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person shelter. Disassembly, on the other hand, can be slow and frustrating, since you have to work out the poles from the closed end. Try to pull them out like most two-way pole designs and the torpedo end will bind, causing the poles to come apart in the sleeves-not good. The inside is roomy with multiple sky vents for star viewing and plenty of flow-through ventilation. The fly is a straightforward, fast-clip system, requiring one stake for the small vestibule. Kelty, www.kelty.com. $200 4> Moss Titan GT Setting up the Titan is made quick and easy by its patented Breaux Clips (in contrast to sleeves) and by the fact that all three tent poles are identical-no deciding which goes where. Each of the Breaux system clips clamps onto the poles at two points (yes, two is stronger than one) for a rigidity that rivals most sleeved designs. At first, there's a bit of confusion with regard to pole/clip intersections, but after your first time it's literally a snap to put up. Aesthetically, we like the tent's lBO-degree view out the front door and windows (each of which zip shut for added warmth and shelter). Attaching the fly and guying it out completes its four-season-ability. The vestibule area is created with a fourth, sleeved pole that attaches at the tent's front pole slots. A skylight for convenient weather reporting accents this lO-square-foot "extra room." Moss, www.mosstents.com. $400 5> Mountain Hardwear Skyview 2 Skyview is a series of convertible tents ranging in capacity from two to five people. We had the "2", which is roomy enough for two big guys or a mixed trio, whereas the flagship Skyview Is more of a two-person "couples" tent. As its name suggests, there is a large, overhead vent for stargazing. This panel, along with its two doors and a small vent at the foot, has zip-in covers that "convert" the tent to four-season use. The main tent's three- pole design is simple to set up. One pole is sleeved and the other two clip-in; doing it correctly is just a matter of the order (insert the sleeved pole first). A fourth pole clips and Velcros into the fly to support the cavernous vestibule area-plenty of room for three 4,OOO-cubic-inch packs. Installing the fly is quick, thanks to keychain-holder-like clips. Overall, this is would be the rainforest tent of choice. Mountain Hardwear, www.mountainhardwear.com. $415 TENT 1 Marmot Loft 2 Mountain Hardwear Tri-Light 2 3 Kelty Riverbend 2 4 Moss Titan GT 5 Mountain Hardwear Skyview 2 * =converti ble tent SEASON CAPACITY 3 3 3 4 C* 2 2 2 2/3 2 WEIGHT 71bs 4 Ibs, 1 oz 5 Ibs, 40z 7 Ibs, 13 oz 9 Ibs, 30z WEATHER CONDITIONS Wet Moderate Moderate Wi ndy, rough Four-seasons & soggy SUGGESTED TRAILS Kalalau, Pinnell Mountain, West Coast, AT Border Route, Escalante Canyons, large parts of the AT Border Route, Escalante Canyons, parts of the AT Pacific Crest, Pinnell Mountain, Kalalau Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, Pinnell Mountain ArcFlex, the standard that all other large packs have been measured against, got a bunch of attention with a re-addressed Terraplane LTW and Alpine LTW. Updated fabrics and streamlining construction, giving you the same familiar durability with body-toll saving weight loss. www.danadesign.com ~"''''''888-357-3262