Mandatory on a new tent? Take it or leave it?

Medium to heavy backpacking, 2-4 days.

Depends on a lot of things I think.

More than enough room in the tent for you and your stuff, might not need it.

Up in your area, a spot to knock the snow off on the ground, inside, would be nice.

More room is almost always the best option for me.

IMO, a vestibule is worth the extra weight.

+1, a place for your gear and boots, especially if they're wet.

Also, a sheltered place to fire up the stove in the morning and not risk spilling stuff in the tent.

Thanks for the replies, and I'm taking it as a 'yep'.

At this point the Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel 3 is looking pretty good to me.

Smokepole has it! Place to fuel and light the stove, and then a place for wet gear.

Several years ago, when the float plane didn't arrive to pick up a friend and I because of a heavy snowstorm and we had to tough it out for some extra days, I was damn glad that my friend had a tent with a vestibule!

I don't recall what model it was, but it was a Hilleberg.

Hilleberg makes makes many models, and most of them get rave reviews in "serious" backpacker circles.

Have a look at the Hilleberg line AT THIS LINK

John

Almost always yes to a vestibule

Yup and Yup

Yes to a vestibule. I own 2 Hilleberg tents and they’re awesome tents. One is the Akto the other is a Staika

Same response for me.

If your tent does not have a vestibule, and the weather turns bad, then you have to setup a tarp to perform the same function. A vestibule is lighter and easier.

as a backpacker, not a backpacking hunter, it depends on the tent. some tents have small vestibules that aren't worth a flip. i like tents that are module system like Mountain Laurel Design or Hyperlight Mountain Gear. either of their 2P pyramid tents gives you room for gear and cooking.