Marmot Catalyst 2 Person Dome Tent Review

When we created this review for the Catalyst 2, we examined data from two hundred and fifty-four 2 person dome tents, checking more than 60 different data points. We also checked the cost including shipping & discounts at thirteen various retailers websites, to find the best price for you.

The Catalyst Fly Open
Marmot's Catalyst 2 With the Fly Open
In this review, we will present to you:
  • A look at the customer reviews we read.
  • A comprehensive overview of the features, materials and dimensions.
  • The Pros and Cons of the tent.
  • The Lowest Price that we Found!

Here at optimumtents.com all our reports are produced from our unique dataset of more than one thousand shelters, that are for sale in America. Our aim is to provide you an impartial report and our own exclusive rating based on the data, along with the best value and lowest price we found.

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  • Marmot Logo
  • Manufacturer: Marmot
  • Model: Catalyst
  • MPN: 27910
  • Sleeping Capacity: 2 Persons
  • Designed For: 3 Seasons
  • Best Use: Backpacking
  • Type: Dome Tent
  • Available in: Other Sizes
  • MSRP: $183.00
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Catalyst 2 Pictures and Videos

Click on an image or video to enlarge them!


The Catalyst With the Fly Off

Marmot Catalyst 2 With the Fly Off
Fly Closed on the Catalyst 2

Fly Closed Catalyst 2

A video about the Catalyst 2 tent.

Another video about Marmot's tents.

QUICK OVERVIEW

Logo Representing the Features Section

Features


  • Freestanding: Yes
  • Color: Rusted Orange, Cinder
  • Number of Rooms: 1
  • Number of Windows: None
  • Number of Doors: 2
  • Zippers: Jingle-Free Nylon Zipper Pulls
  • Storage Pockets & Gear Loft: Yes, N/A
  • Mesh Roof & Walls: Half, Half
  • Footprint: Included
Logo Representing the Materials Section

Materials and Extras


  • Inner Walls: 40D 100% Polyester No-See-Um Mesh F/R & 68D 100% Polyester Taffeta F/R
  • Full Fly: 68D Polyester Taffeta 190T F/R
    Fly Waterproof Ratings: 1500 mm
  • Floor Materials: 68D 190T Poly Taffeta
    Floor Waterproof Ratings: 2000 mm
  • Pole Material: HD Velocity 7000 Series Aluminum
  • Number Of Poles: 3
  • Pole Dimensions: 9/8.5 Millimeters
  • Guy Lines & Guy Outs: Yes, Yes
  • Stakes: N/A
Logo Representing the Dimensions Section

Dimensions


  • Floor Area: 33 sq. ft.
  • Center Height: 3 foot. 8 inches.
  • Packed Weight: 5 Lbs 3 Oz
    Trail Weight: 4 Lbs. 11 Oz.
  • Packed Size: 18 x 7 inches.
  • Number of Vestibules: 2
    Total Vestibule Area: 16.20 sq. ft.
    (9.5 + 6.7 sq. ft.)
  • Screened Areas: None
  • Awnings: None

Tent Set Up

It's a very easy tent to set up with color-coded poles for an easy setup

Green Thumbs Up Logo

Summary: Favorable Reviews

Lightweight and durable. It seems like it is made with quality material. The ventilation is incredible. Also, a footprint is included with the tent, which made me very happy.


Teal Thumbs Down Logo

Summary: Unfavorable Reviews

I once used this tent while camping in Yosemite, and it did not hold good against strong wind and hail. Stakes are even pretty nice and light. (However, you will need extra stakes should you choose to use the included guy lines).


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SPECS AND CONFIGURATIONS

The Catalyst 2 has two doors and a peak center height of 3' 8, which is a little bit less than the average height of the 204 other 2 person tents we have studied. With 33 square feet of space inside, it is a tiny bit smaller than some other 2-person tents, and it could be a little tight for you and, another camper during the whole of the 3-seasons, this tent is suggested for use in, smaller tents similar to this one can make an ideal choice for people that welcome spending heaps of time outside of their tent exploring.

A few of the great things about dome tents are, that they are generally speaking not too heavy, making them simple to carry. In nearly all cases, tents used for backpacking are of the dome type. They are generally speaking, freestanding and very easy to set up. In calm weather, you could do without securing the tent with stakes and ropes, not that this is recommended.

Dome tents are easily the most commonly seen of all the other types of tents you will find when camping. They tend to do better in storms than other types, allowing water to roll off the slanted sides, unlike cabin tents that have flat roofs, resulting in the rain pooling on the top of the tent. The most straightforward dome tent will have a rectangular floor, sloped sides a couple of poles which converge in the middle of the roof. Because of the way they are made, it is usually thought of that they are best for up to a maximum of 6 campers.

Underneath you can find a list of the tent's strongest and weakest points.

Click or Tap on the Tab you Want to See!

PROS

  1. Freestanding. The Catalyst can support its own weight on any terrain. It does not need to be staked down in most cases. But in case of strong winds, it is always best to secure it to the ground with the included steel stakes and guylines.
  2. Vestibules. Having two vestibules. Gives you somewhere to store shoes and other things that can get dirty, muddy, this is a huge plus.
  3. Internal storage. It is good to see Marmot has added a gear loft and pockets in the interior to store some of your gear.
  4. More than one door. With 2 doors, it is easier to get in and out of the tent, in the middle of the night if needed.
  5. Durable, water-resistant floor. The floor material is 68D 190T poly taffeta, which is a substantially thick and high-strength fabric. Meaning the base is not prone to tears and punctures. Also, the material has a 2000 mm waterproofing rating, which is very good for most circumstances.
  6. Includes FootPrint. It is not often we see a footprint included with the tent. It is suggested to always use a footprint, so not having to pay extra for one is a bonus.
  7. The rainfly completely covers the tent body. The rainfly covers the entire body of the tent from the top to the bottom and has a waterproof rating of 1500mm. Meaning it will easily protect you against heavy rain.
  8. Available in other sizes. Marmot has also made this model available in Other Sizes.
  9. Low price. It is a great buy for a 2 person dome tent that provides this much room. Not a lot of tents available on the market provide this level of quality for only $183

CONS

  1. Not roomy. With a floor area of 33 square feet, the Catalyst 2 is smaller than quite a lot of the 204 other 2 person tents we have looked at.
  2. Lacking in Headroom. With 7% less headroom than similar sized tents, one can see how this could be a negative thing for some campers.
  3. Sloping walls. Even though Dome tents have many attributes to be positive about. The sloping walls do tend to make it all the more smaller inside.

CONCLUSION

4.2 Stars Logo

Our Ratings: 4.2 STARS

Marmot's Catalyst 2 tent is great for backpacking. There are a few other things not already mentioned above which, we found and liked, while reviewing the model: Interior Pockets for Small Gear Organization, Strategic clip placement enhances interior volume and Color-coded poles for easy setup.

With great ratings, a couple of reviews and a minimum headroom of 3' and 33 square feet of area to sleep, this tent is like your very own little home away from home. It will allow you to enjoy some real quality moments in the outdoors. We found a decent amount of pros about the tent that you can read through above.

If you found this page looking for recommendations on this particular tent, our view is, it will make for a good buy. In case you simply happened to land on this page while browsing for a brand new tent having never heard of this manufacurer or this tent previously, it is probably a good thing to look at a few other similar tents.

Value for money: When thinking about value for money, this tent is without a doubt cheaper than the average price of all the two hundred and eighty-five, two-person tents we have looked at, this by itself does not make it good value for money. One should also look at other things in-depth, as we do for every tent.

When we calculate the ratings of an individual tent, we study tons of conditions, finding areas where the tent could perform well against other comparable tents and where it is coming up short. In this case, with a total rating of 4.2 and the price conclusions above, one can view that with a price of $183 The Catalyst 2 is a decent deal and incredibly priced when compared with similar tents.

Its overall score shows that the quality and size the tent gives you were not compromised to obtain a price well beneath the usual price for similar tents. It will make a fantastic choice for nearly all people searching for an appropriate three-season backpacking tent to camp in, that will serve you well for years to come.

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COMPARE WITH OTHER SIMILAR TENTS

MARMOT TENT MODELS

BACKPACKING TENTS || DOME TENTS

Other Sizes and Variations of the Marmot Catalyst Model

Model Headroom Sleeping Area

Marmot Catalyst 2
Catalyst 2

3' 8"33 sq ft

Marmot Catalyst 3
Catalyst 3

3' 11"40 sq ft
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Data Last Updated: 2024-12-11 Privacy Policy || Contact || About

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