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BEST ULTRALIGHT TENTS - FOR LONG-DISTANCE THRU-HIKER

Jarvis Hunter
  Jun 2, 2023 12:08 PM

On wilderness excursions, a hiking tent will be one of the bulkiest items you bring. One of the simplest methods to reduce weight and lighten your burden if you're a long-distance thru-hiker or ultralight traveler is with an ultralight tent.

To compile this list of the Best ultralight tents available, we spent many hours conducting research and traveled thousands of miles on foot to trail-test dozens of tents.


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Buying guide

Size

Decide on the number of guests for your tent before beginning your search; ultralight tents normally accommodate one to four people. Since ultralight tents are typically smaller to reduce weight, sizing up is a crucial factor to take into account. If you want to bring stuff (or your entire pack) into the tent with you, for instance, think about a two-person tent.

Single or Double-wall

The standard double-wall (a separate tent body and a rain fly) and single-wall tent designs are available for ultralight tents. When the fly is taken off, a double-wall structure provides better ventilation than a single-wall tent and prevents condensation from seeping into the sleeping area, a common issue with single-wall shelters. It does, however, add a few extra ounces to your load.

Pitching Style 

Freestanding, semi-freestanding, and non-freestanding are the three main types of ultralight tents. An advantage for rocky or other difficult-to-stake surfaces is that a freestanding tent doesn't require stakes to stay set. The alternative is a non-freestanding tent, which saves important ounces but needs tent poles to stay set. Semi-freestanding tents occupy a middle ground. While semi- and non-freestanding tents frequently employ trekking poles in place of a separate pole system to further reduce weight, freestanding tents need their system.

Materials

Even though the discussion of ultralight materials can occasionally get comical, understanding the distinctions will help you choose the best tent for your trip and your budget. The most popular tent fabric, ripstop nylon, isn't as durable as some other options and sags when wet, but it has the best pricing point. Better durability and waterproofing are provided by the silicone-infused nylon known as Silnylon, although it also sags when wet. Although Dyneema, originally known as Cuben Fiber, is an incredibly robust and lightweight polyethylene fiber, it is significantly more expensive than other tent fabrics.

Features

Like regular tents, ultralight tents come equipped with a variety of features to meet the unique requirements of backpackers. They also frequently have fewer features than other ultralight gear, such as a single door rather than two, extremely thin stakes, or fewer pockets. Decide what items are on your "must have" list, then go on.


FAQs

1. What is the ideal weight for an ultralight tent?

There isn't a set standard for this, but I think an ultralight tent weighs less than three pounds. A typical UL tent weighs between two and 2.5 pounds, with some of the better models weighing as little as 1.5 pounds.

2. Should I get a lightweight tent?

An ultralight tent should be taken into consideration if you want to hike for three or more days and cover more than 12 miles per day. The lighter total pack weight is something you'll truly like. Keep in mind that the components in your pack that tend to weigh the most—your pack, sleep system, and shelter—are also the areas where you can cut weight the most.

3. Single- or double-walled tents: which should I purchase?

In more humid locations, we prefer double-walled tents because they better manage moisture. We prefer single-walled tents since they are lightweight and often easier to set up in drier settings (mountains and deserts).


Final thoughts

We hope that our efforts and assessments help you find a shelter that meets your needs and makes it easier for you to go on numerous quick and light mountain expeditions. Ideally, your Best lightweight tents would enable you to reach previously unreachable summits.

Our top picks

  1. 3F UL GEAR lanshan 2 Tent 2 Person Oudoor Ultralight Camping Tent

  2. Black Diamond Equipment - Beta Light Tent - Cirrus Blue - 2 Person

  3. Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Ultralight Tent with UV-Resistant Solution Dyed Fabric

  4. Kelty Late Start Backpacking Tent - 2 Person (2019 Model)

  5. MSR Backpacking-Tents MSR FreeLite Ultralight Breathable Backpacking Tent


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