The Midori 2 is a simple, straightforward and value-driven 2-person camping tent. The tent's name means green in Japanese. After much speculation among our reviewers, we decided it is likely not a coincidence that the tent is also green. And we also think that it is a good tent for relatively green campers; that is to say, if camping is new to you, this is an affordable, low-commitment, easy-to-use tent which will be adequate for most uses. Campers seeking a weather-ready tent in this category should also look at the Marmot Catalyst. The Catalyst costs more and weighs in 12 oz. heavier with a trail weight of 5 lbs. 3 oz. and a larger packed size of 7" x 21". The Catalyst did hold up better in rainy, windy weather, however (scoring an 8 to the Midori's 4) and a 9 in durability to the Midori's score of 7.
With a moderate 32.6 square feet of space, the Midori 2 features 9.7 square feet of vestibule space (note: only one vestibule and one door), roomy enough for muddy boots, packs, and other accessories. Of all the tents we tested, the Hilleberg Anjan GT 2 has the largest (extended) vestibule space at 27 square feet, and the NEMO Galaxi 2 came in second with 22 square feet. If storage is a priority, look at these two tents.
As for the Midori, while the trapezoidal floor shape ostensibly narrows on one end to minimize carry weight (4'7" left side - 3'9" right side), one reviewer found the narrower side a bit claustrophobic; enough to affect sleep. The 43" height was roomy enough for our tester (5'10" to change clothes and move about comfortably.
Inside, we enjoyed the roomy 12" x 25" gear loft and two additional pockets; while in other tents we tested we were left looking for sunglasses/ phone/headlamp storage, we felt contentedly organized in the Midori. Ample mesh on the walls and a hooded vent on the fly gave us plenty of fresh airflow. We felt the absence of a second door and vestibule, however, for the simple convenience of not having to crawl over each other for middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks.
We did enjoy the tent's breathability — the Midori's V3 system features a vertical strut vestibule pole, vectored fly-to-tent body pullouts, and hooded fly vents for optimal volume, venting, and versatility. A series of vectored fly-to-tent body pullouts noticeably enhanced air flow between the inner tent and the rain fly, providing what felt like added wind stability.
It kept us comfortable during a spring storm, though we were disappointed to see a bit of seam leakage on the fly.
The Midori took its highest category score in the “Ease of Set Up” category — we loved how easy this tent came together for a single camper setting it up solo. Easy clip attachments were intuitive and made clipping the inner tent to the poles a breeze, and the two 7000-series aluminum poles came together easily into what felt like a strong, stable structure. Color-coded clips made clipping on the fly quick and easy.
We did find the tent difficult to stuff back in its sack — more so than any other tent in our review. While a minor inconvenience, it was not what we wanted to deal with on a damp morning at 5 AM. We found the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 exceptionally easy to pack away on those early morning departures.
The tent boasts 75D 190T polyester ripstop material for the fly, and while the 1800mm PU coating kept most of the fabric dry, the seams struggled slightly. Overall, this tent will bear up fine in light rain, but if you're in for a night of a heavy deluge, expect to see a bit of wetting at the seams.
If you're after a truly storm proof tent, the Hilleberg Anjan GT 2 will keep you dry and warm - it earned the highest scores in this metric. We also were impressed with the Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL2 mtnGLO and the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2's ability to keep soaking spring rains and chilly splashes at bay.
The Midori 2 scored a 7 for overall durability. We felt the construction itself was sturdy, but were disappointed in seam seepage on the fly - despite the advertised fully-taped seams. We were impressed with the durability of the 75D polyester taffeta floor with the same 1800mm PU coating; it kept us dry and comfortable in damp conditions.
The most durable tents in our review were the Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL2 mtnGLO, the Hilleberg Anjan GT 2 Person and the NEMO Galaxi 2.
The Midori 2 scored in the middle of the pack for weight, coming in trail-ready at 4 lbs. 7 oz. The packed size of 5" x 18" is larger than we'd like for backpacking, but those doing short one- and two-day trips should find it manageable, especially when split between two hikers.
The Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL2 mtnGLO weighs 5 oz. less at 4 lbs. 2 oz. but packs down larger at 6.5" x 21". The Rattlesnake scored far higher in our reviews and offers a higher-performance option for those looking for a roomy tent with built-in LED lighting.
This is a value-driven choice for the new backpacker who will be camping in mild to moderate conditions. One door and vestibule somewhat limit access, so make certain you're good friends with your travel companion!
This tent is a strong choice for someone looking to make a nominal investment into their camping gear. The Marmot Catalyst weighs in 12 oz. heavier and doesn't pack down as small. The Kelty Salida is a bit cheaper than the Midori but is also slightly heavier at 4 lbs. 9 oz. compared to the Midori's 4 lbs. 7 oz. Finally, we have our Best Buy winners, the Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 and REI Half Dome 2 Plus.
With its ease of set-up and relatively lightweight/packable size, we'd recommend the Eureka Midori 2 as a strong starter tent for a backpacker looking to get into the sport and looking to make a minimal investment. The two-pole free-standing tent overall performed well and is a good value; just be sure to watch the seams and potentially pack along some seam tape/patches of your own if backpacking in wet conditions.
