Gear Review: SlingFin Portal 3
Discover the SlingFin Portal 3, a lightweight and durable 3-person tent designed for rugged backpacking. With exceptional ventilation, weather resistance, and stability, it’s built to withstand challenging conditions while offering comfort and space.
Towards the end of summer I began using the Portal 3 by SlingFin for backpacking in the Southern Rocky Mountains' rugged alpine. Me and my husband wanted to summit quite a few high peaks and thought this would be a phenomenal base camp tent to set up above treeline during big adventures.
Initially I was impressed by the thoughtful design of the Portal 3, and of course it's incredible durability. But as I backpacked with it more and more, it became clear that SlingFin is not simply a company that puts out great tents; they're a group of people that is obsessed with great tents, and they made a company in order to create them. The SlingFin Portal 3 might be the most well designed mountaineering tent I have ever used. And trust me: I have used a hell of a lot of tents.
Quick Rundown of the SlingFin Portal 3
- Super burly 3-person tent made for alpine adventures in harsh weather
- Packed weight: 4 pounds 3 ounces. Minimum weight: 3 pounds 12 ounces
- Two doors and two vestibules
- KickStand vents: opposing struts on the vestibule doors provide unrestricted cross-tent airflow for excellent condensation management without sacrificing weather protection
- High-volume pole structure has a swivel that provides well-distributed headroom without weakness
- Lots of pockets: three ceiling, two head, two side, one foot
- 10 external guy points and 2 perimeter pull-outs provide ample reinforcement
- Pre-installed spare zipper sliders on every zipper double the zippers' lifespan
- Interior height: 44 inches. Vestibule depth: 33 inches. Packed size: 6"x17"
- Comes with 10 stakes
My Experience with the SlingFin Portal 3
Me and my husband do a fair bit of backpacking through the alpine during shoulder season in order to see fall color above treeline, and to summit big mountains when no one else is out. Its a great and varied time where weather is concerned. Some days feel like summer, some days feel like the heart of winter with snowfall to match! So needless to say, it's not a time to mess around with a tent that's not up for anything.
All the backpacking trips the SlingFin Portal 3 came along for were between the elevations of 12,000-feet and 13,000-feet. These were by no means ultralight or even lightweight adventures with all the gear we had to haul in, so it mattered a lot that we save weight wherever possible! The Portal 3 is an excellent choice for weight saving goodness, because for such a large and burly tent, it's weighs in at just 4 pounds and 3 ounces with its poles and stakes. It's also pretty small when it's packed up in its stuff sack.
Pitching this tent is super simple and the matching reflective tabs on the fly and tent body make it simple to know what goes where when your brain is buzzing with hunger after miles of climbing. Once you've got the Portal 3 pitched, unpacking your gear is fun because there are so many pockets that everything you've packed in has a place. The organization opportunity in this tent is so epic.
This is a spacious tent and two long/wide airpads fit in it no problem, along with two 70 liter backpacks and whatever gear needs to be kept on the tent's floor. It's all no problem. So if like me, you are a packrat when it comes to mountaineering trips, the Portal 3 will make your heart skip a beat!
Where the SlingFin Portal 3 shines like a thousand suns is its ventilation and ability to make you forget condensation is a thing.
The fly is nice and burly and stays well off the tent body with the proper pitch. SlingFin's KickStand vents make the ventilation on this tent exceptional. Opposing struts on the vestibule doors create unrestricted cross-tent airflow without letting the elements inside. It's so incredibly awesome. It will make you fall in love. In freezing cold conditions, time and time again, this tent does not get wet with condensation.
The Portal 3 holds up to extreme winds. The strongest I used it in were gusts of around 40 miles per hour above treeline. It sheds snow well, and rain is no issue.
All in all this is a very impressive tent. It's weight-to-size-to-innovative-qualities ratio is perfect for mountaineering trips and backpacking adventures that call for the best gear possible because of the elements you're dealing with.
Of course, the Portal 3 is a large tent meant for three people or two very geared-out people. There is also a Portal 2 and Portal 1 by SlingFin.
Portal 3 Tent by SlingFin: Pros and Cons
The Portal 3 Tent by SlingFin is a versatile and rugged choice for adventurers who demand reliability and comfort. Check out the pros and cons below:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy and intuitive to pitch | Compared to many backpacking tents, it's a bit heavy |
| Bombproof | |
| So many pockets | Overkill for casual backpacking |
| Makes condensation nearly impossible | |
| Lightweight for the burly build quality | |
| Spacious with lots of headroom |
Click here to learn more and purchase the Portal 3 Tent by SlingFin for your next adventure!
My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.
