Talk of lightweight tents and Hyperlite is right up there with the best. Their popular options come as functional shelters that are easy to set up, even though they lose out on some features. Perhaps well suited for hikers and adventure seekers who want to keep things minimal and don’t require an extensive setup for creating a makeshift shelter. They’ve now bettered their lightest tent design to craft a lightweight freestanding tent dubbed Crosspeak 2 that weighs just 2 lbs. This outdoor gear brings them right alongside the likes of Durston and Six Moons Design when we talk of the best out there.

The biggest advantage of this outdoor accessory is the quick pitch feature in any kind of terrain without staking in the ground. This makes the tent ideal for casual adventure trips in the backcountry or overnight hikes in pleasant weather without any windy conditions. It can fit two individuals easily, making it an impressive proposition given its compact size that’s easy to haul.

Designer: Hyperlite Mountain Gear

To set up the Crosspeak 2 free-standing tent, all you have to do is create tension with the long crossed poles employing the webbing and ladder locks. Then, just tighten the thing using the small bridge pole on the top. When fully pitched, the tent stands at 42 inches tall, which is enough for most adventure seekers. The floor area of 88 x 48 inches is ample space to fit two sleeping bags. Given it is just 2 lbs, packing in other essentials like a 22-inch Dyneema vestibule area for the bags and boots, two storage pockets, or attachment loops for hanging clothes is nothing less than impressive.

Crosspeak 2 is quite airy on the inside with two doors and an adjustable ventilation system for proper circulation if you are cooking inside. The magnetic tie-backs on the doors make it very easy to close the tent opening when compared to other tents. The tent doesn’t come with any guy lines or hiking poles, which are vital in maintaining structural integrity in case of inclement weather conditions. However, the lack of them also makes the thing ultra-compact and only advised for use in perfect weather. Hyperlite has created two separate Dyneema stuff sacks for stashing the tent body and the pole for convenience.

Looking to create the ideal balance between low weight, weather-resistant features, and the ease of setting up the tent; Crosspeak 2 isn’t affordably priced at $950. The major reason is the use of Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) and the lightweight make – both of which add to the overall cost of this outdoor accessory. If this tent perfectly fits your requirements, only then is it advisable to buy this free-standing tent, else other options are more suited for the varying dynamics.

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