The KUIU Mountain Star 2P Tent is a dome-shaped, double-wall, freestanding tent designed for individuals who desire a reliable steadiness between weight, sturdiness, and livability. It’s appropriate for 3+ season use, with a fly-first pitch, two doorways, two vestibules, and loads of inside cupboard space. Nice air flow and bolstered pole sleeves make the Mountain Star an amazing choice for multi-day shoulder-season and winter journeys when snow is on the horizon, whereas remaining light-weight sufficient for fast-and-light journey.
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- Weight: 3 lbs 1 oz
- Kind: Double-wall
- Design: Freestanding Tent
- Minimal variety of stakes to pitch: 2 (6-10 advisable)
- Poles: 3 – carbon fiber, aluminum poles are additionally accessible
- Doorways/Vestibules: 2/2
- Inner Dimensions: 38″ peak top, 54″ to 44″ tapered flooring, 84″ lengthy
- Materials: Fly: 15D Silicone/PU Coated Micro Ripstop Nylon (1200mm), totally taped seams, Flooring: 20D Silicone/PU Coated Micro Ripstop Nylon (1200mm), totally taped seams
Freestanding Tent Design
The Mountain Star 2P is a dome-shaped freestanding tent, that means that it may be arrange on any floor, from wood platforms to snow, with ease. You continue to must stake out the facet vestibules, however that’s true of most each two-door freestanding tent.
Fly-First Setup
The tent requires three poles to arrange and is out there with both carbon fiber or aluminum poles. There are two lengthy ones that run the size of the tent and cross each other, whereas the third lateral poles lie perpendicular to keep up the tent’s width. The poles all slot into sleeves, anchored on the ends with grommets, and tensioned with plastic clips between the sleeves and grommets. Seating the carbon fiber poles in the long run grommets requires some elbow grease, although, because the poles and construction are below appreciable stress. This makes the construction very sturdy and permits two various pitching choices: a fly-first pitch and a fly-only pitch (for instance, to avoid wasting weight), because the interior tent will be added or eliminated whereas the fly continues to be standing.
When taking down the tent, you may go away the interior tent hooked up to the fly (it connects with buckles) or take away it to dry. The benefit of a fly-first or built-in fly-inner pitch means you by no means must pitch the interior tent first, which is customary for many tents offered by US corporations (Huge Agnes, MSR, and many others.), and may make the interior moist if it’s raining. You may’t pitch the interior tent by itself, although, for stargazing or as a bug bivy, however you may’t have it each methods.
The rain fly consists of two giant kickstand vents to assist ventilate the inside. These will also be adjusted from contained in the tent by way of vents within the interior tent. There are additionally exterior guyout factors alongside the outside to assist anchor the tent in uncovered terrain. The vestibule doorways have bi-directional zippers for extra air flow and line loc tensioners to cosy up the pitch. Every vestibule gives sufficient storage for packs and boots. Whereas the vestibules usually are not outsized, they provide sufficient house to maintain important gear dry and arranged. For solo use, the twin vestibules add flexibility for separating moist and dry gear.
Inside Tent
The interior tent has a bath flooring and an all-mesh higher. The ground is tapered (54″ to 44″), so tapered or slim sleeping pads are required. The facet partitions, together with the pinnacle and foot ends, are very steep, growing inside quantity and livability.
The height top of 38″ is sufficient to place in your garments and transfer round, however you’ll need to be good pals along with your tent mate. The interior tent has 4 giant pockets within the corners, which assist offset the restricted flooring house. There’s additionally a clothesline on the ceiling, which is nice for drying gear, like socks, on multi-day journeys.
Climate Efficiency
The Mountain Star 2P performs nicely in gentle to average snowfall. The tent’s dome form permits snow to slip off to the perimeters and down the vestibules, and the pole construction can assist in a single day accumulation, regardless of the comparatively flat roof. Nevertheless, energetic snow administration is important contained in the tent, as it’s not designed for heavy snow masses or prolonged winter circumstances.Â
Whereas the tents’ seams are totally taped, the Mountain Star’s fly and flooring cloth has a comparatively low waterproof score (1200mm hydrostatic head), which supplies me pause for recommending it to be used in wet climate. That is the bottom hydrostatic head I’ve seen on a tent in a very long time. Hopefully, this will probably be upgraded in a future iteration. This tent can be a a lot stronger contender with a hydrostatic head of 2500-3000mm.
Comparable Light-weight Winter Tents
Total Evaluation
Total, the KUIU Mountain Star 2P Tent is a reliable, well-designed shelter that prioritizes consolation and reliability over excessive minimalism. Its fly-first, freestanding design is an actual plus for winter use as a result of it means you may get out of the climate rapidly with out having to attend for tent stakes or deadmen to sinter in place. The interior tent is nicely ventilated, with giant nook pockets, an overhead clothesline, and ample headroom and footroom, offering good livability on multi-day journeys. Our solely actual concern is the rainfly’s low waterproof score, which supplies us pause about recommending the tent for perpetually wet climates.
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KUIU loaned SectionHiker.com a tent for assessment.
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