First Look: Argali Rincon 2P Tent, Alpine Zero Degree Bag, & Elite Dream Pillow

Argali was a name that hadn’t yet crossed my radar in the outdoor gear world until March 2025. That’s when my friends Rafe Nielson, Shawn Skipper, and I embarked on a thrilling adventure to hunt the Southeastern Spanish ibex and Iberian mouflon. Nielson, already in the know, sent me Argali’s Carbon X Trekking Poles, and the moment I started testing them, it was clear—these poles are the real deal.

I use trekking poles on every mountain hunt, but I’ve also carried various sets on four 100-mile mountain ultramarathons and dozens of other mountain races. I know what bad, average, good, and great poles feel like. The Carbon X Trekking Poles are great.

The lockdown system was tight, the handles were comfortable, the poles light, and I loved the removable orange tabs. Argali offers a QuickShot Adapter that threads into the top of either trekking pole, creating an on-the-go shooting stick. Argali also offers the X3 Trekking Pole Adapter to connect the two poles into a single tent pole.

I used and abused those poles trekking across Spain’s scenic Sierra Nevada range. Last fall, I used them on a sheep hunt and three elk hunts. They still look brand new. The poles are ultra-tough and are easy to break down and store in a backpack.

Those poles put Argali on my radar.

Yesterday, I received Argali’s Rincon 2P Tent, Alpine 0 Degree Sleeping Bag, and Elite Dream Backpacking Pillow. Last night, I set up the sleep system in my backyard in 15-mile-per-hour winds and did a little backyard campout.

Why?

Two reasons: First, I want to get familiar with new gear, especially new gear I plan to use on an upcoming hunt. Second, it’s buying season. Though I won’t have the opportunity to use the gear in a hunting situation until fall, I can shed light on these new products and explain why each will be a critical piece of my 2026 fall hunting arsenal.

Argali Rincon 2P Tent

Single-person tents are too small, and I’m too old and particular to sleep in a coffin (bivy sack). Two-person tents provide room. The problem with two-person tents is weight and size. Argali solves both with the Rincon 2P. The tent weighs less than 23 ounces with the orange titanium stakes. Peak height is 54 inches, and the tent measures 108 inches long and 88 inches wide. It is made from 20D Ripstop SilPoly fabric, has a detachable stove jack, and is built for 4-season use.

Argali saves weight because there are no poles. The titanium stakes and fabric are ultra-light, but without poles, the tent compresses down to nothing, fitting almost anywhere in a backpack and reducing overall weight.

After anchoring the tent’s four corners, I extended a single Carbon X Trekking Pole, opened the tent door, and set the pole in the slot in the center of the tent. Argali’s X3 Trekking Pole Adaptor lets you connect trekking poles together. However, I don’t yet have the adaptor, and the single, extended pole worked perfectly. The 20D Ripstop SilPoly fabric turns into a teepee-style tent with the pole. You can then use the remaining titanium stakes to anchor down the other adjustable-rope tent anchors.

Total setup time was less than five minutes, and though the wind howled throughout the night, the tent was remarkably stable. I did not suck the tent stake rope ties down, as I wanted air to flow into the tent. However, the ropes are fully adjustable, and you can pull the fabric even with the ground to reduce airflow in the tent.

Alpine 0 Degree Sleeping Bag

Late June nights on the southeastern plains of Colorado are hot; too hot for the Alpine 0 Degree.

Why did I opt for this bag?

I hate being cold. I’ve spent too many nights shivering and not sleeping while hunting elk in September, October, and November. I’ve tried 10- and 15-degree bags, but most don’t provide the warmth I require. I got bad frostbite as a kid, and when temperatures drop, I struggle to stay warm when my body isn’t in motion.

Naturally, the Alpine 0 Degree provided too much warmth for my summertime backyard campout, but I love it. Named the Best Overall sleeping bag by several publications, the 850+ Dry Loft Down provides warmth and is naturally water-resistant. Lying on top of the bag provides great comfort. You can feel the Loft Down wrap around you. I love the mummy-style build, and Argali includes Body Mapped Baffles. The differential-cut fabric, combined with vertical and horizontal baffles and internal flow gates, traps goose down where you need it most.

Like the Rincon 2P Tent, I had zero trouble with the bag’s zipper. It’s smooth and snag-free. The 3D Contoured Hood and 3D Foot Box are engineered to fit snugly and eliminate cold spots. Other standout features include the internal cell phone pocket, which is designed to keep your phone’s battery warm and alive. The bag also features connection points inside the hood that attach to the Elite Dream Pillow, ensuring your pillow stays put while you sleep. All signs point to a bag designed to let you rest in comfort, stay warm, and get a good night’s sleep so you can be your very best in the woods the next day.

The Alpine 0 Degree Sleeping Bag comes, THANK GOD, with an oversized stuff sack. I was able to fit my tent, sleeping bag, pillow, and cook gear inside the bag, shrink it down, and fit it perfectly into my backpack.

Elite Dream Backpacking Pillow

The 3.5-ounce Elite Dream Backpacking Pillow is a must-have. The pillow is light, simple, and seems durable. What I like most, though, is the zipper. Open the zipper, and you can stuff this pillow with a puffy jacket. Argali has done an amazing job with this three-piece sleep system. The system uses gear you’re already toting and turns it into sleep gear. The system will save you a ton of weight.

Final Thoughts

This is ONLY a First-Look piece. I can’t wait to give this gear a full test drive in the elk woods this fall. In my opinion, regardless of the weather, this system will let me travel light, stay warm and comfortable, and sleep well. And, friends, sleep matters when you’re waking early and crawling into your bag late.