In the annuls of mountaineering there are a few tents that really stand out above the crowd when it comes to conquering big summits, and one of these is the Mountain Hardware EV2. This is a single-walled tent that means it is going to be a lot lighter than most other similarly-sized double-walled tents. In fact, this is probably one of the lightest 4-season expedition-worthy tents out there. But it has a few downsides, one of which is cost.
An overview of the Mountain Hardware EV2 Tent
Source: Mountain Hardwear
This Mountain Hardware tent is a single wall expedition tent. The single-wall bit is self-explanatory. Instead of consisting of an inner tent and a waterproof fly sheet, this just has one layer of fabric. That means a sacrifice of some comfort for a big saving in weight. It also means, however, that the cost goes up because the tent needs to be constructed from a breathable fabric that allows water-vapour out but also keeps the rain on the outside.
The main specs are:
- Weight – 2.36 kg (5lb 3 oz)
- Capacity – 2 people
(You can get more from the manufacturer’s website here)
The tent evolved from some joint work on the design between Ed Viesturs, the mountaineer, and Mountain Hardwear. Mr Viesturs has climbed all of the worlds 14 8,000 feet peaks and is also famous for having filmed at the summits of many of the world’s highest mountains. And it shows the benefit of his extensive experience. The design challenge that Mr Viesturs set for Mountain Hardwear was to make a tent that was as light as possible but also as roomy as possible. The result was a tent that has to rank up there as one of the most suitable for fast and light alpine style ascents on big mountains.
The tent also had to be strong enough to withstand the strong winds and snow storms that batter mountains at high altitudes. The Mountain Hardwear EV2 uses poles made from Scandium alloy. This is light and strong and also resilient. The poles also widen at the end to strengthen the most vulnerable section.
What I like about the Mountain Hardwear EV2
- Low weight
- Spacious
- Integral vestibule gives good space for storage and cooking
- Easy pitching
- Strong design with tough fabric and strong frame
- Good ventilation with plenty of vents and breathable fabric.
What I don’t like about it
- High price tag
- High price tag
- erm, high price tag
- Some people don’t like the integrated vestibule because it provides less protection than an old style “airlock” that you get from a door on the inside of the vestibule.
What do others say?
Outdoor Gear Lab call it:
a well-designed, strong, and highly livable expedition-worthy single-walled winter shelter.
What they didn’t like were:
Downsides include a canopy that is hard to tension properly and a fabric that is less breathable than those on other tents (you’ll want some wind to circulate air through the vents). On the whole, the EV2 is a marvelous shelter for demanding alpine pursuits.
Everest News says the EV2 is:
This specialist tent includes all the features you’d expect to shelter you in winter and high alpine conditions.
The review on Alpinist.com says:
The R&D that must have gone into this tent is mind-boggling. It seems as though every tiny, little detail has been well thought out and executed in complete style. If you can afford it, whether it is for Denali, Ama, or the Grand in winter, this tent will not let you down.
Backpacking lite has a review but it is blocked unless you are a subscriber. If you are, you can read it here.
There is also a great Youtube video review you can see here or below:
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