Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 Tent Review

Table of Contents

• Our Opinion
  • Comfort
  • Size & Weight
  • Weather Resistance
  • Ease of Setup
  • Durability
  • Overall Value
• Features & Specs
• Is It the Right Tent for You?

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Our Opinion of the Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 Tent

Despite well over 100 years in the outdoor industry, Diamond Brand Gear isn’t a very well-known name among most campers and backpackers.

The reason for this certainly isn’t a lack of quality products. Instead, it’s because the company has spent the last 30+ years developing military gear and focusing on contract manufacturing. Only since 2017 have they made a serious dive back towards making products aimed at the everyday outdoor enthusiast.

I mention this because I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first outing with the Freedome 2.5 Tent. It was a brand I only had passing familiarity with so I was interested to see how their tent would stack up against others that I’ve used in the past.

Right from the get-go, I could tell that Diamond Brand means business. Not only is the tent relatively lightweight (trail weight: 5 lbs 6 oz), but I was also impressed with the quality of the materials, amount of floor space (34 sq ft), interior height (peak height: 45.5”), and easy setup.

I’ve only used the Freedome 2.5 in rainy conditions so far, including strong gusts of wind, so I already know that this puppy is weatherproof. And thanks to plenty of mesh ventilation, I’m sure that it stays plenty cool sans rainfly during the warm summer months.

Comfort

The Freedome 2.5 is constructed from the ground up with plenty of space in mind.

It boasts 34 square feet of floor space and an interior peak height of 45.5 inches. The vestibules add an additional 14 square feet into the mix. I typically camp alone or with my large dog and there’s plenty of space to spread out. Two people will fit comfortably with plenty of room to spare.

Although it’s become standard for most two-person tents, the dual entry points with separate vestibules further adds comfort. The easy-to-use zippers, removable gear loft (it doubles as the tent bag), and modular gear pockets make this tent’s livable space that much more comfortable.

Weight & Packed Size

The Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 Tent has a packed weight of 6 lbs 4 oz and a trail weight of 5 lbs 6 oz.

Personally, that’s too heavy for me as a backpacking tent I typically go alone. It works better split between two people, although it’s still best for short backpacking trips. For car camping, however, this tent can’t be beat in terms of its excellent weight to usable space ratio.

As for its packed size, the Freedome 2.5 clocks in at 19 inches by 7 inches. While this is a little larger than our absolute favorite backpacking tents (including the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2), it’s still more than small enough to fit into your backpack along with the rest of your backpacking gear.  

Weather Resistance

As mentioned above, I’ve only used this Diamond Brand tent in rainy weather so far.

It’s held up well to the constant rain, especially when coupled with the Diamond Brand Footprint (sold separately). The full-coverage rainfly kept me dry throughout the night. The tent itself is made from 70-denier polyurethane-coated nylon ripstop with a DWR (durable water repellant) floor and the rainfly is made from 70-denier urethane-coated nylon ripstop with DWR.

The Freedome also holds up well in wind. It comes with eight lightweight tent stakes to secure the tent and fly. The rainfly extends low to the ground which prevents wind from catching underneath.

Ease of Setup

The Freedome 2.5 is quick and easy to set up, especially once you’re familiar with the process.

You simply connect the three shock-cord tent poles to the six attachment points at the bottom of the tent. Then connect the tent with the pole clips. There are no pole sleeves.

The rainfly is also easy to set up. The attachment points are color coded so you know exactly which side is which. Tensioner straps enable you to easily adjust rainfly tension. The only slightly difficult part is attaching the rainfly’s Velcro wraps onto the tent poles.

Take down is just as simple as set up. The tent comes with a carrying wrap (that doubles as an interior gear loft) instead of a tent bag. I actually like this design more than a tent bag for car camping, although you definitely can’t pack the tent down nearly as small as you could in a stuff sack.

Durability

The Diamond Brand Freedome has proven durable so far.

It boasts 70-denier polyurethane-coated nylon ripstop with a durable water repellent (DWR) floor, a 70-denier mesh body, and 70-denier taffeta sidewalls and door panels. The rainfly is 70-denier urethane-coated nylon ripstop with DWR.

The Diamond Brand Footprint (sold separately) adds an additional layer of protection and durability thanks to its 70-denier urethane-coated nylon ripstop with DWR construction.

One small factor to note is the polyurethane (PU) coating. This waterproof coating often makes tents susceptible to degradation, especially flaking. I haven’t experienced any issues with the Freedome 2.5 so far, but I also haven’t used it very much yet.  

Diamond Brand offers a warranty on the Freedome tent. There are also replacement parts available. Follow the brand’s recommended care and maintenance to prolong the life of your tent.

Overall Value

At $350 altogether, the Freedome 2.5 is a bit on the pricey end for a tent from a manufacturer that’s relatively unknown in the camping world.

That said, the tent does provide good overall value. It’s reasonably lightweight, quite spacious, very easy to use, and durable. It will likely last you for years and years of family camping fun.

This Diamond Brand tent is a good choice for a mid-priced camping tent, although we encourage you to look at other models, like our top-rated MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2, especially if backpacking is your main priority.

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Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 Tent Features & Specs

Here are the most important features and specs for the Freedome 2.5 Tent:

Capacity: 2+	Packed Weight: 6 lbs 4 oz
Packed Size: 19x7x7 inches	Floor Area: 34 sq ft
Vestibule Area: 14 sq ft	Interior Height: 45.5 inches
Poles: 3	Doors: 2
70-Denier Nylon Ripstop	DAC Poles
Modular Gear Pockets	Tent Bag Doubles as Gear Loft

For more information on the Freedome’s tech specs, visit Diamond Brand Gear.

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Is the Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 Tent Right for You?

The Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 is a quality camping tent.

It’s spacious enough for two adults, even two adults and a child, to sleep comfortably. If you typically camp alone like me, it will feel positively palatial. It has more than enough room for me and a furry friend when I’m backpacking with my dog.

Better yet, it’s durable and performs well in inclement weather. Although it’s not designed as a four-season tent, it has proven to excel in rainy, windy, cold three-season conditions.

The catch is that it’s not ideal for backpacking due to its weight and packed size. It’s not a behemoth in any regard, but it’s a little too heavy for backpacking. Serious backpackers will prefer something lighter. But those that only have a single tent for both camping and backpacking, and only go backpacking a handful of times per year, will likely be happy with the Freedome’s size and weight for short backpacking trips.

All that said, the tent is a little pricey as a car camping tent for summer use only. If you are looking for a casual camping tent, there are far cheaper options available that will get the job done just fine.

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The Verdict

You certainly won’t be unhappy with a Diamond Brand Freedome 2.5 Tent of your own.

If the Freedome is nearly what you’re looking for, but not exactly, we encourage you to look at other tents from Diamond Brand Gear, especially the Freedome Hunt 2.5 and Military Inspired Combat II tents.  

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using the Freedome 2.5 so far and look forward to testing it out in more varied conditions in the near future!