Smart Shelter For Solo Adventurists

Whether it's due to long distances covered, rugged terrain or extended stints on foot, a demanding multi-day hike requires lightweight, compact gear that offers mobility and ease-of-use. This applies to everything - clothing, footwear, your pack, your shelter, the whole gamut. On a challenging trek, every gram counts. Australian adventure-enthusiast Claire Mackay found this out recently on Tasmania's Overland Track, the famed 6-day course stretching some 65 kilometres from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Read on for her review of our Redline 1-person tent, designed for the solo adventurer needing minimal packing bulk and pitching time.

Redline 1-Person Tent

When it comes to solo multi-day hiking, you need to plan smart. Smart in the sense of choosing high-quality products with the smallest weight that do the job right. Thankfully, planning smart is made easy by Mountain Designs and their reliable range. On the Overland Track in Tasmania recently, I carried the Mountain Designs Redline 1-person tent. The two qualities that stood out to me the most about this tent were that it's incredibly light in weight, and the fact it takes only minutes to assemble. Being a Mountain Designs product, I already knew the quality was going to be great!

Field Test

Lightweight, durable, efficient. That's the best way to describe how this tent performs. Weighing in at just 1.6kg, it packs up into a neat, slim carry bag that can be easily slipped into your pack or strapped to the side. The aluminium pegs keep your tent and drawstrings strong and secure. This tent is also great to carry in environments where weather can turn hostile and emergency shelter is needed quickly. It's a 3-season style so probably not the pick for the peak of winter, but being made from durable polyester and nylon materials that have been waterproofed through a coating treatment and seam sealed construction give it its integrity and protective qualities. There is a single vent for air flow in warmer weather too. Size-wise, this tent is cosy, perfect for a single body resting after a long day of hiking. Mountain Designs also produces the Redline 2-person tent, which is fantastic if you need something a little bigger.

Overall the Redline is definitely a great choice and a favourite product for me, and it takes the stress out of packing for my next trip knowing that I have a quality shelter that is light, sets-up easily and quickly, and stays compact when I'm on the move. This is one of my favourites in their range for sure!

The Redline is designed for multi-day hikes that require minimal gear, thus proving to be a perfect lightweight, compact shelter solution along the iconic Overland Track in Tasmania. (Images courtesy of Claire Mackay)

Photo Credits

All images supplied by Claire Mackay

• Instagram @clairelouise.mackay