Without a lightweight yet reliable roof over your head, you can't have a proper mountain adventure. Ultralight tents are the solution for all nature-loving hikers who, even at the cost of a bit more weight compared to minimalist tarps, rather bet on certainty with a sturdier construction, higher levels of comfort, protection against the elements and pesky insects, and overall easier set up. An ultralight tent is an investment in comfort and safety on your journeys. When choosing, consider the weight, construction, and space you'll need. Whether you're looking for a free-standing tent for maximum stability or a super lightweight shelter for long-distance trails, you're sure to find a model that suits you here.
Under the roof
A tent is one of the most crucial pieces of gear for every overnight backpacker and hiker. After strenuous days on the ridge, it offers shelter, dryness, warmth... a piece of home on the long journey. In recent years, outdoor equipment developers have succeeded in creating tents using modern materials that are not only durable, spacious, and technically sophisticated but are also perfectly compact, packable and lightweight enough to appeal to ultralight fans and bikepackers. We've dedicated a separate article on our blog to ultralight tents and their maintenance, but basically you should know that choosing one always involves balancing the 'luxury' and weight – freestanding tents with floors made from sturdy materials with their own pole structures will always be a bit heavier than those that are set up with trekking poles and require careful staking.
Types of ultralight tents – construction and comfort
1. Free standing tents
- Set up around a sturdy pole structure, you can easily move them before finally staking them down.They provide better stability in the wind and greater comfort.
- There are also semi-freestanding tents, that can stand independently without being anchored with stakes, but for one part to be taut, it needs to be weighted down or staked.
2. Freestanding tents
- They use trekking poles as a support structure, and you need to stake them down carefully.
- Extremely lightweight and compact, suitable for more experienced users.
If you're just starting with ultralight gear, a free-standing tent might be a better choice because it's easier to set up and offers more comfort when using it.
Single-wall vs double-wall tents
1. Single-wall tents
- Lighter and more compact, but they might have slightly bigger issues with condensation.
- Building requires more experience and the right placement.
- Example: Liteway Illusion Duo
2. Double-wall tents
- They offer better protection against insects and condensation.
- Thanks to modern materials, they can be surprisingly lightweight.
- Example: Sea to Summit Telos TR2
How much space do you need?
When choosing a tent, it's important to consider how much time you're going to spend in it. If it's just going to be a shelter for the night, you can get by with the smallest and lightest models. But if you expect to stay longer in bad weather, a more spacious model might be more comfortable. Planning long treks or rainy days on the road? Then it's worth considering enough space for your gear. For example, such a Liteway Illusion Duo offers enough space even at a weight under 800 g. On long-distance trails like Pacific Crest Trail, ultralight tents designed by the manufacturer for 2 people are often used by one person precisely because they are light enough and offer a higher level of comfort and ease.
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