by emma_melbourne » Wed 05 Jul, 2017 8:48 pm
I've also got a Naturehike Star River 2, in the lightweight Silnylon green.
I got it as a cheap interim tent, while I worked out my future requirements (with a baby) and weighed up more expensive tent options - such as the Big Agnes Copper UL2 or Fly River, the MSR, or a boutique or cottage industry brand like Tarpent, 6 Moon Designs, ZPacks etc. (I ended up thinking I would probably get a Tarpent Double Rainbow, but the US $ price plus postage, and the extras of seam sealing or DIYing etc, slowed down my decision process. And I was toying also with perhaps needing to get my weight down even further with a Cuban fibre tent, as I'm carrying a baby and ever gram counts. But at the same time she's a typical toddler banging on tent walls etc. Hence my delay on tent decision.)
My expectations for the Star River 2 were low. It's cheap, it's made in China, etc.
However I've been pleasantly surprised. Granted I've only taken it out for overnight hikes, car camping and festival camping. No torrential storms were struck to give it a really good rain and wind work-out.
But I have to say - build quality seems pretty good. Poles are good. Clips are good. Zips work well. Stitching is clean. No leaks, no moisture (thus far).
It's early days, but so far, so good. I happily recommend it to friends if they're wanting a cheapie relatively light tent for the odd overnight hike, etc.
I still plan to get a lighter tent closer to 1.1 kg / 2 person, but in the meantime while I weigh up the finer points of which tent to get, and likely toddler proofness, I have to say I've been pleasantly surprised with the Star River 2.
I've bought a few other items from Naturehike - lightweight aluminium structure camping chairs etc, and they've also been really good. I'll look at doing a more comprehensive review when I've really put them hard through their paces. So far, impressed.
- Attachments
-
![Screen Shot 2017-07-05 at 8.35.00 pm.png](./download/file.php?id=43136&sid=7a3d100e7cda85dd387fde9a273cccb1)
- Screen Shot 2017-07-05 at 8.35.00 pm.png (494.19 KiB) Viewed 38290 times