How to Set Up the REI Half Dome 2 Plus Tent, with a Time Lapse

Another time lapse from my phone. One person setting it up.  Note the top hub design that spreads the wall poles apart to get the near-vertical walls.

I use the REI footprint for the floor saver, coated (shiny) side up. I had to remove some forest material to prevent sharp items from stabbing through. Orienting the footprint, tent, rain fly, and poles is helped with color coded anchor straps.

Setting up the poles with one person isn't that tough now that I've done it a few times.  It's amazing how the aluminum poles bend so much, and getting that top hub piece in place takes quite a bit of bending in two directions.

Putting up the actual tent is as simple as clipping to the poles, rather than pushing the poles through sleeves. This is a time saver in setup as well as tear down.

The rain fly straps attach underneath the ground cloth straps, then the fly just cinches up at the corners to make sure it's taut.

There was a rain chance, so I spent some time on getting the rain fly tied in properly. This involved making sure the hook and loop tape on the underside was attached to the outside corners of the pole structure and staking out the ends.

Note the vent at the top of the rain fly, with another one on the other side. This consists of a stiff piece that attaches either closed or open. The rain (and cool weather) wasn't coming for a few days, so I started with it open.

The pink visibility tape on the fly guy wires was my first quick attempt at helping people see the black string. I am getting close to an economical solution that ensures daytime and nighttime visibility. More later.

I have switched out the stakes that come with the tent for some Coghlan's three-sided stakes. I have found the ground where I camp the most is too hard for the aluminum pegs that come with the tent (though not this time).  Go here for an excellent discussion and comparison of tent stakes. 

These tents are a nice purchase for backpacking gear if you need the space. One person fits in it great with lots of room for equipment that can stay in the tent with you.  For housing two people it has plenty of room with backpacking sleeping pads, given that the rain fly entrances on either side are spacious enough for packs and shoes to keep the inside free for sleeping.