After detailing my own shelter system, I thought I would list a few other options for bikepackers or backpackers looking into lightweight shelters. There are A LOT of options, and a full list of all gear shelters would go on for pages. This post details 6 shelters which have different designs and materials. Some of the companies have multiple shelter designs, but only one of their products is highlighted here. Please visit the company websites to see all of their shelter models.
 | Style: | Modified pyramid |
Weight: | 16 oz. |
Cost: | $430 |
Pros: | Lightweight, easy setup, fully enclosed |
Cons: | Cost, cuben fiber requires proper gear care |
Setup: | Single pole |
A fully enclosed shelter that combines a cuben fiber tarp with a bug screen and cuben fiber ground sheet. The Hexamid is on the high end of the price range, but it's a fully enclosed shelter that weighs 1 pound. The Hexamid also comes in a tarp only format without the screen and groundsheet. |
 | Style: | Single wall, fully enclosed |
Weight: | 24.5 oz. |
Cost: | $199 |
Pros: | Fully enclosed
Easy setup |
Cons: | Heaviest of shelters profiled, but still lightweight |
Setup: | Single pole |
The Contrail is a sil-nylon single wall tent. The mesh between the sides and the floor provide ample ventilation to help keep condensation from forming. Although the Contrail is the heaviest of the shelters profiled, it is only 1.5 pounds which is light for a fully enclosed shelter. Setup is easy with a single pole. |
 | Style: | Pyramid tarp |
Weight: | 16 oz. |
Cost: | $185 |
Pros: | Easy setup, pyramid design holds up to wind very well |
Cons: | Least bug protection of the 6 profiled in this post. |
Setup: | 2 poles |
MLD offers quite a variety of shelters. The Solomid is a sil-nylon pyramid shelter that can provide full coverage from the elements. It is a tarp only configuration so a groundsheet is required. The two pole configuration does provide extra wind stability. The door can be opened on mild nights to provide extra ventilation. |
 | Style: | Single wall, fully enclosed |
Weight: | 19.5 oz. |
Cost: | $420 |
Pros: | Fully enclosed, high bathtub floor |
Cons: | Cost, cuben fiber requires proper gear care |
Setup: | 2 poles |
The Cirriform has a unique design with a cuben fiber top and a high walled sil-nylon bathtub floor. This provides great protection from the elements but does limit the amount of mesh used for ventilation. The use of a second pole elevates the foot area and gives this shelter more interior room. |
 | Style: | Flat tarp and bivy combo |
Weight: | 14.2 oz. |
Cost: | $120 |
Pros: | Versatile combination, low total cost, great air flow |
Cons: | Requires practice to pitch tarp correctly |
Setup: | 2 poles |
Combining a flat sil-nylon tarp and bivy results in a shelter that has full protection from the elements while also having an open air camping feel. The ventilation of a basic tarp cannot be matched, but there is a learning curve to properly pitch a tarp. The Borah Gear combination is the least expensive of the shelters profiled. |
 | Style: | Pyramid |
Weight: | 13 oz. |
Cost: | $175 |
Pros: | Easy setup, bug skirt |
Cons: | Less head and foot room |
Setup: | Single pole |
The Wild Oasis design with it's bug net skirt places it between a pyramid tarp and a fully enclosed shelter. It's not fully enclosed by itself, but with a groundcloth on top of the bug skirt, it would keep out all but the peskiest bugs. The zippered door makes entry easy and can be shut for full storm protection. |
Wrap-Up
All 6 of these shelters are great options for ultralight camping. While the cuben fiber shelters are the lightest, they are much more expensive. The variety of design styles show that going lightweight doesn’t pigeon hole you into a specific type of shelter design or a specific price point. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, please visit the manufacturer websites for more details.
Notes: All images in this post are from the manufacturer’s website. Some pictures were cropped and resized to fit this post style.
About Andy Amick
A little bit nutty in general, a lotta bit nutty about bikes. Each of his boys received a bike helmet for their first birthday and the three of them have been biking together ever since.
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