Shelter
Tents, tarps, and hammocks
Mowser TestedMowser's PickHot ItemLikesBig Agnes Copper Spur Footprint
A custom-cut groundsheet that shields Copper Spur tent floors from abrasion and ground moisture, extending the tent's life. It also allows a fast-fly pitch, using just the rainfly, poles and footprint for a lighter, minimal shelter.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3
An ultralight, freestanding three-season tent for three, with a high-volume interior that maximises living space. Dual doors and vestibules handle entry and gear storage, and the materials stay light without giving up durability or weatherproofing.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 MontGlo
A three-person version of the ultralight Copper Spur HV UL3 fitted with integrated mtnGLO LED lighting for the interior. The high-volume design and dual vestibules suit multi-day trips where space and a lit living area matter.
Durston X-Dome 2
Field-tested across Tasmania by Mowser, a hiking guide with 35+ years on the trail. The Durston X-Dome 2 is a freestanding two-person dome tent, 1.36kg, with a 130cm-wide floor and twin vestibules, and my current go-to for solo and two-person trips.
Hilleberg Allak 3
Hilleberg's all-season Allak 3 is a fully freestanding, three-pole dome with two doors and two integrated vestibules, pitched with the inner and outer together in one go. The Kerlon 1200 outer and 9mm poles make it very strong in wind and snow for its weight. Hilleberg rate it for three, with a 3.8 square metre inner, 115cm peak height, and a 3.2kg minimum weight (3.7kg packed).
Hubba Hubba LT 3 Person Tent
An airy three-person tent that can also sleep four, with a 47 sq ft no-taper interior sized for rectangular pads. The mostly micromesh body breathes well and keeps bugs out, while DAC poles, taped seams and a PFAS-free water-repellent coating handle the weather. The symmetrical design pitches fast, and it ships with eight Mini Groundhog stakes plus large vestibules for gear.
Hyperlite Ultamid 4 Fly
A four-person, four-season pyramid shelter weighing just 22.4 ounces, pitched with trekking poles or hung from its peak. The light, durable design suits group backpacking, packrafting and alpine expeditions or basecamp use.
Hyperlite Ultamid 4 Inner
A mesh inner that hangs inside the Ultamid 4 shelter to create a fully enclosed, bug-proof and waterproof living space for up to four people. It adds comfort and protection for group backpacking trips.
MSR Access 2
The MSR Access 2 is a freestanding, four-season two-person tent built for winter and ski touring, lighter than a full mountaineering tent but warmer and stronger than a three-season backpacking tent. It has two doors and two vestibules, a limited-mesh body to hold heat, and burly Easton Syclone composite poles to handle snow and wind. Minimum weight around 1.64kg (1.86kg packed).
MSR Carbon Core Stakes Long
Ultralight tent stakes built around a carbon-fibre core for stiffness, wrapped in a durable aluminium sheath. They anchor tents and shelters across varied soil and come in a set of four.
MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3 Person Tent
MSR's three person version of the classic Hubba series. A freestanding three season tent with two doors and vestibules, roomy enough to share on multi day trips while keeping the per person weight sensible.
MSR Tarp Thru Hiker 100 wing (including 6 Groundhog stakes)
An ultralight 100 sq ft tarp shelter that covers two to three people against rain and wind. It pitches with trekking poles or from trees, and ships with six Groundhog stakes. Buying note: the linked Australian offer is the current Thru-Hiker 100 Wing V2 replacement. Its listed weight and fabric coating differ from my original tarp. The 478 g listed here remains the recorded weight of my original tarp and six Groundhog stakes.
Sling Fin Portal 3 Pegs
Durable J-shaped tent stakes, the same model supplied with the SlingFin Portal 3 tent and made by DAC. They give reliable anchoring for shelters across varied ground.
SlingFin Portal 3 Tent
The SlingFin Portal 3 is a three-season, semi-freestanding double-wall tent built for exposed, high-wind conditions. The flysheet is a 10-denier Nylon 66 ripstop coated with silicone on both sides for better UV resistance, faster drying and less long-term degradation, while the floor uses a 20-denier ripstop with a polyether (PE) coating that resists water absorption and mould. It has ten guy-out points (two on each corner plus one at each apex) and two internal criss-cross guylines for lateral stability, and the fly attaches to the poles with a toggle system rather than Velcro, transferring wind load from the fabric through to the poles. Trekking poles can be added into the structure for extra support in strong wind. It sleeps three but is roomy as a two-person tent, with two side doors, two vestibules and multiple internal pockets. Poles are DAC Featherlite, and it ships with 10 DAC J-stakes. Measured weight in this configuration is around 2,242 g including the optional groundsheet. Also available as a Portal 2.
Tarptent Stratospire Li (with 6 pegs) with Nylon inner
An ultralight two-person, three-season tent with double-wall construction: a Dyneema Composite Fabric fly over a separate inner for ventilation and bug protection. It pitches on trekking poles, has two doors and two large vestibules, and its patented PitchLoc corners add interior space and stability.
Tarptent Stratospire Li Poles
Vertical support poles for pitching Tarptent shelters when trekking poles are not being carried. Made from stiff Easton aluminium, they fold down compact while giving the structure a stable pitch.
Ultamid Pole
A collapsible carbon-fibre tent pole for Hyperlite Mountain Gear's pyramid shelters, used in place of trekking poles for the centre support. It is adjustable to dial in the pitch and breaks down into compact sections for packing.
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