"storing all of my equipment"? That's the part I don't get. What is it you're storing? I hear that all the time. "I put all my gear in the vestibule." Geez... what are people bringing which doesn't fit inside a decent sized tent?

When I set up my current 2-man tent, I bring in everything that's necessary: My sleeping pad and sleeping bag. My sleeping attire. My toiletries bag. Maybe my tablet. My helmet, boots, and jacket sometimes comes in with me, other times I leave that on the bike. In a two-man tent, there's still lots of extra space. I just can't imagine what else you'd need in the tent with you, let alone inside the vestibule. I even have a one-man tent which doesn't have a vestibule that I sometimes use, though I admit that can be a little tight.

I bought an expensive tent with a vestibule a few months ago, figuring if everyone else thought they were so great, maybe I'm missing something. I used it for one night of camping. Never again. The vestibule makes everything more difficult. Setup (and takedown) time takes longer (I know, it's not much). Getting in and out of the tent, having to go through the vestibule is a pain. Not to mention having an extra zipper that's necessarily out of reach from inside the tent. When I needed to pee in the middle of the night, I actually had to get up, put shoes on, and go outside, rather than just kneeling out the doorway and peeing on the ground out the "back door" of my tent. And when I heard some noises outside my tent, I had no way to look out there. In all my other tents without vestibules, I simply unzipped a window and looked outside.

I just don't get the current vestibule fetish that seems to be sweeping the industry. I'd like to camp with someone who uses a tent with a vestibule, and see what they use it for because for me, it's a pain in every way, and offers practically no advantage, other than maybe a little better weather protection.

I bought a Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 a few months back (see comments above) and I have to admit, I really like the weight and pack size. They're great quality tents.

But minimal or not, I hated the vestibule. It got in the way every time, kind of like trying to carry groceries into the house when you have a screen door that you have to try to open with your pinkie or your foot every time. I wish they made one without a vestibule at all.

I also use Big Agnes sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I like their stuff. So a few weeks back I emailed them and asked if they offered any of their tents without a vestibule. I just want a small rain fly that provides a short overhang over the doors. The rep cheerfully responded to my request and told me that they have several tents that come without a vestibule, and provided links to four of them. Every single of of those tents he linked were described as having a vestibule on the product page. I emailed the Big Agnes rep back and asked him if maybe we had our terminology mixed up. He never replied. It was an odd exchange.

I have been on the search for a simple, light, packable, free-standing tent that comes without a vestibule for quite a few months now. I've come to the conclusion that my only options are expensive four-season single wall tents which I don't want for need of ventilation, or super cheap no-name tents sold by Walmart and the like.

I own an REI Camp Dome 2 that very much resembles the tent in my first post. I've had it for a few years and it does a good job. My only complaints about it are that it's kind of heavy for a two-man tent, and the pack size isn't great. I was really hoping that some manufacturer out there made a similar tent, but using lightweight materials and a smaller pack size.

Still searching...

Thanks for the suggestions!

Jamie