Best Lightweight Tent: Camping Awards 2024

WINNER – Best Lightweight Tent 2024

Coleman Cobra 2

£150

(Photo courtesy of Coleman)

Why the Coleman Cobra 2?

The Cobra 2 may not be the lightest tent in the world but at £150 – even less if you shop around – it is brilliant value for money. And it proves that a good backpacking tent doesn’t have to be super-expensive and complicated to pitch.

Some lightweight camping enthusiasts consider Coleman to be too mainstream for their expeditions, but let them sneer. Camping is a way to let you enjoy the countryside, whether you’re pitching on a campsite or wild camping on a remote hilltop, and that’s exactly what this tent does. At around 2kg, it’s light and compact enough to take with you wherever you want to go and weatherproof enough to ensure you stay dry and warm. It’s also really easy to pitch and has plenty of ventilation.

For nights out on the hills or solo camping trips, this is a super little tent. Given the price and the overall quality of the build, it’s hard to find fault.

We like

• Great value for money
• New colour scheme
• Easy to pitch

Our verdict

The Radon UL 1 is designed for stability and durability in all conditions. The simple Y-shaped pole structure gives the tent a solid feel, backed up by the TXS stability system. Inserting your walking pole into the brow pole sleeve provides more steadiness in strong winds. The inner-first pitching lets you remove the flysheet completely on hot nights but it can be quickly clipped back on if the weather changes.

Our verdict

The free-standing extended dome features Flexpitch – a versatile system that allows the mesh inner to be used on its own in hot weather, with a full flysheet for protection in the wet or with toggle-back options to suit the precise conditions. Other features include two-door access, a low vent system and short pole sections for easy packing of cycle panniers and backpacks.