Samaya 2.0 Tent Review

Founded in 2018, French tent specialist Samaya has wasted no time establishing itself as an elite 4-season competitor. We tested the brand's entry-level, two-person tent—dubbed the Samaya 2.0—extensively this past year, exposing it to more than 20 nights of varied weather and conditions. From muddy spring days to gnarly winter storms with winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, the tent was a great match for skiing and winter camping in the mountains of Bariloche and El Chaltén, Patagonia. The tent doesn't come cheap at over $1,000—especially if you purchase some of the optional add-ons, many of which proved very useful to us—but if you can stomach the price tag, it's a top-notch performer and one of the best single-wall designs on the market. Below we dive into our experiences with the Samaya 2.0. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best 4-season tents.
 

Table of Contents

• Weather Protection
• Weight and Packed Size
• Livability and Interior Space
• Build Quality and Durability
• Ventilation
• Storage
• Set Up and Take Down
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

 Weather Protection

It's hard to find a better place to test the weather protection of a tent than winter in Patagonia: a notoriously windy and often-wet environment. Throughout testing, the Samaya 2.0 saw multiple 100-plus-mile-per-hour wind events, heavy rain and snow, and even dust storms while sport climbing in the desert. In the end, I came away very impressed by the tent’s ability to withstand extended precipitation and knock-you-over gusts. My only protection-related complaint is that the included stakes are comically short and made of plastic. Samaya recommends creating a deadman anchor by burying them in soft surfaces like sand or snow or securing them underneath rocks, but the better bet is to upgrade to the Aluminum Pegs Kit, which worked quite well for me. And if you spend a lot of time in particularly windy and snowy environments, parachute anchors (like these from Simply Light Designs) are the most trustworthy option.
 

Weight and Packed Size

The Samaya 2.0 weighs in at a feathery 3 pounds 5 ounces all in, making it among the lightest 4-season tents to make our list this season. For reference, it's a full 10 ounces lighter than Black Diamond’s similarly built HiLight 2P while offering a noticeable boost in weather protection. Other single-wall competitors, including Rab’s Latok Summit (3 lb. 8.1 oz.) and Black Diamond’s Firstlight 2P (3 lb. 6 oz.) also check in heavier, although the Rab has a very low peak height, and the Firstlight is only water-resistant (rather than fully waterproof) and lacking in breathability. In other words, the Samaya 2.0 balances its priorities very well, including great protection and durability for such a lightweight design.
 

When packing for an overnight trip into a winter environment, compressibility is often a key concern, as weight and bulk can add up quickly in your pack. The Samaya 2.0 shines here, packing down to roughly 6 by 8 inches (note: This figure includes both the tent and poles, which come in separate Dyneema stuff sacks). Again, this gives it a leg up over Black Diamond’s HiLight and Firstlight 2P tents (both 6 x 9 in.), along with Rab’s Latok Summit (6 x 20 in.). Whether carried solo or split between two people, the 2.0 is entirely manageable. It’s worth noting that adding features like the optional footprint and vestibule (both of which I cover below) will result in increased weight and bulk, but this is true of any tent.
 

Livability and Interior Space

In terms of livability, the Samaya 2.0 scores solid marks with a pole structure that does a good job maximizing the interior and a generously sized side door that makes it easy to get in and out. The interior storage layout is also well sorted with plenty of space to divvy up the essentials and a few extras (I outline this further in “Storage” below). And while not the tallest tent available, the 39-inch peak height is very respectable and far exceeds that of the Rab Latok Summit (31.5 in.). For reference, my nearly 6-foot-tall partner was able to sit up comfortably (it’s no surprise that I had plenty of room at 5’2”), and the 87- by 42-inch symmetrical floor plan made it possible for us to sleep either side by side or head to toe. Finally, the half-zip window adds to the spacious feel during periods of favorable weather. Even when stuffed with winter climbing and skiing gear plus “luxury” items like a hacky sack, the Samaya 2.0 felt plenty roomy.
 

Build Quality and Durability

Durability is a bit of a mixed bag with the Samaya 2.0. For starters, the floor is made from 43g/m² Dyneema Composite Fabric, which is lauded within the ultralight community for being impressively strong for its weight. The fabric is wrapped with mylar on top and bottom, upping its abrasion resistance. However, while I had no issues pitching the tent on soft, muddy surfaces during the spring, I wouldn’t recommend pitching it on rocky or rough ground. The fabric feels noticeably thin, and I would hate to cause needless damage. In my opinion, it’s worth the added peace of mind to purchase Samaya’s Footprint 2.0 ($90; 6 oz.), which is made with 30D high-tenacity nylon that’s much better suited for camping on rough surfaces. This may be enough to push the tent out of reach for some weight- and price-conscious users, but if you’re already willing to spend into this price range, I feel that it’s worth ensuring your investment will last.
 

However, I did experience a couple noteworthy durability issues in testing. First, one of the main poles (there are two) cracked during a gale-force wind event. I was able to repair it with the included pole splint and some duct tape within about 30 minutes, and it withstood five more days of gnarly weather without needing additional attention. It’s worth noting that another editor who was testing the larger Samaya 2.5, which uses the same 8.7-millimeter DAC FeatherLite poles, also had two break when sliding them through their sleeves, which doesn’t bode well for their long-term durability. I also snapped a few plastic clips (the tent comes with many) in subfreezing temperatures, although this didn’t affect its functionality. And each time we've reached out, Samaya’s customer support team has been quick to respond and helpful in addressing our issues, which certainly goes a long way.
 

Ventilation

The walls of the Samaya 2.0 are made from laminated 3-layer Nanovent, which is an elecrospun fabric made up of hydrophobic nylon on the outside and hydrophilic nylon on the inside. The combination is designed to balance waterproofing and breathability, and I’d say Samaya accomplished this: In testing, the 2.0 proved to be extremely breathable for a single-wall design (and reliably protective, too). The tent also features two large zippered vents on the roof. These provided adequate ventilation when we brought wet clothing inside the tent, and the Velcro tabs on the ends of the vents effectively kept them out of the way. Some snow did creep inside during extreme weather, but it was easily fixed by closing the vents halfway. On hotter days, opening up the vents and cracking the large window allowed for an excellent cross-breeze.
 

Storage

As with most 4-season tents, you can get by using the Samaya 2.0 without a vestibule (it doesn’t come with one), but adding one provides more storage, a sheltered cooking area, and more livable space to don and doff gear. Samaya offers two options: a nylon vestibule ($275; 1 lb. 3.4 oz.) and a Dyneema one ($550; 14.6 oz.). The cheaper vestibule is made from a combination of 30D and 20D ripstop nylon, while the Dyneema vestibule is made from 18g/m² and 34g/m² Dyneema Composite Fabric. Both measure 43 by 35 inches and add an additional 20.5 square feet of space. We’ve heard reports of subpar waterproofing and durability with the nylon vestibule, but the Dyneema version proved to be reliably hardwearing and weather-worthy in our testing. It also made our basecamping experience much more luxurious, giving us added room to sprawl out on storm days. The fact that it costs around half the price of the tent is a significant downside, but for seasoned winter adventurers, the additional investment might be worth it.
 

In terms of interior organization, the tent features one large, full-length pocket along one side (opposing the door) that made it easy for my partner and I to divvy up small items. There’s also a removable overhead pocket that’s great for stashing electronics (like headlamps) and other items you may want quick access to in the night. All in all, the layout isn’t revolutionary, but it gets the job done and proved entirely practical in testing.
 

Set Up and Take Down

Two of the Samaya 2.0’s primary competitors, the Black Diamond HiLight and Firstlight, require inserting the poles into the interior of the tent during setup. This means that the tent door needs to be open, which can be quite problematic in snowy, rainy, or buggy environments. It can also be cumbersome to crawl around to the corners of the tent to ensure the poles are snapped into their pockets properly (this YouTube video highlights the process at 34 seconds in). Samaya addressed this issue head-on by designing the 2.0 to be set up with the poles on the outside rather than the inside, resulting in a much more streamlined—and drier—experience.

To pitch the tent, simply slide the two long poles through the sleeves (the round black end goes in first) and secure the ends into the matching eyelets at the corners. There’s one small pole that runs across the top of the tent, which also features a sleeve and eyelet for securing it in place. To snug things down, simply pull on the webbing adjusters until you reach the desired tautness, and secure the included guylines if needed. In the end, the process took around 5 minutes for two experienced users in forgiving conditions. In a snow storm with strong winds and low visibility, it took me around 15 minutes solo.
 

Other Range Offerings from Samaya

The two-person Samaya 2.0 is the smallest model in their versatility-focused Alpine Range, and they also offer a larger 2.5 model ($1,200) that can accommodate two to three people. Rounding out the collection is the Inspire2 ($770), which Samaya describes as a 3-season bivouac. Moving away from the Alpine offerings, Samaya’s 8K and Ultra collections offer a step up in performance for more demanding objectives. The 8K models—including the 3.0, Assaut2 8K, Basecamp4, and Basecamp10—are designed for high-altitude objectives, while the Ultra range prioritizes ultralight designs for demanding alpine ascents. These tents include the Instant2, Assaut2 Ultra, Opti1.5, Radical1, and Radical3. 
 

What We Like

• Undoubtedly one of lightest, most packable, and most functional tents in its class.
• Reliably weather-worthy and breathable to boot, which isn’t always the case with single-wall tents.
• While not the largest or tallest two-person tent available, the 2.0 does a good job maximizing interior space and felt reasonably roomy for two.
• Built with high-end materials and components throughout.
• Quick and easy to set up, and the fact that the poles are positioned on the outside (rather than inside) means there's no risk of exposing the interior to the elements.

What We Don’t

• Very spendy at over $1,090—and we found many of the “optional” add-ons to be essential, including the footprint, aluminum pegs, and vestibule. 
• Both of our testers experienced a cracked pole, although repairs are relatively easy, and Samaya’s customer service is excellent.
• Plastic clips are prone to snapping in cold temperatures.
• Samaya is still a relatively new player in the 4-season tent space.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

The Samaya 2.0 is a highly competitive single-wall design—enough so that it earned a top spot in our 4-season tent round-up this season. However, it's no small investment at over $1,000, and you can save a considerable amount by stepping down to Black Diamond's HiLight 2P. For less than half the price of the Samaya, the HiLight offers similar livability with a 27.3-square-foot interior, a 40-inch peak height, and a single door. It also features a more confidence-inspiring 30D floor fabric, although weight goes up by a significant 10 ounces. As we touched on above, the HiLight also requires crawling inside the tent to secure the poles during setup, which is far from ideal in inclement weather. And most importantly, the HiLight isn't completely waterproof—the polyester is treated with silicone and polyurethane to fend off light precipitation, but it will eventually wet out in sustained moisture. In sum, the HiLight is a serviceable alternative to the Samaya for the right objectives, but the 2.0 is far more versatile and dependable in true 4-season conditions.
 

For weight-conscious technical climbers and skiers, the Black Diamond Firstlight 2P has long been a go-to. In addition to being competitively lightweight at 3 pounds 6 ounces (just 1 oz. more than the Samaya), the Firstlight is impressively packable and rather affordable at $480. That said, anyone who has taken the Firstlight into true winter conditions (especially in wet maritime climates) knows that the tent has severe limitations when it comes to keeping you dry and protected. Like the HiLight above, the Firstlight doesn’t feature waterproof fabrics, nor do you get taped seams (which the HiLight has). It also features a smaller door and fewer poles, resulting in a more compromised feel. In the end, the Samaya is in a totally different class given its fully waterproof build, and it’s the more breathable option by a large margin.
 

Last but not least is Rab's Latok Summit, which is pricier than both Black Diamond offerings but cheaper than the Samaya at $700. Like the Samaya 2.0, the Latok Summit is fully waterproof with a 3-layer canopy (15D Pertex Shield Air), translating to significantly more moisture protection than most single-wall shelters. And although it’s not Dyneema, the 70D nylon bathtub floor offers confidence-inspiring durability and protection and won’t have you wishing for a footprint like the Samaya's thin floor might. The Rab is also respectably light at 3 pounds 8.1 ounces, although it doesn't pack down nearly as small as the Samaya, and the peak height is decidedly low at just 31.5 inches (compared to 39 in. for the 2.0). As a result, most adults won't be able to sit up in the Latok Summit, which is bad news during stormy weather. The tent also forgoes a mesh door, resulting in subpar ventilation. Given these downsides, we consider the Samaya to be the more well rounded and less compromised option.