Hiking Tents, Travel Hammocks & Tarps

For multi-day hikes, treks, and expeditions, bivouac equipment is essential. This often includes a tent. Its purpose is to protect you from the wind, bad weather, and insects.
As an alternative, there are hammocks and/or tarps. This is another way to sleep in the great outdoors that will delight ultra-light hiking enthusiasts. Discover our range of tents, hammocks & tarps below.

The importance of tents

The hiking tent is one of the heaviest and most cumbersome accessories in a hiker's backpack. However, it is an essential element for a good night's sleep. It provides comfort and thus allows you to recover well between two hiking stages.
The main role of the tent is to protect you from rain, gusts of wind, and insects. Contrary to popular belief, it offers little protection from the cold. The difference between the outside and inside temperature will only be a few degrees. To stay warm, you should rely more on a good sleeping bag (down or synthetic depending on your needs) and an insulating mattress.
As a specialist in outdoor food and equipment, Freezedried & Co aims to offer you the tents that best suit your needs. Whatever your budget, you will find the perfect tent for you: 1 to 4 places, spacious or ultra-light, for hiking or bikepacking...

How to choose your hiking tent?

Two criteria are opposed: comfort and lightness. Naturally, the more comfortable and functional a tent is, the heavier it will be, and vice versa. It is then up to each person to place the cursor according to their preferences.
To begin with, a tent known for its comfort will have a double roof. This has several advantages. The double roof can be removable, allowing you to sleep under the stars with just a mosquito net. It is also a good barrier against condensation. However, it adds weight. Double-wall tents remain the preferred option for most hikers.
Next, for more comfort, it is preferable to opt for a freestanding tent. This means that the tent does not need stakes to stand up. It is a comfort since you can set it up on all types of ground (even hard ground) and you will not need hiking poles to hold it up as is the case with some models, called tarp tents (or pole-mounted tents).
Among other criteria, there can be the number of doors and vestibules. A two-person hiking tent generally has two doors and two vestibules. On ultra-light models, there is sometimes only one door and no vestibule, in order to save precious grams. You will not be able to leave your backpack outside your tent. It is up to you to choose the solution you prefer.
Finally, the most functional tents will be spacious (in height and width) and will be equipped with interior storage pockets to store your small accessories.
Recently, dyneema has made its entry into the outdoor world. This material, long used in the nautical field, offers many advantages, including lightness and resistance. This allows for models weighing only a few hundred grams that are spacious and durable over time. Among the most well-known dyneema tents, we find the Plex Solo or the Duplex from Zpacks.

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent

This hiking tent is one of the comfortable tents for two people, while remaining light. For these reasons, it is one of the best-selling tents in the world. With a total weight of 1720 grams, this dome-shaped tent has two doors, two vestibules, and an interior surface of 2.7 m². Its setup is very intuitive and takes only a few minutes. Ideal for light hiking and a good night's sleep.  
The manufacturer MSR has declined it in several models: Hubba NX for 1 person, Mutha Hubba NX for 3 people, Hubba Hubba Bikepack 1P for one person, and Hubba Hubba Bikepacking 2P for 2 people.

The Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent

This model is aimed at ultra-light hiking enthusiasts. Unlike classic dome-shaped and freestanding tents, the Lunar Solo is set up with poles. These replace the poles, which allows for significant weight savings.
Its total weight is only 740 grams, which is almost more than 2 times less than the Hubba Hubba NX. Your back and shoulders will thank you.

What about hammocks and tarps?

To save even more weight, there is the option of a tarp, hammock, or hammock and tarp.
The tarp is a sheet that attaches to trees to protect you from the rain. You can then sleep on your mattress with a sleeping bag, directly on the ground. Be careful not to puncture your mattress! We recommend placing a foam mattress under your inflatable mattress or at least a protective sheet. You will not be protected from the wind or insects. But it remains a good solution, especially for summer bivouacs.
The hammock also requires two attachment points to be fixed. Contrary to popular belief, it is an excellent solution for sleeping. The rocking motion allows you to fall into a deep sleep more quickly. And it does not cause any back pain! It is recommended to take a mosquito net to protect yourself from insects.
The hammock does not protect from the rain, so it can be combined with a tarp. This is often used by bushcraft enthusiasts or those who go on expeditions in the jungle where it can be dangerous to sleep on the ground. It is also increasingly common among hikers.

The best hiking tent brands

The most well-known and best-selling brands are MSR, Zpacks, and Big Agnes. You will come across them on all the GR trails and treks around the globe.
Among the very good quality but less known brands, there are Tarptent, Liteway, and Six Moon Designs.
Buying a tent is a long-term investment. At Freezedried & Co, we select durable tents that will accompany you on all your outdoor activities for many years. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Our experts will advise you on the models that catch your eye!

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