YEAR END SALE: 20% TENTS AND FOOTPRINTS THROUGH 12/16 WITH CODE YEAREND2024. Please note we are out of the office for Thanksgiving Nov 27-Dec 1. Orders placed after 4pm on Tues 11/27 will ship the week of Dec 2.

Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2
Portal 2

Portal 2

Regular price
$560.00
Sale price
$560.00

 

 

 Adventure Alan top pick logoclever hiker top pick logo


 

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

Based on 100 reviews
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(86)
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R
Ryu G
Field tested - and very happy

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.

G
Gabriele Janzen
Version 2020 top - Version 2024 ungeeignet

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.

T
Tess Farley
144 Nights Spent Travelling the World in the Portal 2 - BUY THIS TENT!!

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!!

D
Douwe Van Rees
Regular poles are Ibiza quality

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.

W
Wilderness Hiker
Tent fly and floor materials resist water far better than any light backpacking tent I've seen

I carried Portal 2 for 3 weeks section hiking CO trail/Front Range and 4 weeks in central Cascades wilderness over five years 2020-2024, and mine still looks almost like new.

Anyone can design a lighter tent. Anyone can build a tougher tent. The true skill comes when you push the envelope, and Portal 2 strikes an amazing balance at achieving both at once.

The strong thin silicone-impregnated rainfly is unlike any other I've seen. Slippery like teflon trying to cram it in a stuffsack. A few vigorous shakes and most drops of rain or condensation fly right off. While some water stays on when I pack up, I've never seen the material take on water.

I never sealed the three seams over poles (recommended if you don't pay extra $30). This summer an inch of rain fell on a day only a tenth was forecast. A small amount of water got in. It pooled in one spot at lowest corner and left no clues where it came in because it beaded on top and didn't soak in. The next morning there were dark spots under my pad/backpack where water came between the tent floor and the footprint. I touched them and the floor still felt dry inside.

I carried a BA Fly Creek 2 HV UL 5 weeks 2017-2019. I had nearly a quarter inch of water standing in several spots under pad inside BA tent after water soaked right up through the floor within half an hour of a sudden rainstorm/hailstorm. Fail! Tent floor of Portal 2 isn't that much thicker but it resists water in a way floor of BA clearly does not.

The superior coating/treatment also keeps dirt from getting ground in between the fibers. I’m amazed bright orange floor still looks almost new after 5 summers. Even footprint doesn't look all that badly dirty and stained from sap and wear yet. Bright yellow floor of BA looked dingy after a year or two.

Slingfin Tim wrote on website in 2019 he didn't build a sub-3 lb tent tent until he finally discovered a thin body fabric that met his demanding expectations. 2024 and I absolutely believe it. The lasting difference in floor/rainfly performance makes it fully worth the higher price tag.

If you don't take care of your gear, buy a disposable tent. Bathtub floor of Portal 2 is shallow enough at sides, it's not hard to brush dirt and needles out doors as soon as they get inside. Before they rub between pad/gear and floor like sandpaper.

POCKETS! Two long narrow corner pockets ideal for glasses and two more triangular corner pockets hold all my pocket stuff, headlamp, etc. at head. One huge pocket full width of foot, and another overhead.

Very happy with zippers: first weak point to fail on so much gear. If I set up tension on tent corners correct, I often use them one-handed and usually don't feel I'm straining anything. I back up immediately and don't yank if it gets caught.

Customer service was outstanding when I pre-ordered this tent. I knew full well shipment probably wouldn’t arrive and get to me before my ten-day loop around Mt Rainier in 2020. Still, I emailed Slingfin and mentioned my start date. They kept me up-to-date, I paid extra to ship tent expedited, and it arrived at the address of my friends in Seattle the same day I landed at the airport! I set it up on floor of hotel room and had to laugh: it sets up so taut with no stakes I could bounce coins off it. You aren't buying from a company traded on a stock exchange. This guy is passionate about the tents he creates and it shows in all the little details. A work of craftsmanship and a true thing of beauty.

3 minor complaints:

1) Head end is a bit wider than foot. Wider end of footprint, body, and fly are all marked with a matching orange triangle. I still wish both ends were exact same width at expense of a slightly narrower head or an extra half oz. I rotate and rearrange fly every time searching for that tab to tell me which is the wide end.

2) On chilly days it can be hard to attach black clips at corners of fly when the cold plastic has no give and my fingers are clumsy. This tight fit is highly secure in high winds. Older Sierra Designs tents had Jake's foot I could attach rainfly corners to one-handed - I'm sure it’s proprietary.

3) Tabs w grommets at corners of footprint are much looser than grommets at tent corners, so footprint falls off pole ends when setting tent up or moving it. REI staff tell me this is common with many other brands too.

I own 5 backpacking tents. Researched each against competitors, made workbooks to compare specs, and read user reviews for real-world issues. If this tent doesn't deserve 5 full stars, I've never found one that does.

If I went in mountains for 1-3 days and knew forecast I might carry a lighter tent. Ditto if I could guarantee campsites where I can drive in stakes/pole tips for a semi-freestanding tent. Carry 7-10 days of food deep in wilderness, no cell reception to predict conditions, no early outs, and unsure what rocky/unsuitable campsites I'll find? This is my ideal 5 star tent. Your needs may vary.