UST Bug Tent and BASE tarp combo
£60
For a more immersive and lightweight camping experience, you can’t beat sleeping in a bivvy bag either out in the open or under a tarp. The downside to these is their lack of bug protection. This is where UST’s Base Bug Tent comes in, used in combination with their BASE tarp.
Weighing just 544g, the Bug Tent protects your upper body within a 56cm high dome made of fire-retardant fine mesh that will keep out even the smallest of gnats and mosquitoes, supported by two shock-corded poles, and it sets up in 60 seconds. The mesh then extends down over your legs like a blanket.
Setting up the 360g BASE Tarp takes a little longer but has guy lines and steel stakes for when there are no trees.
UST’s tarp gives a fairly minimal coverage of 6ft by 8ft but with one side aluminium coated for thermal insulation and reflectivity for signalling, and the other high-visibility orange, this is a versatile product that will be on your must-take list for any trip into the wild.
+ Lightweight bug and rain protection for sleeping out
– Needs a tarp or bivvy bag for rain and dew protection – and a sleeping mat
Vango Galaxy 300 tent
£280
The principle behind the Galaxy 300 is that it adds a full height vestibule on the front for getting changed, sorting gear out and cooking.
In use, the 187cm at the peak is standing height for most and the generous floor space gives you plenty of room for two to sit and chill out or prepare a meal in. The front vestibule can also be used to store bikes and other outdoor equipment.
The tension band system makes a valiant effort at keeping the tent stable but the high vestibule is always going to be vulnerable in high winds.
The Galaxy 300 sits in Vango’s trekking range so the materials used are plenty strong and durable enough for short trips out into the wild. Having said that, the 5.6kg weight means you wouldn’t want to carry it between fewer than three people.
The sleeping space in the Galaxy 300 is generous, and with 180cm to play with you can fit three sleeping mats side by side. Overall, the Galaxy 300 is a sound idea implemented well.
+ Great front vestibule
– A shade on the heavy side
MSR Elixir 2 tent
£200
The Elixir 2 calls itself ‘the most liveable 2-person backpacking tent in its class’, and we wouldn’t argue. First it’s a decent weight, coming in at a total of 2.64 kg, which, when split between you and companion equates to just over a bottle of water each.
If you want to go even lighter, and don’t mind a draught, the Elixir 2 has its Fast & Light configuration up its sleeve. With this you take just poles, rainfly and pegs, plus the extra groundsheet, to cut the weight to a light 1.61kg.
But take the full tent, including inner (leave the extra groundsheet at home), and you have a strong, freestanding, roomy tent, that’s big enough for two full mats, with loads of shoulder room, as well as doors and vestibules on both sides, so no more climbing over people.
Excellent design, build quality and pitching versatility for a range of types of camping trip.
+ Roomy with the bonus of a fly and groundsheet-only Fast & Light option
– A few complain of lack of spares – but you probably won’t need them!
Hilleberg Nammatj 3 GT
£845
Everything about this 3-person tent screams quality, from the stuff sack to the little blue anodised inserts in the male ends of the thin walled, super light yet strong poles. For extra insurance there’s space within the pole sleeves and cups to double up in particularly extreme conditions.
The Nammatj 3 gets a light Kerlon 1800 fabric with impressive tear strength for the outer, which extends right to the floor to reduce the likelihood of snowdrift or water getting in, and the inner has a high ‘bathtub’ floor.
The vestibule is very generous and hugely useful for gear, changing and well-vented cooking. For a lightweight option, the tent can be pitched as a floorless single wall tent weighing just 3.3kg.
All said, this is a proven, expedition-ready tent, which is easily comfortable and versatile enough for a UK weekend away.
+ Impeccable build quality
– If anything it could have a few more internal pockets.
Jack Wolfskin Moonshadow Tarp
£70
Looking at the specs for this tarp we find it strange that Jack Wolfskin call it a ‘sun tent’. With a 4000mm hydrostatic head and sealed main seam this tarp is great in the rain too!
Knowing that we were camping in the woods we opted not to take the poles for the Moonshadow which are an alarming 1m long and difficult to carry on a pack. You could of course use walking poles.
If you have trees around, setting the tarp up is easy with the guylines and pegs provided, giving you a multitude of options for pulling the material taught once you have your main line set.
The guying points took a bit of abuse and like the rest of the tarp and its heavyweight 75D polyester material, they were an easy match for it. The penalty is a 1.4kg weight.
The generous 4m x 4m size gives plenty of scope for setting up a dry communal area and a shelter for two hammocks at night. It could easily provide enough shelter for a third hammock, or for four bodies on the floor.
+ Versatile and big enough for communal camping
– A tad heavy, poles are no good for backpacking
Tentsile Stingray 3p tree tent
£520
Everyone loves the surreal, spaceship-like shape of the Stingray floating in the trees. It’s held there by three heavy-duty ratchets stretching it taut until the seatbelt straps forming its shape create three hammock-like ‘pockets’ inside, with a maximum load of 400kg. With practice it pitches with one ratchet, saving 2kg of the 8.5kg total, and a pair of aluminium shock-corded poles arch its roof. The best (most fun!) access is via the triangular hatch in the middle and an optional rope ladder is available for the real treehouse feel.
The Stingray comes with a waterproof flysheet which can be easily flipped on or off for stargazing. It’s undeniable fun but the big surprise is how comfortable the Stingray is to sleep in, once the kids stop bouncing around!
+ So much fun and comfy too!
– Pitching takes practice, it’s pricey, a bit heavy, and gets cold
Heimplanet Fistral tent
£375
A few heaves on the pump and the Fistral pops up with the beams, fly and inner pitching together. The pump isn’t included though, which does push the cost too close to £400 for comfort. At 2.7kg (without the pump), the Fistral is too heavy for ultra-lightweighters but is passable shared.
Living space is good for two, with the inner accessed by one of two entrances – both with vestibules big enough for cooking or storage. Once inside, headroom is good with plenty of room to sit up, and good length.
Additional gear storage comes in the form of three good-sized storage pockets as well as a storage area under the apex which is perfect for a light.
If you like to stand out on the campsite, then the Fistral could be for you.
+ Looks so different!
– The all-essential pump is not included
