5 reviews for Northern Lite 2
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Nigel Vardy
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September 26, 2024
A lightweight and extremely robust tent which has two huge porches. I was recently sea kayaking and found the porches extremely useful when storing wet kit, whilst keeping the inside dry. It’s a very easy tent to pitch, with three poles all the same length, can be used free standing and was the envy of everyone other paddler. It would also be ideal for bike packing, mountaineering and wild camping.
Richard Mansfield
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April 6, 2024
Purchased after much research and I have not been disappointed. Very easy to pitch and quick to pack away. I have used it in all four seasons in the UK, including high winds, driving rain and well below zero and it has held up flawlessly. I am 5ft 9" and can sit up in the middle, can easily get changed and store my kit - the storage area accessed by the small zipped door is brilliant!
I would highly recommend this tent.
Mike Bayless
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February 23, 2025
Used the tent for 6 mountain camps and have not had a single issue.
Absolutely love this tent, it's quick and easy to pitch, so much space for one, has withstood some serious uk winter weather with gusty 40mph winds and torrential rain.
Packs up reasonably small, even with the ground sheet.
All the original moans have been sorted, which means terra nova listen to their customers.
Really good bang for the buck.
Paul Reiffer
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September 6, 2024
Can't fault this tent - lasted perfectly in 50+ mph winds and 12-14" of rain in 24 hours in the Icelandic Highlands. While other tents were flapping and struggling, this stayed as solid as a rock and comfortable inside.
Paul Reiffer
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September 6, 2024
Can’t fault this tent – lasted perfectly in 50+ mph winds and 12-14″ of rain in 24 hours in the Icelandic Highlands. While other tents were flapping and struggling, this stayed as solid as a rock and comfortable inside.
Jack
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August 27, 2024
I have owned this tent for over a year and is my go to for multi-day hikes. It's easy to setup and packdown; the inner and outer can be setup at the same time to prevent the inner getting wet; and, it's durable and feels sturdy in windy conditions. My only jipe is that the regulators on the flysheet come loose pretty quickly. I don't know if I have misinterpreted the way they should be used, but I have resorted to a temporary fix as I can't get them to hold and will likely replace them with third party ones that have a better friction grip.
Maxime Lemaître
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January 3, 2025
Three months ago we purchased the helm compact 3
While we initially chose this model because it was marketed as robust, waterproof, freestanding and well-ventilated—qualities essential for our needs.
we have encountered several significant issues that have made the tent unsuitable for its purpose.
First the lack of adequate ventilation:
The poor ventilation has resulted in severe condensation inside the tent every night. Despite trying every possible solution—such as adjusting the setup, optimizing airflow, and using the ventilation openings—the problem persists. The condensation is so excessive that our sleeping bags and other gear become soaked nightly, leading to discomfort and potential damage to our materials due to prolonged exposure to moisture.
As travelers relying on durable and functional equipment for long-term use, this situation is deeply disappointing. We did not prioritize the tent’s compact or lightweight features but specifically chose it for its promised durability and ventilation, which it has failed to deliver.
Secondly the tent is not freestanding:
The tent is sold as a freestanding tent. But it is not freestanding at all. If you can’t pitch the tent you can’t sleep in it.
We’re really disappointed and angry of the false information provided about the tent by the brand.
We don’t understand how such a brand is able to lie ,to their customers about such an important factor!!!
I would not advise this tent!!
Hugh Mainwaring
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December 14, 2024
I bought my Quasar in 1987 aged 15, some 37 years ago, from High Sports in Shrewsbury (*No longer in business). Where my Quasar has not been. Anyway am here looking for a new one for my 21 year old son. You'll not find a more durable tent. I consider it to be lightweight, and spacious.
Hans S
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October 5, 2024
I bought my Voyager in 2004 and am still using it regularly. It is my primary tent and it does everything, from car camping to above the snowline in the mountains. It has withstood everything the mountain weather has thrown at it: heavy rain, snow & wind.
It is tight for 2 people, but fortunately neither me or my wife are super tall. With only one door, it can get hot & stuffy in higher temperatures, but as a light weight shelter against adverse weather I cannot fault it.
The seam tape on the flysheet is now pealing off, but after 20 years that is not a major issue. Just needs some seam sealant to be good to go for several more years.
Very happy with my purchase!
Paul
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November 28, 2024
I have used this tent about 6 times this year. The latest being 3 nights in the lake district during storm Bret . The tent endured freezing temperatures, snow ,rain and 60mph winds without any problems at all . It is a great tent for just myself with bags of room, great ventilation and very sturdy.
Barnsley block outdoors
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January 27, 2024
It was love at first pitch. So fast and easy to pitch with its single pole design. Ones you add the trekking poles it becomes a tank of a tent. There is plenty of space inside and the two vestibules gives you so much flexibility. I have used it several times now out in the Peak District it all sorts of conditions and it’s taken it all in its stride. Can’t wait to get out in it again.
J
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March 17, 2025
Used this tent for the first time over two nights during freezing temperatures. A good tent with a couple of issues. Firstly the doors system for holding them open involves a clip on the inner part of the tent which when the doors are wet is a bit of an issue socking the inside of the tent. I solved this ridiculous issue with a bulldog clip, tents costing £20 don't have this issue! The second is the absolutely wasted area between the outer and inner parts of the tent which is huge causing the inner to be tiny and definitely not a 2man tent unlike the picture above, you can't lay two tapered roll mats down so it's definitely a one man making the second door irrelevant. Oh I would add that it has the smallest bathtub on the inner making the footprint a must along with it seems definitely handicapping this tent towards the terra nova ones..... shame really 😕
Tom
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March 24, 2025
Brilliant product. I cannot understand why these aren’t used more by winter climbers and mountaineers.
I’ve had them years and they are an essential part of my winter layering system. I would not be without them during a winter accent. When my current pair finally give up, I’ll buy the same again.
Abbie W
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February 8, 2024
As someone who is regularly cold and has to wear several pairs of socks, I can honestly say these are the warmest socks I've ever owned! No need to layer up as they're super warm on their own and so soft and cosy on the skin! You must be logged in to post a review.
Solid tent in the wind, trekking poles work well I used the rubber end on the ground sheet/footprint. Just annoying there is no gutter on the doors so water can drip in when open.
*Update on my original review* I've since had this tent out on a night of constant strong winds, and it held up phenomenally well (although I barely slept a wink). I pitched up in 30mph wind, within an hour it had gone up near 50mph (measured with an anemometer, and it was more of a constant wind than gusty). I picked up a slight bend in the pole set whilst pitching up, just because I hadn't pegged in the guy line at the windward end. Just before I took the tent down I measured 56mph winds, but it was definitely gusting stronger than that after I'd put my anemometer away. So, in my experience, if it's correctly pitched, with trekking poles, and every guy line and pushing point taut, this is good up to at least 60mph. Which is crazy, considering it's a big, roomy tent, not a small, low profile 1 man thing!
Sold my helm 2 and replaced with then NL2, mostly because it's bigger and stronger and slightly lighter. I use with the Panacea footprint as they're identical, if you use trekking poles to provide additional support, I use the spike covers, and put them on plastic furniture wheel caps to spread the load, which works fine. You could always make your own grommet in the footprint, but no need. It's roomier inside than the Helm, more importantly the access is not as cramped so if you're tall and large that's a big plus. I only ever use it solo, and lots of room with a Big Agnes Rapide wide, and can easily fit my Kestrel 68L pack in there too. The vestibules are also bigger than the helm so it is easier to cook in there. Lastly, and far from least, with trekking poles it feels tornado proof.
In many ways this is the tent that the MSR Hubba Hubba should have been, but it is just short of being perfect. Pros: - It's a solid tent, although I haven't tested it in a storm yet, it feels well made and I'm confident it'll hold up well. - It feels quite roomy inside, and doesn't have a saggy inner (like many outer-pitch first tents do). - I used it on a damp, mizzly mountain in Wales. It was warm in the tent and cold outside, yet there wasn't a drop of condensation. - For its size and durability it's pretty lightweight. Cons: - The official footprint is thick and heavy. It also covers the vestibules, which means you have to roll it up if you're using the trekking pole support feature. I immediately replaced the footprint with a generic Tyvek one that is big enough to go under the inner floor - it's much lighter and doesn't prohibit using trekking poles as supports. - There's very few storage pockets. - I'm 6'0"/183cm, with a long back. There's plenty of room for me to sit up inside the tent, but the top of the inner and outer doors are quite low (compared to every other tent I own), which means my head is tucked up in the top of the tent and I can't see out unless I bend forward, and that hurts my back. - Although it feels roomy, and on a long-wide Big Agnes Rapide SL mat I didn't have an issue with my head, or feet touching the inner, the inner isn't very wide. You can just about get 2 standard width sleep mats in there, but only 1 mat if one of them is a wide version. The MSR Hubba Hubba, by comparison, can just about squeeze 2 wide mats into it, and easily fit a wide and regular together. Overall I'm happy with my purchase, and looking forward to testing it in some proper 'orrible weather.
Easy to pitch with setup being around 5 mins. Nice weight at only 2.2kg. I feel a bad design on the door without a rain gutter. When you open the after it’s been raining, water runs down into the vestibule and on the inner. Considering the price of the tent, this should be on there.