Im currently using the Enlightened Equipment Recon and am really happy with it. Non-freestanding tents, like the Gossamer Gear The Two, use trekking poles and guylines for a full pitch. We own and field test every product we recommend, which is sadly not the norm. A shock chord and trekking pole/tarp loop can also be used to pull the bivvy away from your face when sleeping. 4.4 out of 5 stars with 7 reviews for MEC Silicone Scout Tarp. Thats a huge benefit, and it's why almost all of our tent recommendations have two doors and vestibules. Many ultralight backpacking tents and shelters require a waterproof groundsheet. Watch the video that goes along with this post, This site contains affiliate links. Best value ultralight tents: Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo & Lunar Solo, Gossamer Gear The Two, and REI Co-op Quarter Dome SL 2 Best high-end ultralight tents: ZPacks Duplex & Triplex, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 & UL3, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2, and Slingfin PortalBest budget ultralight tents: Six Moon Designs Haven Bundle, TarpTent Double rainbow, 3F UL Gear Lanshan 2, and TarpTent MoTrail & Protrail. Pick up the UL2 footprint or the UL3 footprint if you want to increase tent floor durability. The Zpacks Triplex is our favorite ultralight tent for sleeping two hikers. It can also be used as a stand-alone bug nest/bivvy. (wider at head), PROS: Ultralight, small packed size, easy to pitch, ample headroom, 2 doors/vestibules (The Two), excellent ventilation, seams are factory-taped, CONS: Thin materials are not as durable as some and can sag in really wet conditions, condensation management necessary for single-wall tents. The Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo has ample room inside for a couple of hikers and thier gear. The NEMO Hornet 2P is a very comfortable shelter for a solo hiker. Read more Then you'll love our biweekly newsletter. Non-freestanding and semi-freestanding tents are set up using stakes, guylines, and trekking poles. Sil-Nylon and Sil-Polyester have been used for decades in the backpacking industry. Its no exaggeration to call Big Agnes Flycreek one of the best ultralight one person tents that you can get today. MEASURED WEIGHT (MOTRAIL): 2 lbs. Also, be sure to check out our CleverHiker Gear Guide to see all of our top gear picks. Were lifelong learners and were always open to constructive criticism. The main benefit of a footprint is adding durability to the floor of your tent. REI Flash Air 2 - This is REIs first entry into the super ultralight tent world. After all, youre going to be using tent stakes with your tent, right? These little guys are tough and are suitable in most scenarios. The OR Helium Rain Jacket and Pants (updated for 2020) are among the most affordable options in the ultralight rain, Montbell Breeze Dri-Tech UL Sleeping Bag Cover. Tent-specific footprints - Only a few ultralight tents on our list have the option to purchase specific footprints designed by the manufacturer. C $343.05. Ultimately, we liked the HMG Pyramid better because its cuben fiber construction made it stronger, more waterproof, and about a pound lighter than the Black Diamond Mega Light. ULTRALIGHT - Weighing in at just over a pound for the tent, and just over two and a half pounds for the tent and insert combo, the Ultamid is unbelievably light for its size.Especially when split between two hikers, the Ultamid will keep your base weight nice and low. It is very comforting to know that you can hunker down inside, to wait out a storm. - Polycro is a plastic sheet thats exceedingly durable for how thin and light it is. If you don't need bug netting, the Black Diamond Beta Light is a versatile shelter that won't completely unload your wallet. SHELTERS + ULTRALIGHT TENTS Home; Shelters + Ultralight Tents; SHELTERS + ULTRALIGHT TENTS Filters UltaMid 2 Ultralight Pyramid Tent. Not so bad for winter warmth and shelter for 2-3 people. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 is the only 4-season tent on our list, and it provides the best weather protection of any ultralight tent weve tested. We treat our recommendations as if they were for our family and friends. - John Muir. They are lightweight and affordable to buy. The entrance end is taller to provide access and the foot end is closer to the ground for protection. BOTTOM LINE: The Six Moon Designs Haven Bundle is one of the best value tents on this list. $305.00. Packaged weight - This spec refers to the weight of all parts of the tent plus any accessories it comes with when you buy it. Were proudly donating 100% of our revenue from today to the following organizations to address social justice and policy change. BOTTOM LINE: The Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo is the best value tent on our list because of its excellent balance of space, weight, and durability. DIMENSIONS (L x W x H): 84 x 52 x 47/28 in. All three materials have their positives and negatives. If you liked this list, youll love the CleverHiker Gear Guide where we test and recommend tons of outdoor adventure gear from a variety of categories. Limited time offer Compare. Titanium Goat Raven Omni Bivy (6-7.2 oz.) WEATHER PROTECTION - Many ultralight tents require some extra attention to detail when it comes to performance in bad weather. The Solomid is compact and provides good weather protection. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our latest posts then visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation. . The right options will save weight in your pack and securely anchor your shelter system. Its easy to set up and affordable, its my current go-to tarp for ultralight backpacking trips. We fully understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice, and thats one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. Cost 190 USD (without guy lines) Shop Here. Why It's Awesome DURABILITY - The main trade-off with ultralight tents is that they're built using thinner materials, which tend to be less durable than heavy-duty shelters. Its often hard to separate them cleanly into a certain category but heres an attempt: Im going to break down these major categories below and the differences between them. The Flash is very lightweight, has large doors and good ventilation, and its compact, but we found other tents with similar designs to be slightly better. Pyramid tents do not have bug protection or a floor. - The Raven Omni Bivy is wide and long enough for thicker sleeping pads like the NeoAir line from Therm-a-Rest. Being made in the USA from DCF bumps up the price but the craftsmanship is top quality and it will last for years. With all the convenience features, like great pockets and a freestanding design, we think the Portal is one of the best lightweight freestanding backpacking tents on the market. We prefer the HMG Ultamid 2 because its larger, easier to set up, and the DCF material doesnt sag when wet. Because the material of The Two and The One is pretty thin, it tends to stretch quite a bit in wet weather. Minimum trail weight - This one gets a little hairy. Minimum trail weight is generally accepted to mean just the essential components to keep you dry. Check out our full review of the Quarter Dome SL here. Starting from the design, toughness, to weight. That said, the performance of the SL is excellent, the price is great, and the ventilation is on point. Weve put the Lunar Duo through the wringer on multiple thru-hikes, and it held up like a champ in all kinds of conditions. DIMENSIONS (L x W x H): 88 x 52/42 x 40 in. They save weight by cutting out tent poles, but require more time and space to pitch, and will take more practice to master. Leaving my tarp inside my backpack. Weight: 1 lb 13.9 oz. Livability and low weight usually trump cost in our books since we do a lot of backpacking, but we recommend quality options at a variety of price points in our top picks below. Inside there are no bells or whistles. What adventure dreams do you have? We also love the Portals high peak height and wide crossbar, which make it feel much more livable than the average ultralight 2-person backpacking tent.