By Chris Townsend

September 19 2011

TGO Rating 3.5 stars

The eye-watering price and the low weight are both due to the Ultra fabric, a type of material that hasn’t been used by a mainstream tent maker before (see above), and is used here for the flysheet and the groundsheet. The test sample wasn’t quite as light as Terra Nova’s figures but was still lighter than any other double-skin tent as far I’m aware. In use (see the Southern Upland Way review in the June issue) I upped the weight a little more, to 788 grams, as the tiny needle-like pegs provided are useless in all but the hardest ground. I swapped them for pegs that weighed
as much each as all Terra Nova’s together. They kept the tent up, though. I wish Terra Nova would provide decent pegs. I think not doing so rather spoils their achievement in producing such a light tent.

The Ultra 1 is the standard solo Laser design with short carbon fibre poles at each end and a detachable sleeve over the pole. The end poles can be folded in half so the packed tent is quite short and compact. The Ultra 1 is easy and fast to pitch. I don’t like the pole sleeve, which is tied on with cords. It seems clumsy and awkward on a high-tech tent. However, the sleeve does prevent any rain getting through the zip and seams and has guylines attached to it, which are needed in high winds, so I always use it.

Ventilation options with the Laser tents are not as good as on alternatives as there are no high vents. The top of the flysheet door can be unzipped and used as a vent but this is unprotected and so has to be closed in rain. The ends of the flysheet can be folded up and attached to toggles to allow air in at these points and there are mesh panels at each end of the inner and at the top of the door but there needs to be an outlet high on the flysheet for these to
be really eff ective.

The Ultra 1 is quite small. I can just sit up in it and lie down without touching the ends. It’s about the minimum size in which I feel relatively comfortable. The porch is long but not very deep. Even so it’s possible to store wet gear and pack on one side and cook – with great care – in the other.

Summing up, the amazing weight is wonderful, the design okay and the price frightening.