One of the efficient methods to scale back the load of your backpack is by selecting an ultralight tent. We compiled analysis on 64 completely different choices and chosen the most effective fashions to check, starting from budget-friendly picks that shocked us to premium fortresses providing storm safety.
We evaluated every mannequin based mostly on numerous metrics akin to consolation, ease of use, and climate resistance, whereas additionally protecting in thoughts the astronomical costs that these shelters usually command.
We included each one-person and two-person choices to check within the forests of the Midwest. We spent an evening in every with the identical gear we tackle our adventures to see how they match into an ordinary backpacking expertise and invited buddies to judge the two-person fashions.
The lead tester has been an avid backpacker and kit fanatic for eight years, testing all varieties of backpacking tools from deep winter forests to blistering deserts.
And for more information, take a look at a few of our different hottest gear guides:
Fast Picks for Ultralight Tents
Take a look at this fast listing of our favorites, or proceed scrolling to see our full listing of the most effective ultralight tents with in-depth evaluations.
Finest two-person ultralight tent: Durston Gear X-Mid Professional 2+ ($669)
Finest one-person ultralight tent: Durston Gear X-Mid Professional 1 ($549)
Finest stability of consolation and weight for 2: Zpacks Offset Duo ($799)
Finest stability of consolation and weight for one: Zpacks Pivot Solo ($649)
Most spacious & weather-worthy ultralight tent: Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 ($1098)
Finest low-weight design: Zpacks Duplex Basic ($699)
Best to suggest one-person tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo ($260)
Finest tent with freestanding choice: Tarptent Double Rainbow ($299)
Finest funds ultralight tent: 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Professional ($190)
Good stability of weight & livability for solo hikers: MSR Freelite 2 ($449)
Finest semi-freestanding ultralight tent: Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 ($450)
Finest versatile tarp internet combo: Six Moon Designs Haven ($375)
Finest tremendous light-weight one-person silnylon tent: Gossamer Gear The One ($255)
Finest tremendous light-weight two-person silnylon tent: Gossamer Gear The Two ($320)
What’s new
Our ultralight tent information has been fully rewritten! With new analysis and testing on quite a few fashions, we’re assured we’ve recognized the most effective shelters for protecting your pack weight low.
- There are just a few fashions that carried over from our earlier information and deserve persevering with spots on our lineup. The legendary Zpacks Duplex stays a implausible choice, the Lunar Solo continues to be our entry degree champion, and the Gossamer Gear The Two, Six Moon Designs Haven, Tarptent Double Rainbow, and Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 stay as effectively. The Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 and MSR FreeLite 2 stay as our ultralight conventional semi-freestanding picks.
- We added many new fashions to our listing. The favored Durston X-Mid Professional 1 and Professional 2+ shocked us with a superb mix of consolation, weight, and ease of use to earn our editors alternative awards for solo and duo adventures. The Zpacks Offset Duo and newly launched Pivot Solo had been unimaginable choices and the Pivot Solo additionally earned an Editors Selection award for its distinctive design and nice characteristic set. The Gossamer Gear The One was additionally added as a uniquely light-weight silnylon choice.
Durston Gear X-Mid Professional 1
Finest one-person ultralight tent
CleverHiker Score:
4.8/5.0
Value:
$549
Weight:
1 lb. 1.4 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
90 x 32 x 45 in.
Flooring Space:
20 sq ft
Execs
- Simple to make use of
- Nice for taller folks
- Stormworthy design
- Fantastic inside consolation
- Spacious vestibules
Cons
- Can solely match pack at head/foot finish
- Alternate pitches require some work
Out of all of the one-person tents we researched and examined, the X-Mid Professional 1 got here closest to balancing all of the options we care about whereas nonetheless sustaining an unimaginable weight. Whereas many tents that purpose to be jack-of-all-trades find yourself neither interesting sufficient in any class nor excelling in any particular space, the Professional 1 in some way manages to drag it off and appeals to just about each characteristic class. We examined the Professional 1 over 1,000 miles of the PCT and cherished it extra with every passing mile.
Beginning with weight, we measured the Professional 1 at 17.4 ounces, which isn’t absolutely the lightest one-person shelter in the marketplace, however is about common for a DCF one-person shelter. What units the Professional 1 aside is how full the remainder of its characteristic bundle feels whereas weighing solely barely greater than different tents that make compromises in some areas. The inside is lengthy, simply accommodating our 5’11” tester, and even leaving room on the head or foot for a backpack. It is a nice shelter for taller people. Nevertheless, the width isn’t ample to suit a pack subsequent to you whereas sleeping, however this distinction wasn’t a major concern for us on the path. Headroom can be glorious; the offset pole geometry gives a variety of house from entrance to again, and there’s enough room side-to-side. We may change shirts whereas sitting up with out brushing the condensation off the partitions. The vestibules had been excellent for storing our pack and footwear at night time, and day after day on the path, we appreciated their measurement subsequent to the big and comfy L-shaped doorways. Nevertheless, this consolation does include a draw back, as the most important design tradeoff of the Professional 1 is its bigger rectangular footprint. We by no means encountered points with it, however for extra cramped trails, Durston Gear gives an alternate pitching information that helps considerably scale back footprint measurement.
Nevertheless it’s in climate resistance that the Professional 1 shines a bit brighter than its friends. With a fly that extends all the best way right down to the bottom to restrict splashback, and an offset dual-peak pyramid model geometry that cuts by means of the wind, we all the time felt assured throughout storms. One facet that additionally helps in a storm is simple setup. With solely 4 stakes wanted for a safe pitch, this was notably helpful after we had been mountain climbing till darkish by means of the rain and wanted to arrange rapidly. 4 stakes later, we dashed inside whereas a mountain climbing companion struggled with extra stakes for his or her tent.
Lastly, the value can be on the decrease finish for a DCF shelter, particularly when outfitted with the silnylon flooring like we’ve. It’s nonetheless not a funds shelter by any means, however the truth that it gives this a lot efficiency and luxury at a lower cost than different tents is actually spectacular. That’s what made the Professional 1 such a delight to make use of. Night time after night time, we by no means grew bored with setting it up and crawling inside; we cherished the comfy house and genuinely regarded ahead to enjoyable inside on the finish of a protracted day. Once you’re worn out after a protracted thru-hiking day and a easy tent brings a smile to your face, that’s a top quality piece of drugs.
That being mentioned, this isn’t a magic “finest tent ever,” and like all tents, it makes some cautious design tradeoffs that may not attraction to you. For our mountain climbing model and preferences, we consider these design tradeoffs are sensible, however take a look at our different one-person tent evaluations to see if one thing else fits your model. It’s no marvel this tent has been steadily climbing in reputation, and we will affirm from our testing that it’s completely implausible and effectively well worth the funding.
Durston Gear X-Mid Professional 2+
Finest two-person ultralight tent
CleverHiker Score:
4.9/5.0
Value:
$669
Weight:
1 lb. 5.8 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
92 x 52 x 49 in.
Flooring Space:
32.5 sq ft
Execs
- Unbelievable livability for 2 folks
- Simple set-up
- Nice air flow
- Giant vestibules
- Giant pockets
Cons
- Alternate pitching types require some work
- Costly
No different tent does such a superb job making a livable and comfy expertise for backpacking adventures whereas remaining so light-weight than the Durston Gear X-Mid Professional 2+. With a simple setup, glorious climate resistance, and spacious vestibules, we’re left with a tent that impressed us at each flip. If there have been one tent we’d wish to share with somebody on a backpacking journey, this is able to be it.
A major a part of the success right here is because of the intelligent design of the offset poles. The 2 trekking pole places optimize inside quantity extra successfully than different configurations. Throughout our first testing of the Professional 2+ in Minnesota on a heat winter afternoon, we laughed with delight upon coming into and seeing the spacious inside. In comparison with all our different tent choices, this one felt essentially the most livable and comfy. The extra measurement additionally ensures that sleeping in any orientation is nice. Though the offset pole design creates sloping aspect partitions which will have an effect on headroom for one particular person sleeping in the identical path, we discovered it to nonetheless be comfy and never claustrophobic throughout our exams.
All the pieces else concerning the Professional 2+ feels nice. The vestibule and door zippers function easily and are effectively positioned. The doorways are massive, L-shaped, and are straightforward to entry no matter your mendacity orientation. We recognize that the vents may be simply closed with out leaving the tent, and that the vestibules are barely overhung, stopping rain from falling into the sleeping space when coming into or exiting. All these options and comforts do include some trade-offs. Any luxuriously massive two-person tent may have a major footprint, and the Professional 2+ definitely has one. Durston Gear gives an alternate pitching information that may drastically scale back the footprint by collapsing the vestibules, which is a considerate contact we recognize from corporations. And naturally, this isn’t a funds tent; it’s costly irrespective of the way you justify it. Nevertheless, inside its class, it stands out as extra reasonably priced than its rivals whereas delivering a greater expertise, making a compelling mixture that’s laborious to withstand.
The X-Mid Professional 2+ will not be the most effective tent for everybody, however amongst all those we examined, it’s the one we really feel most assured recommending for 2 folks searching for consolation on the path at an unimaginable weight. We left our expertise with it completely delighted and might’t anticipate our subsequent journey collectively.
Zpacks Offset Duo
Finest stability of consolation and weight for 2
CleverHiker Score:
4.7/5.0
Value:
$799
Weight:
1 lb. 5.1 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
94 x 50/44 x 48 in.
Flooring Space:
31.4 sq ft
Execs
- Nice inside house
- Tremendous light-weight
- Good vent designs
- Intelligent panel pull design
Cons
- Greater rainfly perimeter peak than competing tents
- Costly
Historically, ultralight tents have been small and minimal to realize the lightest weights, however the Offset Duo defies conference and asks, “How a lot consolation are you able to get for an additional ounce?” It seems, lots—an unimaginable quantity, which made us fall in love with the Offset Duo. To be extra direct, it’s laborious to debate this tent with out mentioning its legendary cousin, the Duplex, which is presumably the most well-liked thru-hiking tent. For only one additional ounce, the Offset Duo makes key design modifications that we consider make it a greater choice for customers in comparison with the basic Duplex.
Constructing on the A-frame design, the Offset Duo shifts the poles to 1 aspect as its identify implies, offsetting the inside peak barely. This permits for a transition from rainbow doorways to extra comfy L-shaped ones, considerably growing inside headroom. To compensate for the lowered foot finish, Zpacks embraces the concept of panel pulls and incorporates one basically into the design, breaking the big entrance panel into 4 smaller ones that converge on a sturdy panel pull. You should use a 3rd trekking pole or the included carbon fiber pole right here, enhancing livability inside immensely. The inside dimensions are additionally upgraded from these of the Duplex, and because of the extra vertical aspect partitions, that additional house is genuinely usable.
When testing this tent alongside different shelters in numerous native parks in Minnesota, we persistently returned to it after making an attempt extra conventional A-frame shelters as a result of its design felt much more modern. Most customers of the shelter are more likely to be in pairs, making the everlasting panel pole a sensible alternative. Moreover, switching to water resistant zippers is a superb enhancement and the truth that the vestibules sit nearer to the bottom helps defend in opposition to splashback and drafts. To make sure sturdiness, Zpacks makes use of the identical trail-validated supplies present in a lot of their different shelters, utilizing 0.55 and 1.0 ouncessqyd DCF for the rain fly and flooring.
General, we consider that is an exceptionally strong shelter, simply top-of-the-line for thru-hiking. Should you take into account the choice of buying and selling an oz. for a major enhance in livability to be worthwhile—as we do—then the Offset Duo ought to be on the high of your listing for consideration.
Zpacks Pivot Solo
Finest stability of consolation and weight for one
CleverHiker Score:
4.7/5.0
Value:
$649
Weight:
1 lb. .1 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
84 x 29/42/28 x 52 in.
Flooring Space:
21 sq ft
Execs
- Good floorspace
- Giant peak vent
- No moist footbox issues
Cons
- Tough preliminary setup
- Small inside pocket
As the latest tent in our lineup, we consider Zpacks has one other hit with the Pivot Solo. With an modern design that addresses many weaknesses of different one-person shelters, the Pivot Solo has only a few downsides and may attraction to a large viewers.
Like all Zpacks tents, the Pivot Solo is produced from Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) cloth. As a water-resistant and low-stretch materials, it’s glorious for shelters, and we expect this new design will carry out effectively in storms. When positioned with the foot finish going through into the wind, the Pivot Solo presents a superb profile that ought to deflect wind successfully. We haven’t examined it in any storms but, however comparable pyramid-style designs have carried out effectively prior to now, so we’re hopeful about this design too. The height vent is massive and held open by a peak guyline, which we discover to be a terrific characteristic because it avoids the stiff brim generally discovered on different tents. The door includes a clean, water resistant zipper resulting in a spacious vestibule. It’s right here that the Pivot Solo makes a design alternative which will divide opinions. The rainfly stops just a few inches above the bottom, which is helpful for air flow, nevertheless it compromises splashback efficiency and might really feel drafty. Whereas the big peak vent helps handle condensation, we might have most well-liked if the fly prolonged nearer to the bottom; nevertheless, this can be a matter of private desire, and a few folks will recognize this alternative.
Inside, there’s extra excellent news with loads of consolation. What excited us most throughout testing was the small mesh panel on the foot finish, made attainable by the brief vertical pole. It fully eliminates issues a few moist footbox, offering nice peace of thoughts. The size was additionally splendid for our 5’11” body. Whereas there’s not house above or under for a backpack, there’s room to the aspect, which is nice to see. The headroom is usually good, and the only tall peak enhances total livability, higher than single-pole pyramid tents. One draw back is the only mesh pocket; it’s small, angled, and never spacious sufficient for something bigger than a telephone or headlamp, however that may suffice for some customers.
The value can also be too excessive for some, because it’s some of the costly one-person tents we thought-about. Nevertheless, you’re getting a fairly full bundle with only a few downsides for that worth, so we consider it might be a worthwhile funding for a thru-hike. That’s the general sentiment we’ve concerning the Pivot Solo. Should you recognize how Zpacks addressed sure points with one-person tents, we expect it will make many thru-hikers very completely happy.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 with Full DCF Internal
Most spacious & weather-worthy ultralight tent
CleverHiker Score:
4.7/5.0
Value:
$1,098
Weight:
2 lb. 8.7 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
96 x 76 x 64 in.
Flooring Space:
50 sq ft
Execs
- Unbelievable climate resistance
- Large peak peak
- Nice flooring house
Cons
- Costly
- No vestibule
- Inside pole is in the course of the ground
For the most effective climate resistance of any tent we’ve examined, the Ultamid 2 stands far forward of the competitors, virtually in one other class of tents. Nevertheless, all that efficiency comes with vital trade-offs in different areas that won’t make it worthwhile for many backpackers.
Beginning with the positives, the Ultamid 2 includes a pyramidal form that excels at deflecting wind from practically any path. Mixed with ample staking factors and guylines, and with some acceptable setup time, this will turn out to be a storm fortress able to withstanding extra excessive situations than different backpacking shelters. The supplies are correspondingly sturdy to endure excessive winds. The rainfly is produced from 0.8 ouncessq yd DCF, an extremely sturdy materials, and the stitching high quality is superb as effectively. To realize a pyramid form with a spacious inside of fifty sq. toes, the Ultamid 2 boasts a peak peak of 64 inches, the tallest in our lineup, successfully eliminating the claustrophobic emotions typical of smaller shelters.
Nevertheless, focusing so closely on one space entails trade-offs, and as we talked about, the Ultamid 2 is sort of in a unique class of tents. For starters, it’s heavy. Weighing in at 40.7 ounces, that is the heaviest tent in our lineup because of the extra sturdy materials and elements. Though its massive dimensions appear interesting on paper, in follow they end in a shelter that isn’t as comfy because the numbers suggest. The sloping partitions, that are efficient at shedding wind, rapidly restrict headroom. Though our sleeping quilts didn’t contact the partitions, they simply brushed in opposition to the interior mesh. And not using a vestibule, coming into and exiting exposes the inside to rain, and the tall central pole, made from two lashed trekking poles, makes getting near your sleeping companion far more difficult.
That’s earlier than contemplating the value. That is the most costly tent we examined by a substantial margin. So, for extra weight, the next value, and fewer consolation than many different tents we evaluated, does this even make sense? Nicely, sure; it’s merely in a unique class of tents. This isn’t meant for informal and even reasonably intense backpacking; it’s designed for adventures that push the boundaries of climate resistance. For these people, 40.7 ounces is a formidable weight, and the value is justifiable for the efficiency at this weight. Whereas we weren’t in a position to take a look at this tent to its full potential throughout a light Midwestern winter, we’re assured it should stay as much as its stellar popularity.
Extra:
Zpacks Duplex Basic
Finest low-weight design
CleverHiker Score:
4.6/5.0
Value:
$699
Weight:
1 lb. 1.9 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
90 x 45 x 48 in.
Flooring Space:
28.1 sq ft
Execs
- Superb weight for a 2p shelter
- Easy setup for a trekking pole shelter
- DCF materials doesn’t take in water
Cons
- Cramped for two folks
- Rainbow doorways are love/hate
- Common climate resistance
One of the standard backpacking tents continues to impress as one of many lightest two-person tents accessible. We measured it at simply 18.5 ounces, which is lighter than most conventional one-person tents. Zpacks has a winner right here, however they might have surpassed themselves in product innovation, as we consider different fashions of their lineup improve the qualities that make the Duplex Basic so interesting.
Earlier than we dive into that, let’s focus on the positives. First, the Duplex is remarkably gentle for a two-person tent. That includes two massive doorways and vestibules on both aspect, the load per particular person when shared is an unimaginable 9.25 ounces every. The brilliance of this design lies in its simplicity. There are not any rainfly zippers, no tent poles, no double-wall building, and simply sufficient house for 2.
Nevertheless, most backpackers have a tendency to make use of this tent as a solo retreat. For that objective, it’s nonetheless a superb alternative, although it comes with a major footprint for one particular person. Furthermore, the climate resistance leaves one thing to be desired. With massive cloth panels that catch the wind and a excessive perimeter rainfly that doesn’t guard in opposition to splashback, the Duplex isn’t our high choose for stormy situations. That mentioned, it performs adequately for many backpacking situations, and as a bonus, the DCF materials doesn’t sag when moist and dries rapidly. Nonetheless, Zpacks has continued to innovate and has addressed some shortcomings of the Duplex with the far more spacious Offset Duo.
For weight purists, nevertheless, the Duplex’s numbers are simple. It stays a premium tent, however its reputation signifies that many individuals view it as a worthwhile funding for a thru-hike.
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo
Best to suggest one-person tent
CleverHiker Score:
4.6/5.0
Value:
$260
Weight:
1 lb. 10 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
90 x 48 x 49 in.
Flooring Space:
26.3 sq ft
Execs
- Glorious efficiency for worth
- Spacious inside flooring house
- Silpoly cloth received’t sag when moist
- Good climate resistance
Cons
- Pyramid design limits headroom
- Tough setup to get a terrific pitch
The Lunar Solo is a type of tents that’s really straightforward to suggest. With out understanding a lot about somebody’s backpacking model, we incessantly recommend this high-performing shelter when folks ask which tent they need to purchase. And for good purpose. It excels within the necessities of backpacking tents in a method that appeals to a variety of each skilled and novice backpackers.
Firstly, it gives a implausible worth and weight. Weighing in at 26.1 ounces on our scale, that’s a weight that ought to please conventional backpackers and garner a nod of approval from ultralight fans. It additionally gives a surprisingly great amount of house for one particular person, simply accommodating our gear to the aspect. It’s even spacious sufficient to function a two-person tent in a pinch! Plus, the silpoly cloth received’t sag when moist within the rain, making certain that your pitch stays tight all through the night time.
Nevertheless, that pitch is among the downsides. With its hexagonal form, we discovered the Lunar Solo extra difficult than most for attaining a terrific pitch. It’s positively straightforward to set it up and make it look good, however after we’re weathering a storm, we want it tight and safe throughout—one thing we struggled with on the Lunar Solo. This facet tends to enhance with expertise throughout all tents, nevertheless it’s price mentioning right here. The one-wall design mixed with a sloping pyramid form additionally implies that it’s straightforward to brush in opposition to the partitions in moist situations.
Regardless of these drawbacks, the Lunar Solo nonetheless delivers a formidable performance-to-price ratio, which has made it extremely standard for good purpose. It’s one of many best shelters to suggest because of this, and we consider it should proceed to impress outside fans for years to return.
Tarptent Double Rainbow
Finest tent with freestanding choice
CleverHiker Score:
4.6/5.0
Value:
$299
Weight:
2 lb. 4.5 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
88 x 50 x 42 in.
Flooring Space:
30.6 sq ft
Execs
- Glorious weight for non trekking pole design
- Good size for taller folks
- Strong magnetic door closure
- Freestanding with trekking poles
- Enjoyable porch mode
Cons
- Restricted lateral head room
- Pole elimination from sleeve is hard
Amongst ultralight shelters, the Tarptent Double Rainbow is famend for its consolation, versatility, and affordability for hikers, and we will attest to its stellar popularity; this tent really excels. Its distinctive design makes use of a single curved pole working down the backbone, creating near-vertical partitions at each the pinnacle and foot ends, permitting you to take full benefit of the 88 inches of size. This design additionally gives first rate wind resistance, and the 2 guyline attachment factors halfway up the pole construction ought to guarantee strong efficiency in storms.
Inside, we appreciated the considerate design decisions. Giant pockets on both aspect are perfect for storing your telephone and charger at night time, whereas the ceiling options mitten hooks for an optionally available liner accent or for stringing a clothesline to dry gear. One draw back is the restricted lateral headroom when sitting up; though we discover it acceptable, different shelters on this worth vary supply a greater expertise.
Nevertheless, the standout characteristic is the power to transform to freestanding mode. By utilizing two trekking poles horizontally to attach the corners, the complete tent can turn out to be freestanding. It is a implausible profit for hikers on trails the place tent platforms are frequent (just like the Appalachian Path) or for individuals who choose to not seek for heavy rocks to safe the corners on poor soil. Moreover, there’s a cloth piece tucked between the doorways that may be stretched throughout when open to create an awning; that is excellent for ready out gentle rain and helps the tent really feel much less claustrophobic.
The value and weight of the Double Rainbow are each aggressive, particularly given its potential to turn out to be a freestanding tent. It’s priced considerably decrease than premium semi-freestanding fashions but weighs solely barely extra whereas providing enhanced livability. Relying in your priorities, the Double Rainbow may strike the best stability of options and worth.
3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Professional
Finest funds ultralight tent
CleverHiker Score:
4.6/5.0
Value:
$190
Weight:
2 lb. .3 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
106 x 47 x 49 in.
Flooring Space:
29.7 sq ft
Execs
- Good livability
- Simple to pitch
- Glorious included stakes
Cons
- Low cost feeling cloth
- Cumbersome vent design
- Just one pocket
No different tent gives this degree of efficiency at such an reasonably priced worth. Beforehand, these searching for a cheap ultralight choice wanted to grasp tarp setups and modify to utilizing bug head nets for sleeping. Nevertheless, the Lanshan 2 Professional demonstrates how a lot funds ultralight shelters have advanced and the good worth you possibly can obtain to your funding.
Initially, we’re happy to report that the Lanshan gives first rate consolation. It’s not a palace, however we encountered no points, even with people standing at 5’11” when sitting up or mendacity down. We managed to suit two lofty three-season quilts and sleeping pads inside with out feeling prone to contacting the aspect partitions with our footbox or head. Though it retains the basic A-frame design, which causes the aspect partitions to slope inward, limiting flooring house, the beneficiant dimensions meant this wasn’t a major drawback for us. On a constructive observe, we appreciated the versatile door design that enables both aspect to open, or each directly.
That mentioned, that is nonetheless a budget-friendly tent, which implies there are some compromises. The sturdiness of the material stays unsure, a skepticism that merely comes with the funds class. It feels considerably completely different from the silnylon we’re accustomed to, however completely different doesn’t essentially equate to inferior, and solely long-term testing will yield solutions. For now, we stay cautiously optimistic; in addition to an uncommon hand really feel, it doesn’t seem considerably inferior. The vents pose one other concern. The inflexible cloth that retains them open is cumbersome when rolling up the tent. Whereas we worth the dimensions of the vents, the brim design feels unnecessarily difficult.
But, total, we genuinely preferred this tent greater than we anticipated, to the extent that we wouldn’t hesitate to take it on our subsequent massive journey. Its weight is even lighter than a few of its counterparts, and its unbeatable worth makes it a genuinely interesting choice. Should you’re new to ultralight tenting and really feel hesitant concerning the greater costs, we consider the Lanshan 2 Professional is a wonderful start line.
MSR Freelite 2
Good stability of weight & livability for solo hikers
CleverHiker Score:
4.3/5.0
Value:
$449
Weight:
2 lb. .1 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
84 x 50 x 39 in.
Flooring Space:
29 sq ft
Execs
- Roomy for one
- Two doorways/vestibules (a perk for solo hikers)
- Handy pockets
- Rainfly gutter prevents drippy entry
The MSR FreeLite 2 is a superb choice for these trying to go lighter with out sacrificing the comfort of a double-wall tent. It has two massive doorways/vestibules, a sensible rainfly design that stops drippy entry within the rain, and a decrease weight than many equally designed tents.
We view the FreeLite as extra comfy for solo hikers for the reason that inside headroom can really feel a bit cramped when spending any prolonged period of time inside. However for pairs that worth saving weight over having extra inside house, the FreeLite has the size to accommodate two folks.
The rainbow form of the FreeLite is efficient at shedding precipitation, and the distinctive rainfly gutters direct water away from the zippered entry to forestall it from pooling up and pouring onto the ground whereas transferring in or out of the tent in moist climate.
Solo backpackers wanting the most effective mixture of weight, livability, and climate safety will love the FreeLite, and pairs who would choose to avoid wasting weight and don’t thoughts tight quarters will discover that this tent delivers glorious efficiency.
Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2
Finest semi-freestanding ultralight tent
CleverHiker Score:
4.2/5.0
Value:
$$450
Weight:
2 lb. 3 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
86 x 52/42 x 39 in.
Flooring Space:
28 sq ft
Execs
- Very gentle for a pole tent
- Superb gear storage pocket
- High quality building
Cons
- Tight for 2 folks
- Poor door design
For a conventional pole tent, it’s laborious to discover a lighter choice with two doorways and two vestibules than the Tiger Wall UL2. Weighing in at a surprising 35 ounces, it has confirmed to be a persistently standard alternative on many long-distance trails.
Like many Huge Agnes tents, the Tiger Wall looks like a top quality piece of drugs; each element is top quality and effectively made, even when the supplies are skinny. Setting it up is simple and simple, although, like all semi-freestanding designs, staking is critical to make sure a completely safe shelter. The inside additionally sports activities a beautiful gear storage pocket on the entrance finish, a frankly monumental quantity of mesh that’s excellent for stuffing a puffy jacket, damp socks, and even a complete sleeping quilt in a pinch.
Nevertheless, there’s not a ton of room on the within. Like a variety of two particular person tents on this class, it’s incessantly used as a one-person tent since two folks can really feel cramped. It’s not terribly uncomfortable for 2, although. Throughout an journey within the Boundary Waters, when one other tent proved to be much less mouse-proof than anticipated, we squeezed two folks into the inside with out situation, and each discovered the expertise extra comfy than anticipated. Nevertheless, for longer thru-hikes, the dearth of house is likely to be problematic for some, and the bigger Tiger Wall UL3 is fortunately a terrific choice for that state of affairs.
Moreover, the silnylon cloth will sag when moist, and the light-weight nature of this tent doesn’t make it our first alternative for stormy climate. Even amongst different ultralight tents, we’d wish to guarantee it was correctly staked out with man strains in any excessive winds. The door design additionally disillusioned us, limiting headroom when coming into and exiting, a state of affairs made even worse within the rain. All these particulars, coupled with the comparatively excessive worth, make it a more durable promote at present than it was years in the past, particularly with stiff competitors from trekking pole tents.
Nevertheless, for backpackers searching for a light-weight pole tent, the Tiger Wall UL2 stays a terrific shelter that ought to hold hikers completely happy for a few years to return.
Six Moon Designs Haven
Finest versatile tarp internet combo
CleverHiker Score:
3.9/5.0
Value:
$375
Weight:
2 lb. .12 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
88 x 44 x 45 in.
Flooring Space:
27 sq ft
Execs
- Modular design
- Sturdy supplies
- Light-weight
Cons
- Small inside
- Troublesome pitching with internet
- Small pockets
The Haven gives a novel proposition for backpackers looking for a double wall shelter. Though it doesn’t fairly hit the mark, it nonetheless stands as a tent that ought to fulfill many adventurers. For starters, it makes use of an offset double wall A-frame design. This design gives extra headroom than a symmetrical design would, but in addition cuts down on room for the footbox of the quilt. With the supporting trekking poles positioned farther again, massive L-shaped doorways are attainable, which we discovered to be comfy and spacious.
Inside, we had combined emotions about livability. Whereas we managed to suit two lofty quilts and sleeping pads with none points, we seen there wasn’t a variety of additional room for people round six toes tall. It’s acceptable, however the best way the interior internet tent connects to a single level within the cloth panel causes the mesh to hold uncomfortably near our faces. Concurrently, the footbox of our quilts didn’t contact the sidewalls, nevertheless it wasn’t positioned at a cushty distance both. Your expertise could fluctuate, as everybody has completely different consolation ranges; for us, it’s acceptable however not past that. The massive cloth panels additionally don’t instill nice confidence of their climate resistance. Even with the panel pulls, this wouldn’t be our best choice of shelter throughout storms.
One of many largest benefits of the Haven is its double wall design. The flexibility to depart the online tent at house permits for vital weight financial savings or glorious stargazing alternatives by eradicating the tarp. The web tent attaches to the tarp at 4 corners and two panel pulls, however we consider the attachment on the peaks isn’t the most effective design. The web tent has two small pockets of sturdy cloth for the trekking pole suggestions that relaxation in opposition to the height of the rainfly. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a attachment to the rainfly, which leads to the online tent transferring round greater than we’d choose throughout setup. It additionally requires extra precision within the setup course of than rapidly inserting trekking poles handle-up, as is frequent with different tents of this model.
Lastly, there’s a worth to contemplate. It’s pricier than different trekking pole shelters, however for individuals who genuinely need a double wall design, the value is affordable for the standard supplied. For somebody a tarp and interior internet combo for 2 folks and who doesn’t thoughts the pitching necessities, we consider the Haven may function a strong tent for a lot of miles on the path.
Gossamer Gear The One
Finest tremendous light-weight one-person silnylon tent
CleverHiker Score:
3.8/5.0
Value:
$255
Weight:
1 lb. 3.5 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
84 x 33/21 x 45 in.
Flooring Space:
15.8 sq ft
Execs
- Extraordinarily gentle for a silnylon shelter
- Simple to pitch
- Nice headroom
- Large peak vent
Cons
- Tiny door
- Small inside
- Not nice for storms
- Skinny supplies
There’s one quantity that stands out above all others about The One, and it’s the frankly ridiculous weight. We measured it at 19.5 ounces. For a completely enclosed silnylon shelter, that’s unparalleled, and for a lot of, it’s a compelling purpose to decide on this as their subsequent tent. We are able to cautiously endorse that alternative, nevertheless it’s necessary to know that Gossamer Gear designed this tent with some particular tradeoffs to realize that weight.
Essentially the most vital tradeoff is the fabric alternative. Using 10d silnylon for each the fly and the ground explains a lot about why this tent is so gentle. Different ultralight shelters usually use not less than 15d and infrequently 20d to 40d, which means additional care is required right here. For a lot of ultralight backpackers accustomed to excessive upkeep routines, this won’t be a significant situation. The second vital tradeoff is consolation, although it’s not completely detrimental. We’ll start with the most important benefit: the expansive headroom offered by the 2 trekking poles. Facet to aspect, it’s beneficiant, and the 45-inch peak means it’s first rate entrance to again as effectively. Nevertheless, the inside house rapidly feels cramped when contemplating the ground space. With solely 15.8 sq. toes of house, it’s evident that Gossamer Gear didn’t intend for this to supply a variety of additional room. Our 5’11” tester encountered points with headroom and footbox house. Though the big peak vent helps with condensation, humid mornings can typically make it unavoidable. With out a lot room to spare, a moist footbox is extra regarding right here than with different tents.
Lastly, this isn’t a tent designed to resist extreme storms. The light-weight supplies give us purpose to pause, nevertheless it’s the design of the half vestibule on one aspect that actually issues us. Exposing the vertical aspect partitions implies that if the wind shifts path and hits this tent broadside, it received’t maintain up effectively. Nonetheless, that is one more design tradeoff that we consider Gossamer Gear totally acknowledges. This tent isn’t meant for harsh storms, however it should hold you fully dry throughout typical rainstorms.
In the long run, The One is a tent that entails extra tradeoffs than most, but we discovered ourselves agreeing with lots of the decisions as we thought-about the goal area of interest. It’s suited to somebody who primarily enjoys fair-weather backpacking however needs average safety from occasional rain. This particular person received’t thoughts a small inside, will settle for the additional care required for 10d cloth, and appreciates the advantage of headroom. All this comes at a remarkably gentle weight and worth. Most comparably gentle shelters are twice the associated fee, though it’s necessary to notice that they arrive with considerably fewer compromises in different areas. So, in case you’re a type of people who nods in settlement with all these tradeoffs, we consider The One will delight you. It’s really distinctive in its choices and may deliver satisfaction to that area of interest of customers.
Gossamer Gear The Two
Finest tremendous light-weight two-person silnylon tent
CleverHiker Score:
3.6/5.0
Value:
$320
Weight:
1 lb. 9.3 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH):
84 x 48/42 x 43 in.
Flooring Space:
26 sq ft
Execs
- Extraordinarily light-weight for a silnylon shelter
- Simple set-up
- ood pockets
Cons
- Small inside
- No vents
- Skinny supplies
Gossamer Gear has made one thing each particular and fairly specialised with The Two, providing an unimaginable weight for a silnylon backpacking shelter. At simply 25.3 ounces after we weighed it, such weights are usually achievable solely with far more costly DCF. For a two-person shelter, that’s spectacular, nevertheless it brings some vital design trade-offs that point out Gossamer Gear is concentrated on crafting a tent for a selected sort of one who will find it irresistible, fairly than a tent for everybody. And we will’t fault them for it; The Two excels in its area of interest.
There are two elements that contribute to the unimaginable weight right here: a smaller A-frame design utilizing trekking poles and tremendous skinny 10d silnylon for each the rainfly and flooring. Instantly, that alerts this can be a shelter for somebody who takes additional care with their gear and understands how to make sure the material lasts many nights of use. When first organising The Two in an area park within the Midwest on a heat winter’s day, the skinny cloth was instantly noticeable. However fortunately, it feels simply as top quality as different nylons we’ve used, albeit thinner. That cloth alternative additionally permits one other neat characteristic—packing smaller than different tents, particularly these made from DCF.
The smaller A-frame design leads to a compact inside. In comparison with its friends, The Two gives solely 26 sq. toes of flooring house, which is sort of the identical as a few of the bigger one-person tents we reviewed! In follow, it feels tight. Not unbearably so, however in case you’re close to six toes tall, be ready to gamble both with restricted headroom or a moist footbox. This leads us to a different design alternative made to avoid wasting weight: there’s no air flow. The massive doorways and vestibules assist mitigate this on clear nights, however this design will accumulate extra condensation than different tents.
When the climate turns stormy sufficient to shut these doorways, The Two may even wrestle. Because it’s wider than different A-frame model tents, it exposes a considerable quantity of flat space to the wind, making it a sail in storms. We’ve had private expertise with this, witnessing one get flattened in a shock thunderstorm that rolled by means of the Swiss Alps. That storm additionally collapsed just a few different tents, so The Two wasn’t alone in its destiny, however a sturdier trekking pole tent and one freestanding tent managed to outlive.
Nevertheless, for the precise particular person, these design trade-offs are worthwhile for the necessities: an unbelievable weight at an inexpensive worth. The Two occupies a novel place amongst ultralight tents, carving out a distinct segment as a specialised shelter. If the downsides don’t hassle you, we consider it’s a terrific choice that may allow a really light-weight pack on the path.
How We Take a look at
COMFORT
Staying comfy on the path is necessary to get essentially the most out of your hike, whether or not it’s an in a single day journey or a multi-month journey. To judge consolation for tents, we used a consultant gear loadout for a typical backpacking setup. This included a 20-degree quilt and a three-season, 2.5-inch thick sleeping pad. For 2-person tents, we added a 30-degree quilt and one other 2.5-inch sleeping pad. Our tester is 5’11″, which represents barely above-average peak and covers 80% of males and 90% of girls based mostly on American information.
We positioned the footbox as shut as we comfortably may to the tip wall with out worrying about condensation and laid again to judge the remaining headroom. We sat up and moved round to test the accessible headroom each laterally and backward and forward, seeing how simply it might be to alter garments or stretch after a protracted day.
WEIGHT
This ultralight tent information focuses totally on weight, as it’s a main consideration for a lot of of those tents. We weighed every tent fairly than counting on producers’ claims. The burden consists of any vital poles for the tent’s performance, however we excluded stakes, as they’re usually a private alternative for a lot of hikers.
EASE OF USE
Some tents can minimize corners with ease of use to realize a lighter weight, though all of the tents we examined carried out effectively on this class. We evaluated door measurement and performance, noting which tents had been straightforward to enter and exit. For 2-person tents that enable sleeping orientation in both path, we noticed whether or not the door was troublesome to make use of from one aspect and if vestibule entry was obstructed.
We assessed the accessibility and measurement of inside pockets, awarding factors for totally purposeful pockets and deducting factors for angled designs susceptible to objects falling out. We arrange every tent consecutively to match how every mannequin carried out in opposition to its friends.
For trekking pole tents, we examined how a lot adjustment was vital to realize a good pitch and whether or not the setup course of was intuitive and forgiving of errors. We reviewed producer directions for pitching and utilized included stakes to supply as near a “producer meant” expertise as attainable.
WEATHER RESISTANCE
For this version of the information, we didn’t cowl firsthand climate resistance since we examined in the course of the colder months, and most of those tents will not be rated for winter storms. We’ll replace this information and the corresponding evaluations with acceptable storm testing because it evolves.
For just a few tents, some testing was carried out on lengthy trails throughout heavy use, and we’ve included climate resistance findings from these adventures of their respective evaluations. Non-experimental findings from the design analysis of every tent have been included. This consists of checking for big panels of uncovered cloth that might catch the wind, evaluating rainfly to floor distances for splashback resistance, and inspecting man line attachment factors for extra superior storm safety.
We famous which orientations every tent could be strongest within the wind and whether or not they featured any apparent weak orientations that might wrestle in a storm.
DURABILITY
An ultralight tent usually comes with the understanding that it might not final so long as different shelters, and we’ve aimed to notice which tents are most probably to endure season after season. We intently examined materials decisions, figuring out which of them have been time-tested on trails and which require additional care or a suggestion to make use of a groundsheet.
Stitching high quality and total manufacturing situation can point out longevity. We regarded for poorly bolstered seams, notably at high-stress factors, and examined them by pulling to see how a lot the threads stretched.
For all zippers, we famous their measurement and water resistance, checking the tip stops to make sure they had been correctly bolstered. We additionally noticed the numerous variations in cloth hand really feel, though and not using a tensile testing machine, we will’t immediately assess tensile power.
Why Belief CleverHiker
CleverHiker gear analysts have spent over 2,000 nights below the celebs, a lot of which had been in ultralight tents. Lead tester Taylor Passofaro has pursued ultralight backpacking adventures for seven years, overlaying over 3,000 miles looking for stunning mountains to discover.
He has hiked the Pacific Crest Path, Superior Mountain climbing Path, Collegiate Loop, Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trek, the Tour du Mont Blanc, amongst others, together with numerous nights spent within the parks and forests of his native Minnesota. Many of those adventures had been particularly to judge new tents, gear, or experiences, with every journey contributing to his purpose of mentally cataloging each piece of backpacking gear accessible.
His background in medical machine design and take a look at engineering ensures that each gear alternative is completely researched (and graphed extra instances than vital) earlier than testing, leading to strong gear suggestions for all sorts of adventures.
Evaluation & Outcomes
VALUE
Ultralight tents are among the many costliest items of drugs in your backpack. Figuring out which one is price your funding generally is a powerful alternative, influenced by your journey model, consolation priorities, and, in fact, your funds. Subsequently, essentially the most essential facet of choosing gear isn’t studying gear guides or optimizing spreadsheets, however fairly creating a deep understanding of what issues to you and why.
Our suggestions are broad, and a tent we didn’t notably favor is likely to be the proper shelter for you. To help with this, we’ve aimed to be as clear as attainable concerning the options we consider are usually the most effective whereas additionally highlighting particular options which will appeal to extra area of interest pursuits. There isn’t a finest tent that fits everybody. Every mannequin we evaluated comes with a set of trade-offs in comparison with each other and to extra conventional tents. Key amongst these is the quantity of efficiency per greenback or total worth you obtain.
The highest choice on this metric is our funds choose, the 3FUL Lanshan 2 Professional. It strikes a superb stability between livability and ease of use whereas nonetheless being light-weight, and we had been impressed by the efficiency it gives. Stepping up in worth barely, the Tarptent Double Rainbow and Gossamer Gear The Two each value about the identical however have vastly completely different priorities. The Double Rainbow includes a distinctive single pole design with a intelligent freestanding mode, delivering glorious consolation even for taller people with sturdy supplies. In distinction, The Two sacrifices sturdiness, climate resistance, and luxury in pursuit of an unimaginable weight for a silnylon shelter.
For our one-person shelters, the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo stays a implausible choice for a fairly priced tent that gives spectacular efficiency and shocking quantities of inside flooring house. On the excessive finish, we’d wish to acknowledge our editor’s alternative, the DurstonX-Mid Professional 2+. Whereas it’s removed from reasonably priced, worth isn’t about discovering the most cost effective product; it’s about getting essentially the most to your cash. The fact is, producing a tent from Dyneema Composite Fiber is just not cheap. Nevertheless, out of all of the tents we researched or examined, the X-Mid Professional 2+ persistently performs the most effective whereas being extra fairly priced than its rivals, making it a superb funding.
COMFORT
The simplest approach to scale back weight on a shelter is by merely making it smaller and fewer comfy. Subsequently, discovering a livable inside is a difficult stability for Ultralight Tents as a result of each improve in consolation is usually accompanied by a rise in weight. Producers know that a very powerful metric for potential consumers is weight, so that they attempt to take care of simply sufficient consolation to fulfill most customers.
In some ways, this aligns completely with what backpackers need: ample consolation to really feel completely happy with out unnecessarily losing ounces. That is, in essence, the crux of ultralight backpacking- pondering the query, “What do that you must be comfy on the path?” with an emphasis on the phrase want. Should you’re not sure of your wants, you’ll possible find yourself carrying extreme weight and shortly end up searching for a brand new shelter that higher matches your necessities, or you could end up cramped in an uncomfortable inside, realizing it wasn’t price it.
The excellent news is that there are an unlimited variety of choices accessible for ultralight backpackers to be comfy at numerous worth factors and luxury ranges. To ease the anxiousness of anybody coming into the interest: you don’t need to get it proper on the primary strive.
Many backpackers evolve by means of a number of shelters and refine their wants as they acquire extra expertise with the outside and their very own preferences. It’s not unusual to seek out somebody completely content material below a easy tarp and bivy setup who began off with a conventional tent years in the past.
The draw back to this method is value. Tents are costly, so making an attempt just a few choices can add up rapidly in case you aren’t savvy about shopping for and promoting within the used market. That’s why we’ve tried to spotlight which tents supply strong worth and which funds choices will present a superb expertise with out compromising high quality.
The obvious metrics to contemplate are flooring house and peak peak. Nevertheless, these don’ t inform the entire story. A tent with monumental flooring house and a excessive peak peak would possibly nonetheless undergo in livability as a result of the aspect partitions slope a lot in direction of the inside you can’ t really use that house for something.
That is the case with the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2. It boasts the most effective numbers in our lineup, however these numbers don’ t translate to the most effective consolation as a result of the sloping pyramid form limits usable house. In its protection, the UltaMid 2 has made that tradeoff for next-level storm worthiness, nevertheless it highlights the purpose you can’ t merely depend on uncooked numbers to supply a full image.
In our testing, we’ ve aimed to spotlight which tents supply essentially the most usable inside house, each sitting up and mendacity down. This implies having a 5′ 11” tester lay on a 2. 5-inch sleeping pad in a 20-degree quilt and observing how a lot head and foot room we had. Not feeling claustrophobic on the head finish is necessary, however avoiding condensation wetting the footbox may be much more essential.
A tent that excels on this metric is the Tarptent Double Rainbow. With a singular arched pole that gives near-vertical partitions on the head and foot finish, we had been in a position to make the most of practically the complete 88 inches of size. Different tents that carried out effectively right here embody the Durston X-Mid Professional 2 + and Zpacks Offset Duo. The X-Mid employs intelligent offset pole geometry to maximise usable inside quantity, whereas the Offset Duo makes use of a 3rd pole on the foot finish to extend house, and each methods work successfully.
For common consolation, the 3 F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Professional scores barely above the standard Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2 and MSR FreeLite 2. Rounding out the two-person tents, the beautifully light-weight ZPacks Duplex Basic, Six Moon Designs Haven, and Gossamer Gear The Two are all a bit small. In our one-person tents, each the ZPacks Pivot Solo and X- Mid Professional 1 are glorious, providing comfy interiors that in the end rely upon private desire concerning which works finest to your model. The Six Moon Designs LunarSolo is notable for offering spectacular flooring house, and behind all of them is the distinctive Gossamer Gear The One, which options unimaginable headroom however a cramped flooring.
WEIGHT
As the only most necessary metric, weight defines an ultralight shelter. Normally, our tents are divided into two classes of weight: the premium choices, which fall within the 16-22 ounce vary, and the usual and funds choices, that are within the 30-40 ounce vary. The important thing differentiator between the 2 classes is the material used of their building. We’ll discover cloth particulars additional within the Sturdiness part of this information. Our premium choices are produced from Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF), whereas our commonplace and funds choices use silnylon or silpoly. DCF is the lightest and strongest cloth accessible, weighing an astonishing 0.5 ounces per sq. yard for the rain flies on tents such because the Durston X-Mid Professional 1, Durston X-Mid Professional 2+, Zpacks Offset Duo, Zpacks Duplex, and the Zpacks Pivot Solo, which makes use of a barely heavier 0.75oz/sq yd model for its commonplace configuration. This cloth is sort of splendid for tent rainfly building as a consequence of its low stretch, waterproof qualities and not using a coating, and glorious tensile power. Sadly, it’s also some of the costly materials in the marketplace. The opposite group of tents in the usual and funds part is produced from extra typical tent materials like silnylon or silpoly. Whereas they’re extra reasonably priced, these supplies nonetheless supply excessive efficiency and are considerably cheaper than DCF.
There are numerous elements that affect weight. Zipper measurement can play a major function if you’re striving for each gram, and most premium DCF tents use #3 sized zippers, whereas commonplace tents make the most of a mixture of #3 and #5. Flooring sturdiness is one other main issue. Though DCF is right for a tent rainfly, it’s a unique story for the bottom since DCF is vulnerable to punctures and abrasion. To handle this, thicker DCF or silnylon is utilized, which is proof against each punctures and abrasion. Nevertheless, completely different weights of materials are employed throughout numerous tents since every producer has its personal preferences for sturdiness, and these decisions contribute to the general weight.
The lightest tent we examined is the spectacular Zpacks Pivot Solo. Weighing in at 16.1 ounces on our scale for the usual model we examined, it’s a cleverly designed tent for one particular person however instructions a excessive worth as a consequence of its unique use of DCF. Zpacks additionally gives a “lite” model that’s 13.5 ounces as a result of it makes use of thinner materials. Nevertheless, since lighter weight DCF is a considerably unproven flooring materials, we’re hesitant to suggest that choice with out additional testing. Not far behind is the Durston X-Mid Professional 1 at 17.4 ounces. The X-Mid additionally has two completely different weight choices. A model with a DCF flooring is lighter at 15.5 ounces, however we choose the model with the silnylon flooring as a result of it’s extra reasonably priced and packs smaller. For 2-person shelters, the pattern continues with the Zpacks Offset Duo and Durston X-Mid Professional 2+, which observe the identical ideas as their one-person counterparts, that includes lite choices and silnylon flooring choices, respectively. Within the two-person class, the lightest choice is the basic Zpacks Duplex Basic, which additionally is available in a lite model that reduces the load even additional. We consider that for most individuals, the consolation enhancements with the Offset Duo are price it, nevertheless it stays a tempting choice for essentially the most enthusiastic ultralight pairs.
Exterior of DCF, the Gossamer Gear The One and The Two are notable for being impressively light-weight, regardless of their silnylon building. The One weighs 19.5 ounces, whereas The Two weighs solely 25.3 ounces. These weights are unimaginable; nevertheless, they arrive with some vital tradeoffs. To realize this weight, each fashions use 10d silnylon for the rainfly and flooring. In distinction, most tents use 20-30d supplies, making sturdiness extra of a priority for these shelters, though there are lots of stories of fine long-term efficiency with correct care. For a extra commonplace shelter, the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo employs extra sturdy supplies and has a median weight of 26 ounces.Since that is an Ultralight Tent Information, all these fashions supply glorious weight for what they’re. Nevertheless, for this class, the average-weight fashions embody the two-pole shelters: the Huge Agnes TigerWall UL2, MSR FreeLite 2, the reasonably priced 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Professional, Six MoonDesigns Haven, and the semi-freestanding TarpTent Double Rainbow. In a distant final place for weight is the distinctive Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2, which suggestions the size at 40.7 ounces however gives unimaginable storm worthiness for that weight.
EASE OF USE
Linked intently to consolation, ease of use is an element that’s usually sacrificed within the pursuit of the lightest shelters. Throughout our analysis for this information, we examined dozens of tents and located many who made that sacrifice. Entrance-entry shelters are a superb instance, as they permit for vital weight financial savings with only one door on the entrance of a protracted shelter. Nevertheless, they are often awkward to make use of, particularly with two folks, which is why none made it into our information.
We additionally tried to exclude tents with overly advanced staking necessities, awkward vestibules, or different design decisions that made utilizing the tent too difficult or irritating. We’re happy that every one of our decisions are usually fairly straightforward to make use of.
Setup may be irritating or remarkably easy relying on the tent, and all of our alternatives contain some sacrifices on this space. For these accustomed to pop-up tents and easy two-pole designs, most of our picks require trekking poles to be used.
Trekking pole tents necessitate a little bit of adjustment in comparison with conventional pole tents for correct setup, however we consider that with follow, they’re no more durable or extra advanced to arrange. The truth is, since there is no such thing as a must arrange the mesh tent first after which the rainfly, we expect they will even be sooner to deploy than conventional tents.
Our standout tents on this class had been the X-Mid Professional 1p, X-Mid Professional 2p+, TarpTent Double Rainbow, and ZPacks Offset Duo. All 4 supplied easy setups, together with nice doorways, vestibules, and options; nevertheless, we give the sting to our editors’ alternative X-Mid fashions for barely higher ease of use.
In the midst of the pack are a lot of the tents we examined. The MSR FreeLite 2 scores barely greater than the others as a consequence of its nicer doorways, whereas the Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is held again by a considerably irritating door design. The Gossamer Gear The Two, Gossamer Gear The One, 3F UL Lanshan 2 Professional, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2, and ZPacks Duplex Basic all rank within the center as a consequence of door designs we didn’t choose, however they arrange simply in any other case.
Within the “good however with caveats” class is the rest. The Six MoonDesigns Lunar Solo and ZPacks Pivot Solo are trickier to arrange; nevertheless, not like the above tents, they characteristic nice doorways. The Lunar Solo has a hexagonal form that complicates attaining an ideal pitch in comparison with the broader A-frame model tents, and the Pivot Solo is a genuinely asymmetrical design that requires some follow to grasp every time. Lastly, the Six Moon Designs Haven ranked the bottom because of the interior not with the ability to hook up with the rainfly on the peaks or for use with trekking pole suggestions down.
WEATHER RESISTANCE
Maybe the most important concern with ultralight shelters is that they may not adequately defend you from the weather. The usage of thinner supplies and trekking pole-supported designs makes folks really feel inherently nervous in comparison with conventional tents. Nevertheless, trekking pole designs may be fairly stormworthy when constructed correctly, and thinner materials are nonetheless sturdy sufficient when utilized successfully. Most of our suggestions would encourage confidence in typical storms encountered within the backcountry.
Nevertheless, one shelter sits in a category of its personal. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 is a formidable shelter, boasting a pyramidal form that’s splendid for shedding wind from all instructions. It options loads of man line attachment factors and as much as eight staking factors to make sure it stays safe in all varieties of climate. We received’t mince phrases right here: if supreme climate resistance is your high precedence, that is your shelter.
Nevertheless, ultralight gear focuses on making sensible trade-offs, and the actual fact is that most individuals merely don’t require the extent of storm safety that the UltaMid 2 gives.
Most trails don’t undergo extreme wind corridors, most campsites aren’t situated on excessive mountains, and most people will adhere to sound wilderness recommendation by searching for shelter or staying at house if the climate is simply too adversarial.
Sure design parts contribute to raised or worse efficiency. Giant cloth panels can usually catch the wind and put pressure on the tent stakes, so the most effective tents reduce these sections or incorporate panel pulls for extra assist. Correctly positioned attachment factors for man strains on the peak or center of the tent are immensely useful when staked appropriately. Trekking pole tents additionally profit from assist constructions which are considerably stronger than commonplace tent poles.
Whereas a conventional domed form can successfully shed wind and distribute load, we’ve witnessed inner pole constructions collapse below wind strain. A pyramid design just like the UltaMid 2 performs effectively, however presents trade-offs in different areas, so it’s not the only design discovered within the class. Lastly, any tent with a narrower profile going through into the wind will carry out higher in constant wind situations.
Our high picks for tents all present a degree of climate safety appropriate for many backcountry adventures. This implies they need to stand up to a median thunderstorm with out harm and supply safety from typical winds and rain. For these situations, the tents that stand out to us are the Durston X-Mid Professional 2+, Durston X-Mid Professional 1, Tarptent Double Rainbow, and ZPacks Pivot Solo. Each X-Mid fashions make the most of a novel offset pole geometry that minimizes massive panels and consists of loads of attachment factors for securing them if the climate turns poor. Their rainflys additionally prolong low to the bottom to scale back splashback and drafts from the wind.
The Double Rainbow includes a distinctive single pole construction that creates a dome form for wind shedding, together with guyline factors to bolster it throughout storms. Nevertheless, what makes it much more distinctive is its awning mode for the doorways, utilizing a flap of silpoly spaced between the 2 sections. This design enhances consolation throughout rainstorms contained in the tent, permitting you to depart the doorways open and propped up whereas nonetheless offering safety from gentle rain.
Scoring within the center are the ZPacks Offset Duo, SixMoon Designs LunarSolo, 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Professional, ZPacks Duplex Basic, Six Moon Designs Haven, Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2, and MSR FreeLite2. All of those tents present enough storm resistance for backpacking.
Trailing behind are the 2 Gossamer Gear fashions, The Two and The One, which proceed to supply a novel proposition. They ship excellent weight and worth as a tradeoff, with storm-worthiness being a type of tradeoffs. The One includes a partial awning on one aspect, making it poor in wind from that path, whereas The Two has massive back and front panels that catch the wind. Each tents have a historical past of surviving long-distance trails with ease, however they wouldn’t be our first decisions for storm situations.
DURABILITY
Most ultralight tents sacrifice sturdiness to realize their featherweight standing, however with correct care, they will final for a lot of nights of use. The supplies utilized in ultralight tents will not be inherently weak; like clothes materials, they require completely different care. For instance, silk is an extremely sturdy cloth below rigidity, far stronger than cotton. Nevertheless, silk has a popularity for being delicate as a result of it feels so skinny and requires particular dealing with in comparison with cotton, which is far more forgiving with regards to washing and care.
Realizing the way to care to your garments will prolong their lifespan, even for silk ones, however that you must wash them otherwise from commonplace cotton garments. The identical applies to ultralight tents. In comparison with a canvas tent, an ultralight shelter usually received’t maintain up effectively if roughly tossed right into a sled with logs and tenting gear. Nevertheless, it’s not designed for that sort of use. As an alternative, producers anticipate a sure degree of care with their merchandise, permitting their designs to give attention to light-weight safety.
The materials in our tent choice have completely different strengths and weaknesses. Essentially the most specialised cloth we use is Dyneema Composite Fiber, the strongest cloth at the moment accessible in the marketplace and the best choice for rainfly use. It boasts distinctive tensile power however has poor abrasion and puncture resistance. Subsequently, it’s important to not use your tent as a groundsheet when cowboy tenting, because the thinner sort of DCF utilized in rainflies can develop pinhole punctures extra simply.
Moreover, stuffing DCF can weaken it; thus, rolling it’s the beneficial storage method. The development of DCF is exclusive because it’s not a woven cloth like nylon or polyester. It consists of a grid of Extremely Excessive Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers sandwiched between two layers of mylar (polyester). The UHMWPE fibers present the material with its outstanding tensile power, whereas the mylar protects the fibers from abrasion and punctures. DCF is measured in ounces per sq. yard, with usually 0.55-0.8oz/sq yd used for rainfly building and 0.75-1.1oz/sq yd for the ground.
We consider that 0.55oz/sq yd is ample for rainfly use, which implies the heavier weights used listed here are as a consequence of the next thread depend and barely thicker mylar layers that improve tensile power. For flooring materials, puncture and abrasion resistance is normally prioritized over tensile power. Subsequently, as an alternative of accelerating the thread depend for greater tensile power, producers go for thicker mylar layers. We suggest not less than 1.0oz/sq yd DCF for flooring supplies.
Silnylon is essentially the most basic cloth and a very good all-around materials. It boasts nice tensile power, abrasion resistance, and puncture resistance, so it’ s generally used for each the rainfly and flooring. Silpoly has been changing silnylon in lots of tents for a number of years as a consequence of its quite a few benefits.
Whereas its specs will not be as spectacular as equivalent-weight silnylon, its superior UV resistance makes it extra sturdy over time, making the 2 materials usually comparable. Nevertheless, silpoly’s biggest benefit is that it doesn’t sag when moist. Nylon materials have a novel molecular construction that enables water to behave as a plasticizer, steadily elongating the fabric. This impact reverses when the fabric dries out, so there are not any long-term results; nevertheless, it does imply you’ll must re-tension your tent within the rain after just a few hours. Each materials are measured in thread weight utilizing denier items.
With out delving into particulars, the next quantity signifies a thicker, extra sturdy cloth. 10 d is the bottom you ll discover for rainfly materials, whereas we usually choose 15- 30 d for rainfly building. Within the present technology of cloth know-how, 20 d is the candy spot for sturdiness and weight. Since silnylon is just extra abrasion and puncture resistant than DCF, it’s not unusual to see the identical weight used for the ground materials.
Most of our tent alternatives are designed to final all through a complete thru-hike of not less than 2,500 miles or dozens of nights of use. The tent we belief most for sturdiness is the costly however sturdy Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2. With a rainfly produced from 0. 8 ouncessqyd DCF in comparison with the extra typical 0.55 ouncessqyd weight, and a thicker 1. 1 ouncessqyd flooring, it consists of more durable supplies than most DCF tents. Mixed with Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s sturdy building and reinforcement, you have got a shelter that ought to not fail anytime quickly. We additionally appreciated the sturdiness of the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo, Tarptent Double Rainbow, and Six Moon Designs Haven. All make the most of silpoly or silnylon at thicknesses of 20 D to 30 D, which is commonplace for ultralight tents.
All of our DCF choices are spec’d with weights which are well-tested within the area and supply comparable ranges of sturdiness. The ZPacks Pivot Solo in its commonplace configuration enhances this with more durable DCF; with out extra testing, it stays our desire over the Lite model that makes use of thinner cloth. The X-Mid Professional 1, X-Mid Professional 2+, ZPacks Offset Duo, and ZPacks Duplex Basic all present first rate sturdiness for DCF. Consistent with the usual DCF, we additionally discover two freestanding tents: the Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 and MSR FreeLite 2, each utilizing 15D silnylon.
As an oddity, the 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2 Professional employs 20D silnylon for the fly and 15D for the ground. Nevertheless, we’ve heard stories of 3F UL utilizing low-quality materials prior to now to realize their low costs. We consider in giving corporations an opportunity to enhance; though 3F UL claims their materials are enhanced, we want to conduct extra exams earlier than updating the sturdiness ranking.On the decrease finish, we’ve cautious sturdiness issues concerning each of Gossamer Gear’s tents, The One and The Two. They make the most of thinner 10D silnylon for the rainfly, however much more regarding is identical 10D for the ground. We focus on this within the full evaluations of each, however this can be a reputable design option to create the lightest-weight non-DCF shelters accessible. Consumers of each ought to perceive that they require additional care, however with correct consideration, they need to final a substantial time.
The way to Select an Ultralight Tent
PRICE
Beginning with a sensible funds is essential for locating gear you’ll take pleasure in within the backcountry. Overspending on pointless objects can result in burnout. Whereas premium ultralight tents appear costly, they aren’t important for a superb path expertise. We’ll categorize ultralight backpackers into two sorts: informal hikers who need minimal gear and critical adventurers centered on weight discount. A very good take a look at of dedication is whether or not you’ve thought-about chopping your toothbrush deal with. If not, you possible match within the first group.
Many backpackers really feel intimidated for not spending on premium shelters or face disgrace on the path for funds gear. There’s a notion of “not being critical sufficient ” in case you don’t spend as a lot. Anybody who makes you’re feeling ashamed to your gear decisions isn’t price your time. The necessary phrases on the path are “Hike Your Personal Hike.” At CleverHiker, we respect everybody’s decisions and types. You belong on the path simply as a lot as these with costly gear or sooner instances. Backpacking elitism is as absurd as some other elitism. All of us share this expertise, having fun with nature collectively. Hike your individual hike, select your individual expertise, and disrespect those that diminish your pleasure.
We provide a variety of costs so everybody can discover what matches their funds. Ultralight tents are costly, even our funds choice. Should you’re on a strict funds, take into account area of interest setups appropriate to your climate and setting. The web gives helpful recommendation, outdoors this information, like utilizing an inexpensive tarp, paracord, and a bug headnet, which may be reasonably priced although could require effort for consolation. Analysis and perceive backcountry security earlier than utilizing unfamiliar shelters.
Figuring out your funds for ultralight tents may be tough, particularly with premium choices. Should you’re a interest backpacker eager to lighten your pack, take into account a traditional ultralight tent made from silnylon or silpoly below $400. Whilst you received’t get the light-weight of DCF shelters, many designs are comparable and carry out comparably. You’ll discover extra double wall designs, which some choose, and the sturdy materials scale back the chance of damaging an costly tent.
For many who chase miles and love optimizing weights right down to the gram, we consider it’s price investing in a DCF shelter. Particularly for a thru-hike, it may be useful to contemplate value by way of {dollars} per night time. On a thru-hike lasting 150 days, a $400 tent will value about $ 2.67 per day, whereas a extra premium $700 shelter can be $ 4.67 per day. That’s practically double the value, however ask your self whether or not you’d choose to spend an additional two {dollars} a day to hold a a lot lighter (and typically much more livable) tent. Everybody has completely different consolation ranges right here, and there’s no incorrect reply, however there’s a purpose many thru-hikers go for DCF. After feeling the ache in your toes from a heavy pack, an additional two {dollars} a day for a featherweight pack begins to really feel extra interesting than a city burger. Moreover, if you are going to buy a funds tent and resolve midway by means of a path to modify to a DCF shelter, you’ll find yourself spending greater than in case you had simply invested within the DCF from the beginning.
In the end, worth is arguably essentially the most difficult metric to find out. Every particular person has a definite funds and distinctive preferences concerning what brings them consolation on the path. Like every interest, the extra time you spend money on deriving enjoyment from it, the extra it justifies paying greater costs for extra satisfying experiences. Nevertheless, your private candy spot concerning price-to-performance is one thing that may solely be found by means of expertise and self-awareness.
WEIGHT
Ultralight tents fall into two weight lessons: these made with DCF and people with out. This correlates on to price- spending extra usually leads to lighter tents. The value concerns talked about earlier apply right here as effectively, however elements additionally affect how weight issues to you.
Pack weight isn’t nearly lightening your bag for miles; for a lot of, it enhances enjoyment in different methods. Older people considerably profit from ultralight gear, because it improves pack consolation and reduces joint ache, permitting them to benefit from the outside longer than with conventional tents. Light-weight tents additionally allow the inclusion of extra comfy sleeping pads and pillows on journeys.
In case you have a distinct segment outside interest, saving weight with an ultralight tent means that you can deliver extra alongside. Photographers and videographers profit, as an additional pound saved means an extra lens, small tripod, star tracker, microphone equipment, or motion digicam with out sacrificing consolation. Painters with bigger watercolor kits, writers with bodily journals, cooks who like to prepare dinner, or those that choose a backpacking chair over sitting on the bottom to take pleasure in a sundown will discover extra room with weight financial savings. Uncover your individual joyful area of interest; there are not any guidelines (besides Depart No Hint!) for having fun with nature, and the wilderness is a superb place to let your coronary heart run free.
One helpful metric for figuring out whether or not you must improve your tent is contemplating what number of ounces per greenback you’re saving. It is a matter of private desire based mostly in your funds; nevertheless, saving $10 per ounce is normally a no brainer, $20 per ounce is affordable, and $30 per ounce is typical however considerably on the sting for normal consolation. Should you’re contemplating an improve, this method may also help reframe the query, making it simpler to resolve.
INTERIOR SIZE
Ultralight backpacking focuses on important gear for consolation on the path, notably inside measurement, which depends upon peak. Most tents match people as much as six toes tall, so shorter hikers could discover shelters usually comfy. Nevertheless, these nearer to 6 toes could must keep away from tents that compromise consolation.
Producer claims fluctuate extensively; some tents labeled as “matches tall folks” go away little room, leading to our head and toes touching the partitions when mendacity down. Whereas this won’t hassle everybody, many choose additional clearance to maintain their sleeping bag or quilt dry from condensation.
The inside size isn’t an ideal indicator of consolation. The wall slope limits house utilization with out contact. Take into account that you just’ll have not less than an inch-thick sleeping pad, a fluffy quilt with two inches of loft, plus your foot’s size. That totals about 14 inches of thickness to think about. The helpful metric is the usable size measured 14 inches above the tent flooring. Producers usually don’t specify this, and whereas websites like fitmytent.com visualize it, their database isn’t full.
Panel pulls are helpful for maximizing house. These attachment factors on the head and foot areas may be staked out to drag the material away, growing livable space. In addition they stabilize the material in sturdy winds and scale back flapping.
Nevertheless, they add weight and complexity to setups. We choose tents with out them, however they will improve sure fashions. In our testing, we purpose to point whether or not a tent can be comfy for people round and above six toes tall. The standout choices are the 2 Durston X-Mid Professional fashions, which give distinctive sleeping size for taller customers and ranked as our most comfy fashions.
The 2 Zpacks fashions, the Offset Duo and Pivot Solo, additionally ship glorious efficiency, with the Pivot Solo uniquely designed to remove the fear of a moist footbox by incorporating a second pole that locations mesh on the foot finish. The Tarptent DoubleRainbow deserves reward as effectively; its single arched pole creates ample usable house on the head and foot areas because of the practically vertical sidewalls, permitting for a really comfy sleeping expertise when utilizing it.
FEATURES
Ultralight tents supply many options, making it laborious to decide on which to spend money on. We give attention to these interesting to most, however area of interest choices could resonate with you, so take into account exploring past our picks if one thing catches your curiosity.
We centered on key options. Giant vestibules are important for storing backpacks and footwear whereas sleeping. Having a rain-protected vestibule, even with the principle door open for airflow, is helpful. Should you sleep with the doorways partly open and it drizzles, your gear stays dry. The dimensions and sort of doorways are crucial- cramped doorways are uncomfortable to make use of, particularly close to condensation-heavy tent partitions.
Rainbow-shaped doorways work for many situations, however we choose L-shaped doorways for higher bug safety and stability. Beneficiant inside pockets close to the doorways assist hold the tent organized. Peak vents handle condensation, and including kickstands, stiff rims, or man line attachments to carry them open is advantageous. We additionally favor man line attachments on the peaks and center for wind resistance throughout storms.
There are additionally some distinctive options that not all tents possess. The Tarptent Double Rainbow permits trekking poles to be hooked up on the staking corners to transform the tent into freestanding mode, which may tremendously help on trails just like the Appalachian Path, the place tent platforms are frequent. The Double Rainbow can even make the most of trekking poles to carry open the doorways and create an awning with a hidden flap between the door sections. That is great for these days spent ready for a rainstorm to go, as opening the doorways helps forestall the tent from feeling too claustrophobic.
The listing of tent options goes on and on, and the complete listing is outdoors of the scope of this text, so analysis by yourself and discover the great world of ingenious designs producers have provide you with.
DOUBLE VS SINGLE WALL
The controversy over double versus single wall designs depends upon private desire. A double wall options an extra mesh layer between you and the rainfly, permitting for separation; the mesh clips into the rainfly in trekking pole tents or rests on high in conventional pole tents. Single wall designs remove this mesh, stitching the doorways on to the material, leading to a lighter however much less modular choice.
We wish to handle a typical false impression about single vs double wall tents concerning condensation. Whereas double wall tents are mentioned to supply higher safety, this misleads folks into considering they’re inherently extra proof against condensation. Below the identical situations with equivalent designs and materials, each tent sorts type the identical quantity of condensation. A mesh inside doesn’t inherently scale back condensation. Whereas additional mesh could disrupt airflow, it doesn’t block moisture; condensation outcomes from temperature variations and air humidity. We’re not shaming anybody for this perception – it’s amongst many backpacking myths – however understanding condensation helps make knowledgeable tent buy selections.
What a double wall building helps with is stopping you from touching the moist partitions of the tent. Your sleeping bag stays in a dry space, your garments received’t by accident take in water when brushing in opposition to the partitions, and it could possibly additionally assist block some misting. Misting happens when condensation types on the sidewalls of the tent, however persistent raindrops and wind knock it off the material and onto the inside. It usually seems {that a} tent isn’t really waterproof as a result of it feels prefer it’s raining inside your tent. That is an unavoidable symptom of humid climate and rain, and it’s usually discovered at greater elevations if you’re contained in the storm clouds themselves.
Normally, we consider that single wall tents – with ample house – are the only option for an ultralight setup. Nevertheless, this relies closely on the setting you’re heading into. Should you incessantly backpack in humid areas – akin to Scotland, the Appalachian Path, or the Boundary Waters – a double wall tent could present added consolation.
Moreover, some folks recognize the modularity of with the ability to pitch solely the rainfly or simply the online tent for stargazing. Nevertheless, in case you principally end up in much less humid situations – like Colorado, the Pacific Crest Path (excluding Washington), or any desert – you’ll possible solely encounter condensation sometimes, making a single wall design well worth the weight financial savings.
Conclusion
Ultralight tents present top-of-the-line methods to scale back vital weight out of your again whereas on the path. This class has advanced from a group of area of interest tarp designs to corporations providing full backcountry lodging that surpass the consolation of even conventional backpacking tents. CleverHiker is devoted to serving to you discover the most effective tent to your wants, and we hope that no matter your tenting model, this information has assisted you in attaining good sleep and completely happy shoulders on any journey.
