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Product Review: the adaptable Trekker Tent 1

River country products trekker 1 trekking pole tent backpacking tent set up next to river with sleeping pad

We’ve asked customers what they like about the Trekker Tent 1 and their top responses were first, how easy it is to set up and second, the fact that it has a large front vestibule.

First, it is one of the easiest in our line of trekking pole tents to set up. The single trekking pole design is the simplest design available. This means that you have the choice of hiking with only one trekking pole, and the ease of setup couldn’t be more straightforward. The quick setup time allows you time for any other activities you might have planned for the day.

Second, the large front vestibule offers plenty of room for all of your gear and a place to sit outside of the weather. This is a great alternative to the Trekker Tent 1V for those solo hikers, backpackers, and campers who don’t need additional ventilation.

river country products trekking pole tent twin sisters washington

Key Features

Some of the key features of the Trekker Tent 1 are that it is a single-pole trekking pole tent so it doesn’t have a complicated pole system and sets up very quickly. The tent weighs in at just 2 pounds, 13 ounces, which includes the nine tent stakes and the carry bag. When packed down, this tent is just 10″ by 5″ around. In other words, this is a light and easy-to-carry tent.

The stakes come rolled up in the center of the tent and the guy lines are already attached to the tent, so it’s ready for a quick setup. The interior of the tent is 90″ long by 38″ wide and the front door has a peak height of 48″.

It can be set up without a trekking pole if you have an overhanging branch. There’s a peak guy line loop and you can use your own guy line to attach to an overhanging branch and set up the tent without any trekking poles at all.

All seams are taped and the fabric is a PU-coated waterproof polyester and the floor is made out of a heavy duty waterproof Oxford taffeta fabric which is thick enough that you won’t need an additional ground cloth. Inside the tent you’ll find a loop for hanging your gear or your flashlight and a personal items pocket and plenty of room for you and your gear.

Easy Setup

First, find a flat area and lay the tent out in the direction you want it to go. Like all trekking pole tents, start by staking down the four corners of the tent and make sure that the tent isn’t lopsided to one side or the other. Click this link if you prefer to watch a video.

After you stake down the four corners of the tent, you’re ready to insert the trekking pole. Insert the trekking pole with the handle facing up or with the rubber tip facing up. Do not insert the trekking pole with the carbide tip facing up as that will rip the tent.

Adjust the trekking pole to the desired height and pull out the front vestibule. It’s best to have the front vestibule zipped up when staking out the front. After you’ve staked out the front vestibule, now you can stake out the rear guy line and the side guy lines. The back ceiling vent stakes out to the same guy line as the rear guy line.

Tips and tricks

This tent is unique because it can be set up without a trekking pole by setting it up under an overhanging branch and using a guy line or paracord to tie the peak loop of the tent to the overhanging branch.

When setting it up using this method, make sure that you stake down the four corners first. No peak guy line is included with this tent, so you’ll need to use your own paracord or guy line.

If you find that the rear corners of this tent are dipping or sagging in, there’s two common causes of this. One is sloped ground, which can cause the back corners to sag. Finding a flat area can solve this problem. Or, if you pull the rear corners too tight, it can cause the same problem. The best remedy is to move the rear corner stakes about two inches toward the center and then lengthen the trekking pole and tighten the front vestibule stake.

Be careful with the carbide tip and don’t put the carbide tip pointed up in this tent or it will rip right through this tent fabric.

Like all of our trekking pole tents, this tent is easy to take down. Just remove the stakes, put the guy lines and the rain fly onto the bottom portion of the tent. Fold the tent in onto itself so that just the floor fabric is showing and keep holding until what you have left is just a little wider than the tent stake bag. Roll the tent up around the stake bag and if you can find it, use the tie that came with the tent to tie around the tent. After that, it should easily fit back into the bag that it came in.

And that’s everything you need to know about the Trekker Tent 1, a lightweight, small-pack-size tent perfect for your next outdoor adventure. If you are having any problems with the setup of this tent, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help.

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Explore the best tent fabrics for your next backpacking adventure

backpacking trekking pole tent outer shell set up near water

There are so many fabrics out there, it’s hard to decide which one will be best for your next backpacking adventure. We’re going to help make that easier for you. First, we’ll suggest what fabrics probably won’t work. Then, we’ll tell you what we use for our tents. And then we’ll wrap up with the near future of tentmaking.

First, unless you are glamping and backpacking in the same trip, you will want to avoid any natural (i.e., plant or animal) fabrics. Cotton, wool, and hemp materials all have their benefits, ranging from breathability and aesthetics to durability and sustainability. But, they are so incredibly heavy that only strongman competitors dare carry them with their pack, so we’re not going to review them here. They also tend to soak up moisture at an incredible rate. On to the synthetic fabrics we use for our tents.

Top synthetic fabrics

Polyester, nylon, and silnylon are all synthetic fabrics that we have used for River Country Products tents. Polyester has been the primary choice for our intro line of Trekker tents, and silnylon has been the primary choice for our intermediate line of Trekker tents. Here are the main differences between them:

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based materials. It is known for its durability, wrinkle resistance, and resistance to UV rays. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for outdoor clothing and gear. Polyester is also relatively affordable and easy to care for. However, it is not as breathable as natural fibers like cotton, and it can be prone to pilling (little lint balls) over time.

Pros: Waterproof, inexpensive, light, durable

Cons: Needs good ventilation

Nylon

Nylon is another synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based materials. It is known for its strength, abrasion resistance, and water resistance. These features make it an excellent choice for outdoor gear like tents and backpacks. Nylon is also lightweight and quick-drying. However, it can be less durable than polyester and can break down over time when exposed to UV rays.

Pros: Same as polyester above, but more breathable (less moisture in the tent)

Cons: Not as durable as polyester, not as much UV protection or UV durability

Silnylon

Trekker Pyramid in the Enchantments

Silnylon is a type of upgraded nylon that has been treated with a silicone coating to make it even more water-resistant. It is commonly used in outdoor gear like tents and tarps, because it is lightweight, strong, and highly waterproof. Silnylon is also less prone to stretching than regular nylon and has a slippery surface that makes it easier to pack up. However, it can be more expensive than regular nylon, and the silicone coating can wear off over time with use.

Pros: Same as nylon above, but more waterproof and easier to pack

Cons: More expensive and less durable

Other fabrics

Polyurethane-coated nylon and cuben fiber, also called Dyneema, are alternative fabrics for those wanting ultralight tents. Cuben Fiber is much lighter than most PU-coated fabrics, making it a popular choice for ultralight backpacking and other weight-sensitive applications. However, Cuben Fiber can also be more expensive and more prone to abrasion than PU-coated fabrics.

Most people prefer plain polyester fabric for backpacking tents because it is the most affordable and is fairly durable. But the newest market research is showing that silicone-coated polyester, or silpoly, could beat each of the fabrics above because it is more durable, more affordable, and is more UV-resistant than silnylon.

River Country Products is currently testing silpoly fabric for use in current and upcoming lines of Trekker tents.

Which material do you prefer and why?

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Trekker Tent 2.2 Update

trekker tent 2.2 backpacking tent

We are excited to release the newest iteration of our Trekker Tent 2.2! The updated tent is now for sale on our website. We have worked hard to improve this tent to meet your, and our own, expectations for quality. While we have maintained the design and size of the tent, with internal mesh walls and side vents, we have improved the quality of the seams and overall weather-proofing of the tent. We redesigned almost every seam on the tent. Thank you for your patience as we have worked to improve this tent and bring it in line with our vision to provide high quality and budget friendly backpacking gear.

We are also working hard on new tent designs building on the changes that we have made to the Trekker Tent 2.2 and combining them with new features such as a detachable rain fly and the frequently requested 2 person tent with a vestibule. Keep an eye out as we hope to release new tent designs later this year.

Happy hiking,

River Country Products

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Trekker Tent 3, Our Best 4-Man Backpacking Tent Yet

4 person trekking pole tent

After designing and testing this tent out ourselves we are excited to introduce you to our new favorite 4 man backpacking tent, the Trekker Tent 3.

Despite being a 4 person tent, the Trekker Tent 3 has one of the easiest set ups of all of our other backpacking tents, simply stake down the four corners, attach our trekking poles together (an extension is included if the tent is bought with poles) and then extend the single resulting trekking pole in the center of the tent.

We are also excited about this tent because of its weight. At 4lb 10oz, with stakes, it is one of the lightest per person 4 man tents out there. Only 1lb 2.5oz per person.

Lastly we love the vestibule, large mesh door and 6′ 8” peak height. We think you’ll love this 4 person trekking pole tent too.

Check out the Trekker Tent 3 here.

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Trekker Tent 1A, our lightest one person trekking pole tent.

ultra-light one man tent

We are excited to announce our lightest tent yet. 2 lbs and 7.5 feet long so you can fit with your gear, includes an awning. On sale for the next 3 days, just $19.95. For this reduced price we would really like your feedback on this new tent.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GY22398

 

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Winter Camping in our trekking pole backpacking tent

Backpacking Tent in the Rockies

Brandyn from Denver Used our trekking pole backpacking tent this last weekend camping in the Rockies and sent us some photos and posted this review:
“I just wanted to let you know I received the tent and it is awesome. I attached some pics of my camping trip this weekend in the Denver foothills. It kept me comfortable in 25 mph wind and an 11 degree, snow stormy night. I also can’t believe how much weight it cut from my pack. Thank you.”
Thank You Brandyn, we love the pictures and the positive feedback!

Backpacking Tent in the Rockies
Backpacking Tent works for winter camping in the Rockies.

Backpacking Tent in the Rockies
Backpacking Tent in Snow Storm.