Searching for a roomy, 3-season tent for two that’s capable of handling diverse weather, weighs less than 2 kg, and comes at an excellent price point of R3199? The Naturehike Mongar 2-person tent checks every box, offering an exceptional blend of performance and value for your outdoor adventures.
Technical Specifications
Capacity: 2 Persons
Packed Weight: 1941g (excluding additional accessories or repair kit)
Waterproof Rating: Flysheet: 4000mm HH; Tent Floor: 4000mm HH
Structure:1-pole system with 2 main arms and a central spreader pole; free-standing design
Price:R3199 (at time of review)
Among Naturehike’s impressive lineup of technical shelters, the Ultralight Mongar 2-person tent stands out, drawing comparisons to the renowned MSR Hubba Hubba due to its similar design ethos. However, the Mongar offers a significantly more competitive price point – a truly “best-in-class” feature (pun intended) – making it an ideal choice for backpackers and campers seeking a lightweight, reliable tent for wilderness excursions. Beyond its exceptional value, the Mongar is remarkably simple to pitch and comes in appealing color options, including vibrant lime green, an eye-catching purple, and a classic subdued gray. Yet, the Mongar’s appeal extends far beyond its attractive aesthetics and affordability.
Weight
Weighing in at under 2 kg for the entire package, the Mongar is a joy to carry on multi-day backpacking trips. When split between two hikers, each person’s pack gains a mere 1 kg, minimizing trail burden significantly.
Flysheet:592g
Inner Tent:556g
Poles:568g
Stakes:90g
Footprint (groundsheet):120g
Ease of Setup
The Mongar boasts a symmetrical design for both its flysheet and inner tent, which attaches effortlessly to a single, integrated pole system. This intuitive design makes pitching the tent incredibly straightforward. The flysheet can also be set up independently of the inner tent, offering a lightweight “fast-pitch” option – perfect for minimalist shelter or a quick rain break during a lunch stop.
Inside the Tent
The Mongar truly excels in its interior dimensions, offering some of the best headroom I’ve experienced in a 2-person tent. Thanks to its central spreader pole, the tent’s internal structure feels more rectangular and less dome-like, with over 80% of the “ceiling” exceeding 80 cm in height. This innovative design fosters an impressive sense of spaciousness, making the Mongar highly livable, even during extended periods of inclement weather.
I recall one instance during a 6-hour downpour in the Hexagon Mountains where the Mongar served as an emergency shelter. It comfortably accommodated three hikers seeking refuge, allowing them to huddle inside and even catch some sleep as the storm raged.
Internal storage is thoughtfully provided by two small mesh pockets, one at each end, strategically placed to avoid obstructing head or foot space. Additionally, a removable gear loft (or “bridge” on the net) offers extra overhead storage.
The practical internal living space measures a generous 120 cm x 195 cm.
Ventilation
The Mongar features a breathable mesh inner tent and strategically placed vents on the flysheet, which collectively ensure excellent airflow and a well-ventilated interior. Even in colder conditions, with two occupants, I’ve experienced minimal to no condensation inside the tent.
However, this “airy” design and the absence of solid fabric side walls mean the Mongar doesn’t retain heat significantly. Strong winds can also lead to noticeable air movement within the tent. On very cold nights (sub-0°C), the internal temperature will closely mirror the external conditions. This characteristic is a key reason why the Mongar is firmly categorized as a 3-season tent.
Entries and Vestibule
The Mongar’s dual-side entry design is a crucial advantage for comfort and convenience. It allows for effortless access to gear and the freedom to enter or exit without disturbing your tent mate.
The tent’s doors feature a generous, tapered design, ensuring easy ingress and egress. They can be neatly secured out of the way using integrated toggles.
While highly functional, the vestibules are designed efficiently rather than being overly expansive. A 75-liter backpack will fit under one half of the vestibule, partially encroaching on the inner tent’s space. This setup cleverly leaves the other half clear for entry/exit and allows for sheltered cooking in rainy conditions. This cooking option is particularly viable thanks to the central spreader pole, which helps the flysheet edge extend beyond the inner tent’s lower perimeter, preventing rainwater from dripping into the tent when the vestibule is open.
Weather Resistance
During this review, the Mongar was put through its paces over multiple nights across various weather conditions and seasons. This included battling cold, powerful winds and rain in Kouebokkeveld, experiencing calm but chilly spring nights at Moon Peak, and enjoying mild evenings in Langeberg and the Eastern Cape. In every scenario, the Mongar provided a secure and reliable sanctuary from the elements, whether facing a gentle morning drizzle or biting frozen winds.
The impressive 4000mm waterproof rating consistently kept us dry and provided a remarkably comfortable shelter during heavy downpours.
The flexibility of the central spreader pole system means the vestibules might flex and deform somewhat in strong winds, but I never felt the overall integrity of the tent’s structure was compromised. The tent is further stabilized by four robust guylines – two at each end – and eight additional stakes that secure the main footprint.
Given its classification as a 3-season tent, designed for conditions where extreme weather isn’t anticipated, the Mongar performed exceptionally well, even enduring relatively strong winds and substantial rainfall with confidence.
Conclusion
As should be clear by now, I wholeheartedly recommend the Naturehike Mongar for 3-season wilderness camping (spring, summer, autumn) on multi-day trips where minimizing pack weight is a priority and moderate weather is expected. It’s easy to pitch, remarkably spacious, and offers outstanding value – you simply can’t go wrong with the Mongar.
This tent was provided for review by Naturehike and can be purchased directly from their website.