I ordered the star river 2 UL and had to send it back. The dimension for the floor is described as 130cm, but the walls were really slated, so with two 60cm sleeping pads the mesh was laying tightly on my shoulder and close to my face if I laid in the middle of the pad. We instead chose the 210T version of the Mongar 2 - it’s more than 2kg (I think 2.4 with the ground sheet?) but we don’t mind too much. There’s also the 20D version, it’s a bit lighter.
The Mongar 2 UL poles seem to be prone to snapping, at least I read that in several long term reviews, some mentioning 30-45 nights till it snapped, and some even mentioning that they got a replacement which snapped in the same timeframe.
We really like our Mongar 2, kept us dry during heavy rain storms, draft isn’t awful if you use the guylines properly. Used it both in 24C nights as well as -1C nights.
If it ever breaks im looking to buy the durston dome, 2 person version, which would be a little bit unter 500€ with aluminium poles.
Edit: Mongar 2 is full mesh above the tub.
I love my regular star river 2….. only negative is the zipper doesn’t go along the bottom of the tent so it is a pain to put boots on in buggy conditions. Other than that it’s amazing.
The UL version does fix this but you do loose some of the bomb proof design as a trade off
I love my regular star river 2….. only negative is the zipper doesn’t go along the bottom of the tent so it is a pain to put boots on in buggy conditions. Other than that it’s amazing.
The UL version does fix this but you do loose some of the bomb proof design as a trade off
Have a look at the Naturehike Star River 2UL. It's long enough for you to lie down without going diagonal and you'll be able to sit up on it without hitting the roof of the tent. It also doesn't taper and has two large vestibule areas for storing your kit.
It's a cheaper Chinese copy but no issues with durability.
Also, I'm new to Bikepacking and can now have it up in 5 minutes after just a handful of attempts. Here is a video I made for my channel after my recent Bikepacking trip to Sardinia.
https://youtube.com/shorts/EKD09HtssCc?si=PpLCJEcSRMFSRJhR
Naturehike STAR RIVER™ UL 2-PERSON ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING TENT
I got mine on AliExpress a year ago for $130 usd. It offers a lot of value. I've taken it on 2 trips so far, no rain yet, just dew. I am totally pleased with it. Easy to setup, breakdown and pack, as its components go in 3 nylon sacks. I put the poles in my frame bag, and the rest in a pannier. The 2 person is the correct size for 1 and all your stuff. I wouldn't recommend for anyone over 6 ft.
Good luck.
You can look up the specs online for precise numbers, but I found it to be one of the best bang for your buck tents out there. Quite light weight. I'm totally happy with it, I have read some comments that say the tent Stakes are of a poor quality, but so far I haven't really noticed.
Naturehike makes the best affordable UL freestanding tents in the market, imho.
Their Cloud Up models are their lightest, but also a bit tight/small. However, if you really want the lowest weight, a Cloud Up 2 UL is the way.
Otherwise they have e.g. the Star River UL model, which is more spacious.
Also, just order them from AliExpress. It's always going to be more expensive to buy them from a reseller in Europe, I've been there, done that, and it's just not worth it. Ordering from Aliexpress is cheaper and actually works pretty well.
Oof yeah. If you already have the Star River, you can't really get a lighter tent without sacrificing something.
Either you get a very expensive X-Dome for more space and a lower weight, or you sacrifice some space for a lighter tent.
There's also the Star River UL, which is very slightly smaller than the standard Star River and like 500 grams lighter, but that's about the smallest I'm willing to go to get a light freestanding tent.
Or if you know someone visiting Canada or the US, ask them to bring you an X-Dome ;)
I'm my opinion, NatureHike is a great balance of budget and quality. I have the NatureHike Star River UL and it's great. Tbh, I have a bunch of their camping products and they're really good. My tent has held up through a torrential 3 hour downpour and a couple other rains and I didn't get a single drop inside. I always add a dwr coating from day 1, just in case. I also always use a Tyvek or Polycro ground sheet, too. But yeah, no issues, it's made great. The only negative about the Star River is that it narrows as it goes up (the Mongar is better about this) and it's a little heavier (typical for free standing tents). The Star River says it's a 2p, but it's more like a 1.5p... again, typical. I passed over the Cloud up because it's a front entry and I don't care for that.
Tbh, I usually take my knockoff Haven 2p trekking pole tent. It's a true 2p tent. The Star River is 3.67 lbs and the Haven is ~2.25, or 2.75 for my knockoff (Nature Link Altair). If I'm really trying to go light, I take my Outdoor Vitals Fortius 1p that weighs 1.6 lbs, iirc. The OV is 1p but widens as it goes up, which makes it feel much larger inside. I use trekking poles and it saves weight to use them instead of tent poles.
Anyway, I know that's more than you asked for, but I really like Naturehike products and there's a couple more budget options for you if you want. TOGR (The Outdoor Gear Review in YouTube) does a lot of in-depth reviews on their products as well. He also recommends OneTigris but I haven't used any of their products yet.
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