A tent and the Tetons, a perfect match. Ryan Dee photo.
The foliage is budding, the frost is disappearing, and summer will be quickly upon us. Like most of nature’s creatures, it is time once again for you to shed that winter coat and don your summer apparel, to pack away the skis and shake the winter dust off the SUPs and hiking gear.
Backpack - check.
Hiking boots - check.
Tent - uh oh.
In your eagerness to enjoy the thrills of winter last year, you forgot to replace your old tent for the coming camping season. The old thing is riddled with so many holes it looks as if it lost a fight with the business end of a shotgun. It never was much for comfort either, leaving its inhabitants wet, bitten, and with stiff backs. Well, it’s time to retire that old tent and upgrade in a major way.
Tentsile, a company based out of London with a branch in Ogden, Utah, took the standard tent design and raised it to new heights (beware of more puns to come). They took the benefits of both a pop-up tent and a hammock, creating a suspension tent with the power to excite anyone’s inner 10-year-old. Tentsile as a company also gives back to the environment, promising to plant 3 trees for every tent purchased--the perfect “Thank You” to those trees that held your heavy carcass throughout the night.
For this Teton-Tested review, a few nights were spent in Tentsile’s Flite, a compact 1-2 person tent.
THE FLITE TENT
The Flite hanging out over the Tetons. Ryan Dee photo.
Seasons: All
Size: 8x8x12ft
Floor Size: 40 sq ft
Pack Size: 18x6x6in
Weight: 7.4lbs
Maximum Capacity: 2 Adults / 485lbs
Price: $350
The Flite Kit packed and unpacked. Ryan Dunfee's size 10 Croc for scale. Ryan Dee photo.
At first glance the Flite from Tentsile is a conversation starter, so be prepared for inquiries from the lowly ground dwellers around you. The tent features a triangle shaped floor with nylon suspension straps at each corner. The tent uses those three straps to hang between three neighboring trees, giving its inhabitants a unique camping experience. Being the lightest tent in Tentsile’s line, it’s built more for those who prefer getting to their campsite on two feet rather than four wheels.
The heaviest bit of equipment found in the Flite kit is the metal ratchet mechanism used for getting the tent to optimal tension. Even though Tentsile reduced the kit to only one ratchet (compared to three in other styles), I could see its weight being a hangup for those who are uber pack-weight conscious. However, for those who are not concerned about besting their hike-to-camp crossfit time, the Flite is a fun alternative to the standard tent.
The Flite can be hung in interesting locations, in this case right next to a small stream. Olivia Starich photo.
With its small footprint, the Flite can be used nearly anywhere there are supporting trees. On one of the nights testing the tent, I set it up on the very edge of a small creek that provided a peaceful soundtrack for the evening. Regarding the setup, a little practice goes a long way before taking the tent into the backcountry. Unlike most tents, there is a slight learning curve in order to get the tent hung, to adequate tension, and balanced. But that can be resolved by simply setting it up a couple times in your backyard first.
The Flite provides great comfort for it's solo inhabitants. Ryan Dee photo.
The Flite also gains ground in the tent market when it comes to comfort. In the few nights spent suspended in the unit by myself, it lived up to the level of comfort found in a typical hammock. But unlike a hammock, the added floor space allows for your gear to be easily accessible. Also, because the hanging tent with rainfly provides decent cover, the ground space under the tent can be utilized for keeping other gear or non-lofted, ground-bound peasants dry.
The Flight's mesh cover keeps the bugs out but lets the views in. Ryan Dee photo.
“Sawing logs” status came quite easily, but one might find the night air to be a little drafty and cool on the backside, which can be cured by sleeping on a thin pad. The only major issue found with sleeping in the Flite came when trying to share the space with one other camper. The tent is rated to sleep more than one and even features a floor strap that divides the tent into two sleeping zones, but that wasn’t quite enough. I found myself hip-to-hip with my fellow camper all night, which soon became uncomfortable.
The Flite campground. Ryan Dee photo.
Overall, the Flite tent delivered a fun and exciting way to camp. Hanging around under the stars in your own personal fort will remind you what it’s like to be a kid again. Even with the few slight drawbacks (ratchet weight, helpful prior setup practice, and tight quarters with two occupants), the Flite features enough unique benefits (comfort, eco-friendly, adaptability to almost any location, and additional gear space) to put it a cut above standard pop-up tents. So, trade-in or trash that old weathered tent and head over to Tentsile.com and purchase a tent that gives a new dimension to “roughing it”.
Pros
- Light enough for small hike-to camping excursions
- Sets up quickly
- Small footprint allows for setup nearly everywhere, over any surface
Cons
- Setup, and balancing and equalizing can be challenging at first
- Found it challenging to sleep comfortably with two occupants
Suggestions
- Set up in back yard a few times before taking out into the backcountry
- Bring a thin sleeping pad for cooler nights
- Carry a carabineer or two, to easily stow shoes and other gear off the ground under the tent
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Jack2
June 2nd, 2016
I have the stingray version of this tent. I love it but and the rain fly is total garbage. Its terribly designed and pools water. Any better luck with this one?
Ryan Dee
June 3rd, 2016
From what I experienced, the Flite didn’t pool any water. I can see the difference in the rainfly between the two tents and the difference with the Flite is that it comes to more of a apex on the top (compared to the stingray) so I think it will shed water much easier.