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Rei Cirque ASL 3 Tent

Hiking & Camping > Shelters & TentsRated: **** by 8 reviews.

REI

Count on the REI Cirque 3 to not only offer high livability and full-featured comfort, but strength, weatherproof protection and low weight—it's perfect for light winter weather.

  • Dual doors and vestibules provide user-friendly entry/exit and space for gear
  • Dual AirLift vents in the rainfly let wind pass through, lifting the tent slightly for increased stability and cross-flow ventilation
  • Generous asymmetrical floor plan and reverse-combi pole design places the tent's volume where it maximizes comfort
  • Clip and pole-sleeve design combine to provide easy setup, enhanced ventilation and structural integrity
  • Mesh ceiling and door panels provide excellent ventilation and allow stargazing in clear weather; nylon panels seal them shut in lousy weather
  • DAC Featherlite® NSL pole system features eco-friendly anodizing and super light, strong poles with press-fit connectors
  • Insider floor seams are engineered to create a nice, clean taut pitch and maximize floor space; factory seam-taping ensures a waterproof seal
  • Vestibule doors can be rolled up half way or completely out of the way
  • Leak-proof rainfly construction ensures that water won't sneak through susceptible areas such as guyout points and zippers
  • Attention to detail shows with reflective guy points, adjustable cleat-lock tie-downs on rainfly and inside tent pockets to keep small items organized
  • Comes with guylines and tighteners, stakes, pole repair tube, pole and stake bags and tapered, easy-to-stuff compression stuff sack
  • Average minimum weight specification is based on tent, rainfly and poles only

Average minimum weight:6 lbs. 4 oz.
Average packaged weight:6 lbs. 13 oz.
Average weight - metric:3.10 kilograms
Canopy fabric:Ripstop nylon
Design type:Freestanding tent
Doors:2
Floor area:41 square feet
Floor dimensions:90 x 72 inches
Floor dimensions - metric:228 x 183 centimeters
Floor fabric:Coated nylon taffeta
Number of poles:2 + 1 vent
Packed size:7 x 21 inches
Peak height:40 inches
Peak height - metric:102 centimeters
Pole diameter:10.25 / 9.6 millimeters
Pole material:Aluminum DAC Featherlite NSL
Rainfly fabric:Coated ripstop nylon
Season:4-season
Sleeping capacity:3
Vestibule area:10 + 10 square feet

View other products from Rei classified in Hiking & Camping > Shelters & Tents.

View all products from Rei.
View other products classified in Hiking & Camping > Shelters & Tents.

Sometimes, we can't be sure that the product is the same across the stores that offer its, so you may find the same product listed more then once on GearBuyer.com, we these list highly similar products below.

Rei Cirque ASL 2 TentRei Cirque ASL 2 Tent$269.00

These are products that have been indicated being comparable to this product:

Rei Cirque ASL 2 TentRei Cirque ASL 2 Tent
Hiking & Camping > Shelters & Tents
$269.00
Rei Hoodoo 3 TentRei Hoodoo 3 Tent
Hiking & Camping > Shelters & Tents
$199.93

This product is available in the following colors:

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Sage / PlatinumSage / Platinum

Option Availability:

Use this chart to find which retailer offers this product in the size, color or other options that you desire. Click on the price to purchase.

Color
Sage / Platinum
Sage / Platinum
299.00

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Rei Cirque ASL 3 Tent Reviews Summary:

RatingNumber
of Reviews
*****3
****3
***0
**1
*1
To see how this product compares to others view Tent Reviews.

Positive Reviews:

OUTSTANDING 4-SEASON TENT

Rating:*****
If you can accept that the Cirque 3 is either a spacious 2-person or cramped 3-person tent, there is nothing to fault in the design or function of this product. If you have problems with this or any tent, examine your setup and expectations. In their quest for reduced weight, manufacturers have replaced canopy fabric with extensive mesh panels, largely abandoning the concept of a 4-season tent except for their heavy duty mountaineering models. The C3 is a medium duty mountain tent that is absolutely weatherproof but has three large ventilation panels that can be closed to seal out storms or cold downslope winds. The A-frame side walls do not intrude on living space for 2 people and the headwalls are near vertical. The pitch is very taut and care must be taken not to bend the poles. The poles will take a set on their first use but they should not be straightened as this will weaken the tubing. Instead maintain their curvature with each use. The fly is very well designed and completely seals out both rain and snow. It even has awnings or vent panels over each entry which moves the drip line out from the top of the tent doors. When the fly is properly attached to the pole frame and guyed out, there are no pockets to trap water or snow. Each vestibule readily holds a large pack and boots and still allows for easy entry into the tent. Although the C3 is a pound or so heavier than most similarly sized backpacking tents, the increased quality and weatherproofing more than compensates for the extra weight. In short, if you demand comfort and frequent high altitude or cold conditions, you will not be disappointed with the Cirque 3.
Candor at REI on 03/11/2008

A bit cramped, but a solid performer

Rating:****
Used this tent with my 8 year old son this weekend. Kept us dry with only a intermittent drizzle, and 35 degree overnight temp.

However, because of the inward slant of the sides, it is a bit more cramped than I would expect from a 3-person tent (The floor size really only would allow for a 2.5 person, when combined with the slanted sides, I wouldn't reccommend it for 3 adults.)

The vents are useful, but I wish I had used the vent on the top of the vestibule (which is designed to leave open in a non-windy rain. See the pics or the video), because there was a fair amount of condensation inside the rain fly by morning.

The setup gets much easier after the first time or two, and I didn't experience the same trouble with the rain fly pole the other reviewer did.

There are several nicities, including reflective ties for finding it again in the dark, lots of inside ties for hanging clothes or lights, pockets for your stuff sack, the ability to vent the vestibule in a light rain (though I have to agree that it's tough to get in and out of the vestibule in the rain without getting the tent wet - it's really only good for leaving your pack in a dry spot), it's lightweight and fairly compact.
Fangs at REI on 09/29/2007

A Great Tent!!! You can't go wrong!!

Rating:*****
I used the Circ 3 on hike this weekend at Wildcat Hollow in southern Ohio. We had a really hard and windy rain Friday night and the tent performed great. The tent was easy to set up...I set it up in the store with the sales person so it went up pretty easy and it went up in about 4 minutes. I will use it as 2 person tent...as most tents are too cramped if you use the recommended rating. I use a 2 person as a 1 person. The fly worked fine in the heavy rain and the circulation was fine when I used the wind vent feature on the fly door. I have a Deuter 75+10 pack and had room to store my pack and tentmates pack on one side of the fly. The weight penalty for the 2 doors is well worth it. Buy the foot print and don't mess with a ground cloth that you need to cut. I recommend foot prints with what ever tent you buy. I will carry it this summer on a trip Philmont Scout Ranch
Ohio Hiker at REI on 05/12/2009

So far, so good

Rating:****
I've spent several nights in my Cirque at various locales around Colorado - usually as a base-camp the night before summitting a 14er. The weight is great - the whole package fits snugly on my pack and it is fairly easy to set up (10-15 minutes).

The size is perfect for me, a friend and my dog, but I'm not sure I'd want to test its 3 person rating - it would be tight especially with any gear or extra clothing in the tent.

I have yet to set it up with the fly completely attached - it is simply too tight. I've ripped 2 flies so far trying to pull it into place.

The ventilation is nice - I still want to spend a night without the rainfly, but it's held up against the elements (windy thunderstorm, 4-5 inch snowfall).
Dawntreader at REI on 09/20/2009

SaaWheat Tint

Rating:*****
So I don't know how that guy gave this tent a 1 but thats crazy. I used this tent at my land in South central alaska last week at 25 below zero. It set up very quick stayed 10-20 degrees warmer than outside, collected no water and packed up just as quick. This is a great design and i felt it had plenty of head room for a tent under 7 lbs. I think its the perfect 4 season tent. Also i'm 6'4" and had plenty of head room
GQ Punk at REI on 01/06/2009

Lightwieght 4-season tent

Rating:****
Great tent, I use it for mountain hiking and backpacking. Cozy for 3 adults but it works. The tent walls are angled in more than I'd like, and the fly doesn't keep the elements out as well as it should in bad weather. Tent stays warm, is very well ventilated and lightweight. This is a great tent and well priced.
ColoradoSummit at REI on 10/31/2007

Negative Reviews:

Give this one a miss

Rating:*
Ordered this tent and took it out on a two-day backpacking trip in the Southern Canadian Rockies, with high hopes. Camped at 6,500 feet and got a few inches of snow overnight (late September). The tent's performance was very disappointing -- this tent fails on a number of accounts, and I'm having to send the tent back for the following reasons:

1) While the stated floor space makes it appear that the tent might be very spacious, it is in fact VERY cramped. The side (door) walls slope in such that two people can barely change side by side, and you end up sleeping with the tent fabric hanging just a few inches from your face.

2) The door to the tent and the door to the vestibules are very poorly designed, so it is essentially impossible to get in and out of the tent without rain/snow getting in the tent, if it is raining/snowing at all.

3) The vestibule are very cramped, and because of the design, you can't really be inside the vestibule unless both the vestibule door and tent door are open, which results in a went tent if it's raining or snowing.

4) Due to the nature of the vestibule design, any sizeable amount of snow results in the vestibules sagging a lot, reducing the size of the small vestibules but almost half.

5) Despite being advertised as a four-season tent, it's not, particularly if it snows. The tent has a big flat area right at the top of the tent (over the vent) which in our case did a perfect job of collecting several inches of snow, and eventually causes drips into the tent via where the vent zippers are.

6) Finally, even the tent only has 2.5 poles, it is quite fussy to set up. Not only are the two poles a bit hard to get in if it's cold at all, but the 1/2 pole (that holes the fly vents open) is VERY hard to get into the pole sleeves with even thin gloves on.

If you're using this tent in mild weather, you might enjoy it. Otherwise, save your frustration of buying it, only to have to bundle it up and return it, after finding out all the flaws of the tent the hard way....
[...]member at REI on 09/23/2007

Returned It

Rating:**
I ordered this tent online so I red all the reviews. I guess I was a bit hyped out. I feel bad giving this product only 2 stars but I really think it needs some improvements and I'm just being honest. First pros: The overall design is pretty cool and it is very stable. Also the weight is minimal and nothing seems to be sacrificed on the quality of materials. It is definitely more in the category of 4 season (all the vents are closable and it keeps the warmth very nicely). Major con for me (which finally made up my mind about returning it) ended up being the zippers (YKK but too small) and awkwardly designed doors (hard to get in and out) and fly. Also the steeply angled walls make this a 2 person deal in my opinion and I didn't found it comfortable enough to hang out in. I also found the set up more difficult than I expected and I'm no amateur :] If you want a comfortable 3 person 3 season tent than pass by, if you want a good value 4 season go ahead and buy it. I opted out for Black Diamond's Vista and I'm glad I did.
Elpege at REI on 03/27/2009