Night Cat Bakpacking Tent

Bought this because it was lightweight and I needed something of that nature for a hiking trip. It turned out to be perfect! Not one was it actually lightweight but it was simple to put together, fit in my pack great, and I had more than enough rom for myself, my dog, and my gear!

TLDR; The Night Cat Backpacking Tent offers exceptional value for money with its quick setup, impressive waterproof rating, and very compact packed size. It is a spacious and reliable option for solo campers and a functional, though snug, shelter for two, making it an excellent budget-friendly choice for hiking and short backpacking trips. My initial thought when looking for a compact shelter was to find a balance between low weight and true weather protection, without the high cost of premium brands. The Night Cat Backpacking Tent (likely the dome model with fiberglass poles) stands out as a strong budget option. I chose this tent primarily for solo backpacking trips, where its low weight (around 4.4 lbs / 2kg for the 1-2 person dome) and tiny packed size—smaller than a loaf of bread—are a huge asset for fitting into a packed rucksack. The setup is remarkably quick and simple, easily done in about a minute, which is perfect after a long day of hiking. The material's high waterproof rating (often quoted as PU 3000mm) with taped seams gives me great confidence that it will stand up to the unexpected heavy rain that can crop up on a trip. For one person, the space is comfortable, leaving plenty of room for my pack and gear. As a two-person tent, it is definitely a snug fit, better suited for a couple or one adult and a child. For the price, the weather protection and ease of use are truly impressive. Upgrade Tip: While the base waterproofing is adequate, using a sealant like Sawyer's aerosol waterproofing spray is a very good upgrade to enhance the longevity and reliability of the rain protection, as the factory waterproofing can be lackluster. Pros Super Fast Setup: Simple dome design (or pop-up models) allows for assembly in about one minute, making camp easy and fast. Excellent Water Resistance: Features a high PU waterproof rating on the polyester fabric (often 2000mm-3000mm depending on the model) with taped seams, offering reliable protection in heavy rain. Lightweight and Compact: Weighs around 4.4 lbs (2kg) and packs down to a very small size (approx. 16.5"×4.7"×4.7"), ideal for minimal-bulk backpacking. Great Ventilation: Includes mesh doors and/or roof vents to ensure airflow, minimizing condensation buildup. High Value: Delivers a feature set and weather resistance typically found in more expensive tents. Cons Snug for Two: While advertised as 1-2 person, it is very snug for two adults—it is an ideal spacious solo tent. Fiberglass Poles: Some models use fiberglass poles, which are heavier and less durable than aluminum poles found in higher-end backpacking tents. Thin Floor: The floor material may be the same as the walls; a separate ground cloth or footprint is highly recommended to protect against rough terrain. Verdict The Night Cat Backpacking Tent earns a 5-star rating as an outstanding budget and entry-level backpacking tent. It is worth the price for anyone seeking a highly portable, quick-pitching, and reliably waterproof shelter without breaking the bank. It is best for solo campers, beginners, casual hikers, and anyone prioritizing a compact size and ease of use over an ultralight gram-counting design.

For a $40 tent, this was outstanding. Light enough. Roomie enough. It lasted through 3 nights of backpack camping in Idaho, setting up and tearing down each night and carrying it in my backpack. It rained medium-heavy for about an hour one night, and I stayed dry! I saw no evidence of water inside except where condensation got on my sleeping bag because I touched the side. I can't rate it a 5-star because, even though the price is low, you can tell it is cheap (probably won't last too long) and it lacks features in order to make it that cheap. Some of the 1-star reviews mentioned the poles breaking. You can tell when setting up and tearing down that the plastic material of the poles is really cheap and soft. I could literally see indentations going into the pole segments from the metal coupling as I assembled it if I wasn't careful. And the metal tip on the end of one of the poles started to come off slightly, but it lasted. Regarding features, the only window is the front door. There is no rain fly that covers the tent. The rain fly only covers the mesh part of the tent at the very top. (But the tent did stay dry in the rain.) The rope to stake down the tent has not hooks on the end and requires tying knots. I actually never staked it down.

There are many reviews covering this tent on YouTube. Its a good tent! However, the mosquito net door came off track when I attempted to zip it up. Its easy to put up and take down. Its VERY roomy inside, so much so that I was able to put a cooler, backpack, pillow, sleeping bag, and a blanket inside with still room left over. It stands up to the wind well, airflow is good. Doest weigh much either. I do recommend getting heavy duty tent stakes to secure it to the ground because the ones it came with couldn't even hold the vestibule taut. It kept me warm and cozy all night in the cold desert. The interior height is good, im 5'6 and was able to be on my knees in it and stand hunched over inside when getting dressed.

The tent fabric itself seems good. In an actual storm, that dental dam of a rain fly wouldn't last. The poles are a certain diameter fiberglass, with something like a thick shrink tube. When the poles connect, the shrink tube layer tears or slides, leaving an entirely too small diameter for the hole 🤫 the elastic is too flimsy in the poles so sections pop out. The pole pegs for the corners pop off even with the swedge. No tarp material bottom. The tarp bottom and rain fly were what I expected for $43. I guess the poles are probably the most expensive part anyhow

Water proof, easy to set up and take down. Wind proof. Very little condensation at wake up time in fall/winter. Plenty of room for myself (5ft, 160lb) without having to touch the walls of the tent while sleeping. I've had to sleep touching tent walls before and felt so claustrophobic. Not an issue with this, and I can sit up all the way. That gives me room for a few extra items, plus room to stretch. I wish it had a window opposite the door, but over all, great tent. I'm glad I got it.

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This is a good little tent, it's only downside is it's single skin. Bought this tent to use on the beach when night fishing, somewhere to get my head down for a couple of hours between tides. It's reasonably light to carry, easy to put up, and has enough room for one person and some gear. The only issue I found with the tent was slight condensation, admittedly when pitching on a beach the relative humidity is naturally going to be high, so condensation is going to be unavoidable. I can say that the tent doesn't leak ,as I have used it on rainy nights. All in all a good little tent for the money.

Great little tent. Perfect for short stays or in my case, motorbike holidays. Easy to set up and pack down. Doesn't take up a lot of space. Excellent buy!

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Good value, and nice and light