Carry Your House With You

A small, lightweight tent is invaluable if you’re going adventuring, whether on foot, on a bike or in a kayak. It must be easy to pitch and pack away but still be comfortable to sleep in, and it must be as compact as possible when stowed. Here are nine of the best.

- Pierre Steyn

1 First Ascent Stamina

This is the smallest tent from South African company First Ascent, and it’s our favourite among the “offiial” one­man tents that we tested. It might weigh an energy bar or twomore than the other tiny tents, but the quality of the aluminium poles, the solid zips and the ripstopmaterial of the flysheet compensate for the extra grams.

Both sides of the tent can be zipped open into O­shaped entrances, and it feels reasonably roomy inside. The tent has been designed to be packed into a bag that fits comfortably on the handlebars of your bicycle, in the bottom compartment of your hiking backpack, or in the top box of your motorcycle.

Weight: 2,04kg

Dimensions (pitched): 230cm (L), 105cm (W), 87cm (H)

R1999 firstascent.co.za

2 Oztrail Switch Pitch Bivy Tent

At first glance, this bivy seems like the perfect solution if you’re looking for nomore than a sleeping shelter – protected from the bugs and dew after a hard day’s hiking or cycling. It’s the lightest andmost compact of all the tents tested; you can pitch and take it downwithinminutes. Make sure you’ve got it securely anchored with tent pegs, pull on a rope to lock the hub system above the head section, put your hiking mattress and sleeping bag inside and you’re off to dreamlandwithinminutes…

Well, that’s the idea, at least. If you struggle to fall asleep easily, or if you’re claustrophobic, it’s going to be long night. At least themesh panels above your head do a good job of circulating air, and there’s a small flysheet to keep things dry.