Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 Tent Review

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The Terra Nova website proudly states: "GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: The Laser Ultra 1 has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the lightest double-wall shelter in the world!" Well, I guess that gets our attention. The Laser Ultra 1 is a one-person double-wall tent with a manufacturer specified trail weight of 17.5 ounces (496 g), which is equivalent to the lightest single-wall tent I know of, the Gossamer Gear One. The Laser Ultra has a Cuben Fiber shell and floor, with a thin nylon fabric interior, and improved ventilation. Is this the Lamborghini of ultralight solo tents, or just the winner of a low weight contest?

ARTICLE OUTLINE

Introduction
Specifications
Design and Features
Performance
Comparisons
Assessment

# WORDS: 2120
# PHOTOS: 9

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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 29 total)

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Jun 21, 2011 at 1:18 pm #1275759

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 Tent Review

Jun 21, 2011 at 7:54 pm #1751879

Warren Greer
Spectator

@warrengreer
Locale: SoCal

But for $1,050 you could add a bunch of neat gear to your closet. I do appreciate the innovation, experimentation, and thought that went into this shelter and hope that it has a very positive affect on shelters in general. And Will, thanks for reviewing this. And even more so to comparing it to other shelters that are at least somewhat similar. Helps me as I think about a one-person ultralight shelter. Which will probably wait until next year anyway.

Jun 22, 2011 at 6:36 am #1751998

Barry Starrfield
Member

@barryannarbor
Locale: New England

Just checking quickly – you can get the Laser Ultra for $589 – $635. Still in the territory where my wife would quite rightly go into shock if I bought one.

Jun 22, 2011 at 9:13 am #1752045

Dan @ Durston Gear
BPL Member

@dandydan
Locale: Canadian Rockies

Nice review. It's good to see that the Laser has reasonable space for one. It's too bad they used such a light variant of cuben for the floor and that the price is so high.

The HMG Echo I really stands out as being a smarter pick. It's half the price and it uses far more durable cuben for the floor (1.5oz), so IMO a ground sheet is not needed. This puts the weight at virtually the same but your getting a far more versatile shelter for the same weight, half the money and the HMG is really well built. I think HMG is using a heavier grade of cuben for the fly (0.74oz) than Terra Nova (0.51oz) as well, and HMG's Echo is very well reinforced. The only thing the HMG is lacking is headroom but I don't really mind this because when I'm solo camping I spend little time in my shelter besides sleeping.

Jun 22, 2011 at 9:30 am #1752051

Hamish McHamish
BPL Member

@el_canyon
Locale: USA

I'm glad to see the Terra Nova's efforts at innovation. Thanks for the review.

"Still in the territory where my wife would quite rightly go into shock if I bought one."

But Barry, just tell her you NEED that tent! She'll understand…

Jun 22, 2011 at 9:59 am #1752068

Melissa Spencer
BPL Member

@melissaspencer
Locale: PNW

Thank you for the review. I noticed in your video tour that you used a woman's sleeping pad (66" long) and it appeared to take up most of the length. Is the quoted 85" length accurate? My boyfriend is tall and has noticed that not all companies use the same measuring tape…

Thanks,
Melissa

Jun 22, 2011 at 10:23 am #1752082

Kathy Hoffman
Member

@basecampbound
Locale: Foothills of San Gabriel Mtns.

Appreciate the excellent, thorough review,

But….

$1000+ for a single man tent? Seriously, these manufacturers have gone a little nuts. I like ultralight as much as the next guy, but unless you're corporate-sponsored, that's going to be a bit out of the comfortable price range of most people.

I'm currently experimenting with designs to make myself a 1 man, single wall, (but with good ventilation) tent out of silnylon and cuben fiber combined. There's got to be a better trade-off between weight and price. At least….I'm hoping!!

Jun 22, 2011 at 10:27 am #1752087

David Ure
Member

@familyguy

Wow – the pricing is a little nutty. GG's The One weighs the same and seems like an incredible value in comparison.

On the other hand, there are cuben tarps out available that cost $400 beans so the pricing for this tent is probably right in line.

Jun 22, 2011 at 10:27 am #1752088

Diplomatic Mike
Member

@mikefaedundee
Locale: Under a bush in Scotland

No mention of construction method?
The Ultra is sewn only. Folk may have opinions on sewn only with cuben.

Jun 22, 2011 at 1:22 pm #1752163

Greg Mihalik
Spectator

@greg23
Locale: Colorado

"$1000+ for a single man tent?

$1000 is MSRP. It's $590 at MoonTrail.

Jun 22, 2011 at 1:59 pm #1752173

Dave Jenkins
Spectator

@jinx667
Locale: NC

I have been looking at a cuben fiber solo set up, but there are stronger, nearly as light with more space set ups available at a fraction of the cost.

Just does not seem worth it even at half the MSRP.

Jun 22, 2011 at 2:10 pm #1752176

BlackHatGuy
Spectator

@sleeping
Locale: The Cascades

"I have been looking at a cuben fiber solo set up, but there are stronger, nearly as light with more space set ups available at a fraction of the cost."

Like the Cricket. Someone on here is selling one. Hmmmmm, who could that be…..

Jun 23, 2011 at 7:35 am #1752414

Bill (L.Dog) Garlinghouse
BPL Member

@wjghouse
Locale: Western Michigan

"Choosing the Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 gives you the distinction of owning the lightest one-person single-wall tent in the world."

Six Moons Design's new Skyscape-X is 16 ozs (stakes not included) and costs $450. Begins shipping Jul 13.

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/tents.html?page=shop.product_details&product_id=57

Bill

(Not in any way affiliated with SMD … just sayin')

Jun 23, 2011 at 11:24 am #1752477

ROBERT TANGEN
Spectator

@robertm2s
Locale: Lake Tahoe

The Terra Nova uses “one 7.55 mm Scandium Alloy aluminum center hoop pole, and two end carbon fiber struts.” The Six Moons tent uses: “a dual (trekking or optional fixed length) pole support structure, slightly offset from the center of the tent.” For those of us who bring trekking poles anyway, this is clearly a weight saving in favor of the Six Moons tent, all else being ignored.

Jun 23, 2011 at 12:09 pm #1752498

al b
BPL Member

@ahbradley

What is the benefit of the hoop over two poles (one higher than other) to give a tent of more or less same shape except for more polygon-ish shape:

the curved-ness just looks like it makes it flappy(noisy).

I think the polygon shape would use very slightly less material (would reduce height of bell end faster, but would seem insignificant, unequal pole heights would mean roof slopes, hence not collect water

Jun 23, 2011 at 2:09 pm #1752551

Patricia Combee
Member

@trailfrog
Locale: Northeast/Southeast your call

I think I will stick with GG One. Always new it was a great little tent, this just confirms it.

Jun 23, 2011 at 4:38 pm #1752611

Bill (L.Dog) Garlinghouse
BPL Member

@wjghouse
Locale: Western Michigan

The One is on my short list. Unfortunately it is not in stock and the site says they have no timeline for when it will be …

Jun 23, 2011 at 6:19 pm #1752655

Matt Huff
Member

@matthuff

I work for Sport Hansa LLC, the US importer and distributor for Terra Nova.

The UK retail price of 650 Pounds is for the UK market and included value added tax which, in Europe, is included in the stated retail price for all goods.

The suggested retail price stateside is $700.

Thank you, Matt

Jun 23, 2011 at 6:48 pm #1752662

Barry Starrfield
Member

@barryannarbor
Locale: New England

Hi Matt –
Is this tent made in the UK?
– Barry

Jun 23, 2011 at 6:59 pm #1752666

Matt Huff
Member

@matthuff

Good Evening Barry. This tent is made in Vietnam. Terra Nova manufacturers their light weight pieces and Asia and their expedition line in Alfreton, Derbyshire in the United Kingdom.

Jun 23, 2011 at 11:05 pm #1752757

Diplomatic Mike
Member

@mikefaedundee
Locale: Under a bush in Scotland

The Ultra may prove popular with UK Ultra distance runners. Some mountain marathons in the UK insist on a double skin tent as part of the carried kit list.

Jun 24, 2011 at 7:07 am #1752809

Will Rietveld
BPL Member

@williwabbit
Locale: Southwest Colorado

I corrected the MSRP as per Matt Huff's comment. We typically list the MSRP in US$ when there is a US distributor and we can get the US MSRP. This is a mistake on my part, and I apologize for the incorrect information. Will

Jun 24, 2011 at 8:25 am #1752840

James holden
BPL Member

@bearbreeder-2

$700 for a made in vietnam single person tent?

at least youll have the distinction of having one of the most expensive tents on the trail …

i wonder how long the thinner CF will last …

Jun 24, 2011 at 11:25 am #1752900

Daryl and Daryl
BPL Member

@lyrad1
Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

Will,

Thanks for the review. Good info.

I was a little surprised by the inside/outside temp differences, however. I've been taking inside/outside temps for at least a decade now and my readings typically show greater differences than yours.

The inside of my tent is about 10 degree F warmer throughout the night, while I am lying still. I can heat things up to a 20 to 25 degree difference by moving around inside. This applies to me in a 1 person tent or my wife and me in a 2 person tent.

I (we) use small tents with total fabric coverage for the inside tent.

Were you taking the readings on a windy night? If not then I would tentatively credit the difference in our readings to the open mosquito netting on the Terra Nova. Of course I may generate more heat than you also. I tend to be a hot and sweaty guy.

Any thoughts on the subject?

Daryl

Jun 24, 2011 at 1:18 pm #1752940

Martin Rye
BPL Member

@rye1966
Locale: UK

I thought the most popular marathon event only insisted on a tent with a sewn in ground sheet Mike?. So modding the fast packer option on the Ultra 1 would give a very light tent with outer and only a ground sheet.

Ultra 1 was the tent used by the LAMM elite winners recently. Talking to one person who was on it who used an Ultra 1, a Terra Nova cuben fibre pack, sleeping bag and bivy which came to about 1kg I can see why terra Nova kit is chosen by mountain marathon entrants.
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