Few pieces of gear are more important on a multi-day trek than a tent, and that’s why I put in a lot of research before choosing my most recent portable abode. While price is a huge factor for me, I also put a lot of value in durability, portability (weight and size), and the tent’s ability to seal out the elements. After a lot of research, I decided to purchase the Mountain Ultra Tent by Teton Sports. After using it during my adventures in the Caucasus, I can say I’ve put it through its paces and am very happy with my purchase.
Here’s my Teton Sports Mountain Ultra Tent review — keep in mind I use the 1-person model and can’t speak to the 2-person, 3-person, or 4-person options!
Features
The Mountain Ultra tents are designed as 3-season tents. This boils down to them doing well in most kinds of weather, though they aren’t designed for temperatures below -40° Fahrenheit. But really, do you want to camp in that kind of weather?
The tents are lightweight, easy to set up, and include handy features like a built-in ventilation system, a 150D Oxford (a heavy-duty weave of fabric) footprint, and waterproofing on the rainfly and bathtub-styled floor.
The 1-person option proved to be the perfect size for my 185 cm. (6 ft. 1 in.) frame, allowing me to stretch out fully and have a little bit of space to either side. Having a full pack in the tent with me made things cozy, but I used some of my gear as a pillow and more went under my feet to make for a comfortable sleeping experience.
My Klymit Static V sleeping pad is my secret weapon for sleeping comfortably outdoors, and it fits perfectly inside the Mountain Ultra.
Materials
My first outing with the Mountain Ultra was along the trek from Shatili to Omalo, where thunderstorms and other alpine weather provided a rigorous test for the tent, as well as the rest of my gear.
The micro-mesh top of the tent itself helps ensure adequate ventilation and did an excellent job of keeping out any bugs. The floor of the tent is a tougher, Oxford-style fabric which extends up the sides of the tent to keep out groundwater while you sleep.
The rainfly is waterproof, with built-in ventilation flaps to facilitate airflow. The opening of the rainfly can be staked out from the entrance a bit, extending the tent’s sheltered zone to keep shoes dry during the night. Quick-release buckles make attaching and detaching the rainfly a breeze, and the adjustment straps mean you can cinch the rainfly tight so strong winds don’t wreak havoc on your shelter.
A 150D Oxford footprint is also included and can be attached to the base of the tent — preserving the floor of the tent and giving you an additional layer of protection from the elements. It has the added benefit of keeping your tent clean, making for less cleanup later!
The only gripe I’ve had with this tent so far is that the material used for the storage bag isn’t the most durable, and my bag ended up ripping when it snagged on something during transit (not while trekking). While a minor thing, as the tent was undamaged, it was still inconvenient.
Setup and Takedown
My previous tent was made by REI and was with me for tons of adventures. One thing I loved about that tent was the setup process, which was incredibly simple. The Mountain Ultra takes that easy setup experience and enhances it; I can set this thing up in just a few minutes! This was tested on the second night of my Shatili to Omalo trek, as the first drops of rain were beginning to fall and I wanted to get all of my gear inside the tent before it got soaked.
Everything is intuitive, and there wasn’t one point in the process where I had to consult the directions. Breaking the tent down and packing it up for the next day of hiking was just as easy, and the storage bag is designed well enough that all of the components fit back inside without much effort.
Packability
My second excursion with Teton Sports’ Mountain Ultra Tent was up to Udziro Lake in Georgia’s Racha region. While the weather for this trek was much more amenable than my trip through Tusheti a week prior, the sheer amount of elevation gain was a good chance to test the portability of the unit.
With a total pack weight of 4.5 pounds, the 1-person Mountain Ultra is perfect for light backpacking. I was able to lash the tent easily enough to the bottom of my pack, where it stayed without sliding around or becoming off-balanced for the duration of my travels.
Price
At the end of the day, this is perhaps the biggest factor in my decision-making process, and that’s one of the reasons I love gear by Teton Sports (at least for sleeping bags and tents — my Canyon 2100 bag by them has been a huge disappointment). Their gear is well-made yet extraordinarily affordable. For budget-conscious campers, Teton Sports has some of the most appealing gear on the market.
Summary
After using the Mountain Ultra Single Person Tent by Teton Sports over the course of my trip through the Caucasus, I can happily say I’d recommend it to other campers, trekkers, and backpackers in need of a lightweight, weatherproof, and affordable tent. With 1-person, 2-person, 3-person, and 4-person options, the product line is flexible enough to accommodate the needs of most and provides excellent value for the money.
Thanks for reading my Teton Sports Mountain Ultra Tent review!
How about you? What gear do you use for your multi-day treks? Are you happy with it, or thinking of switching things up? Let me know in the comments below!
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Good point about that -40 F temperature deal Nathan. No way anybody would crave camping in such weather. Maybe Mr. Freeze. or the Night King. Fab review. Pinned and Tweeted.
Ryan
Thanks, Ryan! 🙂
Your article is so awesome and nice places are mention just because of your amazing choice thanks for sharing great info..