Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more
Over the past 10 years, our expert ultralight fast-packers have researched and tested over 30 of the top ultralight tents on the market. In this update, we feature 15 of the best models today. These tents have made it around the world, from Iceland to Europe to Canada and throughout Asia. We've used them in storms, blustery weather, cold and icy conditions, and in the desert heat to give you an accurate account of their strengths and weaknesses. We tested against metrics of livability, weight, weather protection, adaptability, and ease of setup in many different scenarios to give you this in-depth review and help make your tent purchasing decision that much easier, all with your budget in mind.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on August 17, 2022, to include updates to the Black Diamond Beta Light and Six Moon Designs Haven. We also added in a new product, the Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp.
Weight of tent, fly, poles: 1.31 pounds | Floor dimensions: 45 x 90 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Double-wall construction for ventilation and bug protection
Available with poles for freestanding setup
Zipperless closure system - great for sandy environments
Excellent weather protection
Liveable space is large and comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Small vestibule
Clear color lacks privacy
Flex upgrade is hard to figure out without instruction
The Zpacks Duplex Flex Upgrade easily outperforms the competition with the lavish comforts of a full tent construction at a ridiculously light weight. Living in it affords the ability to sit up straight and actually be comfortable. It has two vestibules, which conveniently function as a cooking spot in blustery storms or a small gear storage. It holds its shape in windy or stormy conditions, even on an exposed ridge or open field. With a built-in bug net and full floor, summer nights will have you safe from flying pests, while the Dyneema fabrics wick and shed water without any absorption, even after hours in a downpour. We've tested it while fast-packing in Canada, climbing in the desert, and hiking to high lakes in the mountains, and it's still going strong after five years. While the investment is a big one, it's worth the cost.
While there are many positives, this tent is not perfect. First, it needs to be put up with two poles, so if you don't use them, you'll want to check out the Flex (which costs more money). Second, set-up is unfortunately not very intuitive and requires a tutorial. Third, the light material is see-through at night, so you'll have to decide if you're okay with that. Fourth, condensation can become a problem in humid places. Finally, it's on the more expensive end of the spectrum. While we think the performance is worth the cost, not all people may feel that way. If you want the best of the best and are willing to throw down the cash, this tent has everything you've ever wanted in an ultralight construction. It packs down small, is durable, and offers incredible protection in all kinds of weather.
The Duplex Flex can be set up on all sorts of terrain. Be sure you set your budget, needs, and wants before committing to an ultralight tent purchase. They are expensive, but the feeling of carrying next to nothing in your pack is one hundred percent worth it.
Weight of tent, fly: 1.71 pounds | Floor dimensions: 100 x 67 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Durable
Easy set-up
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier than most ultralight shelters
Tricky guy line tensioners
If you're looking for an affordable, high-quality, fully-featured, and adaptable shelter, look no further. The Durston X-Mid 1P is fantastic. The minimalist design, premium materials, functionality, and comparatively low price make it one of our highest-rated ultralight shelters. At full deployment (with the fly and the inner together), the X-Mid is a double-wall shelter weighing under two pounds, including stakes. We also love that you can strip it down to its bare essentials, removing the protective liner to create a floorless pyramid that still protects well in harsh weather, thanks to walls that extend to the ground.
Our favorite design feature of this ultralight tent is that the removable inner can be detached and stowed in your pack while you are still inside the fly. Being able to keep your sleep system dry during a stretch of a few rainy days in a row is a huge morale boost. The same goes for set-up since the X-Mid pitches fly first. We love the dual doors that give you the luxury of choosing your entry, as well as plenty of airflow if the forecast does not call for rainstorms. It's fast, it's light, it's durable — it's everything you need in a shelter and nothing you don't. Intuitive to use and adaptable to the seasons, we recommend this tent to anyone and everyone.
Weight of tent, fly, poles: 1.72 pounds | Floor dimensions: 115 x 79 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Spacious
Mesh bug skirt
Stable
REASONS TO AVOID
Trekking poles are necessary for set up
Support poles are in the center of the living space
The Black Diamond Beta Light is for the backpacker who wants to travel lighter without sacrificing interior space. It has plenty of room for two people, a dog, and everyone's gear and is tall enough to comfortably sit in. It's even possible to fit four people inside if you need to. We also appreciate the mesh bug skirt that maintains airflow at the base while mostly blocking off the opening from bugs. It's relatively easy to set up, so if you are out with a smaller backpack and want a reliable, ultralight shelter, this is one to consider.
The primary downside of this mid is in the configuration. The two interior trekking poles provide a stable design, but they setup right in the middle of the tent. This relegates what would be the prime real estate of its shelter to a strip in the middle mostly used for gear storage. This is best for those seeking a floorless pyramid tent with many applications across all seasons and environments.
Weight of tarp & stakes: 0.84 pounds | Tarp dimensions: 132 x 88 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Most high-value shelter in this review
Super light and the most compact shelter
Stable in weather
Super adaptable for all-terrain
Easy to change shape and tension in poor weather
REASONS TO AVOID
Need to carry at least six stakes; four are provided
Not 100% weather-proof
No floor or bug-netting
If you're ready to purchase an adaptable tarp system at a reasonable price, the Kammok Kuhli UL may be exactly what you're looking for. It's manufactured with a flat-face design with wings to provide more lateral room. It also has six pole-compatible high-quality grommets around the edge. You can build using this tarp in several configurations. With easy-to-use tensioners on each grommet, you can re-tension and loosen it with ease. We also appreciate that the 15D ripstop fabric is exceptionally durable to abrasion. Based on the design you choose to set up with, this tarp can be used easily for three seasons through any kind of weather and fits two people comfortably.
Not as intuitive as a pole tent, it took a little time to figure out how to set it up with a set of ski poles. In abysmal weather, we appreciate that it doesn't make much sound and is pretty stable; however, when set up in a flatter configuration where the walls aren't as steep, the fabric got saturated and stretched out. This means if a storm is going through the night, you'll need to re-tension it. It's also not recommended for snowy weather for this reason. For nicer weather that isn't the worst you can imagine, this tarp option is thin and easy to pitch wherever you explore.
Weight of tent, fly, poles: 0.69 pounds | Floor dimensions: Depends on configuration
REASONS TO BUY
The lightest tarp in our review
Made with top-quality DCF fabric ensuring durability and waterproofness
Can be set up in multiple configurations
REASONS TO AVOID
No protection from insects
For true ultralight aficionados and die-hard thru-hikers, no form of shelter burdens you less than a tarp. While we only tested two stand-alone tarps in this year's review, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Square Flat Tarp is by far the most protective. The perfectly square design allows for endless adaptability when it comes to pitching options and locations. At only 10.9 ounces, including copious amounts of tie-out cordage, this tarp is the lightest shelter in this review. If you don't like carrying a lot of weight and you're willing to skimp on the comforts of a traditional fully covered shelter, this ultra-bomber and a durable tarp is our best recommendation.
That weight comes with a minor caveat in that you will likely want to bring along a ground cloth to sleep on, and depending on the season and weather, you may also need a bivy sack for added weather and bug protection in addition to extra stakes and cord. This ups the overall shelter system weight and costs a bit. Keep in mind that both the price and the weight are for the tarp without the trekking poles needed to set it up or the stakes required to keep it affixed to the ground, so you will have to figure in the money and weight attributed to both. Regardless, if you are in the market for a tarp and want the best one we have ever used, look no further than this excellent design.
Weight of tent, fly, stakes: 0.98 pounds | Floor dimensions: 88 x 30 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Room for folks up to seven feet tall
Large vestibule for wet gear and boots
Under one pound
REASONS TO AVOID
Needs a little practice to perfect a bombproof setup
The Tarptent Aeon Li is a single-layer three-season tent with bug-netting, tons of headroom, and a spacious vestibule — all weighing in under a pound! It fits one person, large or small, with ample sleeping space while preserving a narrow footprint thanks to its innovative strut system. Tripods of carbon-fiber struts on two corners of the tent plus an additional one on the back wall add stability, so when properly rigged, the Aeon is bombproof, even with its one pole set-up. Did we mention there's enough headroom for a seven-foot-tall person (or Sasquatch) to fully sit up? The strut system looks complicated, and we were scratching our heads at how this shelter could be one of the lightest and have additional features not seen on any other tent, but the Tarptent folks pull it off.
The Aeon is an expensive tent; the serious fast packer will get their money's worth if a three-season shelter is what they need, but the casual user will spend a lot on a tent that they may only use a few nights a year. For those who want the best ultralight tent for one, this gets the green light.
Weight of tent, fly, stakes: 1.58 pounds | Floor dimensions: 86 x 45 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Room for two, luxurious for one
Very stable in high winds
Two huge vestibules keep your gear out of the rain
Awesome ventilation
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No freestanding option
The Tarptent StratoSpire Li is distinguished from the Zpacks Duplex by its two large vestibules, multiple ventilation points, and zippers with storm flaps. If you're stuck waiting out days of bad weather (like our unlucky testers), this is the tent you want to be stuck in, as the two vestibules provide ample space for dry storage and cooking. Being able to boil water for a cup of coffee and stay dry on a cold and rainy morning will be more than worth the extra ounces that come from the waterproof zippers and corner ventilation flaps. This ultralight tent features waterproof Dyneema that doesn't stretch or sag when it gets wet, plus a durable floor and bug net that's easily removable.
Like other tents and tarps made from Dyneema, the StratoSpire is expensive. This ultralight palace is costly; some will find that the weather protection, at such a low weight, makes it worth every penny. This tent requires two trekking poles and eight stakes (ultralight and included) for setting up, limiting where you can set up. If you don't like carrying trekking poles or are on a ski or river trip, Tarptent offers a pair of support poles for an additional cost.
Weight of tent, fly, poles: 1 pound | Floor dimensions: 83 x 107 inches
REASONS TO BUY
An enormous amount of floor space; tall, steep walls make it super spacious
Holds up well in high winds
Can be set up with an airflow gap or flush to the ground
REASONS TO AVOID
Needs a single center pole longer than the average trekking pole
One of the most expensive shelters in the review
We want to recognize the shelter that offers, by far, the most space of any option we tested, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2. This four-sided pyramid is fully enclosed in top-quality DCF material, ranking it right up there with the best for weather protection. But even better, its tall, steep sidewalls and huge footprint mean that there is enough space for two people to sleep, plus a dog, gear, and then still some room left over for a kitchen or simply spreading out.
As far as notable downsides go, high cost is one, and the fact that it's so tall that it needs a center pole longer than a single trekking pole. That said, if you want a very adaptable, super weather-resistant, fully enclosed shelter that will never have you lamenting the trade-off in space or comfort, then this is the ultralight tent for you.
Here is the HMG UltaMid 2, set up close to the ground with no gap for the best weather protection, taking a heavy wind, although you wouldn't be able to tell by this photo. This was the most weather protective option in this review.
Weight of tent, fly, poles: 2 pounds | Floor dimensions: 85 x 51 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight at a great price
Great weather and wind protection
REASONS TO AVOID
A little tight for two
One of the heaviest tents in its category
The Nemo Hornet 2P is a highly recommended semi-freestanding pole tent with double-wall construction. If you're sick of condensation building on interior fabrics, you'll be happy with this purchase. The double-wall construction features two doors and large vestibules with space for gear storage and a small kitchen. For such a thin nylon exterior, we are surprised at its level of durability and protection during storms. It scores higher overall than its competitors for its super easy and intuitive set-up that can be pitched with one person in foul weather.
On the downside, it's a bit of a tight squeeze for two people. With two inflatable sleeping pads, there is some necessary overlap around the feet. Luckily gear can be kept outside in the spacious vestibules. While it does offer some stability in the wind, we don't appreciate how much the poles flex and bow in a heavy storm. When camping in windy Nevada, this kept us up at night with the tent poles bending and the fabric hitting us in the head! If you seek a versatile tent with good ventilation and all-around good performance, this is an excellent value option that you won't be disappointed in.
The NEMO Hornet 2P is a free-standing tent that is one of the easiest to set up with good water resistance and features.
Credit: Matt Bento
Compare Products
The Duplex Flex Upgrade in all its glory.
Credit: Matt Bento
Why You Should Trust Us
This review is a collaboration between Andy Wellman, Matt Bento, Chris Greer, and Ben Applebaum-Bauch. Andy has spent countless days rambling through the backcountry in the Pacific Northwest, a region that puts ultralight tents to the test like no other. Between torrential rains and swarms of insects, this is a perfect, unforgiving environment for our comparative testing. Matt is a Yosemite Search and Rescue veteran who knows the importance of going fast and light. While he isn't necessarily afraid of a heavy pack, he's willing to go to great lengths to carry as little as possible on backcountry adventures. Amber is an avid trail runner, fastpacker, backpacker, and explorer. She reviews gear part-time and currently runs outdoor programs with Treeline Education daily. She uses a tent almost every other week in her adventures. She has traveled throughout the world, going light and fast over high mountain passes, into low valleys, and across high desert terrain, ideally with a light load. Chris is a gear junkie who is constantly tinkering with his kit, making choices based on freedom of movement above all else. He is a thru-hiker, cyclist, and runner, logging thousands of miles on trails and roads over his lifetime. Ben got his start in the outdoor adventure industry-leading multi-week backpacking, cycling, and canoeing trips, and has thru-hiked several of America's iconic long trails.
Our ultralight shelter testing is divided across five rating metrics:
Livability tests (30% of overall score weighting)
Weight tests (25% weighting)
Weather Resistance tests (25% weighting)
Adaptability tests (10% weighting)
Ease of Set-Up tests (10% weighting)
Our testing is objective and based on well-founded unbiased and hands-on research. After taking over 10 hours to research products online and read reviews, we select only the best potential ultralight tents. We even update four times a year! After purchasing and buying each, we take them out on adventures. We camp with our friends, set them up in our backyards (when travel isn't an option), and take them to a variety of climates around the world. These ultralight tents have seen backcountry overnight ski missions in the Northwest, bike tours in the desert, and backpacking adventures throughout the USA. We've taken them to Canada, Nepal, Iceland, and more while living out of each one. After spending time in these tents for hours, we've identified key differences and the best uses for each one.
When we couldn't go backpacking, we'd set these tents up side-by-side during weather, sleep out in them and see how they do in all types of weather. here we see how each fairs in the stormy weather of the Colorado Rockies...our backyard...literally.
This is not car camping... Here are two Megamid shelters from Black Diamond used for kitchen shelters on the Gulkana Glacier in Alaska.
Analysis and Test Results
We highlight ultralight tents that weigh under two pounds with a myriad of designs and options. From simple value tarps to expensive Dyneema fully enclosed designs, we aim to choose and compare the best options on the market. Across the board, we feel that livability, weight, weather resistance, adaptability, and ease of set-up are the most important factors to consider while camping, which all equates to reliability and mitigating risk in the backcountry. While some options don't score high, they certainly fulfill a certain niche. So while perusing, first determine what features are most important to you, then search those metrics to find your answers to which you should buy.
Some of our competitors, side-by-side, lit up against a beautiful night sky. The Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 (left) and Gossamer Gear the Two (right) are compared by our testers while camping under the stars and mountains of the Rockies in Colorado.
Credit: Amber King
The average outdoor recreationist doesn't need an ultralight tent. However, if you're going to spend weeks on end in the backcountry, your happiness will be directly proportionate to the amount of weight that is on your back. The prices can be high, but they don't necessarily have to be. Be sure to check out the more affordable options that might fully satisfy what you're looking for if you're on a budget.
Value
In the world of ultralight gear, you get less material, costing you more money. New materials, like Dyneema, are being used in more tents, driving up the cost. While you might find yourself dropping a wad of cash on your next ultralight tent, some come at a higher value than others. Specifically, those that have better performance and a lower cost. To be frank, the lowest cost is ultimately buying a tarp and rolling it into your pack. However, that bulky item may not be as packable as you'd like. So, we have a few other recommendations.
The first on the list is the Durston X-Mid 1P (1.9 pounds), a very affordable double-wall pyramid shelter whose bug net is removable, optionally converting it into a floorless pyramid for weight savings and less bulk. The Nemo Hornet 2P (2.34 pounds), is another double-wall tent that does a great job of managing moisture; it also offers good protection and packs down to a small size. The Black Diamond Beta Light (1.35 pounds, pyramid tent) and the BD Distance Adaptor (1.99 pounds, semi-freestanding) are both the least expensive. The Beta Light comes without a floor or bug net, while the Distance Adaptor is a fully enclosed option that sets up with trekking poles. If you want a super inexpensive option and looking to upgrade from a traditional tarp, the Kammock Kuhli (0.80 pounds) is an excellent option that packs small and fits into small spaces of your bag.
The livability that your shelter offers is the main attribute that accounts for your happiness the most on the trail. We define livability as how comfortable it is to live in an ultralight tent: sleeping, sorting and storing gear, and waiting out storms. A few other attributes we consider to be important also include insect protection, condensation management, privacy, and whether a tent has a floor or not. We consider livability to be one of the most important considerations because if it's not comfortable, it's not a worthwhile purchase. That said, you can skimp on livability to opt for the lightest or the most packable, but it's important to know what conveniences you're giving up.
The tents scoring highest here are those with large storage vestibules, good ventilation, and additional storage. Of the crowd, tarp tent options with thoughtful ventilation do well here. We also took to models that allow you to sit up while inside with enough lateral room that you're not pressed up against the fabric wall. Having enough breathing room is important not only for comfort but for keeping your sleeping bag and the rest of your gear as dry as possible too. A certain amount of wetness and discomfort is expected on trail, but the more you can mitigate it, the better.
The Tarptent Stratospire Li is one of the most liveable options out there. We love the voluminous vestibules that make it easy to wait out a storm.
Taking the cake is the Tarptent StratoSpire Li, which has all of these attributes. This favorite offers four points for ventilation and two large vestibules with lots of storage. Like the Zpacks Duplex (which doesn't have the same space but offers many of the same features), it has built-in bug netting, making travel through insect-ridden areas a little easier.
The Aeon Li is one of our favorite solo tents; one of the reasons being that you've got plenty of headroom with built-in bug protection.
Credit: Matt Bento
We are also impressed by Tarptent's ultralight single-person Aeon Li, which offers a generously sized vestibule and enough headroom for hikers up to seven feet tall. (Imagine the gait of a seven-foot-tall hiker. This giant will break speed records). The Gossamer Gear The Two is also tall and wide, but not as tall as the Aeon. One of the stand-out features of the Gossamer Gear is the adjustable peak height, which can be made larger with a taller trekking pole.
A look at the ultra-spacious Hyperlite Mountain Gear Square Flat Tarp; one of the best tarps you'll find on the market.
Credit: Brandon Lampley
Of the floorless pyramid shelters (or mid-shelters), it's not surprising that the Black Diamond Beta Light, and Hyperlight Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 and the Durston X-Mid 1P score well due to their considerable footprints that provide loads of space for gear, cooking, and hanging out. The floorless design offers excellent airflow, preventing condensation build-up. Of these models, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear does the best job of making conditions most liveable. It provides the most area for living and has ventilation in the ceiling. This is helpful if you find yourself in a storm and need to seriously button down the tent, ensuring it's entirely windproof. Condensation from sleeping at night will easily escape, whereas the Black Diamond Beta Light struggles with this. The Durston, however, offers protection from potential condensation issues in the form of its double-wall design, thanks to its removable inner.
This tent isn't erected to full headroom (our poles were pretty small) but its vestibules and interior space offer hordes of space for you, an extra person, or your pup.
Credit: Amber King
While tarps offer great adaptability, living in one for an extended period can be cumbersome. If they aren't tarp tents (with a zip-up opening), you will always have at least one end open to the world without bug netting. That said, the condensation build-up isn't a problem. Set-up is vital here to make the tarp more liveable. In nice weather without insects, living under a tarp can be luxurious. It offers a tremendous amount of space to cook, sleep, play cards, write, read, or even play music.
However, when in storm mode, it usually needs to be set super low to the ground with all three sides pinned off in "dart" mode. This offers one big space for living but forces you to stay lying down. A larger tarp area with more guy line attachment points, like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Square Flat Tarp, adds versatility to the set-up, allowing you to make more room underneath it for living even when it's storming. The Kammok Kuhli is a much higher value but doesn't offer the same living space.
Weight
When selecting products for this review, our criteria had one very important detail. All ultralight tents included are around or under two pounds. As such, all the products tested are light and packable. For each, we took the time to weigh each total product and its components. We also look at the packed size and how each fits inside a backpack. It's important to note that for any tent that requires trekking poles for set up, this weight is not factored in. So when determining how much you want to carry on the trail, be sure to add that to the total weight of all the components.
A lightweight tent can allow you to carry more things, or simply go ultralight. If you prefer to cowboy camp, perhaps a tarp is all that's needed. But if you like full protection from creepy crawlies and weather, a full enclosure is recommended. Regardless, be sure to factor in all parts you need to carry to erect the tent and stay comfortable.
Credit: Amber King
If you're searching for the lightest possible shelter, tarps are the lightest and most packable option you're going to find. Heralded by veteran thru-hikers, these tarps aren't just adaptable but fit flawlessly inside your pack. Of the three tested, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Square Flat Tarp is the lightest advertised shelter weighing only 0.64 pounds (no stakes or extra cord included).
Shelters, especially those made with Dyneema material, are getting lighter and lighter for those who seek a fast-packing adventure.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The Kammok Kuhli is much less expensive and only weighs 0.84 pounds (four stakes included). The Ultimate Direction FK Tarp offers a fixed design and does not come with all eight stakes you need, weighing 0.80 pounds with a profile just a tiny bit smaller than the Kuhli Kammok UL. All tarps are a great option. The Ultimate direction design is a bit easier to set up than others and offers a bit more protection than square and catenary cut tarp set-ups.
When traveling with a tarp, be sure to account for the weight of extra paracord and a few extra stakes. This allows your shelter to be more adaptable to any type of terrain.
This ultralight bivy tarp comes with stakes and is extremely lightweight. A good option for bike packing or as an emergency shelter.
Credit: Amber King
While tarps certainly skimp on creature comforts like having a full enclosure and don't provide the best protection from the rain or bugs, there are also amazingly light single-walled full-enclosed tents. Of them, it's unsurprising that solo options with less material are the lightest. Those built with Dyneema offer the best lightweight protection. Of these, the Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp (0.38 pounds) runs away with the top spot, followed by the Tarptent Aeon Li (1.09 pounds with stakes) and the Big Agnes Scout 1 Platinum (1.1 pounds). The Scout 1 Platinum uses less durable material than the Tarptent Aeon Li and has much less headroom. Both require you to carry two additional poles for set-up, which adds a little weight.
The relative packability of the Black Diamond Beta Light; just a little larger than a water bottle!
Credit: Amber King
Of the two-person tents, the Black Diamond Beta Light (1.35 pounds, stakes included) once again shines. The floorless pyramid design offers lightweight travel with a packed size just larger than a Nalgene bottle. If you want to add in bug netting, it'll cost you 13 ounces of weight. Plus, you need a set of poles to put this tent up. If you want protection and lightweight performance, the Tarptent StratoSpire Li (1.60 pounds, stakes included), and Zpacks Duplex (1.8 pounds, stakes, and poles included) are your best bet. The StratoSpire Li is the lightest but requires you to carry some additional poles. This tent has everything you need (including poles) at a super low weight. It also features the most protective vestibule and interior tent for all four seasons (as opposed to just bug netting).
The Zpacks Duplex, Nemo Hornet 2P, and Durston X-Mid 1P (2.34 pounds, including poles and stakes) all have a double-wall construction. These can easily be modularized to carry only the body of the tent if you want to eliminate even more weight. Of them, the X-Mid is the most versatile and most able to withstand heavy use.
To make a tent adaptable for different seasons, modular add-ons are quite common. Many shelters allow you to add in bug netting, floors, or other components. Keep in mind that when shopping, you need to look at the weight of these extras if that's something you're interested in and add it to your packed trail weight. You can also take these parts off to even further strip away weight.
Weather Resistance
So why don't you just cowboy camp without a shelter? Weather (and bugs), of course! As a standard, your shelter needs to protect well from rain and wind and the occasional light snowfall. While pyramid designs are versatile enough to bear the load of heavy snow, most of these shelters are for three-season use, and typically lack the structure necessary to withstand the weight of a severe snowstorm. While we did get snowed on pretty heavily a couple of nights while testing these shelters in the Himalayas (with very mixed results) and the Colorado mountains, some ultralight shelters provide more protection than others.
A look at the very weather-resistant Tarptent StratoSpire Li that is ultra liveable and does well in poor weather.
After hours of testing, we've learned that tents that use Dyneema Composite Fibers (DCF), with a "tarp tent," or A-frame tarp design utilizing "beaks" or protective vestibules on each side offers the best protection from the elements. This material retains its shape when it's wet, so it doesn't stretch and need re-tensioning, even after hours of sitting through a storm.
The Tarptent StratoSpire Li, our favorite for Weather Protection crushed in this category, as it integrates all these characteristics and an exceptional livability score. Its large vestibules create a large area out of the rain, but not in your tent; this allows you to sit in the waterproof Dyneema tub-style tent and stay dry while you take off your wet shoes and rain jacket and leave them in the vestibule. The vestibules feature storm flaps secured in place with tiny magnets.
DCF fabric, formerly known as Cuben Fiber, is completely water proof, and will not absorb water either, meaning it won't stretch or sag when it gets wet. It is also tough, durable, and doesn't degrade with exposure to UV light. Did we mention its also lighter than SilNylon? What's not to love? Except for the cost...
The Zpacks Duplex is another protective design but has smaller vestibules and a hook and loop closure instead of zippers, which doesn't protect as well from the wind as a full zipper enclosure. The structure, though, is ultrastable in high winds and one you can easily ride a storm out in.
The steep slopes of pyramid-style ultralight tents are also very effective at repelling the wind and rain, and the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2, with its DCF fabric, also ranked right up there as the best. Just as stable in the wind but not quite as water-resistant with its SilNylon construction was the Black Diamond Beta Light, a two-poled pyramid design. While both offer adequate protection, the double-wall ultralight tents we tested struggle to handle a strong wind as well as the products above and need some serious guying out in heavy weather. Likewise, standard A-frame or square tarps, while offering adequate protection from the rain, need a sheltered site and an experienced camper to handle high winds well.
Extra Stakes and Cord Often Not Included
For maximum weather protection, you often need 10+ stakes to use all the guy point options fully. Most of these tents come without included stakes, and some others only come with 6-8 stakes. You can buy more six gram carbon stakes, or simply use rocks. Ten or so feet of p-cord can also come in handy when securing your tent to natural anchors like trees or boulders or to make additional guy lines.
Adaptability
Adaptability may be more or less important to you based on where you often end up camping. If you often find yourself off-trail sleeping on uneven surfaces or in rapidly changing weather conditions, adaptability will be necessary. Generally, the tarp-style shelters do well in this metric. Snowy? Make a steep-sided shelter or a lean-to with your tarp. Or you could string up your tarp to be as wide as possible to hide from the desert sun. The ability to add or remove floors or bug nets also added points to a shelter's adaptability.
Flat tarps earn high points in this category. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Square Flat Tarp and the Kammok Kuhli may seem pretty simple but offer a huge array of ways to set it up for changing weather conditions. Since both are flat, they can deploy easily in a low to the ground storm mode and do a significantly better job of protecting against both rain and wind than in A-frame mode. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Tarp uses 16 perimeter tie-outs and four more found on the face of the tarp; there are many options for tailoring this tarp to the environment in which you'll be spending time. It has a rectangular shape.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Square Flat Tarp pitched in super low storm mode without stakes. (Extra long guylines wrap around rocks.) North Cascades, WA.
Credit: Max Neale
The Kammok Kuhli UL also offers remarkable adaptability with its eight different guy lines with trekking compatible grommets; there's no need to tie the string off to your poles. This made it super easy to set up and change configurations if wind direction changed, without having to un-stake the tarp! This is another reason the Kuhli wins a notable mention for its great value as a tarp.
The second most adaptable designs were the three pyramids — the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2, the Durston X-Mid 1P, and the Black Diamond Beta Light. All three can be set up high for added airflow or low to the ground for more bomber protection from the wind. They are incredibly weather-resistant, and even though this review is about three-season shelters, Mids are almost ideally suited as either cook or sleeping tents in the snow or on expeditions, making them genuine four-season options. We also appreciate the adaptability of the double-wall designs that allow for sleeping under only mesh netting on perfect nights, and since they are primarily free-standing models, they often don't need soft ground to set up successfully.
We also love the Ultimate Direction FK tarp that can easily be set-up with poles or your bike. A great option for bike packing.
Credit: Amber King
Other designs with a fixed modality for set-up didn't do as well in this category. Most require the need to sink stakes, which need to be in a specific place relative to the installed guy lines. Those with more adaptable systems have more tie-off points that you can add in. You can also make any tent more adaptable by bringing a little extra cordage to use when the terrain gets harder to hammer stakes into the ground.
Ease of Set-Up
No savvy backpacker will ever head out into the wilderness without first practicing setting up their shelter at home. With practice, almost all of these ultralight tents and shelters become easy to use. That said, being able to set it up in less than a minute or two, alone, in gusting wind that often precedes inclement weather, may ultimately make a difference in your comfort level for the night, especially if the inclement weather lingers for a while. To decide these scores, we busted out a stopwatch and timed ourselves after a couple of practice rounds first. We also took advantage of windy weather and practiced set-up to see which were the easiest and which felt impossible.
Floorless pyramid construction with a single-pole set-up is by far the easiest when storming weather is upon you. The Black Diamond Beta Light is super simple. Just peg out the edges and insert a pole (or two) inside. This makes it very easy to set up during high winds or storms. The Gossamer Gear The Two is similar but requires two poles for set-up, which takes just a touch longer. The Durston X-Mid 1P also requires two poles, but its rectangular design and clever ventilation access points for the poles make it a quick and easy set-up. We could set up all three in under four minutes, even in the wind, with one person.
Of the three, however, the Durston X-Mid 1P stands out in that it is transformable while remaining under the two-pound threshold for ultralight shelters. This is unique compared to the Beta Light (which doesn't come with bug netting and whose bug net add-on weighs too much to justify its use) and The Two (which is constructed as one piece, with the fly and the net sewn together). The price of the Black Diamond and the Durston are almost identical, but the X-Mid is far more luxurious. And if you're looking for extra space, Durston does sell a two-person version of this shelter as well.
Claire starts by staking out the corners of the tent, before inserting the poles into the convenient handle slots. This tent is set up easily (with practice in under three minutes on softer terrain).
Credit: Amber King
Dedicated pole tents are the second easiest category to set up. The model that takes the cake? The Nemo Hornet 2P; simply stake the tents on all corners, and assemble the poles. It can be set up in the wind, but make sure you secure the lightweight tent bags before attempting!
Setting up the ultra-stable Zpacks Duplex Flex Upgrade on rockier terrain.
Credit: Matt Bento
Tarp tents like the Tarptent StratoSpire Li, Aeon Li, and the Zpacks Duplex include adjustable guy lines with easy-to-use cord locks but take a little time to figure out. This feature makes it much easier to make micro-adjustments in the middle of the night. If you wake up to snow or heavy rain and didn't correctly tension your tent before you went to sleep, the ability to easily tighten down the guy lines is much faster than having to reposition your stakes as you would with the Black Diamond Beta Light. Of all three, the Zpacks Duplex Flex package (that uses poles) was probably the least intuitive. It took several attempts to figure out this package before we had to look it up online to see how it worked. One tester just opted not to use it and use trekking poles instead. Once we figured it out, setup takes only a few minutes.
Find a tent with adjustable buy lines like the Gossamer Gear the Two. It'll make adjustments and adaptability far easier to deal with in odd camping sites.
Credit: Amber King
Tarps are the hardest and most time-consuming to set up, especially in wind or rainstorms. However, amongst them rises the Kammok Kuhli UL. With pole-compatible grommets on six sides, all you have to do is stake down all sides loosely, then insert your poles. The adjustable attached guy lines make it simple to tension and release where needed. This is revolutionary in comparison to other tarp shelters where, when setting up with poles, you need to clove-hitch the poles or a stick, which can be cumbersome, annoying, and requires a knowledge of knots.
While the UltaMid 2 makes a great basecamp tent and is adaptable for use on snow (try digging down in the snow to create a far taller covered room to hang out in!), that simply wasn't going to happen in the Weminuche Wilderness.
That being said, the weight savings of a tarp cannot be ignored. Though there may be a learning curve to properly pitching them in inclement weather, acquiring the skills to read the wind, the slope of the earth, and the direction of a storm is an invaluable process. With enough time and practice, anyone can enjoy the versatility and freedom that comes with tarp shelters.
Conclusion
How did it come to this? Humans have been walking the earth for thousands of years without SilNylon, Dyneema, or bug netting. Now, we might argue we need to go farther (and faster), and modern design helps to take us there. Bonafide engineers are putting their time, effort, and intellect into designing the strongest and lightest shelters ever known. What a time to be a human-powered adventurer. Even with all the ounce-counting, hair-splitting, and nit-picking, we've had a fantastic time testing out ultralight tents. We hope our efforts and evaluations lead you to a shelter that satisfies your needs and helps facilitate many fast and light mountain adventures.
—
Ben Applebaum-Bauch, Chris Greer, Matt Bento, & Andy Wellman
We've tested and rated the top tents in multiple...
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
