Testing the best ultralight backpacking tent

Backpacking Tent & Ultralight Tent Comparison Table

Tents Price ($) Weight (oz) Interior Area (ft²) Int Area/Pound (ft²)
MLD DuoMid XL 765 16.0 65 65
Durston XMid Pro 2+ 794 19.4 32.5  26.8
Zpacks Offset Duo 799 19.6 31.4 25.6
HMG Unbound 2P 699 24 28.1 18.7
Gossamer Gear The Two 320 24 26.3 17.5
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 450 35 28 12.8
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 550 43 29 10.8
SlingFin Portal 2 560 46 27.5 9.6
REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ 329 63 33.8 8.6
REI Co-op Trailmade 2 179 68 31.7 7.5

Best Lightweight Backpacking Tent

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent

If you want the best overall and most highly rated freestanding backpacking tent of all time, choose the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 (shop now). Compared to similar options, it’s smarter, taller, lighter, better ventilated, and more livable. Copper Spur handles all types of weather with ease. During warm rain, open the massive vestibule awnings to let a breeze in. On cold stormy nights, the near-vertical sidewalls and fully lofted ceiling create a excellent living area. Read more in our full-length Big Agnes Copper Spur Review.

  • Price: $530
  • Weight: 2 lbs, 11 oz
  • Material: Sil-Nylon
  • Interior: 29 ft² | Vestibule: 18 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 10.8 ft²
  • Length: 88″ Width: 52″/42″ Height: 40″
  • Pros: Lightweight. Freestanding. Good headroom. Easy Setup. Awning. Internal pockets. Vents. Comes with stakes. Large vestibules.
  • Cons: Expensive. Not ultralight.

Construction and Features

As gear reviewers, we tend to be unimpressed by most bells and whistles and prefer simple ultralight tents. But we make an exception for the Copper Spur’s features, especially the innovative awning vestibules which helps ventilate and create good vibes when you’re stuck inside during daytime rain. We prefer them open in all but the nastiest of weather, in which case each vestibule offers 9 sq ft of gear storage, notably larger than average.

We are also huge fans of the interior pocket array, especially the “3D Bin Mezzanine” at the foot end, which in conjunction with sidewall and ceiling pockets, easily keep all of your gadgets organized and accessible.

The frame is a sturdy and well-designed cross-bar-plus-spreader, a famously simple and storm worthy construction. The poles are pre-bent to create superbly vertical sidewalls, which maximizes the perceived space and livability inside the tent. Setup is as easy and intuitive as one could hope; literally anyone can figure it out. As backpacking tents go, user experience and livability are so high that we think this would also be a great small 2 person tent for car camping.

At 2 lbs 11 oz, it’s a bit too heavy to be considered ultralight, which is really our only dig against it, aside from the high price tag. But that said, it’s still very lightweight overall, and significantly lighter than the average backpacking tent.

Verdict

Add it all up and you get, what we consider to be the best freestanding backpacking tent that money can buy. It’s just such a smart design with so many great lightweight features. The Copper Spur HV UL 2 is great for beginners and experts alike. This is one helluva great tent.

SlingFin Portal 2 Tent

If you’re hiking into a storm, we recommend the SlingFin Portal 2 (shop now). It’s the sturdiest sub-3-pound freestanding backpacking tent we know of, and it’s capable of handling gnarly conditions like high winds and snow-loading. Read more in our full length SlingFin Portal 2 Review.

  • Price: $560
  • Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz
  • Material: Sil-Nylon
  • Area: 27.5 ft² | Vestibule: 16.8 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 9.6 ft²
  • Length: 85″ Width: 51/42 Height: 44″
  • Pros: Extremely sturdy & wind-resistant. Excellent headroom. Lightweight. Lots of internal pockets. Comes with 10 stakes.
  • Cons: Not ultralight. Expensive. Smaller floor plan.

Construction & Features

The Portal 2 was clearly designed by engineers. The heavy duty x-pole design, ceiling spreader, and many tie out points are supplemented by innovative internal guy lines that reduce structural distortion due to wind shearing.

We consider it to be a 3+/4- shoulder season backpacking tent, and it is the perfect companion during spring and fall. While not a true 4-season tent, Portal comes closer than any other sub 3-pound model.

What’s more, this backpacking tent is no slouch when it comes to creature comforts. With generous headroom thanks to a much-taller-than-average 44″ ceiling, condensation vents, and a litany of interior pockets, the Slingfin Portal 2 is a very livable tent. Add in the full size vestibules and it’s quite pleasant to camp in.

Portal 2 is constructed with SlingFin’s top of the line Sil/Sil 10D ripstop nylon. The double silicone coating outperforms Sil/PU in terms of waterproofness, stretch reduction, strength, and UV-resistance.

Verdict

The Slingfin Portal 2 is an excellent, highly-livable backpacking tent to add to one’s quiver for camping in stormy, windy, snowy conditions. What’s more, it’s lightweight and packs down small. This brilliant, well-engineered design comes highly recommended.

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2 Tent

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is most notable for its impressive area-to-weight-to-price ratio. Tiger Wall offers backpackers the same livability and features of a tent that’s twice as heavy, and $100 more expensive. Shop now.

  • Price: $450
  • Weight: 2 lbs, 3 oz
  • Material: Coated sil-nylon ripstop
  • Interior: 28 ft² | Vestibule: 16 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 12.8 ft²
  • Length: 86″ Width: 52/42″ Height: 39″
  • Pros: Very lightweight. Great value. Fully featured. Internal pockets. Comes with stakes.
  • Cons: Semi-freestanding. Not ultralight. Modest wind-resistance. Ground sheet recommended.

Construction & Features

The Tiger Wall achieves its phenomenal lightweight performance thanks to the semi-freestanding architecture. An 8.7mm DAC Featherlite aluminum pole traces from foot end, over the center where it is bisected by a spreader bar, and forks to meet the head-end corners. The foot end corners do not have pole support and much be tensioned off with stakes to achieve a proper pitch. It’s a tremendously low asking price to achieve its incredibly low weight and high performance.

While this weight-saving architecture is very effective at its primary goal, it does leave the tent wanting for a bit more sturdiness and structural integrity. We would describe the Tiger Wall UL2 as fully adequate when faced with everyday backpacking conditions and lightly-to-moderately stormy weather. But for strong wind in particular, we don’t recommend Tiger Wall.

Turning inwards, Tiger Wall has great livability thanks to the steep side walls and head end, full-size vestibules, and four internal mesh pockets. All of those elements help to compensate for the slightly-smaller-than-average 28 ft² interior floor plan. Notably, we prefer Tiger Wall to the NEMO Hornet because it has more useable headroom.

Verdict

The semi-freestanding pitch and average-but-not-exceptional wind resistance are small prices to pay for a tent this light and livable. Tiger Wall is about as close as one can get to ultralight without ditching the convenience of poles. This is truly an exceptional backpacking tent for a great price and we recommend it highly.

REI Half Dome SL 2+ Tent

The REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent (shop now) is perhaps the best-selling backpacking tent of all time thanks to it’s incredible versatility, performance, and hyper-spacious interior, all relative to a very modest price. Half Dome’s value is simply best-in-class. And no matter where and how you choose to camp in the front or backcountry, this tent will keep you comfortably protected.

  • Price: $349
  • Weight: 3 lbs, 15 oz
  • Material: Sil-Nylon, 40D floor, 30D fly
  • Area: 33.8 ft² | Vestibule: 22.5 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 8.6 ft²
  • Length: 90″ Width: 54″ Height: 42″
  • Pros: Affordable. Versatile. Freestanding. Very spacious. Good headroom. Easy setup. Fully-featured. Comes with footprint & stakes. Vents.
  • Cons: Heavy-ish

Construction & Features

Half Dome’s sheer size calls out the loudest. With 33.8 ft² of interior floor plan, it is the largest of any 2 person backpacking tent we’ve reviewed, more than wide enough for two wide sleeping pads and 7.5 feet long to boot. Add onto that a whopping 22.5′ of vestibule space (also above average) and a 42″ ceiling height plus spreader bar. This is truly a tent you can comfortably hang out in that feels big inside.

The x-bar pole structure is storm-worthy and classic for a reason, it just works. What’s more, these poles are pre-bent to create even more verticality on the side walls, adding to the perception of livability. It is also extremely user-friendly, beginner-friendly, and easy to set up.

Half Dome has a solid set of features including an array of internal mesh pockets and hang loops which create excellent internal storage. We love the rainfly vents, and also rolling up both sides of the vestibule for maximum airflow on warm days. And it even comes with its own stakes and footprint to protect against abrasive surfaces. Plus REI’s generous warranty!

Okay, it’s not all gravy. At 3.9 lbs minimum trail weight, it is the heaviest backpacking tent in our buyer’s guide, and the heaviest tent we would considering packing for typical 3-season backpacking. But we have very high standards in that regard. In actuality, 3.9 lbs is fairly average when you take a zoomed out view of the entire backpacking tent marketplace.

Verdict

If you want a quiver-of-one tent that is spacious and comfy for car camping while also being compact and mid-weight for backpacking, then Half Dome is the perfect crossover tent for you. And at $349, you won’t have to break the bank on it either. This tent has so much to offer in terms of value, versatility, and livability that there’s no doubt as to why it’s such a best seller.

REI Trailmade 2 Tent

The REI Co-op Trailmade 2 with footprint is about as much backpacking tent as you could possibly hope to get from a reputable outdoor brand for under $200. REI has really upped their backpacking collection lately, and they’ve been especially dominate in the budget backpacking tent department thanks to the Trailmade Collection. Shop now.

  • Price: $179
  • Weight: 4 lbs, 4 oz
  • Material: Coated Polyester floor and fly.
  • Interior: 31.7 ft² | Vestibule: 19.1 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 7.5 ft²
  • Length: 88″ Width: 52″ Height: 40″
  • Pros: Very affordable. Spacious floor plan. Freestanding. Vents. Complimentary footprint & stakes. Internal pockets.
  • Cons: Heavy. No spreader bar.

Construction & Features

There is literally nothing fancy about the Trailmade 2. Structurally speaking, it’s built with a cross pole aluminum frame, no spreader bar, and with unspecified coated polyester fabric.

Perhaps where this backpacking tent shines the brightest is it’s spaciousness relative to cost. At nearly 32 sq ft of interior space, it’s the second largest in our guide and well above average. The 52″ width in particular is exceptional, with more than enough for room for two wide sleeping pads.

Trailmade is not exactly feature-rich. There are some interior pockets, and like many small 2 person tents in this class, it comes with a footprint and stakes. But beyond that, there just isn’t much else to write about. But within the sub-$200 tent category, having two doors and two vestibules is in and of itself a feature, perhaps the best of all.

We nod to Trailmade as the pinnacle of entry level tent design. It is versatile and comfortable enough for car camping, and just lightweight enough for backpacking.

Verdict

The combination of its larger-than-average interior with a significantly-less-expensive-than-average price tag makes the Trailmade 2 a killer value, and an excellent entry-level backpacking tent.

Best Ultralight Tent

Zpacks Offset Duo

The Zpacks Offset Duo is a tier-1 ultralight backpacking tent by virtue of its incredibly spacious floor plan, excellent headroom, and sub 20 oz weight. And it’s all thanks to the magic of Dyneema Composite Fabric, its ingenious offset trekking poles pitch, and an end strut. Learn more in our full length Zpacks Offset Duo Review.

  • Price: $799
  • Weight: 19.7 oz
  • Material: Dyneema
  • Interior: 31.4 ft² | Vestibule: 12.5 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 25.6 ft²
  • Peak Height: 48″ | Width: 50-44″ | Length: 94″
  • Pros: Ultralight. Spacious length and width. Excellent headroom. Best-in-class materials. Durable floor. Vents. Magnetic door roll-ups. Sturdy in wind.
  • Cons: Very expensive. Not freestanding. Small vestibules.

Construction & Features

Starting with interior length and width, this tent is simply more spacious than the competition for seemingly no weight penalty. Compared its predecessor the Duplex, which is the baseline for which all ultralight tents are compared to, Offset Duo is 5″ wider, and 4″ longer for just one ounce of additional weight. That’s an incredibly favorable exchange – adding enough extra space to store packs and gear inside instead of in the vestibules where rodents might nibble them.

What’s more, the offset trekking poles and end strut combine to add massive amounts of extra ceiling space over both the foot and head end, and especially the area directly above where users sit up. While this does not technically increase length/width, it does increase usable area of length and width, which increases the perception of “livability” that campers will experience inside. Further improving the user-friendliness are peak vents, waterproof zippered storm doors, and magnetic door roll-ups. This tent is a joy to use.

Offset duo is constructed with best-in-class Dyneema Composite Fabric, which never stretches or sags due to wetness. It is extremely durable and waterproof. An adjustable 6″ tall bathtub floor blocks splash and secures the edges. It is adorned with storage pockets on both sides. While the tent is single-walled, mosquito proof mesh completely encloses the structure and L shaped doors prevent bugs form drifting in.

If we have one complaint, it’s that compared to the average backpacking tent, Offset Dou has smaller than average vestibules. However, the interior floor plan is so large that they’re hardly missed.

Verdict

Offset Duo is our pick for best overall 2P Zpacks tent currently in production, and one of the very best tier-1 performance ultralight shelters money can buy. We love how the offset trekking poles add headroom, and hope to see more end struts in the future.

Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ ultralight tent in Dyneema

Durston X-Mid Pro 2+

The Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ is an innovative, high-performance ultralight tent famous for its asymmetrical pitch, voluminous interior, exceptionally large vestibules, and limited availability due to constantly selling out. The + designation indicates an allowance for two wide width rectangular sleeping pads, and in our opinion, makes it superior to the base model. This ultralight tent is truly top tier.

At time of publication, our preferred DCF floor version is back-ordered, but the woven sil-nylon floor version is available.

  • Price: $794
  • Weight: 19.4 oz
  • Material: DCF .55 fly (custom DCF floor)
  • Interior: 32.5 ft² | Vestibule: 23 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 26.8 ft²
  • Length: 90″ Width: 52″ Height: 49″
  • Pros: Ultralight. Very spacious. Easy pitch. Best vestibules. Best-in-class materials. Sturdy in wind. Innovative asymmetrical geometry. Sturdy.
  • Cons: Frequently unavailable. Single-wall. Very expensive. Not freestanding. One side of head-end wall always has less headroom.

Construction & Features

What sets the Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ apart from similar top tier options is its asymmetrical pitch. Unlike other trekking pole shelters, the X-mid’s ridgeline runs diagonally across, rather than perpendicular to, the lengthwise direction. The result is a parallelogram-shaped interior floor plan that offers a larger than average 32.5 ft². Combined with 49″ ceiling and two massive 23 ft² of vestibule space, X-Mid is far more spacious and livable than your average ultralight tent.

Compared to base model, the “+” designation indicates a width boost, up to 52” from 46”, which allows for two 25” wide sleeping pads. The height is also increased from 46” to 49”. This tent is luxuriously large and in-charge!

Setup is easy, aside from the large floorplan which usually requires a 3P-sized tent pad. But you need only stake out the four corners, which further differentiates it from other trekking pole shelters typically requiring 6-8 stakes. Optional guy out points are available for when the wind howls. You also get magnetic door roll-ups, peak vents, and dual interior pockets.

Aside from infrequent availability, our biggest knock is how the asymmetrical structure means one camper gets a bit less headroom than the other. The side wall farther from the head end trekking pole is lower angle, increasing the likelihood of brushing against wet rain fly.

Verdict

X-Mid’s innovative geometry and attention to detail has created a truly exceptional, industry-disrupting ultralight tent in a wide-pad accommodating chassis with a massively livable interior. We’re thrilled to see the Durston brand grow, and recommend this tent highly whenever it’s actually in stock.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P Tent

The HMG Unbound 2P (shop now) is a top-of-the-line, trekking-pole-supported Dyneema ultralight tent designed for thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Unbound immediately evokes similarities to the beloved Zpacks Duplex series, only it comes with a suite of upgrades including zippers, magnetic door toggles, vents, reinforced guyout points, and slightly wider footprint.

  • Price: $699
  • Weight: 24 oz
  • Material: Dyneema
  • Area: 28.1 ft² | Vestibule: 15 ft² (estimate) | Interior Area/Pound: 18.7 ft²
  • Length: 90″ Width: 48″ Height: 48″
  • Pros: Ultralight. Best-in-class materials. Magnetic doors. Vents. Reinforced guyout points.
  • Cons: Expensive. Non-freestanding. Translucent.

Features & Construction

Constructed with Dyneema, Unbound 2P is fully waterproof, seam-taped, sturdy, and doesn’t sag when wet like cheaper sil-nylon or sil-poly alternatives. When properly tensioned, this trekking pole-supported shelter is sturdier than most freestanding models.

The floor plan is your typical 28.1 ft², but the 48″ ceiling is well above average. Look closely at the reinforced lines bisecting the sidewalls. These allow for a healthy amount of tension on the guyout lines which further expand the usable headroom and make Unbound all the more livable.

Peak vents and the gap between top of bathtub and bottom of the fly keep this tent fairly well ventilated. But like all single-wall tents, Unbound exposes campers to brushing against wet condensation on the interior ceiling. We recommend sleeping with at least one door open when conditions allow. All four doors can be opened for max air flow without losing tension. The vestibules are large enough to store packs and open close with waterproof YKK zippers and magnetic roll up toggles.

Verdict

The Unbound 2P is of signature HMG quality and reaffirms their commitment to thru-hikers by delivering a spacious Duplex alternative fully decked out in user-friendly features. We’re thrilled to see Hyperlite add this tent to their quiver, and we hope you do too!

Gossamer Gear The Two Tent

Weighing only 1.5 lbs and costing $320, Gossamer Gear The Two is the best deal on an ultralight tent, and nothing else even comes close in terms of price-to-weight-ratio (shop now). Unlike more expensive ultralight tents made with Dyneema, The Two utilizes classic ripstop sil-nylon to save cost and reduce packed volume.

  • Price: $320
  • Weight: 23.5 oz
  • Material: Sil-Nylon
  • Area: 26.25 ft² | Vestibule: 20.0 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 17.5 ft²
  • Length: 84″ Width: 48/42″ Height: 43″
  • Pros: Ultralight. Exceptional value. Large vestibules. Packs down small. Comes with own stakes.
  • Cons: Small floor plan. Non-freestanding. Single-wall condensation/can sag when wet.

Construction & Features

The Two is your classic dual-apex ridgeline trekking pole shelter. Tension ‘er off properly and it will give you sturdy protection in harsh conditions; poor staking and loose guylines will yield saggy, flappy results.

The interior is approximately a 7’x4’ rectangle, narrowing by 6″ at the foot end. While that’s on the smaller end for a 2P tent, the fact that it can still fit a pair of wide tapered sleeping pads is nice, and the vestibules are larger than average for gear storage which helps compensate. Nonetheless, we recommend using it as a palace for solo camping, or for two-to-average sized campers. Taller/larger bodies should look elsewhere.

What makes The Two so appealing is its low price tag relative to its low weight, which is in part due to the use of cost-saving-but-still-good-performing 10d seam-taped sil-nylon fabric construction. While this fabric is the industry standard, many of The Two’s direct competitors are constructed with ultra-premium Dyneema, which performs a bit better but is significantly more expensive.

Both doors on both sides can open and close independently without giving up tension on the ridgeline. This helps immensely with ventilation, and we recommend keeping at least one door open as frequently as possible. A ridgeline clothesline and two interior pockets round out the feature set.

Verdict

All in all, this is a great ultralight tent at a great price, and an excellent entry point into reducing carried weight. We recommend Gossamer Gear The Two as the best value among all ultralight tents, and it easily outperforms significantly more expensive freestanding backpacking tents. No wonder it has 100+ 5 star reviews.

Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid XL

The Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid XL in Dyneema is an ultralight marvel. Like all pyramid shelters, it’s lighter, larger, and stronger than any traditional tent or tarp tent, and also our favorite pyramid design on the market thanks to its offset pole structure. Shop now.

  • Price: $765
  • Weight: 16.0 oz
  • Material: Dyneema .75
  • Area: 65 ft² | Vestibule: 0 ft² | Interior Area/Pound: 65 ft²
  • Length: 110″ Width: 90″  Height: 59″
  • Pros: Ultralight. Bomber wind resistance. Very spacious. Best-in-class materials. Peak vent. Offset pole does not separate partners.
  • Cons: Not bugproof. Not freestanding. Floorless. 7-10 week lead time. Single wall. Expensive. Not freestanding. Perfect pitch has a learning curve. Floorless. Single wall condensation. Not inherently bugproof. Inner nest+floor sold separately.

Construction & Features

Due to its pyramid design and the use of 0.7 oz DCF fabric, DuoMid XL is totally bomber and capable of handling 4-season winds and snow loading. Yet it weighs only a pound! This is a great 4 season tent for fastpacking and bikepacking — we’ve used this ultralight tent for two weeks in Patagonia and above the Arctic Circle!

What sets the DuoMid XL apart from most other pyramids is the off-center trekking pole placement, which allows two partners to sleep side by without a pole in the middle. This also creates a protected vestibule-like space at the entrance which other pyramids lack. And the square footage per pound is off the charts massive, nearly unbeatable.

The biggest downside with using pyramids as backpacking tents is that they are not intrinsically bug-proof and are floorless (though this less of an issue in winter). While this can be addressed by adding in the modular InnerNet bug-mesh-plus-bathtub-floor-insert, it pushes an extra 12 oz and $315, downgrading the weight class from super ultralight, to the heavier end of the ultralight spectrum (total 28 oz).We will also note that the area within about a foot of the permitter is very sloped and short. While it is excellent for storing gear, it isn’t space that can be occupied by people, so the actual interior area feels a bit smaller than stats imply.

Verdict

The MLD DuoMid XL makes for an excellent ultralight tent whenever bug pressure is low and weight savings/storm-worthiness are at premium. What a tent!

Backpacking Tent Accessories

AnyGear 7075 Aluminum Tent Stakes

The starter stakes that came with your tent are okay. But we prefer these inexpensive & far stronger Y-stakes, the AnyGear 7075 Aluminum Tent Stakes, as they make tent pitching easier and more secure in rocky, rooty dirt.

  • Price: $0.66
  • Weight: 0.5 oz
  • Material: Aircraft-grade Aluminum Alloy
  • Pros: Head never bends. Three grip notches. Affordable. High visibility. Great holding security.
  • Cons: Average weight.

Features and Verdict

The ANYGEAR 7075 Aluminum Stakes have only a single notched rib at the head making them extremely resistant to bending and damage when pounding in with a rock. And the 3-Latch point heights allow you to securely attach the cord even if they are not pounded all the way in.

These tent stakes have a pre-attached cord to make them easier to pull out. And the cord is reflective to keep you from tripping on them during the night. Finally, ‘Y’ stakes have greater holding power than aluminum v-stakes, titanium shepherd stakes, and round carbon stakes. Since upgrading to this type of stake, we’ve never looked back. Highly recommend to all backpackers and campers.

Gossamer Gear Polycryo Ground Cloth

To protect your backpacking tent floor from abrasive surfaces, we recommend the Gossamer Gear Polycryo Ground Cloth. It’s much, much lighter than the sil-nylon/poly tent footprint that manufacturers provide, and still protects against puncture and scratches.

  • Price: $11
  • Weight: 3.7 oz
  • Material: Cross-linked Polyolefin Film
  • Area: 48.0 ft² | Area/ounce: 13 ft²/oz
  • Pros: Very affordable. Ultralight. Protects tent floor from punctures.
  • Cons: Only lasts 1-3 hiking seasons.

Features and Verdict

This is the preferred footprint of ultralight tents, and should last multiple hiking seasons. For solo tents, cut off 1/3 of the sheet to save weight and bulk.

While it’s very puncture resistant, we find that it becomes more susceptible to lateral tearing as it ages. Still though, a great inexpensive piece of smarter backpacking gear.

Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Patch

For small to mediums sized rips and tears, we prefer using a Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Patch, precut in a hexagonal shape.

  • Weight: 0.1 oz (once applied)
  • Price: $5
  • Technology: Tenacious Tape
  • Cons: Long lasting. Works in backcountry. Very adhesive. Waterproof.
  • Cons: Requires smooth surfaces

About

When applied to a smooth, relatively clean surface, the repair patches are incredibly long lasting and durable. The adhesive is significantly stickier than duct tape. The patch itself is waterproof and will prevent leaks. We recommend the hex shaped patches because the corners are less sharp than rectangles, thus less prone to catching and peeling.

These repair patches work on tents, backpacks, rain jackets, hiking clothes, and pretty much any other fabric item that can be laid flat and smoothed out. However, they won’t work well on textured surfaces, like shoes or mesh.

Verdict

Nonetheless, Gear Aid makes a best in class product that should be a staple in every hikers repair kit, especially those who use ultralight tents with thin fabric. We always carry them and you should too.

 

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

New for 2023, the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite NXT (shop now) is currently the undisputed best performance sleeping pad for backpacking that money can buy, and it has no equal. It is statistically superior in almost every way and across all measurements when compared to all other sleeping pads. Read more in our full-length Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Review.

  • Price: $210
  • Weight: 13 oz
  • R-Value: 4.5 | R-Value/Weight: .35
  • Thickness: 3”
  • Fabric: 30d
  • Sizes: Regular Short, Regular, Regular Wide, Large
  • Pros: Comfy. Thick. Ultralight. Very High R-Value-to-weight.
  • Cons: Expensive.

Features

NXT’s R-Value of 4.5 is one of the highest among three season pads, and with a weight of only 13.0 oz, it’s also one of the very lightest. It’s so far ahead of the pack, that compared to the second best sleeping pad, its R-value-to-weight ratio is 24% higher.

XLite NXT is no slouch on comfort either. Now with an additional half inch of thickness compared to the original, XLite NXT is 3” thick, which means you can basically ignore small roots and divots in the ground, and side and back sleepers will be happier. And what’s more, compared to previous editions, it’s designed to be much quieter.

While it’s definitely still a bit crinkly, we’d describe the overall volume as average and acceptable. At time of publishing, Therm-a-Rest states it is six times quieter than the original XLite on their homepage. While it did get noticeably quieter, our experience did not indicate 6X.

Inflation with NXT can be a bit of a chore considering how thick the pad is. But the “winglock” valve is excellent, and you don’t have to constantly tighten it in between breaths or pumps. The 30D fabric is very durable, and you shouldn’t have any problems so long as you aren’t using it on scratchy surfaces.

Verdict

This is the best overall sleeping pad for backpacking that has ever been manufactured, and we can’t wait for you to try it out! Enjoy!

big agnes copper spur hv ul2 in use

Pro Tips & Buyer Info

By Alan Dixon

How Much Tent Do You Need?

Liveable Area – Why Tent “Volume” Matters for a Backpacking Tent

The standard floor area for a backpacking tent (28 ft2) is a good starting point for estimating the “livable area”but it’s far from telling the whole story. That is, two tents with the same floor area can have dramatically different amounts of livable area. Increasing the height of the tent and adding top spreader bar(s) make tent walls more vertical.

Combined, these design changes significantly increase livable area making it far more pleasant to spend time in the tent. To illustrate this we’ll use two tents in this guide as examples.

Nemo Hornet Example

tent space for a backpacking tent and why it matters

Low Volume Tent Example. Red Xs indicate where sloping walls and low ceiling reduce the tent’s livable area. Illustration used with permission of SlingFin. You can read their full blog post here.

Here we have for example the sleek Nemo Hornet 2p ultralight tent with 27.5 ft2 floor area for the main tent body. But the Hornet’s low 39 inch peak height and slanted sidewalls (tent lacks a spreader crossbar at the peak or foot of the tent) make it better suited for sleeping than hanging out in (some even consider this a large person’s solo tent).

REI Quarter Dome Example

backpacking tent side wall comparison with 3d renderings

High Volume Tent Example. No red Xs here. Illustration used with permission of SlingFin. You can read their full blog post here.

Second, we have the REI Quarter Dome, showing the main tent body. But it has a higher, 43 inch peak height and a spreader bar at the peak of the tent, and another at the foot end to make its walls more vertical for much of the tent body. In addition, the more generous peak height is maintained over more of the tent’s floor area. This makes it possible for two people to sit upright in much of the tent. This is a tent that you can side by side in, or play cards sitting up — a tent that you can spend more time in.

Actually, neither tent is better

Which is better just depends on what your priorities are. While the greater “livable area” for REI Co-op Quarter Dome 2 Tent is attractive, it weighs 1.4 lbs more or 75% more than the Nemo Hornet 2p. So if you like room and intend to spend more time in your tent than just sleeping (maybe even one mosquito buzzing around is too many, or you are in a rainy area) then the extra weight may not matter as much.

On the other hand, if you intend to hike much of the day, or spend most of your camp time outside of the tent only using it to sleep, then the Nemo might be a more attractive choice. And if you are hiking solo and like lots of room, you might get the Nemo Hornet 2p as a light and spacious on person tent. Or for two people who want more space, the upgrade to the The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 Tent might make sense.

PRO TIP | How to Beat Mosquitos

close up on a mosquito

Even though most backpacking tents have bug netting, nobody really wants to be in tent-jail the entire time you are in camp trying to avoid the mosquitoes. And if you are using an ultralight tent without bug netting this is even more important. Here are some tips to beat the bugs.

Campsite selection matters

Ten or 15 minutes scouting for a good camp may save you hours of misery.  Mosquitoes and other flying insects that bite are fairly predictable. They like wet areas with little or no wind. So avoid camping near wet and boggy areas. Instead try and find a higher and drier ridge or other well drained area that will have less bugs.

Try standing around in your prospective campsite for 5 minutes or so before committing and pitching your tent. If they are going to be bad you’ll know by then. And if it’s not windy, try and find a place that gets more wind — again a higher place with fewer trees or shrubs that will catch even slight breezes.

Even during the height of mosquito season in Alaska we were usually able to find breezy area, like a bluff above a river, where we could eat dinner outside the tents and with our shoes off.

Hatching trends throughout the season

In western mountains the mosquito hatch moves up in altitude as the season progresses going to nearly zero by August in most areas. Before then the mosquito hatches are worst at a certain altitude and you can avoid camping there if possible. Finally, bug pressure may go down substantially in the late evening.

In more arid climates they usually settle down once the temperature drops at the end of the day, and especially after dark. We’ve cowboy camped (no tent, faces exposed) many a night when the mosquitoes were buzzing around during the day, but dwindled to nearly zero after dark.

Sometimes you can’t beat the bugs

And yes, if you are in the Boundary Waters in July, you’ll need a backpacking tent with full bug netting. An ultralight tent without mesh would not suffice. But we find those instances the exception rather than the rule. Most times we can get away with a tarp our pyramid shelter without the netting.

Increase Weather Resistance By Choosing A Good Campsite

a forest of trees and shrubs provide wind protection

Even a so-so backpacking tent will usually perform great when pitched properly in a good campsite

Wind, Rain, and Cold

While those catalog photos of a tent on a picturesque lakeshore with a tree nowhere in sight look great — they are horribly exposed places to be in bad weather! So do yourself a huge favor and pitch your backpacking tent in a protected area — preferably in the trees! But if not the trees, behind a large rock, a small hill, a line of shrubs, or anything that can break the wind.

Trees do a number of things to protect you from wind, which is extra important if you have an ultralight tent supported by trekking poles.

  • Trees block the wind: which keeps you a lot warmer (reduces convective heat loss). It also lowers wind load and stresses on your shelter and tent stakes. You don’t need a bomber tent if you are protected in the woods.
  • Trees keep you warmer: Trees prevent radiant heat loss. They reflect the day’s heat back to the ground at night in the same way that a cloudy sky makes it warmer overnight.
  • Trees keep you drier: Camping in the trees can shield from light rain, and is also less prone to the heavy dew and condensation of exposed campsites. The worst place for dew is in a treeless meadow at the bottom of a canyon. The best place to be is in the woods on a flat area a few hundred feet above the canyon bottom.
  • Trees provide shelter anchors: for tarps, shelter tie-outs, and hammocks. Far more secure than stakes in the ground. Just a few good tie-out to trees will make any tent a lot more stable.

Finally, make sure that your backpacking tent is not in an area where water will pool-up or stream through underneath in the event of a heavy downpour.

Leave No Trace (LNT) Ethics

Current Leave No Trace (LNT) Ethics have you discreetly camping out of sight in the trees [e.g. all campsites in Rocky Mountain Park fit this criteria]. Camping out of sight is a favor to fellow backcountry travelers sharing the area with you — rather than advertising your presence to everybody for miles around. Then everybody can view that beautiful lake or meadow without any human presence to mar their experience.

In addition, you should try and camp on hard, durable surfaces whenever possible. [Your park reg’s likely have you camping away from lakes, streams, and trails as well.] One of the biggest downsides to ultralight tents that pitch with trekking poles is that you cannot use them on solid rock – the hardest and most durable of all surfaces.

an ultralight tent in the desert at sunrise

Key Information for the Backpacking Tent Buyer

& Tent Terminology Explained

What You Get by Spending More For An Ultralight Tent

At this point with backpacking gear, spending more often means a lighter tent without losing durability. More expensive ultralight tents are often constructed with DCF (formerly Cuben) or other pricier fabrics with a light weight and high durability. More expensive tents will often last longer, have a better space-to-weight ratio for livability, and have more features such as multiple doors and vestibules.

Be a smart shopper though: Are you paying a higher sticker price for a fancy name brand? Or will a tent from a lesser-known company provide the same durability and quality? Be sure to understand the specs (volume, material, weight) and read reviews for livable space and setup tips before buying. You can often save money without sacrificing too much in the way of construction quality.

Area Per Pound of Tent Weight

This a key factor to evaluate and compare tents. Our area per pound of tent weight gives you a good idea of how light a tent really is. That is how much volume/livable space do you get for each pound of tent weight. For the tents in this guide these range from around 10 ft2/lb for the more budget oriented tents, to near 40 ft2/lb for the lightest ultralight tents.

That is the best ultralight tents are 1/4 the weight for the same livable area. And pyramid tents are amazing at around 64 ft2/lb!

testing zpacks triplex tent for a featured gear review

Backpacking Tent Weight Explained

Your tent can be one of the heaviest items in your pack, relative to overall base weight. Your tent is one of your “big three” items (pack and sleep system are the other two), and is a constant in your base weight. For a freestanding tent, you are carrying a tent body, a tent fly, poles, and stakes. But! Pairs of hikers can often split up a tent to distribute the weight.

For freestanding tents, it’s easy to divide the fly and tent body, and choose who carries the poles. This comes with a weight penalty vs. non-freestanding ultralight tent of (usually) two pounds or less per person, if the two-person backpacking tent is between 3-4 pounds. Most hikers should aim for carrying no more than 2.5 pounds of shelter weight per person.

Ultralight tents may or may not be able to be divvied but they’re often so light, it hardly matters.

Tarps and single wall ultralight tents are a great way to reduce shelter weight, as you use trekking poles instead of tent poles to set them up, and you’re likely already carrying the trekking poles. Single wall ultralight tents combine the tent body and tent fly, resulting in significant weight savings and some two-person single wall tent models weigh a scant one pound.

Packaged Weight vs Minimum Weight

You’ll see references to packed weight and minimum weight (or trail weight) on many manufacturers and retailers sites. Packed weight is referring to how much the entire tent package weighs when you purchase it, including tent body, fly, poles, stakes, guy lines, compression sacks or stuff sacks, and anything else included in the package. Basically, how much it weighs when it shows up at your door.

Minimum trail weight can vary in what it’s referencing, but typically means the weight of the tent body, fly, and poles… the basics of what you need to pitch the tent. You’ll likely need stakes and some guy lines as well, so you can assume the actual weight of what you’ll be carrying is somewhere between minimum weight and packaged weight — but with good stakes, closer to the minimum weight.

Backpacking Tent Durability (Denier)

Ultralight tents have to be treated with care. Regardless of price and quality, if the denier of your tent walls and tent floor go down, the durability goes down too, and the tent is more prone to ripping or punctures. For tents with floor material under 30D, be very aware of where you set it up, and avoid roots and sharp rocks. We recommend a footprint or Polycro sheet to help protect the tent floor.

“Denier” is the term used to describe the thickness of the tent fibers. One strand = 1 denier. So a 20-denier (or 20D) fabric has 2/3 the density of a 30D fabric. Many backpacking tents will have a higher-denier fabric on the floor of the tent vs. the wall. Durability in material matters too. A 20D DCF tent wall will wear differently than a 20D nylon tent wall.

a tent for review next to a lake

Backcountry Weather Protection

There are a few things to consider with weather protection in a tent: precipitation from above, and soaking through from below. Some tents don’t come fully seam sealed, and you’ll have to apply waterproofing and seam sealing yourself.

For other brands, this is an add-on option. Be sure you know your tent is fully weather-proofed before you take it out for the first time. You can also get “wet from the inside” due to condensation see more on this in Ventilation below.

For super weight savers, sleeping under a tarp with no bug net and no bathtub floor means less weight to carry, but also less protection from the elements. A fully enclosed tent with a bathtub floor and bug netting carries more of a weight penalty, but comes with increased protection. Four-season tents are shaped differently than three-season tents.

Their steeper walls allow them to deal with snow loading better, and not accumulate heavy snow on their tops. Four-season tents have less mesh, and seal in heat better. This also means they accumulate condensation more.

Ultralight Tent Ventilation

Condensation management and ventilation is important to take into consideration when choosing a backpacking tent. Some models and styles vent better than others, but it also has to do with how you set your tent up and your site location. For double walled tents will do well with managing condensation.

The potential for excessive condensation is a downside to single-wall ultralight tents, but it’s starting to be addressed in different models. Backpacking tents like the REI Flash Air 2 with two mesh side walls, and doors on each side will vent better than single wall models with limited openings and solid rear walls.

Backpacking tent models with doors on both sides allow for cross ventilation options, which is key to avoiding condensation. Opening a door or vents will help prevent condensation buildup, and choosing a high, dry site.

Venting your tent helps prevent condensation buildup because the flow of air helps move water vapor outside of the tent. The warm air inside is continually pushed out, replaced by cooler air, and helps keep the temperature equal (or as equal as possible) inside and outside the tent.

Interior Space: Floor Area, Peak Height, and Walls

Interior space (or “livable” space) means the space you’ll be sleeping in, changing clothes in, and ultimately will be able to determine how comfortable you’ll be existing in this space, whether or not you share it with another person. The steepness of the walls and peak height of the roof also contribute livable space.

A wall with a slant from floor to peak means less shoulder room, while a backpacking tent with a spreader bar across the top and more vertical walls equates to more shoulder space and sitting-up space without hitting yourself on the steeply pitched walls.

The standard floor area for a tent (square footage) is a good starting point for estimating the “livable area” but it’s far from telling the whole story. Approximately 28 sq ft is average for an ultralight tent, while traditional backpacking tents tend be closer to 30 sq ft.

For example, two tents with the same floor area can have dramatically different amounts of livable area. Increasing the height of the tent and adding top spreader bar(s) and/or pre-bent poles can make tent walls more vertical. Combined, these design changes significantly increase livable area making it far more pleasant to spend time in the tent. For example the Big Agnes Copper Spur has a significantly more livable area than the Nemo Hornet 2p.

testing gear for buyer's guide in the mountains

Number of Doors

For a two-person tent, two doors are ideal for many pairs of hiking partners. Having two doors eliminates crawling all over one another for midnight bathroom breaks, and gives each person their own side. However, two doors mean two zippers, which adds to the weight of the tent. This can be a matter of convenience and comfort over weight.

Many people cutting weight are happy with one door, either on the side or the front of the tent because it’s less extra material, and also less chance of construction failure with seams and zippers. As noted two doors give you are better ventilation options and is a superior option overall.

Storage: Vestibules and Interior Pockets

Having a larger vestibule doesn’t just mean more space: it means you can save the inside of your tent from getting drenched with wet gear on rainy outings. The more space you have in a vestibule, the more you can leave your soaked gear outside of the while still having it be protected. Look for a vestibule at least 7 ft2, and for two-person tents, two vestibules are really nice.

While interior pockets aren’t critical, they are really nice for organizing small items such as headlamps, ear plugs, small electronics, and other items that can get lost in piles of gear at night. A pocket or two at the head of the tent for quick access is great, and an overhead pocket can make a nice place to have a headlamp turned on to illuminate the entire shelter before you go to sleep. Vestibules are very important for ultralight tents which sometimes have smaller interior floor plans and require campers to put backpacks outside.

What Is A Freestanding Backpacking Tent? Is an Ultralight Tent Freestanding?

Freestanding backpacking tents are the “classic,” full-featured, easy-to-pitch tents most people are familiar with. There are not currently any freestanding ultralight tents weighing less than 2 lbs. Once you insert the poles, freestanding tents can stand on their own without being staked out… no fly required.

They are also double walled, having both an inner tent with breathable fabric walls, mosquito netting and bathtub floor, and separate outer rain fly (waterproof fabric). This allows you to avoid setting up the fly for better views and ventilation when it’s not raining.

And when you do have the rain fly up and it begins to condense, the walls of the inner tent keeps you and your gear away from the fly’s wet inner surface. The downside is that freestanding models are heavier than ultralight tents with non-freestanding designs, and might have more limited livable room. High quality aircraft grade aluminum poles can significantly increase cost.

a group of backpacking tents next to a lake

Why you should still stake out freestanding tents

“Freestanding” is a bit misleading, and does not necessarily mean that you do not need to stake out these tents. In reality, it is a good idea to stake out any tent or shelter, freestanding or not. While the main body (less rain fly) of a freestanding tent will stand on its own without stakes, it is still better to stake it out.

We have seen more than a few un-staked tents blow a considerable distance in strong winds, sometimes resulting in tent damage and lost gear (thus our recommendation to find a good campsite that avoids exposure to strong winds). And if you add a rainfly over your freestanding tent you will need to stake out the vestibules.

And most important, you will always get a better/tauter and much stronger pitch if you stakeout the corners and other points as necessary.

Freestanding tents do have an advantage for Leave No Trace. When the winds are light, you can pitch them on hard, durable surfaces such as solid rock with a minimum of anchor points (although you may need to use a few rocks to anchor things like the vestibule tie-outs). In high winds and at an exposed campsite, this is not a good idea.

In comparison, most ultralight tents are non-freestanding and require the use of your trekking poles to support them, and also need to be staked out be fully pitched. Since poles are the heaviest part of tent, this design strategy often saves multiple pounds of weight.

Backpacking Tent Poles and Stakes

Sturdy, lightweight stakes make tent pitching faster and more secure. It’s not a bad idea to replace the stakes your tent came with.

For pitching in rocky ground and other difficult areas, we prefer inexpensive but bomber AnyGear 7075 Aluminum Tent Stakes. They have only a single notch at the head, making them extremely resistant to bending and damage when pounding in with a rock. And they have a pre-attached cord to make them easier to pull out. ‘Y’ stakes have greater holding power than most stakes so they’ll hold your tent more securely. You can get similar ‘Y’ stakes, MSR Ground Hogs, at REI.

Freestanding tents come with their own set of poles, usually collapsible single-hub or double-hub. Both styles will be hollow poles of varying weight, material, and durability, with elastic holding them together. A single-hub pole set will unfold and snap together with one central cross-point. Other models have a separate spreader bar or other components you’ll have to attach and configure.

Tarptents and single-wall shelters utilize trekking poles for structure and stability, but some have a roof spreader bar for more shoulder room and interior space.

Footprints and Backpacking Tent Care

When storing a backpacking tent, it’s imperative to make sure the tent is clean and entirely dry. Don’t crumple it into a stuff sack, rather fold it carefully and store it flat to help prevent degradation of waterproofing and seam sealing. This is especially important for thinner ultralight tents.

If your backpacking tent floor is 30D or better, then you can likely skip a footprint or Polycro sheet altogether. It’s durable enough if you pitch it carefully. On the other hand, many lighter tents and single-wall tents have 20D or even 15D floors. In this case, you should seriously consider protecting it with a footprint or Polycro sheet.

We recommend skipping the manufacturer’s footprint, which is heavy and can be expensive. Instead, use a 2 to 3.5 oz Polycro Footprint to protect the floor of very light tent floors. We recommend putting a $11 Gossamer Gear Polycro Footprint or MLD UL FOOTPRINT under this type of shelter.

This multilayer, cross-linked polyolefin film weighs less than 4 oz and is much stronger and more durable than the typical painter’s plastic sheet you’d get at a hardware store. It’s also ~ 1/2 the weight and 12% the cost of a footprint from the tent manufacturer. It should last for months of use. When it starts to wear it can easily be replaced by another $9 footprint.

Best Backpacking Tent Conclusion

Thank you for reading our guide to the best backpacking tents and ultralight tents, where we hope you’ve found the perfect shelter. We’ve been testing tents for decades and are sure that any one of these will serve you well for years to come. Happy hiking!

67 replies
  1. Ben
    Ben says:

    Great to have you back in action Alan. I am personally excited and enticed by the HMG Unbound. The sidewall gussets fix my biggest issue with the ZPacks Duplex, which is the sloppiness and unsightliness of the pronounced sag in the sidewall when staked out.

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Yes, definitely a good design call on HMG’s part. That’s a large side panel that can use some structural support. Best, -alan

      Reply
  2. Gerry Brucia
    Gerry Brucia says:

    Hey Alan,
    I do see one error I should mention. The fabric for the Durston X-Mid Pro is listed as silnylon, not Dyneema DCF. The silnylon version is the X-Mid, not the X-Mid Pro.

    Reply
  3. Kelly Chapman
    Kelly Chapman says:

    Hi Alan! I just found your website – thanks so much for your insight! My husband did some backpacking as kids but have so far only car camped with our two kids (7 & 9). We’d like to start backpacking with them too – any advice on how to manage a four person trip with 2 carrying most of the weight? I would assume that the 4 person versions of some of these tents would be best, per previous comments? What about stoves & water filtration? Can you use the same base gear and add extra Sawyer pouches or larger pots to expand to more people?

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Nice to hear from you Kelly. We took our kids backpacking from when they were in diapers. Yes, larger pot with a shared stove works great. In this case a canister stove might be a better choice because it will boil the large pot a lot faster. Sawyer with extra bladders check, altho you’ll likely want to bring some Aqua Mira to treat larger volumes in camp. It’s totally safe — same chemistry as municipal water treatment. Finally 7 & 9 is getting pretty big. You might squeeze into a large 3-p tent but maybe not. My family when I was growing up would just sleep out most nights only getting into the tent during T-storms (where my brother, father and I squeezed into a larger 2P tent). It worked. But if that’s not your style you might end up with a 4p tent. In that case, somebody carries the tent body, and the other carries the fly and poles. Let know if I can help further. Your other option is one of the larger Pyramid shelters from MLD but that may not be your cup o tea. Anyway enjoy camping with the family. Warmest, -alan & alison.

      Reply
      • Jeff
        Jeff says:

        Hi Alison and Alan,

        I’d love to hear more about your experience backpacking with kids. I have twins, so two of the same age (11 months). Do you use any specialized baby equipment for backpacking, or just their regular stuff from home? How did you handle diaper changes and feedings in the field? Mine eat a mix of formula and baby and canned foods.

        Jeff

        Reply
  4. Scott
    Scott says:

    I’m looking for new ultralight 2 person tent, but am little hesitant to spend and arm and a leg for a moderately livable tent. With that in mind, any initial thoughts on the X-mid 2P?

    Thanks!
    Scott

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Scott, checkout my recent Instagram Post. We took the X-mid 2P for 10 days in Alaska north of the Arctic Circle incling some challenging weather with wind, freezing, rain, sleet and snow. It did quite well. Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan & alison

      Reply
  5. Scott
    Scott says:

    I’m considering purchasing a TT Stratospire li 2, but am a little concerned if it’s really going to be a reasonable 2 person shelter. I’m 5’10” and my main hiking partners are my son who is 6′ or my buddy who is shorter than me. We’re all reasonably fit, so don’t take up to much space. I’m guessing the large vestibules and full mesh inner will make it seem larger but am curious if you have any thoughts on the subject.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Scott, see my response regarding the X-mid 2p. It has a fairly large inner tent and large vestibules. Plenty of room for 2 including gear. Best, -alan

      Reply
  6. David
    David says:

    Hi Alan –
    Love the thorough and thoughtful reviews. I still have and love my BD Megamid from years as an outdoor educator, but now that my tentmates are my spouse and young kids I’m wondering about other options for light-weight 4-person backpacking shelters. As we move on from a big car-camping tent, my preference for the pyramid tent and ground cloth isn’t being well-received, so with all the requests for a more enclosed tent I’m considering our options might be a) sewing bug netting and a floor to the bottom of the megamid, b) looking for a slightly bigger pyramid shelter with an optional inner tent (netting & floor) or c) the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4. Any thoughts or recommendations?

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      David, given your families predilections I would guess that a more traditional 4p tent might be more to their liking. Pyramid tents have the downside of 1) steeply sloping walls, which are fine for dedicated hikers and climbers but confining to others. And they are likely to get wet on condensing walls. The also only have one door also not family friendly. 2) If used with the inner nest their weight and cost savings vs. a traditional tent are near nil. That is they shine when used with a ground cloth but not when used with an inner. 3) Finally your family will likely appreciate all the creature comforts (pockets, two doors, etc.) of something like Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4. All that being said a MLD will sew mosquito mesh around the floor of a SuperMid. Warmest, -alan

      Reply
    • Scott B
      Scott B says:

      David,
      I have had almost the exact same situation! I went with the TarpTent Hogback. It’s a great, truly 4-person tent – especially if two of the people are kids. Due to the design, all of the floor space is actually usable, right up next to the wall. … another benefit of this (all the floor space being usable) is that despite it being a 4P tent, the ground space required is pretty low. Making this the perfect backpacking tent for two adults and two kids.

      In truth, it will be snug with four adults, but doable. And with one adult and two kids, there’s plenty of room for everyone and gear.

      Reply
  7. Dan Armento
    Dan Armento says:

    Alan, great articles and write up reviews as always. But to be fair, you do need to get so.e pro t on the X-Mid 2P. Its specs put it over the Flash, …… by a lot. Please compare materials used, taped seems, ease of set up, true space – wall width and head room (apples to apples). Available options as single wall or double or just inner tent stand alone. This X-Mid 2P is only being slighted because it isn’t coming through a big name outdoor gear, sporting, or supply store. Make it happen for next year, and review it this summer please. It would only be fair to your readers. Many thanks!

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Dan, it’s not being slighted. We are currently field testing the X-Mid 2P. But as you point out availability is spotty and we had to wait quite a time to receive ours this year. As such, it is near the end of our testing queue. And there is not going to be an apples to apples comparison between the Flash Air 2 tent which is a single/double wall hybrid and the X-Mid 2P which is a full double walled shelter. There are also differences in weight, stability, wind-loading, etc. Nonetheless stay tuned for more on the X-Mid 2P. Best, -alan

      Reply
      • Jay
        Jay says:

        I also noticed that you suggest a single user get the Flash Air 2 tent over the 1p model due to better airflow and double doors/vestibules.

        I own the Xmid 1p, which has double doors/vestibules, has excellent ventilation, is less weight (29 oz), costs less, and has double walls.

        I view it as a better value tent than the Flash Air 2 for 1 person use.

        Reply
        • Alan Dixon
          Alan Dixon says:

          Jay, I have both the X-Mid 1p and 2p. One issue with both of these tents is availability. For instance, currently the 2p is not in stock and available for pre-order only. That makes them both harder to get a hold of to review and to recommend to readers. We are currently field testing the X-Mid 2P. But availability was spotty and we had to wait quite a time to receive ours this year. As such, it is near the end of our testing queue. And there is not going to be an apples to apples comparison between the Flash Air 2 tent which is a single/double wall hybrid and the X-Mid 1P or 2P which are full double walled shelters. There are also differences in weight, stability, door configuratons, wind-loading, etc. Nonetheless stay tuned for more on the X-Mids. Best, -alan

  8. SherryL
    SherryL says:

    Any feedback on Tarptent Rainbow 1p, including the ability to make freestanding with poles on ends of tent?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Sherry, almost all tents tested in this guide are 2 person. The reason is that they are usually just a few oz more than the 2 person models, have way more room to weight and are more flexible for when you want to share the tent (or just need a bit more room during a long period of rain). One lesser known advantage of the 2 person tents, like the Double rainbow is that they have way better ventilation and can reduce condensation issues vs. the 1 p. Tents. This is twofold. First, if you can open (or even crack) the doors on both sides you get great cross ventilation. Second, you have mesh on both sides of the interior to keep you away from condensing walls. With a on person that sold back wall is always a very wet palce and easy but bump against. Hope this helps. Best, -alan

      Reply
  9. Tina
    Tina says:

    Love the reviews and comparison photos.
    I have had no luck in my searching and was wondering if you might have some recommendations. I currently have a 2 person REI tent that I’ve used and loved for close to 10 years but I’m starting to do long distance heavy weather (wind and rain) backpack trips and want to upgrade to a light 1 person tent with a fairly big vestibule and has double walls. Do you have any recommendations or brands to reliable go with?

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Tina, the answer is that it depends on what type of shelter you are willing to go with. All of the shelter categories have options that meet your “to do long distance heavy weather (wind and rain) backpack trips” criteria. Just depends on how light you want to go, how much you want to spend, and what type of shelter you can deal with — Traditional Tent, Single Walled Tent, or Pyramid Tent. All will do the job. Let me know and I will try and help you further. Best, -alan

      Reply
  10. Matt
    Matt says:

    Alan,

    In your experience using the Tiger Wall UL tents, did you feel that a groundcloth or footprint was necessary? I am continuing to refine my kit for an upcoming trip with Andrew Skurka and this will be the first time I take the Tiger Wall UL2 out on the trail. Just curious of your thoughts on that. Thanks for your time.

    Matt

    Reply
  11. Jay
    Jay says:

    I’m surprised that the Dan Durston X-Mid is not on this list. It is better and less expensive than a lot of choices listed here. I own the 1p. Here are my notes on it:

    1p ($200, 1.8 lb) or 2p ($250, 2.4 lb).
    Faster & easier to pitch than other trekking pole supported tents (imo), only requires 4 stakes (more in high winds), double wall, double vestibule, double door, better ventilation than most other UL tents, made of silpoly which doesn’t sag like silnylon tents, long enough for someone 6’3″, ceiling height is higher than most trekking pole supported tents (at the feet), wind resistant, can be used without inner to save weight and increase sleeping space (1p becomes just over 1 lb and can sleep 2p).

    1p dyneema version may be coming out next year. It is expected to be lighter, more roomy, and more durable than the Zpacks Plexamid.

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Jay, it’s very hard to review products that are only available for such a short period of time. That is, by the time I get one, field test it and review it, the tent is no longer avaialbe for folks to purchase. Altho like many Drop products the cost is appealing. Best, -alan

      Reply
      • Jay
        Jay says:

        Makes sense Alan. You reviewed a lot of tents already! The Dan Durston Xmid is now available for preorder: https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-dan-durston-x-mid-1p-tent

        Reply
  12. Bret
    Bret says:

    Do you consider Stratospire LI less storm/wind worthy than Dirigo 2?
    Do you consider Zpacks Duplex less storm/wind worthy than Stratospire LI?
    These seem similar but trading space and weight for storm/wind worthiness.
    Nice to have so many options to choose the one best for you!

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Brett, a good line of thinking. First a caution that all these tents use different tent designs and can’t be exactly compared (especially the Stratospire Li and Dirigo 2). That being said, without some apples to apples windtunnel test it would be hard to say authoritatively that the Stratospire Li or the Dirigo 2 is more windworthy. If I had to bet, I’d give a slight edge to Dirigo 2. But that would be an educated guess based on the inherent strength of a pyramid design. The much lighter Zpacks Duplex less storm/wind worthy than the other two. And yes, the Stratospire Li at only 27 ft2 definitely exchanges decreased space for strength and for being fully double walled. The duplex at only 1.2 lb exchanges both strength and wind worthiness for a substantial weight reduction. The Dirigo 2 hits the sweet spot of having a large 32 ft2 living area while keeping weight low at 1.8 lb — which is why it’s our first choice for an all-around-tent. But again it is not a fully double walled shelter like the Stratospire Li. Hope this helps. Best, -alan

      Reply
  13. Mike
    Mike says:

    Hi Alan,

    I appreciate all the information you provide.

    After recently using a Tarptent Notch Li a few times, I find it’s too small for me and am considering moving to the Stratospire Li. My previous (and old-standby) tent is a Copper Spur UL2. I hike solo- but sometimes with a dog – and love that it is freestanding and love the room it provides- both inside and in the vestibules. Not too much, not too little. But I got sucked into going lightweight and there’s no turning back now. :)

    My problem is that I have trouble getting the PitchLocs on the Notch to stay spread out. I always end up putting rocks in the corners to hold them apart. Perhaps I’m doing something wrong but wanted to know if you’ve had or noticed the same issue with the Stratospire Li. Would hate to spend the money and get frustrated trying to pitch it every time.

    All the best.

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Mike, all good thoughts. I would possibly look at this from another angle. The TarpTents are fairly small (both 1p and 2p) versions. As such I might consider a tent that is inherently larger like the HMG Dirigo 2, or another UL tent that is more in the range of 30 ft2 or more. There are a number of such tents in this guide. You might even look at one of the Mid’s. Looking forward to hearing back from you. Best, -alan

      Reply
  14. Gabriella
    Gabriella says:

    Hi Alan, Thanks so much for the detailed reviews! Have you used the Zpacks Duplex with the freestanding flex kit yet? You note in your review that the Stratospire and Dirigo are studier than the Zpacks Duplex but I’m wondering how they compare in stability and windproofness to the Zpacks with the freestanding option. I have a Zpacks one-person tent that I love and have done a lot of solo backpacking in. The only disadvantage is that it can be a bit tricky to set up in conditions where the ground is too rocky/sandy for the stakes to go in well. So now that I’m in the market for a two-person tent, the Zpacks duplex with the freestanding addition really appeals to me. You commented that the Stratospire and Dirigo are easy to set up, but can you be more specific about why these are easier to setup than the Zpacks as both the Stratospire and Dirigo are non-freestanding. Thanks so much for your help! Happy hiking!

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Gabriella, all good questions. I’ll do my best to address some main points. And just to be clear, if you are camped in a reasonably protected area, the Duplex’s low weight may trump other considerations. My guess that most Duplex users do this.

      1) Stratospire and Dirigo are both pyramid style shelters, the structure of which is inherently strong with minimal weight (by comparison, it takes a lot more weight and structure to give a typical domed/freestanding tent similar strength). The Dirigo is modified single apex pyramid like a MLD or HMG but with the two poles going to central apex. This gets rid of the problem of the single pole in the middle of the floor area, and adds support to the wider side walls. The Stratospire is a two apex ‘mid which also solves the pole in the middle as well. Both of these tents have faceted sewn panels (some curved) with seams oriented for strength and minimum stretch/deflection of large side panels. In comparison, the Duplex is more of a basic “pup-tent” design. It has no good way to get the fabric properly tensioned, especially the two large side panels. There is no curved seaming, no faceting of the panels or other mechanical structuring to inhibit panel movement (other than mid panel pullouts which only help so much). 2) The Dirigo is simple to setup in that you stake out the 4 corners and put in the and tension the trekking poles (from the outside so easy) and you are essentially done. Alison and I can do this in less than 2 min. The Stratospire takes bit longer. In comparison, the Duplex uses a lot of stakes which have to be positioned and tensioned just so to get a decent pitch (the HMG and TT need less precise tensioning). 3) I have used the the Zpacks Duplex with the freestanding flex kit, and it is less stable than than the non-freestanding with the poles in. Again in a protected area this level of stability may be adequate. Hope this helps, -alan

      Reply
  15. Tomek
    Tomek says:

    Hi
    Im looking for 3 person tent (for 2 with extra space) which would stand strong winds or rain of Island or Norway Would Mutha Hubba 3 nx would be my best option?
    Regards
    Tomek

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Tomek,
      Apologies for the late reply. Just back at a computer after a month of guiding Alaska’s Brooks Range and then some personal trips in Alaska. Now digging out of the backlog of being away from the internet for a considerable amount of time. Yes, the Mutha Hubba 3 NX would be a reasonable option — lot’s off room at 39 ft2. A stronger possibility would be the SlingFin CrossBow 2 Mesh, which at 32 ft2 has much more room than most 2P tents (which run 28 to 30 ft2). It is very close to a 4 season tent in its strength to resist wind, but the mesh body adds ventilation and reduces weight for 3 season camping. (It is also available in a solid body version). Another tent to look at is the HMG Dirigo 2 also 32 ft2. And finally you could look at one of the strong and light Pyramid Tents, many of which have a ton of room for two people and gear. Alison and I have used them with good success in Patagonia for everything but camping on glaciers. Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan & alison

      Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Paul, good question. These are very different tents so it depends what you want. First, price and weight are similar. From there they diverge. The Zpacks Duplex is far roomier — palatial for one and it will fit two people. So more flexible if you occasionally share it and a lot more fun to wait out a long storm (assuming it’s pitched in an area sheltered from the wind). The Tarptent Aeon Li is decidedly a single tent with much less floor area. In addition the sloping walls of its pyramid design further reduce internal volume. So decidedly a tent for those that mostly lie down and sleep in a tent. Where the Tarptent Aeon Li shines is in strength. While the large generally unsupported side panels (walls) on the Duplex normally require pitching in a sheltered area if the winds are strong — the Aeo Li is much more of 3+ shelter and up to camping out in the open in a storm. E.g. a much better tent for above tree line in the western mountains. Hope this helps. Best, -alan & alison

      Reply
      • Paul Richey
        Paul Richey says:

        I have a Triplex I use for two person camping. I don’t hang out in a tent much, and I almost always sleep in the high exposed lake basins wherever I hike.
        How would you contrast the Aeon vs the Plexamid?

        Reply
        • Alan Dixon
          Alan Dixon says:

          Hi Paul, just getting ready to take a bushplane into the Alaskan Backcountry so a brief response. If you intend to camp in high basins above tree line and “don’t hang around in the tent that much” then the TarpTent would be a better choice. Far more stormworthy and stabile in strong winds. Wishing you some great trips. Best, -alan

        • Paul Richey
          Paul Richey says:

          Alan,
          Back from a SSHR/JMT blend complicated by the big snow year.
          I took the Aeon Li tent and was overall disappointed with it. It’s very light and easy to set up, but too many negatives:
          – despite the back and corner pole design, it has insufficient face and foot clearance. You will get wet on damp nights
          – it needs a flat surface for set-up. Forget an uneven platform because it will sag. And with the design of the corners you can’t guy it out over rocks or whatever like you can with the corners of a Plexamid or most of the pyramid types.
          – bathtub floor not deep enough and not well suspended.
          – the Velcro closure on the vestibule is so much more tedious than a zipper would be and gaps in the middle with even moderate wind
          – the corner pole and strap set ups are way too complex and very flimsy. One of the corner carbon poles fell out when I was shaking the tent and tried to blow away.
          Aside from not having bug protection, a simple tarp would be a much more effective shelter than the Aeon Li.
          Commenting on your tent reviews, I saw a number of Z packs Duplexes and all users spoke highly of them.
          I saw one HMG Dirigo which looks very clean and bomber and its owners were very pleased with it as a 2 person tent. I wish I owned it!
          I also saw a couple of Lunar Solos and the owners were totally pleased with the performance of them. They look clean and simple and stable and the face/foot clearance is certainly better than the Aeon Li.
          I am impressed with your reviews of the MLD mids. The Solomid XL is impressive and would be great as a tarptent with a groundsheet.
          A couple more thoughts referencing your pack reviews. . I used my HMG Southwest 3400 on this trip. It is clean and simple and bomber. And it made a great daypack to climb Mt Sill.
          But my Osprey Exos 58 still carries more weight much more comfortably, carries a canister much better strapped on top, and I echo your thoughts on the ease of packing and unpacking a larger volume pack. the Exos is a generous 58 liters. Take the top pocket off and its basically a 2 pound pack. Hard to beat the design for those that don’t have their kit down really compact yet.
          Keep up the good work. Great website!!
          Isuggested it to a number of hikers on my recent trip.
          Paul

        • Alan Dixon
          Alan Dixon says:

          Thanks for all the great feedback from you trip Paul. Super helpful. Hope you had a great trip. Warmest, -alan & alison

  16. Todd
    Todd says:

    Hi Alan,
    Thank you for all of these wonderful reviews. I’m in the process of upgrading my gear from what I used in the 80s and early 90s. It’s funny but back then I never used to think about weight very much. I had nice equipment but 60 pound packs were not much fun to lug around the wilderness. Now that our kids are older we are going to be camping more and I’m excited to go light. My question for you is about tents. I never was one to hike with trekking poles as I like to have hands free. The hyperlite Dirigo 2 and the ultra mid look like great options but I’m not sure I want to bring trekking poles along with me and the weight of the poles needs to be considered when comparing tents. My question for you is 1) Are the tents that require trekking poles still lighter than the traditional lightweight tents if you include the weight of the poles? 2) If you were to go on a trip and not take poles with you what tents would you consider taking with you? Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Heather
    Heather says:

    Hi, I am looking for a new set up. I have given careful thought, and have read many reviews, still my mind goes round, so I would appreciate your feedback!

    Most nights I cowboy camp, and set up shelter only when there is weather. I have been using the HMG Ultamid. In the worst of storms, everything comes loose… the tie on the two poles hitched together start giving in a little and all of the tie outs lose their tautness as well from the constant wind gusts. This leaves me feeling very uneasy. Also, even in low wind conditions, I seem to take longer to set this tent up amongst free standing tent users.

    I have considered moving to a free standing set up: the Copper spur HV UL2… but then I read about your experience with Pyramids holding up to winds in Patagonia while seeing free standing tents crushed… and that makes me want to stick to pyramids and try a MLD doumid.

    Have you not had issues with the lines loosening up throughout intense storms?

    I read that you also prefer to not have the inner net with floor and opt for a groundsheet. My question to you about this is, when you are in a torrential downpour -how do you not get wet with all of the spray from rain hitting hard and bouncing back up or the wind blowing it into you, without a net in place to catch some of that?

    Lastly…. The cuben fiber vs Syl Nylon… if cost and weight is left out…..
    Cuben fiber
    cons: condensation, even when sleeping with door open and high enough pitch.
    pro: holds integrity with snow and totally waterproof.

    Syl nylon
    cons: gives with snow and a little bit in high winds, and at times lets a little bit of spray through from heavy rain
    pro: it dries SO much faster and forms less condensation.

    What is your experience or line of reason with all of these things? I am Really looking forward to your insight, and appreciate your help!

    Heather

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi heather, all good Q’s. I will do my best to answer them. As to keeping a taut pitch. 1) Use the big Y stakes and make sure they are solidly into the ground. 2) Make sure the line-locks are not slipping. I usually bypass them and use a truckers hitch. 3) I prefer MLD’s pole connectors vs. HMG’s straps. 4) At that point, all you need to do to tension your pitch is to extent one of the center pole sections an inch or two and you should be good. I usually need to do this only once a night.For an inner floor you have a few options. 1) Go with just the bathtub floor option (w/o the net) if you have the MLD mid. This what we do in patagonia and other areas with intense windblown rain. While not essential it is nice when water starts to pool up and run along the ground. 2) Since you cowboy camp (as Alison and I do) then you can use your bivy inside the mid. This gives you the option of cowboy camping in nice weather. And in crappy weather, you can use it inside the mid to handle the small amount of windblown rain (close to zero in our experience if you keep the edges of the mid near the ground with a low pitch). Finally as to SilN vs DCF. Cost aside DCF is a superior fabric for a mid. Holds tension better when wet. Is lighter. More waterproof. I our experience it also dries faster than SilN. Cons is that it is bulky and expensive. As such, even with our DCF mid we usually get the SilN floor to save on bulk. Hope this helps. And wishing you some great trekking this year. Wamest, -alan & alison.

      Reply
  18. Aaron
    Aaron says:

    Hi Alan,
    Thanks for this article! As a tall hiker who appreciates a shelter with extra length at both ends and enough width to fit two long/wide sleeping pads, I think it’s hard to do better than a Lightheart Gear Duo. It weighs 36 oz sealed, is bomber in the wind and is 100×55” with enough headroom for me to sit up and change my shirt. It even has an awning for views and ventilation during precipitation. I love mine!

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Aaron, the Lightheart Gear Duo is a nice tent at a good price. And it does have a ton of floor area — certainly a key highlight for the tent! Of course there are lighter two person DCF tents with similar area, albeit much more expensive. And a number of smaller two person tents that are significantly lighter. But if a ton of area, low cost, and reasonably low weight are your criteria then it is indeed a winner. Wishing you a great year of trekking. Warmest, -alan

      Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      I have, but I am not a fan of the low ceiling height (most TS pitches are low’ish). And if I am going to use a tarp, I generally like a true-tarp. And if I am going for a shaped-tarp, then I prefer a mid with it’s greater height, especially large mid’s which give you more room. Larger shelters in the case of tarps and shaped tarps, are almost always better. Best, -alan

      Reply
  19. Jeff
    Jeff says:

    Great article as always Alan (and Alison and Dylan)!

    Can you recommend a budget but ultralight bivy to complement the Borah Gear tarp? I was considering the MLD bivy + Grace combo but also considering other budget quality combos.

    Thanks in advance,
    Jeff

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Jeff. Apologies for the late reply. I was out in the Arizona Canyons to find summer for a few days :-) Borah gear makes a bivy that would work just fine. I think they are a bit backed up outfitting section hikers for the year. But again MLD probably has a 4 to 6 week lead time as well this time of year. Hope this helps. Wishing you a great year of hiking. Warmest, -alan

      Reply
  20. Jason Gray
    Jason Gray says:

    Great, comprehensive review. I love that you give different price points.

    I just returned from two weeks in Patagonia with a new MLD DuoMid XL and it everything I hoped for, minus the tiny leak where I missed when seam-sealing. It is easy to pitch (easier than the MLD TrailStar I had) but it helps to practice pitching when the footprint is not quite even or flat. Question: in the DuoMid XL pictures above, how much pole off-set did you have? Eyeballing, it looked substantial. I didn’t use an off-set as I was paranoid about high winds (and we had some) but would like to know I can get away with 5 or six inches of additional interior room. Thanks for all you do!

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Jayson, our pleasure! And apologies for the late reply. I was out in the Arizona Canyons to find summer for a few days :-) In general windspeed right at ground level is much lower than it is 6′ above the ground, which in turn is much lower than it is a 20′ above the ground. As such, unless it is very windy and very cold, it’s fine an even desirable to have the ‘Mid up a bit — more room, better ventilation and lower condensation. And if you know what direction the wind is coming from you can block just that side with your packs. Hope this helps. Wishing you great trekking this year. Warmest, -alan & alison

      Reply
  21. David Menges
    David Menges says:

    Great summary, timely. I’m in the market for a pyramid (some prior experience), but no manufacturer seems to accommodate tall people (I’m 6’ 4”).

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Good Q David. My hiking partner is 6’5″ and fits fine in a MLD SuperMid. It’s what we use on most of our trips together. Good deal in Pro SilNylon! Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan

      Reply
  22. Kevin
    Kevin says:

    Hi Alan,

    I currently have the Nemo Dagger 2p tent, most of my backpacking is with my daughter and occasionally by myself, do you think it’s worth upgrading to the 2019 Edition of the Nemo Dagger with a few updates or just staying with the previous edition.

    Thanks,

    Kevin

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Good Q Kevin, Unless, you have serious issues with your Dagger 2p tent I would just stick with it. It’s a nice tent and buying a completely new one of the same tent seems like a lot of expenditure for just little gain. Instead if you were going to spend that type of $ to improve upon your tent… I might try a Pyramid Tent without the inner nest, as an optional second tent. See if you couldn’t use that a fair amount of the time. Since you already have a traditional tent for bug protection to fall back on, you could use the pyramid tent when bug pressure is low (honestly for much of the country, it’s a lot the hiking season). The pyramid shelter would weigh 3 pounds less than your current Dagger 2p. Just a thought. Wishing you and your daughter a great hiking season. Warmest, -alan & alison

      Reply
      • Kevin
        Kevin says:

        Alan,

        Thanks for the very helpful reply and for convincing me to not throw down that much money for the updated Nemo Dagger. While I am definitely a true tent guy through and through and likely wouldn’t get a pyramid shelter, I see your point, if I’m gonna invest in adding another shelter, probably better to keep the Dagger and maybe and a more ultralight option such as a Hornet 2p or BA Tiger Wall 2p for solo trips, thanks for the insight

        Reply
  23. Khan
    Khan says:

    Thanks Alan.

    As always, information rich and very helpful.

    1. The critical “floor width” number would be useful to have alongside the interior areas you have included. For my son and me, we start bumping into sidewalls and each other with less than 52 inches of floor width.

    2. We hike in scorpion and snake country, so a full enclosed tent is a requirement. True, snakes tend to shy away and are rarer under shelters, but scorpions are another matter. In order to find the lightest enclosed tent with a floor space of at least 52 inches, I came up with these numbers:

    (listed in order of recommendation, giving preference to weight vs. floor width)

    Zpacks Triplex— 1.4 lbs (638 grams), 60 x 90
    Gossamer Gear The Two— 1.9 lbs, 52 x 89
    Tarptent Motrail — 2.1 lbs, 52 x 84
    Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Explorer — 2.8 lbs, 54 x 90
    Hyperlite Echo II Ultralight Shelter System — 2.4 lbs, 52 x 84
    Hyperlite UltaMid 2 – Ultralight Pyramid Tent with DCF Insert and Floor — 2.8 lbs, 76 x 96
    Mountain Laurel Design Supermid with DCF Innernet — 2.6 lbs, 90 x 90
    Mountain Laurel Design Duomid XL with DCF Innernet — 2.2 lbs, 47 x 87
    Tarptent Stratospire Li — 1.8 lbs, 45 x 86
    Zpacks Duplex— 1.2 lbs, 45 x 90

    By a significant margin, the Zpack Triplex was the lightest fully enclosed tent with a floor width greater than the critical 52 inches (the Duplex was not considered because it was tiny at only 45 inches; for an extra couple of ounces one gets 15 inches of extra floor width). I currently own the Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Explorer and have overall been happy, with practice, with the high-wind performance and set up time of a tarp tent.

    I am thinking about going to the Triplex to save 1.4 pounds and get more floor space for two. Would like your thoughts.

    Reply
    • Alan Dixon
      Alan Dixon says:

      Hi Kahn, having been stung by an Arizona Bark Scorpion, I literally feel your pain. Nice job on figuring out what tent meets your needs. And an interesting criteria. I will note that while the Zpacks tents do many things very well, they are not the most stable tents in high winds, and their vestibule area is on the small size. So if you are in strong winds, and/or end up with a bunch of wet gear in your shelter on a rainy they might not be as roomy or pleasant. But assuming you sleep in a semi-protected area in the desert where you can store gear outside, I can understand why they might be a great choice. Wishing you a great year of trekking. Warmest, -alan

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.