Gear Review
ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 Tent: 3-Person 3-Season
Alps Chaos 3
By but4578297 May 3, 2011
Listed as a 3 man tent, and you probably could use it that way if you were very friendly or included kids in the count, but would make an excellent 2 man tent with 2 decent sized vestibules and doors. What I really like is that the side walls are practically vertical thanks to the middle "spreader" bar. Has two poles: the spreader and the remainder of the frame which is connected with Y joints. Easy to set up and is well ventilated (all the black on the tent is mesh). There are cargo pockets on the sides for keys and such. Seems well made, but I have not had to test the how waterproof it is...
I have camped in 20 degree weather by myself with no condensation problems and was actually quite comfortable with a 20 degree (Alps) bag and cheap fleece bag inside.
I use it as a one man tent as I can carry an extra pound or so if the payoff is extra room inside. Usually bring the pack inside with me too since all my stuff is in it. I have also replaced the standard guy lines with reflective ones just because I think they're cool at night and to keep others (including me) from tripping over them. Fly clips to tent body and you don't have to set out guy lines anyway unless very windy as the body is nice and sturdy. Rigid bar with Velcro located on each vestibule to hold vents open to assist with ventilation of the fly.
Love the tent and would certainly buy again without reservation.
View Details: ALPS Mountaineering Chaos 3 Tent: 3-Person 3-Season
Nailed It? 1 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Material:
- [floor] 75D 185T polyester taffeta, 3000mm urethane coating; [fly] 75D 185T polyester taffeta, 2000mm urethane coating; [canopy] 75D 185T polyester taffeta, 40D nylon no-see-um mesh
- Freestanding:
- yes
- Doors:
- 2
- Number of Vestibules:
- 2
- Poles:
- One continuous pole
- Pole Material:
- 7000-series aluminum
- Floor Space:
- 41 sq ft
- Floor Dimensions:
- 66 x 90 in
- Interior Height:
- 44 in
- Vestibule Space:
- 22 sq ft
- Packed Size:
- 7 x 24 in
- Seams:
- (fly and floor) sealed
- Ventilation:
- mesh walls
- Trail Weight:
- 6 lb 10 oz
- Recommended Use:
- backpacking, camping
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- lifetime
Change me.
2 Comments Last Reply: March 19, 2012 By: but4578297
I can't say how long it will last and yes it could get torn. However, so could any other tent. I should be at least as durable as similar tents. Camping with rambunctious children that want to run into the tent and wrestle with each other will likely cause premature demise of any lightweight backpacking tent. Nevertheless, you should look at the construction when comparing tents. (The urethane coating is the water-resistant coating. The floor on this tent allows 3000 mm of water to set on the fabric before absorbing through. The D stands for Denier or a measure of the thickness of the fabric. The T stands for the thread count of the fabric per sq inch of fabric.) Here's the specs for the Chaos 3: [floor] 75D 185T polyester taffeta, 3000mm urethane coating; [fly] 75D 185T polyester taffeta, 2000mm urethane coating; (By the way ---> 3000mm and 2000mm coatings are pretty good in this type of tent) [canopy] 75D 185T polyester taffeta, 40D nylon no-see-um mesh. Use these specs when comparing this tent to another. Just remember these types of tents are designed to be backpacked so they are relatively lightweight in construction so you can afford to carry them on your back. Use a floor saver (or tarp or heavy plastic ground cloth) to protect your floor and choose your site well (clear out as many rocks, roots, and other pointy objects where the tent will lay as possible). A canvas or poly/cotton tent would be much more durable, but would weigh too much to strap to your pack and hike for miles. This Chaos 3 tent weighs 6 lbs 10oz. A similar sized "heavy duty" tent might be three to four times that weight.
Nailed It? 0 Yes
how strong is the tent, i mean will it tear and how long will it last?
Nailed It? 0 Yes