The CrossBow Mesh is our spacious, super strong 2-person freestanding tent. If you’re looking for a little bit of extra space or want the security of knowing that your tent can handle a huge range of heinous conditions, the CrossBow is your go-to. Its strength-to-weight ratio is off the charts thanks to our patented WebTruss, which holds the pole structure in tension. Sewn along the fabric’s straight grain to eliminate stretch, the WebTruss provides stability to the pole structure and can be tensioned to further lock down the poles. It also allows the CrossBow to be pitched easily in high winds. Unlike pole sleeves, which can lead to pole breakage when the tent is pitched in windy conditions, the WebTruss allows the poles to be set up fully and staked down before the tent body is clipped to the poles. This system provides much more strength than traditional clip-style tents. With internal guyline compatibility and our OutRigger attachment, the CrossBow can be further strengthened against harsh winds or snow loading using the included guylines and your own trekking poles.
The poles, WebTruss, and fly are compatible with the CrossBow Four-Season body, which is available separately. The addition of the Four-Season body turns your CrossBow into a one tent quiver, capable of handling even harsh alpine conditions. You can add a flat footprint to protect the tent’s floor, or use the tub footprint to pitch the tent without a body in bug-free conditions for a lightweight weather shelter.
Features
- Roomy, lightweight, and sturdy 2P tent
- WebTruss adds strength and makes high-wind setup a breeze
- Breathable mesh body provides ample ventilation
- Double dry entry
- OutRigger attachment uses your trekking poles to strengthen tent under high winds and heavy snow loads
- Internal guyline compatible
- Compatible with CrossBow Four-Season body for year-round versatility
- Spacious vestibules offer plenty of gear storage space
- Toggles connect fly to poles at guy points for stability
- Internal ceiling o-rings for gear hanging
- Four internal pockets
Specs
| Trail Weight | 4lbs 4.2oz |
| Packaged Weight | 4lbs 8.5oz |
| Capacity | 2 |
| Floor Area | 32 sq ft |
| Vestibule Area | 11 sq ft + 11 sq ft |
| Interior Height | 41.5" |
| Packed Size | 14" x 6" |
| Floor Length | 92" |
| Floor Width | 50" |
| Tent Body Volume | 58.6 cu ft |
| Vestibule Volume | 50 cu ft |
| Number of poles | 3 |
| Number of doors | 2 |
| Included DAC J-Stakes | 10 |
| Included guylines with tensioners | 8 |
Materials
| Tent Body Fabric | 15D Nylon no-see-um mesh |
| Floor Fabric | 20D Nylon Ripstop PU 1200mm |
| Fly Fabric | 15D Nylon Ripstop Sil/PU 1200mm |
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WebTruss Fabric
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20D Nylon Ripstop PU 1200mm |
| Poles | 2 DAC Featherlite NSL 9.0mm, 1 DAC Featherlite NSL 9.6mm |
Customer Reviews
I left an unboxing "review" when I got this tent 2 years ago, so I figured it was time to follow up with a few seasons under my belt. My wife and I have now used this tent all over the PNW, including the sage steppe of Central WA, all over the Cascade mountains (including the high alpine on the volcanoes), and the rainforests and beaches of the Olympic Peninsula.
We've seen (measured) 30-40mph winds and rain above the treeline on the volcanoes, all-night downpours in the Hoh rainforest, one particularly disgusting weather event that started with snow in the evening and transitioned to sleet and then rain by morning, and a snow-and-ice storm that left a 3" crust of icy snow on top of the tent on one morning. The Crossbow has always kept us safe and dry.
The only time we've woken up with water in the tent was 100% my fault. I carelessly set up the tent without noticing the obvious low spot that would turn into a 2" deep puddle by morning, and I also failed to stake out the midpoint of the fly. To the Crossbow's credit - even being set up in what turned into standing water, I don't think much of anything seeped through the floor fabric. We did, however, get a good amount of splash from the heavy rain and had about 1/4" deep pooling at the low end of the tent.
We've never had a problem with condensation. Sure, some develops on the inside of the fly in humid conditions, but that's the point of a double-walled shelter, right? It's never gotten us or our gear wet.
When fully tensioned, guyed-out, and with trekking poles attached to the "outriggers," this tent will stand up to some genuinely ridiculous weather.
We often bring our two 60+lb dogs camping with us, and we have the predictable patches in the bug mesh to show for it :). The floor has stood up to their claws just fine though - there are no tears yet anyway.
I rarely give things a perfect rating. Everything can use improving...however, I think this is pretty much as good as it can get.
Purchased this in the spring, used it all summer in Colorado high country.
Huge floor. Huge vestibules. Great amount of pockets. I own both the mesh, and RipStop bodies and look forward to winter camping.
I was originally concerned there might be condensation because the RainFly doesn't have the most obvious ventilation...but there hasn't been any, as of yet. But I use this mostly in low humidity, very dry, environments.
I originally hated the style of clips used to attach everything. However, they are MUCH stronger than clips used on other brands, and this tent is STRONG. 60 mph gusts of wind...NO PROBLEM. The web-truss is spectacular. 4.5 lbs (approximately) with almost no weight gain for the RipStop body...how can you go wrong?
If you want a tent that is a VERY decent weight for back packing, has TONS of room, TON of strength and can do it all, this is the tent for you!
Love this tent. I was recommended by my backpacking mentor. Never disappointed. Especially got it at a big discounted price which is rarely for Slingfin. ^^ Would be better it includes a footprint. However Thumbs up!
Condensation free every time! Love that this tent has a vapour barrier and keeps dry even up a mountain in a rainforest! Love the storage vestibules, absolutely love this tent. Worth every cent.
Well received Crossbow 2 Mesh tent and was awesome as expected.
A little tricky to set up a web truss pole at first pitching but if you set up a bow pole first then it was much easier.