Paria Bryce 2P Tent Review: A Freestanding Tent for Under $200

By Alden · September 27, 2026

If you want a freestanding 2-person backpacking tent for less than $200, the Paria Bryce 2P is hard to beat. I just took it on its first trip, two days backpacking in the Sawtooths, and it kept me warm down to 30°F and completely dry through a round of morning rain.

Check Price at Paria

What it is and my first trip in it

The Bryce 2P is Paria Outdoor Products’ backpacking tent, and I bought mine direct from Paria for $189.99. Before this I had a cheap no-name backpacking tent, so this is a real step up, not a swap between two good ones. My other tents are for car camping, the C6 Rev popup I’ve already reviewed, which is a different job entirely. This one has to get carried.

First trip was two days backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains. Overnight temps dropped to 30°F and it held heat well once I was in my bag. There was light rain in the morning and the tent stayed completely dry the whole time, inside and out.

Setup took about 10 minutes, but it was my first time pitching it. I’d guess I can cut that in half once I’ve done it a few more times. It’s freestanding too, so it holds its dome shape before you ever put a stake in.

Why I picked this tent

I looked at a lot of other backpacking tents before this one. It was always the same problem: either too expensive or too heavy. The Bryce is right in the middle, and the quality is great.

Real room for two

I can sit up fully inside, and it would fit two people comfortably, which isn’t true of every tent that calls itself a “2 person.” I had the whole floor to myself on this trip, with enough extra room to fit a friend’s gear too.

It’s a single door with one vestibule, but there’s enough space out there for two packs. I used it for my shoes overnight and they stayed completely dry, same as the rest of the tent.

Pitching on granite, packing it back down

Most of my stakes held fine and kept the rainfly pulled tight, but a couple of spots on the granite wouldn’t take a stake at all. I used a rock to weigh down one section on the back of the tent instead. That’s not a problem with the tent, just the ground I was on.

Even with the overnight drop to 30°F, I didn’t get any condensation.

Packing it back into the stuff sack is easy, but I don’t actually pack it that way. I pull the tent out of the sack, tuck the poles into a side pocket next to my water bottle, and lay the tent body and fly flat in my pack instead. It packs down cleaner that way than stuffed in its own sack.

I used the included footprint and it’s worth bringing. Check the weather first, if rain’s likely, bring it. If you’re going ultralight, you can leave it behind and not worry about it.

The downsides worth knowing

The tent itself doesn’t leak, but getting in and out does mean opening the door. If it were raining hard right when you unzip it, some water could get in with you for those few seconds. I didn’t run into that because my rain was light, but it’s a real tradeoff of how any single-door tent works, not a flaw in this one specifically.

I’ve also only got one trip on it so far. It came through clean, but I can’t speak yet to how the fabric or the seams hold up over a full season.

Would I buy it again, and who should skip it

Yes, without question. It’s hard to find a backpacking tent at this price with these specs. For most solo backpackers, the 1P version is probably all you need and it’ll be lighter to carry. Get the 2P if you regularly go with a partner or you want the extra room for your gear, like I do.

Paria Bryce 2P Tent FAQ

Is the Paria Bryce 2P tent freestanding? Yes. It holds its shape on its own before you stake it down, which makes it faster to pitch on rock or hard ground where stakes don’t go in easily.

Does water get into the Paria Bryce 2P when it rains? No, the tent doesn’t leak. Mine stayed completely dry through light morning rain, including the gear I stored in the vestibule. The only time water could get in is for a second while you unzip the door to get in or out during a hard rain, which is true of any single-door tent.

How much does the Paria Bryce 2P weigh? Paria lists the trail weight at 3 lbs 7 oz without stakes or the footprint, and 4 lbs 6 oz for everything included.

Is the Paria Bryce 2P actually big enough for two people? Yes. I could sit up fully inside, and there’s enough floor space for two people, which some “2 person” tents don’t deliver. Solo, I had room to spare for all my gear too.

How long does the Paria Bryce 2P take to set up? About 10 minutes on my first try. It’s freestanding and straightforward enough that I expect to cut that time in half with more practice.