Fjern Gokotta 2 Tent Review: TL;DR
Fjern have set out to create a tent that can be taken anywhere and still provide a comfortable and liveable shelter. They’ve succeeded; this is how to do practical minimalism. We test its real-world functionality on a brief tour of New Zealand’s South Island.
Fjern Gokotta 2 Tent Review: Intro
Fjern is a brand that has been quietly building a reputation over the last few years for offering solid, mountain-focussed clothing at mid-market prices. From their original offering of waterproof and insulating jackets, the clothing range has steadily grown, and in testament to seemingly continuous growth, Fjern have expanded into the realm of hardware – luggage, sleeping bags and sleeping mats, camp cooking kit, and now tents.
Who is The Fjern Gokotta 2 Tent Aimed at?
With a very low overall weight and small pack size, and a cosy living space, the Gokotta 2 tent is squarely aimed at backpacking and bikepacking, wild campers and thru-hikers. This isn’t designed to be your car-camping cavern or a fully stocked basecamp.
We chose to test this tent in New Zealand, not because we were heading miles off the beaten track, but because we wanted a minimalist camping set-up that wouldn’t monopolise our checked baggage on the flight. It works just as well on civilized campgrounds (albeit dwarfed by surrounding campervans) as it does in the countless Freedom Camping sites, where the diminutive size and the subtle colouring mean you’re not creating a blot on the landscape.
Fjern Gokotta 2 Tent Review: Design and Features
There is a clever balance between functionality and simplicity that runs right through the Gokotta tent. The single pole – unwieldy though it may seem – makes set-up and take-down more straightforward, as does the freestanding construction.
The pole design also makes for quite vertical walls and therefore makes the interior feel much more liveable than it should. The double entrance and vestibule approach adds a huge amount to liveability – especially for two people sharing, as it enables a kind of demarcation which might head off any social frustration before it even appears. The porch areas also provide a sheltered area (you can peg up either half of the door to allow shelter from whichever direction the wind blows) for cooking and other admin.
Inside there are large storage pockets and hanging loops in the ceiling, and the doors can be opened to several different configurations allowing a very airy interior (helped by the light mesh of the inner tent). Of course, the sleeping area is cosy but two of us managed several nights without encroaching too much on each other's space. It’s probably a little more roomy than you’d expect for this type of tent.
The pegs are satisfyingly minimal, and appear pretty hardy given their y-shaped cross section. Little struts to hold open an air vent at each end of the tent are another pleasing detail (and they work well). Even the carry bag is well designed with a large, drawcorded opening which avoids the need to roll everything tight in the hope it will slide into a cylinder of fabric! Once the drawcord is cinched tight a set of straps clips the whole thing together and even provides a carry handle.
Fjern Gokotta 2 Tent Review: Verdict
The Gokotta 2 Tent is a really neat little package. Emphasis on the little. From the way the pole ends slot into neatly machined holes to the extensive use of thin loops of cord, the weight savings have been well thought out and have never been allowed to compromise the practical requirements of a tent.
We used it on chilly nights in the shadow of Mount Cook and in a busy campsite in the centre of Queenstown; through clear cold nights, baking hot sunny days and during extended overnight downpours. While it excels in a rucksack in the wilderness, it is versatile enough to cover lots of scenarios.
If you need other camping gear, have a look at our list of the best water bottles or the best camping and backpacking stoves, and if you're looking for inspiration on where to go, why not check out our experts' recommendations on the best campsites in Yr Wyddfa (Snowdonia) National Park or the best campsites in the Lake District.
