$749.99

The Minaret is a sturdy tunnel tent that has long been a go-to for alpine adventurers.

In a time when many tent manufacturers are using the lightest fabrics and materials possible, Macpac’s approach is to retain longevity and sturdiness by sticking to a 10,000mm waterhead rated floor and not downsizing every fitting and webbing attachment. Even so, the tent has a trail weight of 2.1kg

I hadn’t used a Minaret for some years prior to this review and it was like being reacquainted with an old friend. I’ve always liked the simplicity of pitching Macpac’s ‘multipitch’ tents. The fly and inner are integrated so it’s simply a matter of sliding two poles into sleeves and putting in the pegs, making it the quickest tent to pitch out of those reviewed. Another benefit is avoiding a wet inner when pitching in the rain as it’s already protected by the fly. If you want to, you can pitch either the inner or the fly independently.

For two people plus gear, the Minaret is reasonably roomy (2.3m²) with passable head room, although not as much as some free-standing models which tend to have steeper walls. A modest vestibule provides cooking space.

The Minaret is not the lightest, but it comes with assurance that it will go the distance, cope with strong winds and rain, and be a reliable shelter. It’s ideal for weekend trips, but for long term tent-living I’d opt for a slightly taller, steeper walled design.