ashenOf all the outdoor gear, tents can be the most expensive and troublesome to sort out a durable, good choice. Here in this post we are going to talk about a tent that won’t break the bank and yet will continue to serve your adventurous outdoorsy expeditions for a long time. The Mountainsmith Celestial 2 has truly earned a reputation as a lightweight, dependable and true to its value type of tent. Stick around to find out if this could be your next piece of travel gear. We will start off with specs evaluation and then proceed to the Mountainsmith Celestial 2 reviews.
Mountainsmith Celestial 2 Specs
- 2 Person tent
- Aluminum pole material and 68d x 185T breathable poly F/R
- Weighs 5.5 Pounds | Dimensions: 92″ x 56″ x 43″, 35 sq ft
- Mesh fabric type
- 3 Season tent
- Bathtub floor construction with taped floor seams
- Detachable ceiling loft pocket and interior mesh storage pockets.
- Reflective guylines
It is a pretty standard specs sheet for a 2 person tent. As always, let’s start off with the material. We’ve talked about the Denier (D value) of these outdoor gear previously, so we won’t be going into detail here. Basically, a higher D value means thicker, stronger and more durability than the same fabric with a lower D. In the case of Mountainsmith, a 68D is sufficient for a polyester camping tent. If it was a tent for camping and event shelters, a value of 150D is the recommendation to counter the greater stresses and longer exposure to the sun and elements. However, there are some tents with a rating of 150D as well. We will see if the 68D value was inadequate from the user feedback. Next is the thread count. Again, higher thread count means greater density and tighter weave in the fabric.
Generally, most tents use a count of 210 but the Mountainsmith only has 180. The tent pole materials are often Aluminum or fibreglass. The difference is that Aluminum is more expensive hence, lighter, stronger, durable and a better choice for backpacking/large tents. This is another reason why we say that the Mountainsmith has a fair price for the Celestial 2 tent. The materials are rock solid and able to withstand weathers of any nature. The rainfly is also 68D polyester ripstop PU coating of 2000mm. This means it has a strong resistance to wear and tear with a waterproof barrier which is also breathable. Also, any rating of 1500mm and higher is generally considered waterproof.
The bathtub floor construction keeps the water out during showers and the floor features fully taped seams. The storage points have a good placement for your gear and the clip to hang your torch/light is also designed to distribute light evenly throughout the tent. The vents and mesh work well for continuous airflow. Great for desert camping too. This way there is a healthy air circulation throughout the tent. Not too bulky, nor is it a backpacking tent because of the size. Vestibule is spacious enough to host your shoes and some other gear. Anyways, here’s a summary of what the users have to say.
Mountainsmith Celestial 2 User Reviews
So how good are the specs on paper out in the real world? Well, they are fantastic! To kickoff, users are loving the easy set up and the easy taking off. They are also praising the lightweight build, waterproofness and the mesh ventilation. Particularly the vestibule was well received for its ample space to store two peoples’ gear. It also holds in a respectable amount of heat and the waterproof claim is true to its word judging by the customer feedback. At least 95% of the users have camped in steady downpours and the tent inside was bone dry without any leaks.
The ventilation acts very well during hot weather even for the lightest breeze to be felt. There aren’t any drawbacks of this tent according to the users although it is a little heavy for extended backpacking. In fact, most users have made multiple buys after the first experience.
Mountainsmith Celestial 2 vs Morrison
Practically the same tent with the same dimensions and material etc. However, with a slightly higher price tag. Nonetheless, there is no change in the amount of positive feedback received, in fact it is even higher. The reviews are almost identical. Two minute setup with the sturdy aluminium poles, tent stakes and you are up and running in no time. Two doors and the two vestibules and plenty of ventilation as it has a lot of mesh to allow for good airflow on hot nights.
The fabric behind can be removed if you want to further enhance the ventilation as it is not a part of the structure. Almost every user who tested this tent under heavy thunderstorms, gales thoroughly mentioned that it was completely dry inside and had no water leaks whatsoever. Users had even tested it out in the snow and reported optimum indoor temperatures. Floor space is also bigger than most competitors and it is only the absence of a footprint which you have to buy separately the notable downside feature. Regardless, you are in for a clear winner with your money.
Conclusion
Conclusively, we can say that the Mountainsmith Celestial 2 is a great 2 person tent that offers an extremely justified price to performance ratio. Most manufacturers utilize fibreglass poles as a production cost effective method. Additionally, questionable vents, low quality rain fly are common issues that we come across when choosing a reliable tent. But the Celestial 2 has literally zero cons aside from the weight that is a tad bit heavy for backpacking.
