8 best backpacking tents in UK 2021: lightweight tents ideal for backpacking Bedford News

Key specifications – Capacity: two people; Weight: 2.77 kg;

We’ve never come across an MSR tent that we don’t like – they stand out for their quality and are a great choice if you want a backpacking tent that’s built to last for years of camping trips to come.

It’s a few minutes’ work to put together the Elixir’s stakes, and the inside of the tent is spacious enough for two people, with more than enough room to sit on and well-placed pockets for your belongings. . There are wide porches on the outside of the two doors, perfect for storing an extra kit.

On a hot night, you can even pitch the inner mesh tent on its own, which is great for stargazing. The outer fly is rain proof, but a little water seeps in on a really stormy day.

A version for one person is also available.

Key specifications – Capacity: two people; Weight: 2.19 kg;

Kelty’s Dirt Motel might sound playful, but it’s a perfect name for this lightweight tent – it really offers comfort and space, even when camping in the wilderness.

The Dirt Motel is a simple tent to pitch, and once erected it offers plenty of headroom, two wide doors, and two porches, making it an easy tent to share as a duo.

An inner mesh tent can be used on its own in hot climates and provides protection from insects, or add the waterproof fly on top, which we have found reliable against the elements, even when we tested the tent in the wet and windy Welsh mountains .

Ideal for hiking and traditional camping trips.

Key specifications – Capacity: one person; Weight: 700g;

The impressive Project Hydrogen is one of the lightest trekking tents on the market at just 700g.

It’s the size of a loaf of bread and is a cinch to carry in smaller backpacks or bike panniers – you’ll barely notice you’ve got a tent on you, even if you walk, do bike or run on it. long distances.

Inside there is enough space to accommodate one person rather comfortably, but there is still room to sit and the porch can store an additional kit.

The Project Hydrogen is an “ air ” tent and its hollow poles are inflated using an included bicycle pump, which is quick and hassle-free, and well-placed guy ropes make the tent erected strong by stormy weather. An expensive option, but well worth it for dedicated ultralight explorers.

Key specifications – Capacity: one person; Weight: 1.3 kg;

The most affordable backpacking tent in our roundup is the rather nifty 3 Seasons Trekking from Decathlon, which we believe is perfect if you’re looking for a backpacking tent for someone on a budget.

It only weighs 1.3kg, although it wasn’t as small as some other one-person tents in the test, so you’ll need a bigger backpack to carry it around. The 3 Seasons Trekking is well sized for one person, with large storage pockets and a porch.

We found it waterproof in the test and wind resistant enough to work in most camps in addition to high mountain conditions, although it does need regular drying to prevent condensation from forming, so it does ‘it works best in dry weather.

Key specifications – Capacity: one person; Weight: 1.52 kg;

If small and compact is at the top of your tent shopping list, go for Snugpak’s dinky Ionosphere.

The Ionosphere sits low to the ground and feels like you’re sleeping in a bivy bag with extra wiggle room – there’s little room for movement inside, but its design means it stows away in a compact package, locations in just minutes and weighs just 1.5kg.

This tent was clearly designed for adventure runners, and its dark green colourway also makes it a subtle choice for low-key wilderness camping. You can sleep alone in the mesh inner tent in warmer weather or add the waterproof outer fly for wet conditions, and a repair kit is also included – great if you’re venturing off the beaten path.

Key specifications – Capacity: two people; Weight: 1.9 kg;

Tunnel tents offer a great space-to-weight ratio, but they tend to be rather narrow and can look like a coffin to sleep on. Not so Vango with generous dimensions F10 Xenon UL 2.

With decent headroom and a large sheltered porch perfect for storing the kit or sitting down while cooking, there’s plenty of room for two people to get comfortable, and with just under 2kg, this tent still weighs a lot if you go alone. We love the large storage pockets that line the tent (most backpacking tents have rather limited storage space).

The F10 Xenon also launches in minutes, which is welcome after a long day outdoors, and is windproof and waterproof enough to go with you wherever you go.

Key specifications – Capacity: three people; Weight: 3.37 kg;

Go on an adventure as a trio? The affordable OEX Jackal III offers an excellent space-to-weight ratio and can accommodate three people if you don’t mind being a little comfortable inside, or two with plenty of room.

At 3.37kg, the Jackal III is as light as some two-person tents we’ve tested, and it also comes with two storage bags and is designed to be easily split between two backpacks for transport.

The waterproof canvas and groundsheet are sturdy and weatherproof, although mounting is a bit tricky. There is also a spacious porch for storage.

In general, it is a well-designed tent for a very acceptable price.

Key specifications – Capacity: two people; Weight: 4.24 kg;

A great all-rounder if you’re looking for a two-person tent, the spacious Berg Grampian 2 by Berghaus works well for traditional festivals and camping weekends, as well as dedicated backpacking trips, and can easily be split into two packs. in order to share the load of 4.24 kg.

Two generous porches take up additional material, and the Grampian’s geodesic design leaves a good amount of living space inside and allows the tent to stand up very well in windy or stormy weather. Our only criticism would be that this bright red color isn’t exactly subtle – go for the green version if you like wild camping.

In stock at the end of March 2021, price to be confirmed.