- Named a "Top Pick" of 2023 by Outdoor Gear Lab
- Top pick two years running for "Best Bomber Tent" in Adventure Alan's Best Backpacking Tents list! (Full review here).
- CleverHiker Tent Guide Top Pick 2020 (Portal Review Here)
- Named one of the "Best four-season tents of 2019-2020" by Section Hiker!
- Outside Magazine named the Portal one of the 3 Best Tents of 2019: "the only tent we’d want on a stormy trek." The Portal was also declared "strongest tent" in Backpacker Magazine's Summer 2019 Gear Guide.
The Portal is our lightest freestanding tent at 2lbs 14oz. It's our statement piece saying you don't need to sacrifice strength, features, or durability to make an ultralight freestanding tent.
If there's a stronger sub three-pound tent out there, we have yet to find it. By incorporating several technologies from our Expedition Series tents, we were able to give the Portal a degree of stability and weather resistance previously reserved for dedicated "four-season", or more accurately, "one season" tents.
We designed the Portal with an eye for long-term durability. This means using premium fabrics with excellent UV and mildew resistance, eliminating PU coatings that break down over time, and adding extra zipper sliders to double the zippers' lifespan.
The Portal can be set up fly-first to keep the inner tent dry in rainy conditions. Instructions are found in the bottom video below.
Heading to Patagonia? Spending some time in the desert? Pick up our Heavy Duty Portal 2 pole set. This replaces the stock 8.7mm poles with extra sturdy 10.65mm poles to provide additional wind and snow loading resistance.
To prolong the life of your Portal's floor, pick up a Portal footprint. For ultralight weather protection in non-buggy conditions, check out the Portal Tub Floor. Additional stakes and guylines can be purchased here.
The Portal is now available in a muted green/brown colorway without reflective trim for those who like to keep a lower profile.
Features
- Two doors and two vestibules increase livability for two.
- Two pre-installed internal guylines give the Portal great lateral stability for almost no weight increase. Click here for step-by-step instructions to install a second set of internal guylines. Click here to learn how internal guylines work.
- Our new KickStand vents make ventilation a breeze. Opposing struts on the vestibule doors provide unrestricted cross-tent airflow for excellent condensation management without sacrificing weather protection.
- Short pole package is perfect for bikepacking
- High-volume pole structure with a swivel provides well-distributed headroom without the weakness of hubs.
- Pole swivel connects long poles for easy setup
- All the pockets you could ever want (two ceiling, two head, two side, one foot).
- Offset vestibule design eases entry and exit.
- 10 external guy points and 2 perimeter pull-outs provide ample reinforcement.
- External guy points are matched to toggles to attach the fly directly to the poles, increasing stability.
- Matching reflective tabs on fly and tent body simplify setup.
- Color coordinated stake loops for easy flysheet orientation
- Can be pitched with footprint (not included) and fly for a minimalist weather shelter.
- 2-Side silicone impregnated flysheet and PE floor fabric are mildew-resistant and have excellent hydrolytic stability, and will last significantly longer than traditional PU-coated fabrics.
- Pre-installed spare zipper sliders on every zipper double your zippers' lifespan.
- Includes 10 DAC J-Stakes and 6 additional external guylines (not including 2 pre-installed internal guylines)
Specs
| Minimum Weight | 2lbs 14oz (1.3kg) |
| Packaged Weight | 3lbs 5oz (1.5kg) |
| Capacity | 2 |
| Floor Area | 27.45 sq ft (2.55 sq m) |
|
Interior Height
|
44" (111cm) |
|
Packed Size
|
14" x 5" (35cm x 13cm) |
|
Pole Package Length
|
13.5" (34cm) |
| Floor Dimensions |
85" x 51" (head) / 42" (foot) (216cm x 129cm / 107cm) |
| Vestibule Area | 2 x 8.4 sq ft (2 x 0.78 sq m) |
| Number of poles | 3 |
| Number of doors | 2 |
| Guy out loops | 10 |
| Perimeter pull out loops | 2 |
| Guylines | 6 (+2 pre-installed internal guylines) |
| Stakes | 10 |
Materials
| Tent Body Fabric |
15D Nylon no-see-um mesh
|
| Floor Fabric | 20D Nylon Ripstop SIL/PE 1800mm |
| Fly Fabric | 10D Nylon 66 Ripstop Sil/Sil 1200mm |
| Poles | 2 DAC Featherlite NFL 8.7mm, 1 NFL 9.3mm |
Seam Sealing Note: The seams on your Portal's flysheet are highly water-resistant and will handle light rain just fine without being seam sealed. However, the three seams directly above the tent poles should be seam sealed for maximum waterproofness in extended, heavy rains.
Sewn in Vietnam.
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Customer is responsible for all import duties and taxes. We strongly suggest looking up duty rates in your region before ordering, especially if you live in Canada. We recommend against "UPS STANDARD" shipping because they charge very high brokerage fees. To avoid brokerage fees, select either USPS shipping or UPS Worldwide Express/Expedited service. Note that UPS brokerage fees and import tax & duty are separate. Canadian customers can estimate duty here. Please note this is just an estimate and actual rates may vary.
Customer Reviews
I stumbled upon Slingfin when researching ultra light, freestanding two man tents and received it as a gift last year. This one checks all the boxes and is such a joy to set up and take care of. Every detail feels thoughtful. Have tested in gale force Sierra Nevada winds, but till waiting for a rain storm. Setup is mostly intuitive once I realized that the rainfly is color coded to the correct corners. Loved it so much I bought the footprint to protect my perfect angel from scrapes and rocks. Picked it up locally in Berkeley and got to see the shop--cool space and cool folks.
Music to our ears, Katie!! We spent a LOT of time designing the small details (like the setup tabs) and I'm glad our work is being appreciated! Feel free to reach out if you need anything!
As a former backcountry ranger and field biologist, I’ve field-tested a lot of gear over the years, through all kinds of harsh conditions and environments. I’ve been extremely happy with this tent after 2 seasons — it’s the best I’ve found for general 3-season+ backcountry adventures. Optimized to be light, sturdy, AND durable. Quality materials that bring a smile each time, with all the small touches that you grow to appreciate the more you get to know what it’s capable of.
Vorab ich bewerte zwei Versionen des Slingfin Portal 2
Version 1 gekauft 2020 - ein absolut verlässliches Zelt, welches mich in allen Lagen sicher geschützt hat. Leicht aufzubauen, Nachteil: die Kick-Stands sind a) funktionieren nach einiger Zeit nicht mehr gut b) sie sind unnötig da, das Zelt zu kurz geschnitten ist und - trotz gegenteiliger Aussagen - nicht bis zum Boden gespannt werden kann d.h. es zieht. ich bin vergangenes Jahr in extrem schweres Wetter gekommen in welchem zwei Stangen und Aufspannungsvorrichtungen gebrochen sind, aber das Zelt hat mich trotz der Beschädigungen sicher durch einen sehr schweren Schneesturm begleitet. Die 2020 gekaufte Version würde ich mit der vollen Punktzahl bewerten - tolles Zelt. Da ich mit dem Zelt so zufrieden war und kein "gestückeltes" Zelt mit Reparaturen haben wollte, habe ich mich dieses Jahr entschieden das Zelt neu zu kaufen. Gekauft April 2024. Schon beim Auspacken sind mir die absolut minderwertigen Materialien aufgefallen, wenn ich das Zelt nicht vorher schon gehabt hätte, wäre das Zelt aufgrund der minderwertigen Materialien direkt zurückgeschickt worden. ich bin aber davon ausgegangen, dass Slingfin weiß was es tut und evtl. der manuelle Test nicht aussagekräftig ist. Ich habe bei der neuen Version die Nähte versiegelt - bei der alten verlässlichen Version wäre ich noch nicht einmal auf die Idee gekommen. Ich bin also mit einem Zelt welches mir nicht vertrauenswürdig vorkam losgezogen. Am 4. Tag sind beim Aufbau - ohne Zug, die Befestigungsringe abgefallen. Da ich dem Zelt nicht getraut habe, habe ich es von Anfang an mit der Verstärkung durch Trekkingstöcke aufgestellt. Ebenfalls am 4. Tag ist bei leichtem Wind das Gestänge an 2 Stellen gebrochen, die Zelthaut durchstoßen worden. Am 5. Tag habe ich festgestellt, dass der Zeltboden durch Grashalme durchstochen wurde. Und nein, ich verwende keinen zusätzlichen Footprint. Dies ist eine Unsitte welche sich die letzten Jahre entwickelt hat. Die Zelthersteller verwenden ungeeignete Materialien für den Zeltboden um Gewicht zu sparen. Diese Gewichtsersparnis bezahle ich kräftig um dann zusätzliches Gewicht und Geld für den benötigten Footprint auszugeben. UND bei der alten Version des Slingfin ist trotz jahrelanger Belastung der Zeltboden nicht beschädigt. Am 6. Tag ist das Gestänge an weiteren Stellen gebrochen (nur leichter Wind) - damit war das Zelt unbenutzbar. Da ein solches Zelt nicht für das Aufstellen im Vorgarten sondern für die Wildnis gedacht ist, ist die neue Version schlicht gefährlich. Slingfin- Team Ihr hattet ein tolles, verlässliches Zelt, Ihr habt eine gefährliche Katastrophe daraus gemacht. Jedes 5 Euro Zelt hätte mir besser gedient. für die neue Version (gekauft 2024) vergebe ich höchstens 1 Punkt.
Hi Gabriele! I'm sorry the o-ring fell off- that is clearly a manufacturing defect and is covered under warranty.
I'm not sure why the materials on the newer version felt different to you. I can assure you that the materials on the 2024 version are EXACTLY the same as the 2020 version. We use the same fabric spec, the same supplier, and the same coating. The ONLY material that has been changed since the beginning was the color of the zipper. It used to be gray, now it's black. But the zipper itself is exactly the same. The fabrics and poles are exactly the same. I'm not sure what felt 'inferior' about the material when you opened the tent, but they are the exact same ones on your first tent. Additionally, all Portal flysheets should be sealed, including the 2020 version. Perhaps the difference you felt is that the feel of the fabrics change with use. The flysheet becomes less slippery and feels different when it has been used for a long time. I am guessing your new tent felt different from your old tent because the old tent was used for a long time. However, when your old tent was new, the materials would have felt exactly the same as the current version.
If the floor was damaged while set up on grass, the only explanation is that there was a stick or other sharp object hidden in the grass, because the floor fabric has not changed- we have thousands of tents in the field with that exact floor fabric, and it's simply not possible for grass to pierce it.
In the future, please consider repairing your equipment instead of purchasing new equipment. Throwing away gear that can be repaired is wasteful and has a big impact on the environment. Repaired gear functions just as well as brand-new gear, and every patch tells a story! If you'd like your o-ring reattached and reinforced, please let me know, and we can arrange to have your poles and flysheet repaired as well.
My partner and I have spent the last two years travelling the world and nearly a 1/4 of this time has been spent in the Portal 2 tent. The tent has seen every condition imaginable, ranging from mild to extreme, spanning countries and continents.
This tent being our home, it was important that it could handle the harshest conditions that the likes of Patagonia and Peru, Scandinavia and Central Asian countries like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (to name a few!!) would throw at it.
Our tent setup up is very simple and takes no time at all to put up. We follow a few simple rules to ensure the tent has lasted as long as it has in varying conditions:
1) We always use the ground sheet (we purchased this separately) and clear the ground of sharp objects such as rocks and sticks etc
2) We always use the heavy-duty pole set (we again, purchased this separately)
3) We always use the super simple Velcro out-rigger attachments for hiking pole deployment (there is no doubt you tent will not budge in the windiest of conditions if you use this feature)
4) We always use the guy-lines
5) After use we always dry the tent immediately or as soon as the sun finds us that same day
6) We always shake the tent out and roll carefully, exactly as it came at the time of purchase
7) We regularly wipe and clean the tent between multi-day hikes to ensure it is stored dust and grime free in our pack
8) And, when we have the opportunity we always hang the tent instead of keeping it in its stuff bag for extended periods of time
By following these simple rules this tent has endured the harshest conditions with little to no wear.
If anyone has any issues with the tent it is certainly user error, or on the odd occasion, simply a rare manufacturing fault which from our dealings with SlingFin I’m sure they’ll respond to graciously.
Thank you SlingFin for providing us with a safe home over these recent years, we’re truly grateful.
Awesome, Tess!! So glad to hear you've been having such a good time with the Portal. And great advice- if you take the time to learn the ins and outs of your tent and treat it well, it will return the favor with years of adventure!!
Purchased the tent in Spring 2024. First night in The Pyrenees we had a thunderstorm with high winds, but nothing extraordinary. Tent was properly mounted, walking sticks and all guylines in place. The next morning we found out that the poles were seriously deformed and unfit for futere use. We had planned a hike of 2 weeks, we had to change our plans. A Hubba NX adjacent to our tent was in exactly the same conditions and had no damage at all (Hubba NX carries alu poles of 7000 quality). A very disappointing experience. After sales service were very arrogant and accused us of improper setup and some blabla story about the Hubba NX tent. I wouldn't recommend anyone to purchase this tent for use in mountaineous regions, the regular poles are unfit for it.
Hi Douwe, sorry you had trouble with your poles! The Portal uses the same 7000 series aluminum alloy as the Hubba NX, so it's strange that they performed differently. We don't have a record of you contacting us, so I'm not sure who this arrogant sales service person is. We'd be happy to help you get your poles fixed! Next time please just reach out with a warranty inquiry and we'd be happy to help.