Star River 2 UL

I've been really happy with my Star River 2 UL so far. Wouldn't be my choice for stormy weather but I've really enjoyed it.

I just returned from a bicycle tour using this tent: Naturehike star river 2 UL (bought for roughly 140.- pounds on AliExpress. It packs really small, especially when using an additional pouch to minimize the volume of the external and internal tents... (see pouch in my reddit post here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/comments/1nhiloz/how\_i\_got\_my\_ultralight\_tent\_naturehike\_star/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/comments/1nhiloz/how_i_got_my_ultralight_tent_naturehike_star/) ) Tent weighs roughly 1.8kg with the metal poles, i think. I am very impressed by it, although I agree with the general criticism regarding the openings - it is difficult to get in/out of the tent without catching some of the dew or rain water on the outer tent. Otherwise very comfortable, easy to set up and take down, and very rainproof. (it is bigger than it looks in this photo. the perspective is a bit confusing) https://preview.redd.it/eikbzodhuppf1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=122decd993b103c80e7f5a987f8a27e45ade3bed

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

Naturehike is da bomb imo….. I have a gen one star river still going strong after multiple years of 5 day plus hikes

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.

Check out the Naturehike range - there are some great options that fit your criteria. I personally use the Star River 2 for solo backpacking and paid around £130 for it on AliExpress. It’s a fantastic tent for the price. It’s really well made, easy to put up and has tonnes of room for me and my kit. I’d recommend the 20D Nylon version over the 210T for the reduced weight. There is also an ultralight version made with 15D if you prefer something lighter. I haven’t used it so can’t comment directly. Backpacking U.K. did a helpful review on the Star River 2 that shows the tent’s size and setup: https://youtu.be/QCZ-UdQA164?si=Pi3ju2kGZDwSqyPR Some friends of mine use the Cloud Up 2 and are also happy with their tents. It is slightly lighter and has a smaller pack size, but I prefer the Star River 2 for the extra space and its side-entrance doors, which make getting in and out much easier.

I would go with the Mongar 2 UL. The issue I have with the star River is the way the zipper attaches making it a pain to open and close. It's also more designed for hot weather rather than cold. Both are good tents, but of the ones you mentioned, I'd pick the MongarUL. The only real negative I have with it is the colour (same for the Star River)