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It is very important to say that this is a very specialist tent. It's not aimed at the casual camper or weekend warrior so don't be surprised by the features or price. This ultra light weight tent is one the lightest double walled tents in production with an unbelievably small pack size making it perfect for serious adventure racers who demand the best from their lightweight kit.
Terra Nova says
The Laser Pulse Ultra 1 tent is the lightest tent in the world with a minimum weight of a mere 450g and packed weight of just 490g. It also has one of the smallest pack sizes with a packed length of only 30cm. Low weight doesn’t compromise comfort either; the head height of 82cm under the main pole enables most users to sit up comfortably (in comparison the Terra Nova Laser Photon 1 tent has a head height of 87cm). It’s an ultra-lightweight tent designed for outdoor enthusiasts wanting the absolute lightest kit.
Along with its incredibly low weight and tiny pack size, the Laser Pulse Ultra 1 is extremely versatile too; use the tent with: the flysheet and inner together, or with the inner only or flysheet only (with or without a groundsheet protector which is available separately) depending on the weather and your camping preference.
The simple and quick to pitch one pole tunnel design provides the maximum amount of space while keeping weight to a minimum. The tent is generally pitched flysheet first but its versatile design means inner first pitching is also possible - enabling the flysheet to be removed mid-camp if conditions permit. The low weight and tiny pack size (just 30cm long) provide great flexibility to event participants and backpackers looking to minimise their load in both weight and volume.
The tent’s low weight has been achieved by using ULTRA fabric, DAC for the main pole which provides a good balance of high strength plus 1g titanium pegs. The DAC pole folds down to just 29cm in length, to speed up pitching next time it can be left attached to the flysheet when packing the tent away. The full mesh door provides good ventilation and the front porch can accommodate kit and provide shelter for food preparation.
The packed weight of 490g includes: flysheet, main pole, end pole, inner tent, pegs, guy lines, tent bag, pole / peg bag. It excludes the owner’s manual pack and fabric repair patches which also come with the tent.
Our Verdict
Terra Nova's Laser Pulse Ultra 1 Tent is designed for people who want the very lightest kit available. weighing in at 480g (excluding pegs & bags) this is seriously light. The use of ULTRA (Cuben Fibre) fabric is the main reason for the price tag. The super high strength, ultra low weight fabric is difficult to use in manufacturing which is why it costs so much.
This tent isn't the easiest to put up, we found it a bit fiddly to get the pole attached to the fly sheet but as with anything it gets easier with practice. It gives you a decent amount of space considering the weight and design. This would be a great adventure race tent or a significant upgrade from a bivvy. However, the fabric is almost see-through so that may put some people off and it isn't designed for strong winds or heavy rain so you have to consider when it's best to use. Overall, it is an exceptional piece of kit for someone after the lightest tent available and it would be perfect for serious adventure racers or fastpackers.
- Reviewed by Basecamp Gear
Features
- One of the lightest double-wall shelters in the world
- Uses the extremeley light ULTRA fabric
- Compatible with Terra Nova's FASTPACK system
- Carbon fibre end pole included for super-light weight
Specifications
- Flysheet weighs: 164g
- Inner weighs: 198g
- Poles weigh: 118g
- Total weight: 480g (excludes pegs & bags)
- Pegs x8 weigh: 10g
- Sleeps: 1
- Season Rating Spec: Adventure Racing
- Number of Doors: 1
- Pack Size: 30cm x 9cm
- Range: Mountain Marathon/Event Use
- Flysheet: ULTRA 10000mm
- Floor: Watershed Si2 R/S 3000mm
- Poles: 8.7mm DAC
- Pegs: 8 x Titanium 1g
- Guylines: 3 x Dyneema Reflective
- Inner Door: Half Mesh
