In this Alps Mountaineering Chaos 2 review, we are going to take a closer look at this tent. What it’s made of, the set up, its durability, the features, and, of course, any issues I may have had with this tent.
There are two color options for this particular tent: rust with dark clay or grey and navy. It’s a 1-room tent, ideal for 1-2 people.
The tent is freestanding, which means that it can be pitched without being staked if the weather allows, and so the type of ground isn’t as important as usual. Plus, if you need to move the tent for whatever reason, it’s effortless to do so.
It’s also dome-shaped, and dome tents tend to be lighter and easier to carry. They tend to do better in rain and wind than other tent types.
- There's no assembly frustration with our Chaos Tent series; this aluminum, free-standing pole system is quick and convenient
- Polyester tent fly resists water and UV damage while adding two vestibules for extra storage space
- Mostly mesh walls and mesh roofing increases ventilation and improves star-gazing
- Fully equipped with #8 zippers, mesh storage pocket, gear loft, aluminum stakes, guy ropes and one entry way
- Base Size: 4'8 x 7'2, Center Height: 40", Total Weight: 5 lbs. 15 oz., Minimum Weight: 5 lbs. 7 oz., Color: Clay/Rust
Alps Mountaineering Chaos 2 Review
Size & Weight
When packed, the Chaos tent weighs 5 pounds 7 ounces, and has dimensions of 6.5 x 22 inches.
The floor area is 33 square feet, with a center height of 3 feet and 4 inches.
Although this tent is 11 inches shorter than most 2 person ones, if you are using this tent alone, it won’t be a bother. I only say that because of my personal preferences, as I don’t think I’d enjoy sharing this tent for very long.
Sometimes smaller is better, especially when backpacking for days at a time. Whether or not this would be too tight for you depends on your own priorities and preferences.
Material & Durability
The Alps Chaos 2 tent is made out of Polyester Taffeta with No-See-Um mesh, whereas the floor and rainfly are 75D 185T Poly Taffeta for more durability and protection. The rain fly has a waterproof rating of 1500mm, and the floor is 3000mm.
The material this tent is made out of are not only thick and high-strength fabric, but it’s also breathable.
The two poles are made of 7000 series aluminum, with dimensions of 8.5mm. Most tent poles are made from 6000 or 7000 series aluminum alloys. The 7000 alloys are a blend of aluminum, zinc, and other trace elements, and this combination gives it the most strength possible.
Guy lines and guy outs are included, as well as 7075 Aluminum stakes.
A footprint is not included but is available separately.
Assembly
Set up can be done by one person but it’s much easier and quicker with two. It may take you a little while at first, but I promise it doesn’t take long – you can get it set up in less than five minutes.
To assemble this tent, simply roll it out and unfold on a flat surface. Once you’ve spread out the tent, get the pre-assembled poles and straighten them out until they click. Place the main frame over the tent and slide the ends of the poles into place at the corners of the tent.
Next, get the shorter center pole and attach this by raising the center of the tent to meet the pole and slide the ends in.
Clip the rest of the tent to the poles where needed, and now you can move on to the rain fly. If necessary, move the tent around so that you have the doors facing in your desired direction.
Drape the rainfly over the tent and attach at the same ends as the poles.
All that’s left to do is to stake and guy out the tent if need be.
Features
The Alps Chaos 2 tent has a low, aerodynamic design which enables it to remain stable in strong winds and rain.
Two doors make it easier to get in and out of the tent, especially in the middle of the night.
Large #8 zippers are equipped on the tent’s doors so that they can last for years. As many experienced campers know, there is nothing more frustrating than a broken zipper, so it’s great not to have to worry about this.
Inside the tent, there are storage pockets and a gear loft providing you with more than enough place to keep all your small items organized.
Thanks to the extra guy lines for the rainfly, you can be sure to stay comfortable and dry even if a storm hits.
Its freestanding pole system is what makes this tent so light without the need of sacrificing any structural strength.
There are two vestibules, which provide a total area of 17 square feet. It’s great to have a place to store shoes and gear, giving you more space where you sleep.
The rainfly provides complete coverage, easily protecting you and keeping you dry through the rain.
Ventilation
There are technically no windows. Despite this, the Alps Mountaineering Chaos 2 has impressive ventilation.
This is because; without the rainfly on, the entire top half of the tent is mesh, providing excellent air circulation.
There are two large doors, also mesh, so fresh air is nothing to worry about. You can comfortably sleep through even the most humid of summer nights.
Alps Mountaineering Chaos 2 – Pros & Cons
The Chaos 2 is excellent for camping, backpacking, trekking, and mountaineering, and you get plenty of value for your money. It’s very easy to fold this tent back up after use, and everything fits into a backpack with room to spare.
It even comes with extra guy-outs for more stability in bad weather.
Although this tent is great for extended trips, it’s not ideal for cold conditions. Since this does have a mesh ceiling, which is amazing for stargazing, this also means that the tent would struggle to retain heat inside.
Apart from that, it can be a bit too tight for some especially when you’re two people (and possibly pets as well), but this varies from person to person.
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