	No	No
Measured Packaged Weight	6.25 lbs	4.19 lbs	5.88 lbs	7.10 lbs	4.81 lbs
Measured Floor Area	31.8 sq ft	41.9 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	39.7 sq ft	30.6 sq ft
Measured Packed Size	18 x 8 in	17 x 6 in	20 x 6.5 in	22 x 8 in	16.5 x 7 in
Measured Peak Height	40 in	44 in	43 in	46 in	43 in
Measured Vestibule Area	9.4 sq feet on each side	10.3 sq feet on each side	9.8 sq ft on each side	10.8 sq ft on each side	6.0 sq feet (one vestibule)
Number of Pockets	2	8	4	4	3
Gear Loft?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of Poles	2	3	4	4	2
Pole Diameter	8.5 mm	9.3/10.65 mm	8.5 mm	8.5 mm	9 mm
Pole Material	Aluminum	DAC Featherlite NFL	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Number of Guy Points	4	12	4	4	7
Rain Fly Material	75D polyester	10D Nylon 66 Ripstop Sil	75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating	75D polyester taffeta	68D Polyester
Inner Tent Material	75D polyester taffeta, 40D nylon no-see-um mesh	15D nylon no-see-um mesh	40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor	75D polyester taffeta	68D polyester

Our Analysis and Test Results

The REI Trailmade 2 is a simple and durable tent that's not trying to pretend to be anything else. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Likes

Inexpensive doesn't necessarily mean cheap, and the REI Co-op Trailmade 2 proves it. It's a highly affordable tent designed to make the most of its quality materials, making it a pretty perfect option for anyone just getting into backpacking.

Made with fairly robust fabric on both the tent body and rainfly, plus relatively heavy no-see-um mesh, the Trailmade 2 is durable. It even includes a footprint, so you don't need to baby it in the wilderness. That's a great trait for a beginner-friendly backpacking tent.

The tent body, footprint, and rainfly are all fairly abrasion-resistant. Credit: Arthur McMahon

It's also a cinch to set up. Two cross-body aluminum poles form the frame, the tent body clips to that frame, and you attach the rainfly overtop. Once set up, the tent offers nearly 32 square feet of floor space, which two adults can use comfortably. What's more, each of the two vestibules offers an impressive 9.4 square feet of space for gear storage, more than enough for backpacks and bear cans.

With plenty of room to lay down two sleeping pads side by side and enough storage space for each person's gear, the Trailmade 2 offers more space than some more expensive options. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Dislikes

That durability and extra space come at a cost: weight. With everything included, the Trailmade 2 weighs in at over six pounds. That's far from ultralight, and is heavy enough that you'll want to split the carry between two people.

And while the Trailmade 2 has a decent amount of floor space, the tent shape doesn't use it well – the 40-inch peak height is so low that even kneeling is an issue. The simple, two-pole X-frame also doesn't push out the upper sidewalls, so height drops steeply toward the edges of the tent.

rei co-op trailmade 2 - the sidewalls slope inward toward the tent's center because no... — The sidewalls slope inward toward the tent's center because no crossbar pushes them outward. Credit: Arthur McMahon

And though the vestibules offer plenty of storage space, the interior has a surprising lack of storage. There are only two small mesh pockets inside the tent, which is enough for small electronics, but not much else.

This 12-ounce Nalgene takes up most of the space in one of the two interior pockets. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Trailmade 2?

If you're looking for your first backpacking tent, the REI Co-op Trailmade 2 won't disappoint. It's simple, durable, and covers all the basics you need to get out into the backcountry. Just know there are many alternatives that offer more features, more space, and weigh less – though many of those tents will cost more.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

The Trailmade 2 is a good tent, but others are better. We would argue that the REI Co-op Half Dome 2 is the ideal first backpacking tent. It may be much more expensive, but it's more spacious, stands up better in a storm, and weighs less (even though the extra space means it's slightly larger packed up). It's just as durable, but with the added comfort and convenience, you're likely to use it longer.

—Arthur McMahon