From full-blown thru-hikes to quick weekend missions, we’ve clocked some severe miles in a variety of the most effective ultralight tents. Our ranks are flush with thru-hikers, and collectively, we’ve seemingly put down near 10,000 miles of mountain climbing throughout the U.S. and past. Alongside the best way, we’ve change into fairly explicit about our shelter selections.
To pinpoint the most effective ultralight tents, we gathered sage recommendation from hikers who’ve tracked the hardest, longest miles with their gear. Whether or not you want do-it-all shelter to hike the PCT with, like our top-pick the Zpacks Duplex Lite, otherwise you need to dip your toe in with a extra spend-wise choice just like the Gossamer Gear The One, there’s one thing right here for everybody.
When contemplating ultralight shelters, we thought-about materials alternative, inside house, footprint dimension, and, in fact, the all-important weight. For those who’re undecided the place to start out, hop right down to our Comparability Chart, Purchaser’s Information, and Value & Worth sections on the backside of the web page earlier than scrolling by means of our roundup.
Editor’s Be aware: We up to date our Ultralight Tents information on November 14, 2024, so as to add the Zpacks Duplex Lite as our new favourite general ultralight tent and a brand new Value & Worth part.
The Finest Ultralight Tents of 2024
Probably the most ultralight two-person shelters on the market
Very compact packed dimension
Sturdy sufficient for a whole through hike
Small footprint for compact websites
Doorways might be closed individually
A decent squeeze for 2 hikers, or anybody tall sleeping on an inflatable
Costly
Rainbow zippers degrade faster than L-zip designs
DCF can shrink with age
Chris Carter
Tremendous spacious flooring house
Strong strength-to-weight ratio
Inexpensive pricing
L-zipper doorways do not drag within the dust
Silpoly cover will not stretch as a lot as silnylon
Condensation tends to construct up fairly simply
Inner mesh pockets are positioned a little bit awkwardly
Silpoly materials will not be as sturdy as silynylon
Chris Carter
Extraordinarily ultralight
Nicely-ventilated
Distinctive system of coping with condensation buildup
Solely makes use of one trekking pole as a substitute of two
Costly
Considerably annoying not having a zipper on the vestibule
Chris Carter
Freestanding however ultralight
Comparatively reasonably priced
Steep partitions will increase headroom
May be arrange with solely fly and footprint
One door/vestibule design limits usability
Not totally freestanding (requires 2x stakes for rear corners)
Heavier than many single wall trekking pole shelters
Chris Carter
Extraordinarily light-weight and packable
Wonderful strength-to-weight ratio
Versatile design that may be mixed with mesh inners or bathtub flooring
Solely requires one trekking pole — or a stick
Linelocs make for simple adjustment
Not essentially the most spacious inside
A bit difficult to arrange
No safety from bugs or critters
Chris Carter
Robust 0.78 oz./sq. yd. Dyneema Composite Cloth is thicker than most
Very straightforward to pitch in tough spots
May be suspended from a tree limb and arrange and not using a pole
Many man out factors throughout the shelter from shoring up in opposition to wind
Two method most important zipper aids in air flow
Costly
Requires two trekking poles to be lashed collectively to be arrange
Want house to arrange man strains
Bulkier packed dimension
Chris Carter
Tons of vestibule house
Wonderful venting
Good steadiness of weight and sturdiness
Snug for 2
Costly
Not freestanding
Chris Carter
Inexpensive with a high quality construct
Spacious
Sturdy design
Good air flow
Heavier than most different single pole designs
Setup takes some getting used to
Not our favourite door clasp system
Chris Carter
Ultralight
Time-tested, easy design
Secure in excessive wind
Comparatively roomy
Good particulars like magnetic door ties and waterproof zippers
Expensive
Sizzling when in direct solar
Waterproof door zippers a bit tough to shut
Vents do not stay open on their very own
Chris Carter
Sturdy building
Distinctive, double-wall design
Easy, four-stake pitch
Inexpensive
On the heavy facet for an ultralight tent
Small inner storage pockets
Man strains are a bit tough to regulate
Chris Carter
Semi-freestanding design
Silpoly cloth does not sag
Tent is straightforward to separate up between two to hold
Environmentally pleasant OSMO materials
Costly
Fragile for automobile tenting or sharp rocks
Not a lot room within the foot finish of the tent
Excessive-cut fly is not essentially the most storm-proof
Chris Carter
True half-mid design
Very sturdy with bolstered peak
Spacious vestibule
Magnetic door toggles
Barely thicker DCF utilized in flooring in comparison with like-shelters
Condensation in chilly temps
Correct setup requires apply
No guyline within the entrance for rigidity when each door flaps are open
Costly for a solo shelter
Chris Carter
Ultralight Tents Comparability Chart
Ultralight TentPriceWeightHeightFloor SpaceMaterialsVestibule Space Zpacks Duplex Lite$66914.9 oz48 in.25 sq. ft.Dyneema Composite Cloth (0.55 oz./sq. yd. cover, 0.75 flooring)11 sq. ft.Gossamer Gear The One$2551 lb., 3 oz45 in.19.2 sq. ftCustom 10D nylon ripstop SIL/PU fabric10 sq. ft.Zpacks Plex Solo$59913.9 oz52 in.20.6 sq. ft.Dyneema (0.75 oz./sq. yd.)N/ABig Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 1$3702 lbs.40 in.20 sq. ft.Silicone-treated nylon ripstop with polyurethane coating and polyester mesh5 sq. ft.Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp With Doorways$3795.5 oz47 in.N/A0.55 ozsq. yd. Dyneema Composite FabricN/AHyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2$6991 lb., 3 oz64 in.63 sq. ft.DCF8 (0.78 oz./sq. yd.)N/ATarptent Stratospire Li$6591 lb., 14 oz45 in.26.8 sq. ft.Dyneema, 20D ripstop nylon, 15D nylon mesh24 sq. ft.Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo$2601 lb., 10.1 oz49 in.26.3 sq. ft.20D and 40D silicone-coated polyester8.5 sq. ft.Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P$6991 lb., 8 oz48 in.28 sq. ft.DCF5, DCF8, No-See-Um MeshN/ADurston X-Mid 1$2341 lb., 14.4 oz46 in.46.5 sq. ft. (fly), 20 sq. ft. (insert)20-denier polyester with 2,500 mm sil/PEU coating20 sq. ft.NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P$6502 lbs., 1 oz37 in.27.3 sq. ft.OSMO poly-nylon ripstop fabric12.4 sq. ft.Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1$5991 lb., 2 oz54 in.21 sq. ft.DCF5, DCF10, No-See-Um MeshN/A
Testing a variety of completely different ultralight tents from Zpacks on a cold, wind-blasted backpacking journey within the Grand Canyon; (photograph/Chris Carter)
How We Examined the Finest Ultralight Tents
We’re frustratingly explicit in regards to the shelter we hunker down in every night time on a protracted journey, and closely scrutinize every candidate for this information. Relaxation assured — solely essentially the most deserving, sturdy, practical tents earned any actual property on this roundup. We’ve scoured on-line ultralight boards, bugged our broad swath of thru-hiking connections, and attended numerous gear exhibits to slim in on the streamlined choice of 12 tents you see as we speak.
We acknowledge that the ultralight tent market is natural and continually evolving. We now have due to this fact slotted this information into an iterative replace schedule and are continually on the prowl, scoping out new fashions the second they hit the market, and testing them to see in the event that they deserve recognition.
Our Knowledgeable Testers
From devoted ultralight weekend warriors, to light-weight backcountry hunters and full-blown thru-hikers residing in tents for months on finish, the GearJunkie squad has spent numerous nights cuddled up in ultralight shelters.
Creator Chris Carter has paid his dues on tons of of backpacking journeys over simply as many miles by means of all method of circumstances. Chris has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of lengthy trails in the US: the Pacific Crest Path, the Continental Divide Path, and the Appalachian Path, and continues to backpack with an ultralight loadout all around the world.
Aiding in our ultralight tent testing is Senior Editor Nick Belcaster, a 2018 PCT through hiker who has run his OG Zpacks Duplex into the bottom after which some, with probably extra patches than unique DCF at this level. His typical base weight hovers round 9 kilos, and he travels throughout the West testing all the things from ultralight backpacks to mountain climbing sandals.
Our Testing Course of and Testing Grounds
We’ve trekked to among the most far-flung, distant corners of the globe, and weathered galeforce winds, snowy whiteouts, and excellent star-speckled nights in all kinds of featherlight tent designs. Alongside the best way, we’ve discovered the significance of a shelter for consolation and security on any backcountry mission, and gained’t accept something however the most effective.
Our testing leans closely on discipline expertise, and far of it happens on part hikes of the Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trails. Each ultralight tent we check is initially used with none directions, giving us perception into the relative issue of setting it up. Then, we purpose for the worst climate forecast we are able to discover to check these shelters on their harsh circumstances efficiency.
Since that is ultralight tools, we additionally rolled out the trusty kitchen scale to confirm weights for ourselves, in addition to evaluate compressed sizes when stuffed into the identical compression sack, measure bathtub flooring and peak heights, and even calculate the tent areas wanted for every arrange. Combining these bench outcomes from our discipline testing offers us the very best understanding of those ultralight shelters, and when our suggestions come right down to mere ounces, all of it issues.
Purchaser’s Information: Easy methods to Select an Ultralight Tent
We examined quite a lot of ultralight tent designs in a large number of various environments and circumstances to convey you the most effective of the most effective; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Ultralight tents will let you actually slim in on absurdly minuscule base weights, however nonetheless should maintain as much as the pains of life on path. Your shelter is your first line of protection in opposition to life-threatening components, and also you shouldn’t fudge on security for the sake of weight financial savings. Above we lined a broad vary of ultralight tent designs, and it’s essential to noticeably contemplate your wants and private consolation threshold earlier than leaping to a choice.
Under, we’ve outlined some essential issues when selecting the right mannequin in your wants. One of the best ultralight tents assist gram-conscious adventurers trim again the burden of their load. The tradeoff? These designs require extra consumer care and, for some fashions, extra time to arrange than beefier builds.
All issues thought-about, these featherlight tents are an excellent choice for long-distance trekkers, thru-hikers, and different seasoned outside vacationers desirous to slim down the burden of their provides.
It’s essential to notice that this information focuses on area of interest mega-light tents, and that selecting the best tent for you is crucial. For extra informal backpacking journeys that afford a bit extra consolation, take a look at our complete information on common backpacking tents. And, when you’re merely scoping out a tenting tent for automobile tenting adventures or base camp luxurious, make sure you scroll by means of our information on the most effective tenting tents in the marketplace.
Seasonality
Senior Editor Chris Carter slowly getting buried by snow within the San Juans on the CDT in 2021. Gossamer Gear’s The One by some means survived the onslaught; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Backpacking tents are usually constructed for three-season or four-season circumstances. A 3-season tent will suffice when you plan on utilizing your tent throughout the spring, summer time, and fall.
The infrastructure of a three-season tent can deal with rain and lightweight snow. Usually, these builds are not superb for heavy snow, super-high winds, or vicious storms — like the tough or blizzard circumstances you may face whereas ski mountaineering. A four-season tent is a more sensible choice for full-on winter, the burden of snow, and robust winds.
That stated, ultralight shelters are designed with the calls for of high-altitude stretches on long-distance journeys like thru-hikes in thoughts. Our authors have weathered some severely gnarly circumstances in these flimsy shelters, together with driving whiteouts in sub-zero temps.
Capability & Doorways
A lot of geometry and stitching wizardry is employed to maximise vestibule and residing house in ultralight tents with out packing on the kilos; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Of us aiming for ultralight tents normally put money into a one- or two-person design. Three- and four-person ultralight tents exist too. As an example, the three-person Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 Resolution Dye ($500) is 2 kilos, 10 ounces.
Your superb tent dimension is determined by the variety of campers, their general dimension, and the way a lot tools must be saved. Manufacturers categorize their tents primarily based on the variety of folks, however the dimensions — size, width, peak, and vestibule dimension — differ from tent to tent.
The tent’s peak peak, which is the place the tent is the tallest, additionally differs between every mannequin. Get out your tape measure as you analysis. It’s additionally a good suggestion to go to a neighborhood retailer the place the tent might be arrange so that you can take a look at in particular person.
You’ll need to contemplate whether or not one or two doorways are extra practical for you. Two doorways might be useful for every sleeper to have their very own exit and entry. However, eliminating a door can minimize weight and value.
Ultralight tents that require solely a single trekking pole for building have the most important problem in terms of maximizing house. Producers have employed some severe geometric wizardry with these designs to extend house in each the vestibule and the enclosed sleeping space with out including vital weight. HMG’s Mid 1 sports activities one among our favourite vestibule designs on a single trekking pole shelter, growing its house by inserting the stakeout level additional away from the mesh insert on the vestibule itself.
No matter ultralight tent you resolve to go along with, be certain that there may be sufficient room inside in your backpacking sleeping pad and sleeping bag of option to comfortably deploy inside whereas leaving loads of house for different gear. Taller, bigger hikers must hold this in thoughts if they have a tendency to rock longer or wider pads and baggage.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear throws some additional house into the vestibule of their Mid 1 by inserting the stake additional out from the mesh insert than different fashions; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Single-Wall vs. Double-Wall
Tents are both a single-wall or double-wall design. Single-wall tents are lighter weight, nonbreathable, waterproof, and don’t embrace a rainfly. They usually don’t supply as a lot storage for gear however do typically have some type of a vestibule.
A double-wall tent truly accommodates two objects: a breathable tent that’s paired with a water-resistant rainfly. The setup normally provides vestibule house to stash tools. The package weighs extra and requires extra time to arrange in comparison with a single-wall tent. Single-wall tents are much less breathable and produce extra condensation.
The supplies of ultralight tents should be sturdy and waterproof sufficient to final hundreds of miles, however mild sufficient to not weigh you down; (photograph/Elina Osborne)
Ultralight, sturdy supplies — like Dyneema Composite Cloth (DCF) — price greater than heavier-set materials. As an example, the two-person Zpacks Duplex Lite weighs 14.9 ounces and prices $669. DCF has an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio and is extremely waterproof.
In distinction, the single-person Large Agnes Fly Creek HV UL ($370) is constructed with ripstop nylon and weighs practically 33 ounces. Their quantity isn’t apples to apples, however the lighter materials actually comes at a premium.
Gossamer Gear’s The One options an attention-grabbing nylon ripstop SIL/PU cloth that sheds water nicely and crams down tiny, however stretches out at night time after your preliminary setup — significantly within the rain. We’ll usually have to regulate the guyline’s rigidity in tents like these quickly after they’re pitched. This cloth isn’t fairly as premium as DCF, however will get the job accomplished and has an outstanding pack dimension.
The fabric utilized in tent building is both inherently waterproof or handled with a DWR (sturdy water-repellent) coating to dam precipitation. If the material is handled, it’ll ultimately want a refresh, relying on the circumstances confronted, consumer care, and quantity of use. A separate footprint, or groundsheet, isn’t required for an enclosed single-wall tent.
Ultralight supplies are fairly sturdy, however they have a tendency to interrupt down in the event that they’re roughly dealt with. Investing in an ultralightweight bundle means the hiker ought to be conscious with gear care.
Silpoly, or SIL/PU, materials can considerably minimize the worth in your UL shelter, however gained’t be fairly as light-weight as DCF choices; (photograph/Jackson Sims-Myers)
Minimalist Shelters
Minimalist shelters, just like the Hexamid Pocket Tarp, are basically rainflys that defend you from pouring components — however not buzzing bugs. The groundsheet is offered individually. Some designs have a zipper-free doorway that rolls up and might be clipped again. Campers can pair their superlight shelter with a private bug internet if the area is buggy.
To trim grams, some campers decide to go away behind the first compartment of their double-wall tent package. As a substitute, they solely use the footprint, poles, and rainfly.
An alternative choice is a hammock tent: a hammock with a protecting mesh enclosure and an non-obligatory rainfly, which is vital if there are bothersome bugs round like scorpions or ticks.
Weight and Packed Measurement
The packed sizes of two ultralight tents we examined; (photograph/Darwin Rakestraw)
A dwelling’s ounces hinge on the supplies — like the material and zippers — dimension, and whether or not poles, a rainfly, and footprint are included.
One of many lightest double-person tents in the marketplace is the Zpacks Duplex Lite, tapping in at 14.9 ounces. By comparability, the one-person ultralight Gossamer Gear The One is 20.6 ounces.
The Large Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 1 is 33 ounces. To essentially slim down cargo, a minimalist choice just like the Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp with Doorways is 5.2 ounces.
There aren’t any laborious guidelines about what defines an ultralightweight tent. Of us with a objective to lower haul weight want to contemplate the accumulative ounces of their whole package. Usually, light-weight tents vary from 48 to 72 ounces. Ultralight configurations are lower than 48 ounces.
You’ll want to pick out a feathery tent that also delivers the options that you simply want — like built-in insect safety or not. Be forewarned, the lighter a tent is, the extra sophisticated the setup is and the much less headroom there may be.
The packed dimension of a tent doesn’t correlate with its weight as a lot because it does with the supplies used. Materials like nylon ripstop SIL/PU utilized in GG’s The One are likely to squeeze right down to smaller packed weight than tents fabricated from DCF (like HMG’s Mid 1) within the above photograph — although the DCF fashions might boast a lighter weight.
Make it possible for the packed dimension of your UL tent matches comfortably with the remainder of your loadout in your ultralight backpack. Many packs that accompany these ultralight kits fall within the 35-45L vary, and each component’s quantity must be thought-about.
Pitching Ultralight Tents
Placing the Gossamer Gear The One by means of its paces on a thru-hike of the Continental Divide Path; (photograph/Chris Carter)
The lightest tents and shelters are non-freestanding, which means they don’t embrace tent poles to be hoisted up. As a substitute, one or two trekking poles plus stakes are used to raise the tent. The tent is held upright by tensioning the tent cloth between the trekking poles and stakes firmly planted within the floor.
Some mild designs, just like the Large Agnes Fly Creek UV UL 1, are freestanding and quick to choose up and alter location — they only weigh a bit extra. A lot of the designs we examined for this information use trekking poles because the spine of their construction.
In comparison with a freestanding tent, this kind of skeleton takes extra time to assemble, as a result of the bottom must offset the stake good — particularly if it’s windy or wet out. This may be tough, significantly within the alpine the place it might be too rocky to drive stakes in on the good places.
The stakes on trekking-pole-style tents should be firmly planted in powerful floor at particular factors to allow them to be tensioned in opposition to the trekking poles to maintain your tent upright; (photograph/Chris Carter)
In a pinch, massive rocks can be utilized to get the corners and guylines of your tent the place they should be. For those who can’t slide a big rock into the cords popping out on the stakeout factors, you may insert a stake into the wire, and place it horizontally on the bottom with a big rock between the stake and the tent. Once you rigidity the cords, the stake gained’t be capable of slide underneath the rock. This was our creator’s methodology on many an evening on thru-hikes when pitching his tent above the treeline.
We prefer to convey a few completely different lengths and strengths of stakes for the completely different stakeout factors round our tents. We typically use shorter, lighter stakes for the 4 corners of trekking-pole-style tents and the guylines, and produce two longer, thicker choices for staking out the perimeters of the tent, which bear extra stress and must have a extra stable buy within the floor.
Ensure to apply establishing your ultralight tent earlier than setting off in your journey. It takes time to grasp how a lot rigidity it’s best to put within the guylines, what to regulate your trekking poles to, and find out how to keep away from an ungainly off-center pitch. Freestanding tents might be far more simple to arrange, and there are further issues when pitching a trekking-pole-style tent.
Trekking Poles in Ultralight Tents
Two trekking poles slanted barely outwards afford Gossamer Gear’s The One and Two a stunning quantity of inner house to take a seat up, change garments, or shuffle gear round; (photograph/Chris Carter)
As mentioned above, it may be a problem to grasp the artwork of pitching a trekking-pole-style shelter. An ideal pitch largely boils right down to acceptable trekking poles. If you’re going to be relying on all these tents within the backcountry, your poles should be sturdy sufficient to deal with brutal blasts of wind and rain, and lengthy sufficient to achieve the required size to correctly pitch the tent.
These tents require you to develop your trekking poles for much longer than you’ll have them set for mountain climbing, and never each pole can prolong to the lengths wanted to achieve the tent’s peak. Additionally, you probably gained’t be capable of use fixed-length poles when you plan on bringing all these tents alongside.
Choose poles which have broad grips that match solidly within the bolstered pouches on the peaks of your tent. Skinny grips shift round and will even slide out of the tent in sturdy wind. The clasps in your poles should be sturdy, as heavy wind may drive your poles to break down if they’re weak, making the tent tumble in round you at midnight. Not a pleasing alarm clock — we communicate from expertise.
Bathtub Flooring
The tub flooring on the HMG Mid 1 might be adjusted with pull cords to boost or decrease the sidewalls and regulate airflow into the tent; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Ceaselessly, ultralight setups have a bath flooring, which prevents groundwater from seeping in throughout a climate occasion. A bath flooring signifies that the waterproof cloth comprising the ground extends a couple of inches off the bottom and up the tent partitions.
These are essential components of ultralight tents, and should be fabricated from sturdy, extraordinarily waterproof cloth. Some flooring in fashions like many Zpacks tents and HMG’s Mid 1 (photographed above) will let you alter the peak of the ground to permit kind of airflow into the tent and assist regulate condensation buildup.
Vestibule & Inside Storage
Loads of vestibule house is essential for holding backpacks and soiled sneakers dry, however separate out of your sleeping house; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Ultralight tents will usually have storm doorways that roll again or clip ahead to guard tools moderately than a zipper-enclosed vestibule door. Examine your physique measurements to the tent’s width and size. If it’s stormy out and also you’re hunkered down for some time, it’s good to have a bit of additional room to convey some or the entire gear inside.
In any other case, the vestibule could be a good spot to go away the boots or pack in a single day. Stashing these within the vestibule helps hold particles and pebbles that might poke by means of the tent flooring out of your residing house.
Some ultralight tents might need small, inside mesh pockets to retailer a couple of objects like a telephone or headlamp. Usually, ultralight tents don’t have as many storage compartments as light-weight or heavier tent designs.
Guylines
Guylines assist to maximise inner house on ultralight tents, and hold them safe in sturdy winds and storms; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Guylines are essential options on ultralight tents for a variety of causes. For trekking-pole-style tents, they function a fast and straightforward technique to pull the sidewalls out additional, instantly boosting the interior quantity. For freestanding and double-wall shelters, this doesn’t apply fairly as a lot, however they nonetheless can afford a bit extra inner house.
Maybe extra importantly, nevertheless, guyline factors will let you additional safe your tent to the bottom within the case of tempestuous storms or sturdy wind. A correctly guyed-out tent can face up to some severely gnarly climate. Many tents include a small spool of guyline wire within the field which you could stuff within the backside of the stake bag in case they’re wanted. Others, like HMG’s Mid 1, require you to supply your individual cordage if you’d like the extra safety.
Tent Stakes and Pole Splints
One in all our creator’s ultralight stake kits for a freestanding tent loadout; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Like all the things within the ultralight cult, the controversy on the most effective floor stakes for an ultralight loadout is fierce and continually evolving. Each iota of weight is scrutinized for every gear class — particularly if there may be any steel within the system.
The dialog round which stakes are finest for which objective is so nuanced and intense, that many ultralight tent producers have stopped delivery stakes with their tents altogether. That is underneath the idea that the majority UL backpackers have already dialed in on their specialised stake package of alternative — and within the case of our creator — they’re not improper.
We possess quite a lot of stake kits that we convey for various ultralight backpacking eventualities, and every serves its objective in particular climates and environments. It could take too lengthy to dig into the minutia of every package’s fashions and functions, however the one we use essentially the most is our MSR Floor Hog combo. These stakes have confirmed themselves worthy over hundreds of miles, and strike a wholesome steadiness between power and weight.
There are extra featherlight choices on the market — like Vargo’s Titanium Shepherds Hooks (0.3 ounces) or Suluk 46’s absurd Atani Titanium Tent Stakes (0.17 ounces) — however except we try to go as mild as doable, the Floor Hogs are good for many UL backpacking journeys we set out on. If we plan to rock a freestanding tent (which we normally do when mountain climbing with a associate and sharing the tent’s weight), we merely convey the requisite variety of ultralight MSR Mini Floor Hogs (0.35 ounces).
If we expect we should pitch the tent in mild snow or insane climate, we swap these out for his or her longer, sturdier older sibling: MSR’s common Floor Hogs (0.5 ounces). For deep snow on winter goals, you’d must improve to beefier snow stakes like MSR’s Blizzard Stakes, or REI’s Snow Stakes.
When mountain climbing with a trekking-pole-style tent — which is 90% of the time for us — we convey a combo of 4-6 Mini Floor Hogs, and two common Floor Hogs for the facet stakes. The stakes on the base of those tent’s doorways and sides bear essentially the most weight and are tensioned tight in opposition to the trekking poles. They should be pushed deep into laborious floor in order that they don’t pull out if you cinch your tent tight, or when it’s hit with a powerful gust of wind.
If we’re backpacking with a freestanding tent, we are going to virtually at all times throw in a light-weight pole splint in case one among our poles snaps or cracks mid-trip. Merely slide these splints over the damaged space, and you may nonetheless pitch your tent till you get to a spot the place you may exchange the poles. Splints have saved us on a variety of journeys, and we don’t like to go away residence with out them.
Air flow and Dealing With Condensation
Ultralight tent producers have give you some artistic air flow designs to cope with condensation, however most single-wall shelters nonetheless wrestle with moisture buildup at night time; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Ultralight tents usually function partitions constructed of mesh, storm doorways that furl again, or no partitions in any respect for airflow. Partitions which are constructed of mesh lower the general temperature contained in the tent and assist combat condensation. As talked about, single-wall tents with a stable artificial building expertise extra condensation and really feel clammy beneath precipitation.
Ultralight tent designers have accomplished all the things they’ll to restrict condensation buildup, however the actuality of the matter is — these partitions are going to sweat. Vents on the partitions (like within the photograph above), broad mesh panels, and variable bathtub flooring heights can reduce the distress, however in our expertise, some condensation is inevitable.
There are a selection of how to mitigate moisture buildup in ultralight tents, and you may combat the condensation calamities when you work with the wind and pitch your tent in an acceptable location. Here’s a little bit of knowledge we’ve accrued by means of trial and error throughout our numerous nights within the backcountry:
Ventilate your tent as a lot as doable by sleeping with all of the doorways rolled again or with the rainfly off if it’s not raining. This helps humid air and moist vapor out of your breath to simply escape.
Keep away from tenting underneath the open sky as a lot as doable. For those who can, pitch your tent underneath a tree’s cover.
Orient your tent in order that the vents are dealing with the route of the wind. This enables the wind to flow into by means of your tent simpler and boosts air flow.
Strive to not dangle moist garments or sneakers as much as dry inside your tent at any time when doable. Drying them inside your tent boosts humidity. If you have to hold them inside, retailer them in a dry sack so the moisture is contained. Be sure you have loads of lashing factors in your backpacking backpack so you may tie moist gear as much as dry within the solar as you hike the subsequent day. Beneath the identical token, cook dinner and boil water exterior your tent as a lot as doable.
Keep away from tenting proper subsequent to streams, rivers, lakes, or marshy areas with greater humidity when you may assist it. We all know — It’s enjoyable to camp subsequent to a babbling brook, although, so don’t sacrifice the fantastic thing about a possible campsite simply so your tent is a bit dryer. For us, the condensation price is normally price it for the expertise.
If doable, don’t pitch your tent in low valleys or depressions of a panorama the place chilly air lingers at night time.
As one among our previous thru-hiking mentors would say, “Simply hold your breath all night. It’s the only way to keep ultralight tents dry.”
In all honesty, there’s no golden rule for eliminating drippy condensation. Our greatest recommendation is to embrace it as a part of the brutal however stunning pleasure of backpacking — and pull your tent out to dry within the solar if you plop down for lunch the next day.
Absorbing that Sierra magic in Gossamer Gear’s flagship ultralight tent throughout a thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Path; (photograph/Chris Carter)
Value & Worth
Ultralight backpacking tools usually isn’t low-cost, however you additionally don’t must half with any extraneous organs in an effort to get your arms on a stable UL tent, both. With choices in each silnylon/silpoly and extra deluxe composites like Dyneema Composite Cloth or Extremely, there’s a particular vary of tents on the market. You’ll want to contemplate how usually you’ll be utilizing your tent as a significant deciding issue — thru-hikers will clearly must decide for a bigger funding, whereas weekend backpackers can seemingly get away with much less.
Price range
For those who’ve already splurged in your UL pack and sleep setup, going with a price range ultralight shelter could make loads of sense. These will usually run you between $250 and $300, and overwhelmingly will likely be single-wall designs constituted of silicon-treated nylon or polyester. This actually helps to maintain the worth down, however gained’t fairly be as mild as tents constituted of DCF.
The Gossamer Gear The One ($255) continues to be our favourite price range UL tent, and whereas some single-person tents use a solo trekking pole design, the One makes use of two to create an excellent quantity of inside house. The Durston X-Mid 1 ($234) is about up in an analogous method, however makes use of a singular offset design to extend inside house even additional, and sports activities a double wall design. Each are dependable shelters with whole thru-hikes underneath their belts, and fewer than many mainstream backpacking tents as we speak.
Mid-Tier
Spending between $400 and $600 opens up loads of doorways in ultralight tents, together with the usage of DCF supplies within the construct. Single hiker shelters just like the Zpacks Plex Solo ($599) and Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 ($599) each hover across the 1-pound mark, and sport round 20 sq. ft. of flooring house, which we’ve discovered nearly proper for solo hikers.
You can too get into a light-weight freestanding tent for these costs, and the $370 Large Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 1 is even a cut price comparatively. General weight will likely be a little bit greater attributable to the usage of tent poles (2 kilos on the Fly Creek), however the capacity to arrange the tent on rock slabs or frozen floor could make a worthy tradeoff.
An all-around shelter just like the Zpacks Duplex will run you round $650+, however can final a number of thousand miles. This shelter has been used for over 2,700 miles; (photograph/Erika Courtney)
Premium
It could possibly be argued that every one ultralight tents are premium, however there may be an higher crust even right here, with full DCF two-person shelters operating upward of $700. These tents make use of loads of Dyneema, which helps clarify their lofty worth tags, however high quality design additionally weighs heavy right here. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P ($699) and Zpacks Duplex ($699) are very comparable tents, and each implement a design that has been refined over a few years of testing on lengthy trails.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
One of the best ultralight tent is one which retains you comfy within the terrain the place you enterprise and one which alleviates the burden in your again. Nevertheless, you possibly can sacrifice consolation and sturdiness when you select an ultralight tent that’s too light-weight.
Some skilled thru-hikers and adventurers choose to drop as a lot weight as doable to assist them increase mileage. They usually don’t thoughts the caveat of being extra weak to the encompassing habitat and inclement climate.
Ultralight tents are pretty sturdy in opposition to the climate however are additionally extra delicate to abrasion and tough dealing with than heftier tent designs. The decrease the ounces, the extra aware the tent’s consumer must be.
There’s no common guideline that defines the ultralightweight tent class. Usually, ultralight tents weigh lower than 48 ounces. The shelters really helpful on this information vary from 5.2 to 33 ounces, and this listing isn’t complete of all the most effective ultralight choices.
An ultralight tent is a stellar funding for long-distance or high-volume trekkers in search of to maneuver sooner and extra nimbly. Additionally, if an outside traveler is in search of to pare down their whole in a single day package, slicing the den weight is an efficient avenue.
Some hikers want to minimize the burden on their our bodies for well being causes and general longevity, and the additional price is worth it.
Backpacking tents degrade over time attributable to publicity to the weather. These variables embrace rain and direct daylight, contact with the terrain, general dealing with, care, and storage circumstances.
As with all outside tools, tents replicate put on and tear with time. They are going to last more in the event that they’re nicely maintained.
To offer you an thought, the Zpacks Duplex Tent claims it’ll final a minimal of two,500 miles straight or a number of years of informal use. Through-hiker Elina Osborne confirmed the tent tackled her 2,653-mile journey alongside the PCT and counting.
At print, the Large Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 1 dealt with 200 days of use. The Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp with Doorways withstood greater than 300 nights. And the Gossamer Gear The One breezed by means of greater than 3,000 miles, all in keeping with our skilled crew of thru-hikers. Every of these tents isn’t in mint situation however they’re all nonetheless workable, protecting, and within the discipline.
You may combine a couple of easy routines to increase the lifetime of your tent. Throughout a visit, shake out the tent earlier than you pack it away, to relinquish free particles that might scrape the material.
After heavy use, your shelter might be soaked in soapy water, rinsed, and hung or put up exterior within the shade to fully dry. When it’s able to be stashed, be certain that the tent is in a dry, pretty cool place and never wound up tight.
You can also make easy repairs too. Tent seams are taped to forestall water from coming into the tent however can degrade. They are often restrengthened with seam sealer.
A water-proof coating might be reapplied, as nicely. You should definitely verify along with your tent’s producer about which aftermarket merchandise are appropriate with the supplies.
If the inside materials itself is falling aside — as in, the waterproof coating is peeling off — that’s a transparent signal the tent is worn out, and it’s close to time for a substitute. If there are massive holes (like from a campfire spark) that may’t be dependably patched, it’s a good segue to a brand new buy.
Moreover, as extra outside trade manufacturers take away chemical remedies from their tent merchandise, you may decide to buy a tent that’s extra environmentally pleasant and aligns along with your well being wants.
Basking within the glory of probably the most magical sunsets creator Chris Carter noticed on the Continental Divide Path subsequent to his trusty GG The One; (photograph/Chris Carter)
A sleeping bag is one among your most essential items of tenting gear. We’ve discovered the most effective backpacking sleeping baggage for each use and price range.
What’s the most effective ultralight backpack? We interviewed thru-hikers and put a number of fashions to the check to seek out among the prime light-weight mountain climbing backpacks.
