Marmot is quite a popular outdoor gear brand with a reputation for some excellent tents. Their Limelight series consists of 2 to 4 person capacity shelters, but their 3 person is an excellent all-around choice for many campers.
In this Marmot Limelight 3P review, we will help you take a closer look at this tent, so you can decide whether or not to buy it for your next outing.
The Limelight 3P is a beautifully built tent that is perfect for a couple or a cozy trio. It has recently been updated and even though the original is still a great option, the new model is superb.
The Limelight 3P would be a great choice for campers and weekend backpackers. It is particularly ideal for a couple that wants to share a tent or a person who often takes a friend or two along on trips. As a 3 season tent, you are sure to get plenty of use from this model year after year. It is very reasonably priced and a great first tent for casual outdoor enthusiasts.
Buying a tent isn’t always an easy process and certainly not one to be taken lightly. With Marmot’s Limelight 3P tent you can trust that it will keep you dry, warm and snug in pretty much any situation you can throw at it.
The Marmot Limelight 3 Person Camping Tent is designed to be light weight and easy to set up, without sacrificing backcountry luxury. The D-shaped door allows no-step entry/exit, and color coded webbing and poles make set-up a snap. The roomy vestibule keeps gear dry in wet weather.
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Details of the Marmot Limelight 3P
The Marmot Limelight tent isn’t just an awesome-looking shelter. This high-performance yet budget-friendly tent is loaded with features that truly set it apart from the competition. Before getting into the pros and cons, here are the details.
Specs
- 3 person capacity
- 3 season use
- Retails for under $300
- Color – Cinder/Rusted Orange
- Packed weight – 6 lbs 11 oz
- Trail weight – 6 lbs 0.5 oz
- Fly/footprint weight – 4 lbs 2 oz
- Floor dimensions – 48″ x 68″ x 90″
- Floor area – 42.5 sq ft
- Vestibule area – 11.3 sq ft & 7.5 sq ft
Materials
- Fly – 68 deniers 190T polyester taffeta with 1500mm F/R
- Canopy – 40 denier No-See-Um mesh F/R & 68 denier polyester taffeta F/R
- Floor – 68 denier 190T polyester taffeta with 2000mm F/R
- Poles – 3 alloy DAC Press-Fit 9.0mm & Velocity 8.5mm
Features
- Comes with everything you need- stakes, guy lines, mesh gear loft, and a footprint
- Large D-shaped double door for easy entry and exit
- Large two-sided vestibules in front of the door (either zip both or just one half)
- Easy to set up with color-coded clips and poles
- Full coverage rain fly with vents
- All seams taped
- Catenary style floor
- Built-in pockets for storage, plus a special “Lamp Shade” pocket
- Durable, noiseless zippers that are snag-free
Advantages of the Marmot Limelight 3P
There is no doubt that the Limelight 3P has numerous benefits. If the feature list alone wasn’t reason enough to seriously consider this model, check out these 5 major advantages.
Excellent Design and Durable Materials
The updated Limelight 3P is a different design than the original, and arguably a much better one at that. The well-thought-out pole and clip set up allow for maximum interior space and dual vestibules allow for versatility. The poles are high-quality DAC Press-Fit poles with an aluminum Velocity ridge pole.
Unlike the original, the updated version has ventilation in the fly which is a must for any tent of this size. This tent is resistant to damage and the heavier tent body materials used are going to last longer than competing products. Marmot even paid attention to the details, such as the Lamp Shade pocket- specially designed to hold a headlamp upright to provide hassle-free ambient lighting.
Small Enough for Backpacking
The Limelight 3P is a bit on the heavier side for a 3 person tent, so you might opt for the Marmot Limelight 2P if you can deal with smaller confinements, coming in at a little under 7 lbs. While this model is definitely not for ultralight backpacking or extended trips in the backcountry, it is light enough for one person to pack on short camping trips. You could also divvy up the backpacking tent and share the weight between two people.
Very Weather and Wind Resistant
As a true 3 season Marmot tent, you can expect the Limelight 3P to withstand almost anything thrown at it. You’ll remain dry in rainstorms thanks to the water-resistant coating covering the fly. Despite the blocky shape of this camping tent, it performs surprisingly well in high winds. A couple can easily wait out a storm in comfort in this shelter.
Dual, Roomy Vestibule
Many smaller tents without a lot of floor space like the Marmot 3P often skimp on vestibule space in order to save on weight. Thankfully Marmot didn’t hold back on this vital extra storage space.
The vestibules are located right over the front door and are quite nifty. Unlike traditional designs, these vestibules are side by side. You can just use half of the vestibule for keeping dirty boots and other gear. Once inside the tent, you can zip down the other vestibule to create about 19 sq ft of space, completely protected from the wet weather, so your sleeping bag can stay dry during your next camping trip.
Easy to Care for
Like many Marmot tents, the Limelight 3P requires very simple maintenance. If the tent happens to get dirty just use warm water and a sponge for cleaning. For bad stains or stubborn dirt, you can use a very gentle detergent- don’t use chemicals or harsh cleaners.
Never use a washing machine and do not submerge for an extended time as this will damage the waterproof coating. After washing you can either pitch the tent in shade to dry or hang it on a line. Do not use a dryer or leave in full sun. If you do happen to have issues, I’d recommend some seam tape which can extend the lifespan by many years.
The Limelight 3P original was already a very impressive tent that had a history of excellent reviews and its new updated version is even better. This model is really a no-fuss shelter perfect for two or three people in nearly any season. Amateur campers and pro backpackers alike will really appreciate the benefits the Limelight 3P offers.
Disadvantages of the Marmot Limelight 3P
It’s always a good idea to do careful research before investing in any piece of outdoor gear, especially a shelter. It’s tough to find anything bad about the Limelight 3P but there are two complaints that some buyers have discovered.
Tight Fit for 3 People
Oddly enough, the majority of people that purchase the Limelight 3P actually buy it as a two-person tent. With only 42.5 sq ft of space, it would be a tight fit for 3 adults. If you do plan on using this for 3 people be prepared to rely on the vestibule area for gear storage. At maximum capacity, there really won’t be much interior space for extra gear and backpacks.
Lack of Pegs
Another complaint is that some have found that their tent didn’t come with enough pegs to completely set-up the Limelight 3P as the instructions recommend. You can buy more pegs from Marmot or purchase from a different source. Some customers have also found that the pegs are a bit flimsy for very tough ground so if you often camp in such terrain, you may want a whole separate set of more durable pegs.
The Marmot Limelight 3 Person Camping Tent is designed to be light weight and easy to set up, without sacrificing backcountry luxury. The D-shaped door allows no-step entry/exit, and color coded webbing and poles make set-up a snap. The roomy vestibule keeps gear dry in wet weather.
Final Say
Finding a smaller capacity tent that feels like a spacious, comfortable shelter isn’t always easy. For the space and price, it’s a great buy.
Marmot’s Limelight 3P is one such backpack tent that is perfect for up to a trio of friends. This tent is as tough as they come and will last you for years if cared for properly. If you’re interested in this model, check out this Backcountry listing for the latest prices.
However, some people prefer the Marmot Tungsten 3P, so that is another option you can look into as well.
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