How Sea to Summit’s Sentinel Tent Range Deals With The Worst of the Weather

Andy checked out the new Sea to Summit Sentinel XP2 tent. It’s built for even the wettest weekends in the bush.

For the better part of 10 years, I’ve (mostly) used the same old tent.

It’s nothing fancy, it’s fairly light, and we’ve been on heaps of adventures together across Canada and Australia. I’ve borrowed friends’ tents for various reasons, but ultimately I keep coming back to ol’ reliable.

Unfortunately for my trusty companion, it took all of about five seconds setting up the Sea to Summit Sentinel XP2 on a recent trip to the Wolgan Valley to realise it was finally time to move on.

This is a lightweight tent that feels nothing short of bomb-proof, with an outrageous 25,000mm rated waterproof floor, Sea to Summit’s latest entry into premium outdoor gear is here to stay.

The new Ultra-Sil LS fabric really showed Andrew’s old tent up

Quick Specifications

Sea to Summit Sentinel XP2

The XP2 is a true two person tent, with 1 and 3 person models available

Capacity: 2-Person
Vestibules: 2
Entrances: 2
Weight: 2120g packed, 1870g minimum
Fly material: 95% Nylon 5% Polyester
Wall material: 100% Recycled Nylon
Floor: 25,000mm waterproof!
Freestanding: Yes
Pitch versatility: Four modes – Standard, Stargaze, Hangout, Fly First
Poles: DAC Poles (Aluminum)
RRP: $899.99

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Burly Wind Resistance

I’ve spent many a windy night in the mountains bundled up in my sleeping bag, unable to get any rest thanks to the relentless sound of the fly snapping back and forth. The Sentinel XP2 has combined a few clever features to counter this, staying taught and silent.

Even on a rock platform the XP2’s design stays taught

Self-equalising guy lines, sturdy DAC poles, and a wind-tunnel tested shape has made this thing stable in 80km/h winds in the lab. Out in the bush it all came together nicely, and meant the only reason I woke up overnight was the dreaded 2am bathroom break.

Ultra-Sil LS Fabric

‘30D/50D NP Ripstop Ultra-Sil LS.’

What exactly does all that mean? The rainfly does what it says it does, and then some.

The Sentinel series can be pitched normally or ‘fly first’, essential for staying dry during wet weather

Given this is probably the most important feature of a tent you’re aiming to trust in bad weather, the newly developed Ultra-Sil LS material is reassuringly waterproof, and stays exceptionally taut when wet, meaning your pitch keeps its shape in changing conditions.

Sea to Summit also fully seam seal the rainfly straight from the factory – meaning I could take it out immediately on a rainy weekend with peace of mind.

Name a better place to be when the weather rolls in

Waterproof Expedition-Grade Floor

Thankfully I’ve not (yet) had to properly put this to the test in a downpour, but with a 25,000mm hydrostatic head rating on the polycarbonate-coated nylon floor, I could probably pitch the Sentinel XP2 in the middle of a swamp and still wake up dry.

The waterproof floor has the added benefit of being very durable on rough surfaces

For reference, that rating is 7-8 times higher than most similar 3-season tents on the market, and combined with the Ultra-Sil LS rainfly, it leaves me feeling very comfortable setting out for a weekend where the weather could go either way.

Large Internal Volume

While my current tent is technically a two-person tent – you had better really like that other person, especially after a few days on the trail.

There’s no doubt the Sea to Summit Sentinel XP2 is a genuine two-person tent. With steep walls and a high ceiling, the space doesn’t feel cramped at all, and I could easily fit my overnight pack inside with plenty of room to stretch out.

Check out that headroom!

Now if that all sounds a bit too luxurious, especially for anyone counting grams, the lighter Sentinel XP1 would make a great alternative.

AirLift Vents

If you’ve ever kept your Gore-Tex jacket on a bit too long while hiking, you’ll know the feeling of overheating quickly turning into a mix of sweat and condensation.

All that waterproofing is no good without proper ventilation (pit zips for the win).

The Sentinel XP2 comes with handy AirLift Vents built into the rainfly, small, protected openings above the vestibules on each side, which allow a cross-breeze of fresh air to come through the top of the tent and pull out condensation.

The vents also serve a dual purpose in windy conditions, boosting stability by allowing the flow of air to pass through and equalise the high/low pressure on each side of the tent.

The AirLife vents are a unique feature above the doorways that greatly improve ventilation

Goodbye Old Tent

So what was the final straw that made me put my old tent away for good?

It was the realisation that I was effectively rolling the dice each time I set out into the backcountry with a setup that really wasn’t really made for tough conditions.

It’s completely different with the Sentinel XP2. It’s a tent I can rely on from soggy rainforest campsites up north to harsh shoulder-season trips in Tassie, and it’s nice to be backing a local brand while I’m at it.

The ‘tent-only’ pitch will have to wait for sunnier days