Best ultralight tent (with floor)

Got a Durston X-Mid 2 Ultralight for hunting season this year.....and wow it was expensive. But after a couple trips out in it, I have to say I'm more than impressed. Pitches super easy, tons of room and it's really sturdy. I did get the adjustable poles with it, because I take my trekking poles with me every day. This thing is lighter AND roomier than any other backpacking tent I've owned. I was solo with all my gear inside, but it would fit 2 guys no problem with full size pads and your packs/boots would easily fit in the vestibules - there's one on each side. It's got solid/smooth zippers (bad zippers are a pet peeve of mine), we got plenty of rain on the first trip and it was completely water tight. When you've got it pitched super tight, no single point feels stressed which gives me confidence. Didn't have any crazy wind, but I wouldn't worry about it with 2 straight poles. Where I've always had problems in the past is with poles that are bent/arced over that have a ton of tension in them.

GREAT tent and unbelievably light. I couldn't believe there was a tent inside when the box came. We'll see how it does long term, but as of now I can't recommend highly enough.

I've been looking to upgrade to the aragali any suggestions

Absolutely love my stone glacier

muffdvr said:

I've been looking to upgrade to the aragali any suggestions

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I'm really liking the looks of the Argali Owyhee 1p with the insert. I am most confident in my Kuiu Mountain Star 2p in the backcountry, its just so solid. I also have a Stone Glacier ULT with the full insert and the dedicated carbon fiber poles. Its insanely light, just a little on the small side.

I think the new Durston is about to change the game as far as a freestanding option. But if trekker supported is okay, my Gossamer Gear "The Two" is a pretty sweet setup.

Rab, 90% here won't even know what that is, but the Rab (formerly Integral designs) is bombproof and light. Our go-to's on Kodiak.

I have two ultralights, a solo (1lb) and two man (~2lbs). Neither are freestanding. Trying to camp with them anywhere there is not a good soil layer is a joke, which is basically where I usually find myself.
They're great tents once assembled, though the two man requires a PhD to set up. After using the two man this cascade buck season in September, I vowed to only use freestanding tents from now on.
This November, I was perusing the "sporting goods section" at the local Habitat for Humanity. They had a freestanding two man tent, 2.5 lbs all in, $15.They accept returns, so it came home with me.
I set it up in my LR to check it out, it had never been used. I felt like I won on a scratch-it lottery ticket.

Wedgy said:

Tent Reviews

Whether you're bivvying on the side of a wall or car camping with the family, we've got something that fits your lifestyle and your budget.

www.outdoorgearlab.com

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I followed this link and noted that construction quality was only weighted 10% in the scoring. As a person who has experienced multiple tent failures over the years due to construction or materials quality, I would give that much more importance.

P7M13 said:

I have two ultralights, a solo (1lb) and two man (~2lbs). Neither are freestanding. Trying to camp with them anywhere there is not a good soil layer is a joke, which is basically where I usually find myself.
They're great tents once assembled, though the two man requires a PhD to set up. After using the two man this cascade buck season in September, I vowed to only use freestanding tents from now on.
This November, I was perusing the "sporting goods section" at the local Habitat for Humanity. They had a freestanding two man tent, 2.5 lbs all in, $15.They accept returns, so it came home with me.
I set it up in my LR to check it out, it had never been used. I felt like I won on a scratch-it lottery ticket.

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What brand/model is it?

Country Bumpkin said:

What brand/model is it?

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Well, a retraction first. The ultralight 2 man is not ultralight, but 3lbs - a Sierra Designs Flashlight 2. The one I found at Habitat is 5.2 lbs, a Wilderness Technology North Duo.
Was stowing all my gear today in it's proper location, and the camping tub was at the bottom so I weighed them. The Sierra Design is quite compact, which is good for storage inside a pack compartment. The Wilderness technology is a long sack, so it would tie vertically to the outside of my pack like I have done for so many years.
Edit to add: the Sierra one, despite having so much mesh and breathing, had really heavy condensation this September. Learned long ago, after a week long trip to the Boundary Waters, to hang the tent for a few days in the garage so it's fully dry when I stow it.

have always had good luck with the big Agnes copper spur series. Love the side entry.

I previously recommended the Hilleberg Anjan 3 weighting in at around 2 kgs.

I'm happy with it and for 2 people it works amazing.

But after a cold late season solo hunt with around 20 F temperatures and heavy winds, I froze pretty much and decided to get a second solo tent to get less air to heat up inside the tent.

Hilleberg Enan. Pretty lightweight but would recommend their footprint to make it more comfortable (then you get some protected ground just where you get out).

The footprint is a bit on the heavy side and too durable to be lightweight - but for a UL enthusiast you could easily sew your own with a lighter fabric.

It is very compact but easy to put up and easy to find space to keep it sheltered. Probably can handle similar winds like the Hilleberg Anjan (meaning storm but not orcano gusts).

Expensive as hell but designed to withstand a climate similar to northern Canada.

SugarCake said:

Would like to give an update to my previous tent review of the Hilleberg Anjan 3.

This year it couldn't handle the wind. Me and a friend were hunting in an area where you need to put the tent in a specific location, and this location is picked by some stupid bureaucrat who does not understand wind hazards.

The wind-speeds came up to 78 mph and this made the tent flat like a pancake. Maybe our storm lines were not 100% this time. All the poles broke into pieces. But I am still impressed with the tent. Even when laying slick to the ground with broken poles, the fabric of the tent is still intact. It became a smaller dent in one of the pole-channels where a broken pole where pushing and trying to get through (if you see what I mean). But that was it.

Will buy new poles for around 150 USD.

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I have some nice pictures of it being used after the repair. Quoting and adding.

I looked really hard at the kuiu tents this year when they were on sale. I'll likely pick one up next time they are 40 perfent off