A three-season tramping tent that won’t break your budget

Plusses: Breathable, lightweight, sturdy, compact.
Minuses: Living space, light materials.

1560g / 2.58m²

Features: This is a freestanding, two-door, two-vestibule tramping tent. The foot and fly are 1200mm 15D nylon ripstop, while the mesh inner is a 15D ‘No-See-Um’ nylon. Pre-bends in the DAC Featherlight NSL aluminium ridge poles create more livable space, as does a cross pole, which extends the apex. There are three gear storage pockets. A ‘burrito bag’ allows quick packing.

Pitching: Coloured pole tips, looped paracord pegs and a simplistic design ensure quick and easy pitching. The fly’s grounding attachments are easily adjustable, and there are ample guys and pegs for adverse conditions. Care must be taken to tension the fly evenly as a depression can form between the cross pole and ridge poles, which can catch rainwater.

Comfort: Living space is a mixed bag. I’m a touch over 1.8m and found the slope of the headwall to be intrusive during the night. The wall at the foot of the tent (which stands closer to vertical) is roomier, and the cross pole creates ample ceiling room – helpful for getting changed or organised in a seated position. Those without tapered air mattresses may struggle to fit two beds side by side, as the floor area tapers significantly. Measure your sleeping setup before purchase. My partner and I fitted a large and a medium mattress, but it was a squeeze and left no spare floor space.

In use: At around 1500g, it’s aptly-named and boasts an impressive weight-to-comfort ratio. It also packs down into a very manageable package. Tub floor aside, the entire inner chamber is fine mesh, which allows breathability and stargazing opportunities with the fly rolled back. The living space is competitive but I would enjoy a touch more width. Two small wall pockets at the head end will fit odds and ends, and a ceiling pocket is handy for lighting. I was impressed by the tent’s sturdiness in the breeze, and the pole structure’s narrow, low profile bodes well for stronger wind. The 15D floor may require a footprint for longevity and use in the wet, as sodden ground had our mattresses damp by morning. 

Value: Balancing weight, livability and price, it seems an excellent price compromise for trampers, though I would be inclined to purchase a footprint separately.

Verdict: Sturdy, light and compact offering at a good price point.