[Tent | Review] [Naturehike Mongar 2 $199]
Posted: Mon 07 May, 2018 5:40 pmI haven't seen many reviews for Naturhike tents on here, and thought it might be useful to add my experience!
I've only got into bushwalking a year or so ago, and don't have the desire/funds to blow heaps of cash on a tent. A friend and I decided to go halves on a 2 person Naturehike Mongar 2. This is a copy of the MSR Hubba Hubba, made by a Chinese manufacturer. I specifically wanted a freestanding tent because I knew that we were likely to be camping on platforms, and I wanted something with a door on each side so we wouldn't be clambering over one another.
Here's how the "Purple Palace" has gone for me so far...
Purchasing
I bought this from Novaprospots for $199 with free shipping. You could probably get this a bit cheaper from one of the many sellers on AliExpress, but I wanted the option to return the tent for a refund if I didn't like it. Shipping was very quick, and the tent arrived to me in Melbourne in 3 business days. I bought the version with the footprint, which is now listed for $229, so maybe they have put their prices up a bit. (https://novaprosports.com.au/collections/camping-gears-equipment-essentials/products/mongar-1-6kg-2-man-ultralight-hiking-tent-purple?variant=2829681819669)
First look
The tent was easy to put up, and all of the poles and fittings seemed sturdy. If anything, the clips that hold the fly to the mesh inner seem sturdier than the MSR Hubba Hubba (which I have slept in before). All of the seams appeared well sealed and the stitching looked sound. The pegs are pretty flimsy, but lightweight. We'll use them until they bend and replace them with something sturdier. I liked the unique purple colour!
Apparently this tent can be used with just the fly and footprint, although I haven't tried this yet.
First trip
I took this out on the Grampians Peaks Trail, and while it's not exactly ultralight at 1.6kg, it's very easy to carry divided between two people.
Both nights were quite dewy, but we didn't notice any condensation inside the tent. I've since taken it out on some fairly rainy trips and the waterproofing has held up well.
Inside is quite roomy, especially lengthwise. I am 165cm tall and had stacks of room at my feet to stash stuff although if you are very tall (over say 183 cm) you may struggle. The dual vestibules are surprisingly roomy too, and left us with ample space to leave our backpacks.
The reflective material on the outside of the tent is thoughtfully placed and made it easy to find the damn thing coming back from the loo in the middle of a foggy night!
Conclusion
After 6 nights in this tent, I feel comfortable recommending it to other beginners or people on a budget. Split between 2, the cost-per-use is ~$16. We're taking it out again next weekend for a night on the Mornington Peninsula, so it'll come down even more. I'll come back here periodically to update you all on how it goes.
I've only got into bushwalking a year or so ago, and don't have the desire/funds to blow heaps of cash on a tent. A friend and I decided to go halves on a 2 person Naturehike Mongar 2. This is a copy of the MSR Hubba Hubba, made by a Chinese manufacturer. I specifically wanted a freestanding tent because I knew that we were likely to be camping on platforms, and I wanted something with a door on each side so we wouldn't be clambering over one another.
Here's how the "Purple Palace" has gone for me so far...
Purchasing
I bought this from Novaprospots for $199 with free shipping. You could probably get this a bit cheaper from one of the many sellers on AliExpress, but I wanted the option to return the tent for a refund if I didn't like it. Shipping was very quick, and the tent arrived to me in Melbourne in 3 business days. I bought the version with the footprint, which is now listed for $229, so maybe they have put their prices up a bit. (https://novaprosports.com.au/collections/camping-gears-equipment-essentials/products/mongar-1-6kg-2-man-ultralight-hiking-tent-purple?variant=2829681819669)
First look
The tent was easy to put up, and all of the poles and fittings seemed sturdy. If anything, the clips that hold the fly to the mesh inner seem sturdier than the MSR Hubba Hubba (which I have slept in before). All of the seams appeared well sealed and the stitching looked sound. The pegs are pretty flimsy, but lightweight. We'll use them until they bend and replace them with something sturdier. I liked the unique purple colour!
Apparently this tent can be used with just the fly and footprint, although I haven't tried this yet.
First trip
I took this out on the Grampians Peaks Trail, and while it's not exactly ultralight at 1.6kg, it's very easy to carry divided between two people.
Both nights were quite dewy, but we didn't notice any condensation inside the tent. I've since taken it out on some fairly rainy trips and the waterproofing has held up well.
Inside is quite roomy, especially lengthwise. I am 165cm tall and had stacks of room at my feet to stash stuff although if you are very tall (over say 183 cm) you may struggle. The dual vestibules are surprisingly roomy too, and left us with ample space to leave our backpacks.
The reflective material on the outside of the tent is thoughtfully placed and made it easy to find the damn thing coming back from the loo in the middle of a foggy night!
Conclusion
After 6 nights in this tent, I feel comfortable recommending it to other beginners or people on a budget. Split between 2, the cost-per-use is ~$16. We're taking it out again next weekend for a night on the Mornington Peninsula, so it'll come down even more. I'll come back here periodically to update you all on how it goes.
- The purple palace!
