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I’ve tried many tents for my second trip to the Philmont Scout Reservation. I think I’ve finally found a winner with the 3F UL Lanshan 2 Pro! We’ll get to my Lanshan 2 Pro review in a bit, but first, let’s talk about how I got here.
Table of Contents
Search for a New Backpacking Tent
On my first trip to Philmont, I used a TarpTent ProTrail tent and it served me very well. It stayed dry in even the heaviest of downpours, was super easy to set up, and weighs next to nothing at just 23 ounces.
For my second trip, my wife was supposed to come with me and I was going to sacrifice my TarpTent for her use on the trail. Thus began my search for a new tent for Philmont.
I really wanted the Zpacks Duplex or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear tent. However, I just could not justify the $600+ price tag for a tent that I would only use for 12 days. I’m not a tent camper. I use a hammock. The only reason I’m using a tent at Philmont is because they don’t allow hammocks (this is a discussion for another time). So, back to the search…..
I discovered the 3F UL Lanshan on the Homemade Wanderlust YouTube channel from Dixie. It’s basically a Duplex knock-off made out of 20D nylon, instead of Dyneema, so the price is much more reasonable. I figured I’d give the Lanshan 2 (2019 version) a try.
Lanshan 2 (2019 Version)
The Lanshan 2 was a great tent. Very spacious. Easy to set up. I love the twin doors on the sides of the tent (I was never a big fan of crawling in the front of the Pro Trail tent). There was just one downside. The old Lanshan 2 was a bit heavy at 2.8 pounds.
I knew I’d be going up in weight, a little bit since I was going from what is basically a one man tent to a two man tent. Going up a full pound and then some just seemed like more than I wanted to take on. I had just upgraded my backpack, so I had a little weight loss in my pack, but I didn’t want to give up that lost weight to a new tent. So, the Lanshan 2 went back and I ordered the Lanshan 1.
Lanshan 1
The Lanshan 1 tipped my scale at 2.1 pounds. I could deal with that. My TarpTent weighs in at 23 oz and I used custom made tent poles for it at Philmont, instead of trekking poles (in hindsight, a dumb move). The poles brought the total pack weight of the TarpTent up to 29 ounces. Just a few ounces less than the Lanshan 1.
The Lanshan 1 seemed to have plenty of space with a pentagon shaped footprint and again, I love the side entrance over the foot/head entrance on the TarpTent. However, when pitched, the Lanshan 1 was just too small for me. After posting my review video, I learned that I pitched it wrong, but even with a slightly bad pitch, my 5’4″ wife felt cramped in the Lanshan 1. This just didn’t seem to be the solution.
Lanshan 2 Pro Review
About this time, 3F UL came out with a new version of the Lanshan 2; the Lanshan 2 Pro. The Lanshan 2 Pro increased in size, decreased in weight, and went from a double wall to a single wall tent in the new version. 3F UL also upgraded the cordage, the corner reinforcements, and better zippers.
Here’s a quick run down of the specs:
- Weight: 2.01 lb / 32.28 oz / 915 g
- Dimensions: 106.3 in (L) x 47.2 in (H) / 270 cm (L) x 120 cm (H)
- Fly: 20 D double coated silicon
- Inner tent: 20 D nylon mesh（3 season） / 15D Nylon（ 4 season）
- Bottom: 20 D Silicon coated nylon
- Zipper: 3#YKK
On my scale, after changing out the tent stakes, the Lanshan 2 Pro came in right at 2 pounds; 3 ounces more than my TarpTent. Perfect!
As for size, the tent feels MASSIVE inside! I’m just shy of 6′ tall and I have at least 6″ of space at both my head and my feet. It feels like I have my very own romper room in the great outdoors. The vestibules on either side provide additional gear storage for my pack and shoes.
Set up was a breeze, especially if you’ve ever set up a trekking pole tent before. Loosely stake the four corners, install the trekking poles, stake the vestibules, stake the two wall tie-outs, and you’re done. It has adjustments to the corners for the wash tub floor (upgraded from the old Lanshan 2) and the cordage and plastic adjusters on the vestibules improved.
I was in love!
Lanshan 2 Pro Trail Test
I promptly scheduled a trip to the Appalachian Trail for a trial run of the Lanshan 2 Pro.
While I still hate tents versus my Warbonnet hammock, the Lanshan 2 Pro performed like a champ on the AT. We had rain almost every day or night and I didn’t encounter any major condensation issues with the tent (a primary concern with single wall tents). I left half a vestibule open on either side and I believe that provided plenty of ventilation to avoid excessive condensation.
Even in a downpour the first evening, I set up the tent in no time with very little water getting inside during set up. It carried very nicely in the pack or strapped to the outside. Even though 3F UL shows how to roll the tent for storage in the stuff sack, I always just stuff it in the sack (it is called a “stuff” sack, after all). No issues with stuffing it in and getting back on trail.
Overall, if you have to sleep in a tent, the Lanshan 2 Pro is a winner!
Lanshan 2 Pro Review Conclusions
Pros
- Very lightweight for a 2 person nylon tent
- Super spacious
- Very easy setup and adjustments
- No need for poles
- Very little condensation if you leave a couple flaps open
Cons
- Need trekking poles and be familiar with trekking pole tents
- It’s a tent, not a hammock
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission from those purchases.