ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 1.0 Tent: 1-Person 3-Season

I got a great deal on this about 2 years ago, to use as a throwaround tent to keep in my truck. Turns out its one of the better tents i've owned and I have a lot. The seams are holding up amazing, not a single leak, and now that I own 3 Alps tents I can say they manage moisture/condensation better than almost any brand tent i've used (never ever buy a sierra designs)... Yes its a small tent, but its lightweight and doesn't take up much space. I've used it over 50x without a single problem.

Let's just start off by my saying that this is not the best tent in the world. Having said that, it's not nearly as expensive as other tents. So you get what you pay for, and in my belief, a little more than you pay for. This is a great little tent. I have owned it for 13 years and just barely put it to rest last year. I have used it backpacking EXTENSIVELY and feel that it does the job. Yes it's heavier. No, it's not the highest quality, but it lasted me 13 years of consistent year-round backpacking. The best thing about it is the vestibules are on both sides and are massive. They are actually bigger than they need to be, which is really nice. I have been in plenty of rain storms and have always stayed dry. This a great one man tent for someone getting into backpacking that doesn't want to break the bank on buying gear. It's also great for a Boy Scout or for a young person who wants to start backpacking, who doesn't mind sleeping alone.

I didn't even roll it out. It felt heavy so I weighed it - 4 lb 4 oz (without cary bag). I even checked my scale against my Nalgene and that was 6 oz spot on as it should be. Even for an amazing sale price I had to return it.

In looking at other reviews, it seems like my experience isn't the norm, but this tent sucks. I just got back from a week on the Colorado Trail, and the rain fly is horrible. It seems waterproof, but in all of the rain I experienced, water wicks right through the fabric (especially at the seams), which soaked the tent where it touches the fly. Pack and gear got soaked in the vestibule on the first night, and my bag got pretty damp; it was tough to get ahead of all that moisture over the course of the week, even on a dry day.
Very lightweight and easy to set up. It's also very sturdy. The tent stood up to some pretty nasty wind and rain pretty well. I like how the fly attaches to the tent (straps and buckles), but it's not worth spending another wet night/morning.

Immediately after buying this tent I found a 1.5, which is much better for me. So, I returned the 1.0 and bought the 1.5. However, before I returned it I checked it all out and, yes, it is a great tent. I just needed one with a bit more room.

I've used this tent a lot in different environments (including primitive camping on rocky ground with potentially pokey grasses, etc., and I haven't experienced any issues with it getting damaged or even worn out looking. It's not the best for backpacking as it is a bit on the heavy/bulky side, but if you want a fly that is watertight this is an excellent choice (though due to the design of the fly you do need to be fast about getting in and out). The vestibules are quite small, and the interior of the tent is none too big. The pegs and poles are very sturdy, though again, you do pay a bit of a weight penalty because of this. Overall, though, I've just been very impressed with how it's held up under all the punishment I've put it through with the less-than-ideal places I've pitched it.

I use this tent for me and my 45-lb dog. With both of us inside and the rainfly closed (except for the very small vent), we do have a condensation problem. But that's sort of to be expected with two mammals in a one-human tent.
The fly and the mesh zip in opposite directions, and the way they're set up, you have to completely open the mesh in order to completely close the fly (or open it if it has been completely closed). If you're camping in a really buggy area, this is a HUGE flaw.
The tent is perfectly waterproof, unless you want to open the vestibule while it's raining. For instance, if you (or your canine) needs to exit the tent, or if you happen to like leaving the fly open in the rain as long as the wind isn't blowing too much. If you're quick about entry and exits, and you get the fly re-zipped quickly, it's not too bad, but it is the biggest problem that I have with this tent.