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Contributed By: Rob MarrinonBeing on a tight budget shouldn’t stop you from getting outdoors.
Being on a tight budget shouldn’t stop you from getting outdoors, so we've put together our Best Value Gear. These products all represent the best bang for buck in their class. To help you shop our best value backpacking tents, we asked our self-professed gear nerd and Retail Area Manager, Rob, to share his thoughts.
Whether you’re looking to spend weeks on the trail or heading on your first ever multi-day hike, a tent you can trust will take you the distance is essential. With a competitive price point that doesn’t compromise quality, these budget backpacking tents can handle everything trail life can throw at you!
1. Illumina X 2-Person Ultralight Hiking Tent
Illumina are taking the outdoor gear market by storm with their low prices and high-quality gear. The Illumina X 2-Person Ultralight Hiking Tent takes the top spot when it comes to the best value-for-money backpacking tent. It’s perfect for those who are looking for a great lightweight tent that can handle the elements. The tent is surprisingly spacious with two people inside, features a mesh inner tent to keep the mozzies out, and weighs under 2kg. It’s also free-standing which means it’s easy to move around and find that perfect spot to spend the night.
Specifications
- Best Use: Hiking, Camping, Backpacking, Trekking
- Seasons: 4 Season
- Sleeping Capacity: 2 Person
- Design Type: Freestanding Tent
- Total Pack Weight: 1.55kg (excluding footprint)
- Packed Size: 40cm x 13cm x 13cm
- Assembled Size: 210cm (L) x 125cm (W) x 100cm (H) + 60cm Vestibule
- Waterproof Index: Tent Fly for Floor: PU5000MM Fully Seam Sealed / Coating: PU3000MM Fully Seam Sealed
- Wind Speed Approximately: 30-40km/h
- Number of Doors: 1
2. NEMO AURORA 2-PERSON BACKPACKING TENT & FOOTPRINT
Quality and affordability are synonymous with the Nemo brand. The Nemo Aurora 2-Person Tent comes in on the heavier side at 2.08 kg but it’s a seriously durable all-around tent at a great price point. We rate the steep inside walls which provide a massive interior feel while the two doors and two vestibules allow for plenty of room for spreading out and storing gear. This versatile tent features high-quality materials and is ideal for car camping, but light enough to carry when you hit the trails backpacking. The tent includes a footprint, light pockets, duffel storage bag, and gear pockets to complete the package.
Specifications
- Capacity: 2
- Seasons: 3
- Minimum Weight: 4 lb , 9 oz / 2.08 kg
- Packed Weight: 5 lb , 7 oz / 2.47 kg
- Packed Size: 23.0 x 7.0 in dia / 58 x 18 cm dia
- Peak Height: 44 in / 111.75 cm
- Floor Area: 31.8 sq ft / 3.0 sq m
- Floor Dimensions: 88 x 52 in / 223.5 x 132 cm
- Vestibule Area: 9.2 sq ft + 9.2 sq ft / 0.9 sq m + 0.9 sq m
- Freestanding: Freestanding
- Frame: 1 Hubbed Aluminum 8.5+7.9mm pole / 1 Aluminum 8.5mm pole
- Door Quantity: 2
- Vestibule Quantity: 2
- Canopy Fabric: 30D Polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh
- Fly Fabri: 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm)
- Floor Fabric: 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm)
- Color: Nova
- Stuff Sack: Drawstring stuff sack
3. WECHSEL VENTURE 2 TRAVEL LINE 2-PERSON CAMPING TENT
The Wechsel Venture 2 is a lightweight freestanding geodesic tent that comfortably sleeps two people. Weighing in at 2.6kg it’s a little heavier than the other two backpacking tents on our list but it makes up for it in build quality. This tent has a thick Denier fabric in use for inner, outer, and floor which means it is well suited to the more rugged expeditions where you might not have a clean campsite to use. It’s the perfect addition to any backpacking kit. Set up is simple with the inner tent going up first followed by an additional pole to form the vestibule, as soon as the fly sheet is stretched over it. Aluminum hubs at the pole ensure it can handle high winds. To keep insects at bay, the inner tent is finely crafted with mosquito mesh on both doors and at either end of the tent. Additional features that we love are the tent pockets for organising your belongings. Don’t forget your ground sheet though, this is certain to extend the life of your tent and help prevent those sharp rocks and twigs from cutting a hole in the floor of your tent
Specifications
- Sleeps: 2
- Season: 4
- Size Inner Tent (LxWxH): 210 x 130 x 100
- Vestibules: 2
- Doors: 2
- Weight: 2.60 kg
- Packing Size: 48 x 18
- Pegs: Aluminium
- Flysheet: Rip-stop Polyester, PU coated, 5000 mm w.c., tearing resistance 2.5 kg
- Inner Tent: Polyester 70D, 185T, water resistent, breathable
- Floor: Polyester 75D, 210T, PU coated, 7000 mm w.c.
- Tentpoles: Aluminium 7001 T6, bolt tip
- Tentpegs: Solid Pin Peg (Aluminium)
If you’re hitting the trails for a number of days, don’t leave home without a repair kit no matter what tent you have. It’ll give you peace of mind should any accidents occur and generally extend the life of any tent!
If you have any questions about gear feel free to chat with our friendly team of Outdoor Gear Specialists in-store or online today and don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram by tagging @wildearthaustralia and #mywildearth in your next post.
About the contributor:
Robert Marrinon is the Retail Area Manager at Wild Earth. He has an avid love for the outdoors and always wants to share the stoke with adventurous like-minded people. He is an elusive species whose native habitat is in the climbing gym, on top of a mountain or at your local crag. If you can’t find him in his office or on the shop floor then this is where he’s bound to be.
