Marmot Tungsten UL3 Review: Space, Weight, & Price
Marmot’s Tungsten has long stood out for its spacious design at a solid price point, and the UL version trims weight without straying from that proven formula. It’s not pushing the limits of the ultralight category, but for most backpackers, the Tungsten UL3 ($459) offers a highly livable interior at a reasonable weight—especially if you’re splitting the load between two or three people. We especially like the 3-person version for couples traveling with a child or dog, and it’s also offered in 1- and 2-person models that strike a similar balance of price, weight, and comfort. Just keep in mind that the mesh-heavy canopy can feel exposed in windy or sandy environments.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Design Type
Freestanding
Packaged weight
4 lb. 11.1 oz.
Floor Area
40.9 sq. ft.
Floor dimensions
90.2 x 66.1 in.
Peak height
46.1 in.
Floor Fabric
20D nylon
Capacities
1, 2, 3P
Pros
Cons
Marmot Tungsten UL3
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Backpacking Tents.
The Marmot Tungsten UL3 features a standard rectangular floor measuring 90.2 long by 66.1 inches wide (7.5 by 5.5 feet), making it accommodating for three sleepers. We followed Marmot’s recommended head-to-toe pad arrangement, but three regular-width pads (generally 20 in. in width) would also fit shoulder-to-shoulder across. Coming from tents that generally max out at about 88 inches in length, the Tungsten’s length was a highlight—the generous 90-inch floor leaves enough room at the foot for a row of gear or comfortably fits three long pads without feeling cramped.
The Tungsten’s steep walls are a big contributor to the tent’s livability. The pre-bent poles help bring the walls closer to vertical than I’ve experienced with more entry-level tents, and the ridge pole at the top broadens the ceiling and creates more usable headroom throughout the interior. And with a peak height of 46 inches, the Marmot Tungsten UL3 offers a meaningful bump in headroom over many lightweight competitors. Compared to our Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3, which has a 42-inch peak height and more sloping walls, the difference is immediately noticeable—three of us can sit up inside without constantly bumping into the ceiling or each other.
The Tungsten UL is the lighter-weight version of Marmot’s standard Tungsten, but don’t let the “UL” label fool you—it’s not a true ultralight contender. At 4 pounds 11.1 ounces, it’s a meaningful step down from the standard Tungsten 3P (7 lb. 1.2 oz.), but still well above backpacking tents like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3, which comes in just under 3 pounds. Its packed size (6.9 x 20.9 in.) is also on the bulkier side and takes up noticeable space in my backpack. The Tiger Wall UL3 was our family’s go-to before testing the Tungsten, and we immediately noticed the difference in both weight and packability.
That said, the Tungsten UL3 starts to make a lot more sense when you consider what you get in return. With a non-tapered 90.2 x 66.1-inch floor, a peak height that’s 4 inches taller than the Tiger Wall, and excellent headroom thanks to pre-bent poles and a ridge pole, it feels significantly more livable. Importantly, it’s also fully freestanding, which adds stability in the wind and gives you more flexibility in choosing where to set up the tent for the night. Freestanding and semi-freestanding tents are notoriously difficult to pitch well on rocky or snowy terrain, which are also among the most durable surfaces where pitching a tent can leave as little trace as possible.
In the end, this isn’t the tent you pick to shave every ounce, but it strikes a compelling balance for those who prioritize space and comfort. For us, the added weight felt well worth it—the extra room, ease of setup, and versatility made it a better fit for family trips and shorter backcountry outings, especially when the load can be split between multiple people.
The Marmot Tungsten UL3 offers solid three-season protection, although its mostly mesh canopy leaves it a bit more exposed than tents with more solid fabric panels. We tested it over several nights in the high desert of southern Utah, with daytime highs in the 60s and overnight lows dipping into the high 20s. Wind was the most consistent factor, with gusts up to around 20 mph funneling through the canyons, along with occasional light snow showers. The mesh-heavy design also meant that dust and sand found their way into the tent more easily, making us oddly grateful for a bit of moisture to keep things settled. Overall, it felt like we were pushing the lower end of the tent’s comfort range—during one particularly wintry morning, the interior was noticeably cold and breezy, with outside conditions creeping in more than we’d prefer.
Structurally, the Marmot Tungsten UL3 inspires confidence. The three-pole design and sturdy DAC NFL aluminum poles create a solid, fully freestanding build that holds up well in wind when properly oriented—you’ll want to pitch it with the head or foot facing into the wind rather than exposing the broadside. Marmot includes four guylines but no dedicated stakes, so you’ll need to bring your own stakes (or use rock or snow anchors) to fully utilize the tie-out points. There are also additional guy-out points on the sides of the fly that can help reduce flapping and improve ventilation, though you’ll need to supply your own guylines. With a thoughtful setup and a few extra stakes, we had no issues with stability in the conditions we encountered.
In terms of wet-weather performance, the full-coverage rainfly does a solid job protecting the tent body. While we didn’t encounter sustained heavy rain, the coverage is generous enough that we’d feel confident riding out a proper storm. The polyester fly is a standout here, resisting sagging when wet and helping maintain a taut pitch in damp or snowy conditions—something nylon rainflys often struggle with. Venting is handled by integrated fly vents, which help manage condensation, though airflow still depends somewhat on how you pitch and guy out the tent.
Overall, weather protection is right in line with what we expect from a well-built three-season backpacking tent. It’s not a bunker for extreme alpine conditions, but for typical shoulder-season use—including wind, light snow, and moderate precipitation—the Tungsten UL3 holds its own.
Out of the gate, we got a solid impression from the Marmot Tungsten UL3. The tent’s materials and construction feel high-quality, and the seam taping throughout is clean and confidence-inspiring. Overall, its build quality lands above average—it's not quite the ultra-premium, dialed-in finish we’ve learned to expect from brands like Big Agnes or Nemo, but a clear step above entry-level designs and right in line with what we know from Marmot.
True to form for the lightweight-to-ultralight tent category, the Tungsten’s materials seek to strike a balance between weight savings and durability. Marmot opted for a 20-denier nylon floor and 20-denier polyester fly, which aren’t the thinnest fabrics out there, but are far from the 70-denier floors we see in ultra-durable budget backpacking tents. In the end, they land in the same zone as tents like the Big Agnes Copper Spur and MSR Hubba Hubba LT. As with those designs, you’ll want to be mindful of where you pitch the Tungsten UL3—these thinner fabrics aren’t built to handle repeated abrasion from rock or roots without some care.
In fact, we’ve already noticed a few early signs of wear that give us pause. After four nights of use, the mesh canopy has begun to show light abrasion, including small runs and rub spots, which is a bit surprising given that we’re careful to store the tent body in its stuff sack and not stuff it willy nilly into our backpacking packs. It’s not a dealbreaker at this point, but it’s something we’ll be watching with continued use.
The Tungsten UL3 is generally straightforward to set up, thanks to its symmetrical, fully freestanding design and color-coded system. The process follows a familiar flow: assemble the main poles, insert them into the corner grommets, clip the tent body in place, and then add the cross pole across the top to create structure and headroom. From there, the rainfly goes on by matching the color-coded corners, attaching it to the cross pole, and securing the corners and Velcro tabs around the poles. Once everything is in place, you can stake out the vestibules and guylines and open the vents.
In practice, setup takes around 10 minutes. It’s manageable solo, but we’ve found that having a second person helps, especially when inserting the poles into the grommets, as they can pop out when moving from one side to the other. That said, compared to semi-freestanding or more finicky freestanding designs, it’s relatively easy to achieve a clean, functional pitch without much fuss.
There are a couple of small ease-of-use quirks worth noting. First, the rainfly attachment loops are quite small, making setup more fiddly than it should be—particularly in wind or rain when speed matters. And second, the door zippers stop just short of a full opening, which slightly limits access and feels like a missed opportunity compared to more dialed designs like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall.
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The Marmot Tungsten UL3 does a great job managing moisture, thanks in large part to its mesh-heavy, double-wall design. When fully staked out, the fly sits high enough off the ground to promote airflow underneath, and the rainfly also includes two vents that stay propped open with built-in stays and inlays that help them maintain their shape. Finally, the dual-zipper doors give you flexibility to vent from the top or bottom depending on conditions.
We tested the tent in southern Utah’s canyon country, where temps ranged from the high 20s overnight to the 60s during the day, with a mix of wind and light snow. It was three of us sleeping in the Tungsten UL3—my husband, my son, and myself—and even so, we noticed no condensation build-up throughout the night. Given the colder mornings and occasional moisture in the air, this surprised me, as with those conditions I’m generally used to having to wipe the tent walls dry in the morning with an old base layer or my camp towel.
Interior Storage
The Tungsten UL3 keeps interior storage fairly simple. You get two small side pockets—one near each door—and a small overhead “lampshade” pocket designed to hold a headlamp and diffuse light throughout the tent. My husband and I each used the side pockets for essentials like our phones, chargers, sunglasses, and lip balm, although they’re a bit limited in size—too small for bulkier items like a book.
With just these two pockets and the small overhead stash, the middle sleeper (our son, in this case) is left without a dedicated storage space, which makes organization a bit tricky for three people. I’d prefer to see additional pockets at the head or foot, or a more versatile ceiling pocket, so each occupant has a place to keep their gear organized.
Vestibules
The Tungsten UL3 features two vestibules—one at each door—that offer a generous amount of gear storage. The larger vestibule (9.7 sq. ft.) is particularly useful: We were able to fit two semi-empty backpacks and two pairs of shoes while still having enough room to get in and out of the tent comfortably. The second vestibule (5.4 sq. ft.) is smaller but still functional for stashing additional gear. The taller structure of the tent helps maximize usable vestibule space, making it feel more accommodating than many other backpacking tents we’ve used. By comparison, the Big Agnes Tiger Wall has two identical 8-square-foot vestibules, but they feel noticeably smaller in practice due to the tent’s lower height and more sloping walls.
Fly & Footprint Pitch
The Tungsten UL3 can also be pitched in a fly-and-footprint configuration, which removes the tent body and creates a more open, minimalist shelter without a full bathtub floor. It’s a nice option for shaving weight on faster-and-lighter trips, though we suspect most users won’t take full advantage of it. We didn’t test this setup, as the footprint is sold separately, but it’s a useful bit of versatility for those who like having the option.
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 3 ($650): More Space, More Refinement
The MSR Hubba Hubba LT 3 is a clear step up from the Tungsten UL3 in both space and overall refinement. Its hubbed pole design at the head and foot creates even more usable headroom, and the 90 x 75-inch floor (a full 9 inches wider) makes a noticeable difference. You can comfortably fit three pads running head-to-toe, or squeeze in four running perpendicular, which opens the door to fitting a small family in a pinch. Despite the added space, it’s only a few ounces heavier at 4 pounds 13 ounces. The Hubba Hubba also uses more solid fabric in the canopy, which improves wind resistance and helps keep sand out in exposed environments. Add in a more functional pocket layout and a side-loading stuff sack that’s easier to pack, and it’s the more polished, user-friendly design overall—though that added refinement comes with a $100 price bump. For more, check out our review of the Hubba Hubba LT 3.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 ($580): Sacrifice Space for Ounces
The Tungsten UL3 might carry the “ultralight” label, but it’s not competing with true UL shelters like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3. At just 2 pounds 15 ounces, the Tiger Wall is lighter than many two-person tents and is the clear choice if minimizing weight is your top priority. That said, the weight savings come with tradeoffs. The Tiger Wall is noticeably more cramped for three, with a tapered floor (66 inches at the head, 60 at the foot), a peak height that’s 4 inches lower, and a canopy that slopes aggressively at the foot end. It’s also only semi-freestanding, which means you’ll need to be more selective with campsite choice to ensure a proper pitch. But for groups of three looking to cut weight at all costs, the Tiger Wall UL3 is hard to beat. For more, read our Tiger Wall UL2 review.
Marmot’s Tungsten has long stood out for its roomy design and approachable price, and the UL version trims weight without changing that core formula. It’s not truly ultralight, but it delivers excellent livability at a reasonable weight, while still undercutting much of the competition in price.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
The Hubba Hubba LT 3 is our favorite high-capacity design, with a versatile layout that’s roomy for three and workable for a family of four. The tent is airy and features standout interior storage, but the thin fabrics and high price tag make it best for committed backpackers.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
The popular semi-freestanding Tiger Wall is superlight and a decent value. We found the 2-person design is feathery enough for solo hiking, which might be its best use case: It’s a tight fit for two sleepers. We’d also rate the tent even higher if it were more durable.
Interior Space
Weight & Packed Size
Weather Protection
Durability
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Is the Tungsten UL3 for You?
With a number of high-quality backpacking tents to choose from, the Marmot Tungsten UL3 is up against some stiff competition. Most lighter or more spacious (yet still lightweight) tents will cost you more, while most more affordable options will weigh more, so the Tungsten lands in a compelling middle ground for those who want a lightweight tent without paying ultralight premiums. On the flipside, it’s also decently spacious for its weight, with a reliable freestanding design that’s stable, versatile, and easy to pitch in a wide range of environments.
Go for it if you want a spacious, comfortable backpacking tent with a straightforward setup that stays relatively lightweight for the amount of livability and ease of use it offers.
Pass on it if you’re trying to minimize pack weight at all costs, regularly camp in exposed, high-wind environments, or want a more durable, premium build for long-term rugged use.
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