Introduction
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?
The Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 on an early spring backpacking trip in southern Utah.
Specifications
| Year/Manufacturer/Model | 2010 Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 (www.terra-nova.co.uk) |
| Style | Three-season, one-person, double-wall, non-freestanding tent with floor, one side entry door with vestibule |
| Included | Tent body, one aluminum pole with stuff sack, 12 1-gram titanium stakes with stuff sack, pole hood, storage bag |
| Fabrics | Proprietary: shell and floor are “Ultra fabric less than 0.6 oz/yd2 (less than 20 g/m2)” Cuben Fiber, 3000 mm; liner is ultralight nylon fabric and mesh |
| Poles and Stakes | One 7.55 mm Scandium Alloy aluminum center hoop pole, two end carbon fiber struts, 12 1-gram titanium stakes |
| Floor Dimensions and Interior Headroom | Manufacturer specifications: 85 in (216 cm) long x 29 in (74 cm) wide at head end x 34 in (86 cm) wide at center; 34 in (86 cm) maximum height, 15 in (38 cm) end height (dimensions verified by Backpacking Light) |
| Features | Lightweight fabrics, large side entry door, two end vents, ends roll up for improved ventilation |
| Packed Size | 14 x 3 in (35 x 8 cm) |
| Total Weight | Measured weight: 20.7 oz (587 g) Manufacturer specification: 20.5 oz (581 g) |
| Trail Weight | Measured weight: 19.7 oz (558 g) Manufacturer specification: 17.5 oz (496 g) (excludes stuff sacks) |
| Protected Area | Floor area: 16.7 ft2 (1.6 m2) Vestibule area: 3.8 ft2 (0.35 m2) Total protected area: 20.5 ft2 (1.9 m2) |
| Protected Area/Trail Weight Ratio | 16.6 ft2/lb (3.41 m2/kg) |
| MSRP | US$700 |
Design and Features
The Laser Ultra 1 is as light as it gets for a one-person double-wall tent, with a measured trail weight of 19.7 ounces (558 g) and total weight of 20.7 ounces (587 g). The shell (and floor) is a very lightweight Cuben Fiber, which Terra Nova calls their “Ultra fabric.”
The tent includes 12 “1-gram titanium stakes,” which help to bring the weight down. I included a toothpick in the photo for comparison. Do you want to entrust a US$1000+ tent to these stakes? I don’t think so!
The 1-gram stakes readily pull out when the tent flaps, and are easy to lose, so the first thing I did was to replace the stakes with the lightest staking setup that I consider adequate, which is eight 6-inch (15-cm) titanium shepherd hook stakes, two Easton 6.25-inch (16-cm) tubular aluminum stakes (for the ends), and two guylines (for the main hoop pole). This adds 2 ounces (57 g) to the weight of the tent, bringing the trail weight up to 21.7 ounces (615 g) and total weight up to 22.7 ounces (644 g).
Views of the Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1: A side view (top left) shows that the Laser Ultra is a tunnel tent design with one hoop pole in the center. Each end (top right) has a vertical carbon fiber strut and four staking points. The top view (bottom left) shows the tent’s proportions. Looking inside the door (bottom right), there is large zippered entry into the nylon fabric liner. The top of the door is mesh, and there are mesh ventilation panels in the ends of the tent.
The tent interior has adequate floor space for one person plus gear, and gear in the vestibule can easily be reached from inside the tent.
Video tour of the Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1.
Performance
Canyon bottom camp in southern Utah. I placed rocks on the tent stakes to secure them in the sand.
The Laser Ultra 1 is easy to set up: insert the center hoop pole in its sleeve, stake one end guyline, stake the other end guyline, place three stakes at the base of the tent on both ends, stake the center pole guylines. Set-up takes only a couple of minutes. Since the tent floor is thin Cuben Fiber, a groundsheet is essential.
As mentioned above, I substituted some sturdy stakes for the 1-gram toothpicks supplied with the tent, and also added two center guylines, for a total of ten stakeout points. During my testing I experienced wind gusts to 35 mph (56 kph) and the tent handled it with ease. The tent did shake and flap quite a bit, which is noisy, but it’s always noisy when the wind blows.
I found the tent’s Cuben Fiber shell to be quite user-friendly. It stays flexible in cold temperatures and sheds snow and rain very well. I used a thin plastic groundsheet under the tent and did not incur any damage to the tent floor while camping in the backcountry. I chose smooth surfaces to pitch the tent on, but of course one can’t do that all the time. While I am comfortable with Cuben Fiber as an adequately durable tent canopy fabric, I am skeptical of using it for a tent floor. It does have higher puncture resistance than silnylon, and much higher tear resistance, but I would still expect the inevitable punctures and patches on the floor. In its favor, it is easy to patch Cuben Fiber with any kind of sticky tape, tape that does not stick to silnylon.
The Laser Ultra has a narrow entry vestibule (left) that is adequate for a smaller backpack. The tent has 34 inches (86 cm) of inside headroom at the center of the tent which is barely adequate (right). It gets down to where sleeping pad thickness makes a difference in how much I brush my head on the ceiling. For a shorter person, headroom is less of an issue.
My sample tent did not come with a hood for the center pole, but one is normally included to secure the tent and prevent leakage through the zipper. It rained several times while I was testing the tent and there was very little leakage through the zipper, so the hood is not really needed.
This graph shows the temperature inside and outside the tent on a cold late October night. In the early evening, the temperature inside the tent is colder than the outside temperature. I entered the tent at 10:10 pm, as shown by the left peak in the blue line. With me in the tent, the inside temperature stayed about 6 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. I got up to pee at 12:35 (the right peak in the blue line). The other two small bumps are when I turned over in my sleeping bag and pumped some warm air out.
A double-wall tent with a solid fabric interior retains heat at night, so it is warmer than a tent with a mesh interior or single-wall tent. I have measured a temperature difference of as much as 12 °F (7 °C) in a one-person tent, and 17 °F (9 °C) in a two-person tent, so a tent with a solid fabric interior like the Laser Ultra 1 is warmer at night.
Weather permitting, the tent’s entry door and ends can be raised “quarter open” to increase ventilation through the tent. This significantly reduces condensation inside the tent when there is nighttime air movement. However, on a clear calm night with a large temperature drop, as with any tent, there will be some, or a lot, of condensation inside the tent.
Comparisons
The following table compares the Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 with alternative one-person shelters. Because the Laser Ultra is a unique high-end shelter, I compare it with alternative shelters of different types.
| Tent | Shell Fabric | Floor Area ft2 (m2) | Vestibule Area ft2 ( m2) | Ventilation | Mfr. Total Weight oz (g) | Cost (US$) |
| Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 | Cuben Fiber | 16.7 (1.6) | 3.8 (0.35) | Two end vents, door and ends can be raised “quarter open” | 20.5 (581) | £650 (approx US$1048) |
| Terra Nova Laser Photon 1 | Silnylon | 17.4 (1.6) | 8.4 (0.8) | Two end vents | 27.8 (720) | £380 (approx US$618) |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo 1 | Cuben Fiber | 18 (1.7) | 6.1 (0.6) | Mesh inner tent and large air space | 23.7 (672) | 495 |
| Tarptent Moment | Silnylon | 18 (1.7 ) | 6.6 (0.6) | Two top vents, two end vents, mesh perimeter | 28.8 (810) | 215 |
| MontBell Crescent 1 | Ripstop nylon | 21.8 (2.0) | 2.6 (0.24) | Two top vents plus partial mesh canopy | 33.0 (936) | 229 |
| Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid | Cuben Fiber | 30.6 (2.8) | none | One top vent, open perimeter | 9.0 (255) | 340 |
| Gossamer Gear One | Spinnaker Fabric | 17.5 (1.6) | 10.4 (1.0) | One top vent plus perimeter mesh | 19.0 (539) | 295 |
Key Points:
- The Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 is a limited production high-end tent, with a premium price tag; the Terra Nova Laser Photon 1 weighs 7.3 ounces (207 g) more and costs about US$430 less.
- The HMG Echo 1 shelter weighs 3.2 ounces (91 g) more, costs half as much as the Laser Ultra, has much better ventilation and versatility, but headroom is limited like the Laser Ultra.
- The Tarptent Moment is a single-wall tent similar in design to the Laser Ultra, weighs 8.3 ounces (235 g) more, has better ventilation, and costs one-fifth as much as the Laser Ultra.
- The MontBell Crescent 1 is a double-wall tent with a similar design, has more floor area, weighs 12.5 ounces (354 g) more, and costs about US$820 less than the Laser Ultra.
- The MLD SoloMid in Cuben Fiber is a floorless shelter with a lot more floor space, better ventilation, weighs 11.5 ounces (326 g) less, has loads of headroom, and costs one-third as much as the Laser Ultra, but it's not bugproof.
- The Gossamer Gear One weighs 1.5 ounces (43 g) less, has slightly less floor area (but it's all usable), nearly three times the vestibule area, better ventilation, and costs about US$750 less.
- Overall, every comparative shelter in the table beats the Laser Ultra in cost and matches it or exceeds it in other attributes.
Assessment
Choosing the Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 gives you the distinction of owning the lightest one-person single-wall tent in the world. Of course, you pay a premium for that privilege. When you consider the weight increment of adding adequate stakes and guylines, the weight advantage of the Laser Ultra diminishes.
While I am comfortable with the longevity of the Cuben Fiber canopy, I’m not sure that a Cuben Fiber tent floor is a good idea because it’s vulnerable to punctures and will likely end up with numerous patches. I would personally choose a floorless shelter rather than one with a Cuben Fiber floor, in which case the Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid has a lot of appeal because of its much larger protected area, much greater headroom, and much lower cost. Interestingly, all the shelters in the table have limited headroom except the MLD SoloMid, and it has so much headroom that you can almost stand up in it. Alternatively, you can consider the Cuben Fiber floor sacrificial and patch it as much as needed, and it’s easy to patch.
Bottom line, the decision depends on what type of shelter you prefer and how much you are willing to spend. For a high-end ultralight tent, the Ultra is indeed the ultimate. But there are a number of alternative shelters that are also very lightweight and cost a lot less. Perhaps the significance of the Laser Ultra is that it maintains Terra Nova’s position as the manufacturer of the lightest tents in the world, and from our standpoint we admire their innovation and leadership.
What’s Good- One-pound plus one-person double-wall tent; the lightest double-wall tent in the world
- Fast set-up
- Side entry protected by a vestibule
- Improved ventilation
- Gear in the entry vestibule can easily be reached from inside the tent
- Wind stable and storm worthy
- Adequate space for one person plus gear
- Very expensive
- Limited headroom
- No storage pockets
- Cuben Fiber floor is vulnerable to punctures
Disclosure: The manufacturer provided this product to the author and/or Backpacking Light at no charge, and it is owned by the author/BPL. The author/BPL has no obligation to review this product to the manufacturer under the terms of this agreement.
Reader Comments
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Forum Index » Editor's Roundtable » Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 Tent Review
(addiebedford) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Montana
Companion forum thread to:
Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 Tent Review
(WarrenGreer) - F
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.
(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.
(dandydan) - M
Locale: Cascadia
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.
(El_Canyon) - M
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...
Edited by El_Canyon on 06/22/2011 10:31:56 MDT.
(melissaspencer) - F
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
(basecampbound) - M
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!!
(FamilyGuy) - F
Locale: Where there is snow
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.
(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.
(greg23) - M
Locale: Colorado
"$1000+ for a single man tent?
$1000 is MSRP. It's $590 at MoonTrail.
Edited by greg23 on 06/22/2011 14:23:09 MDT.
(Jinx667) - M
Locale: SoCal
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.
(idester) - MLife
Locale: MidAtlantic
"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.....
(WJGhouse) - MLife
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')
(RobertM2S) - M
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.
(ahbradley) - M
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
(Trailfrog) - F
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.
(WJGhouse) - MLife
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 ...
(matthuff) - F
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
(barryannarbor)
Locale: New England
Hi Matt -
Is this tent made in the UK?
- Barry
(matthuff) - F
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.