Customer Stories-Long-term review: Naturehike Cloud Up 2 ultralight tent

Long-term review: Naturehike Cloud Up 2 ultralight tent

I was on the fence when it came to whether or not to buy a Naturehike Cloud Up 2 tent as I could hardly find a single review (long-term or otherwise) about it online.

The Cloud Up 2 is an ultralight tent which is very similar in design to the well-regarded Big Agnes Fly Creek.

The main difference is that the Cloud Up costs $150 while the Fly Creek, and most other premium ultralight tents in general, cost between $600 AUD and $1000.

Given its very low price, could the Cloud Up 2 stand up to the elements and be a worthy ultralight tent? Or is it just a cheap knockoff that will break after a few uses?

I took the plunge and decided to purchase one to see if it would be suitable for multi-day hiking and backpacking trips. The version I bought was the upgraded Cloud Up 2 20D nylon in grey.

After a year with the tent, here is my long-term review of the Naturehike Cloud Up 2.

What’s included

Naturehike Cloud Up Review-2
The pegs and poles.

The Naturehike Cloud Up 2 comes with:

  • Tent fly: 20D nylon coated silicone
  • Inner tent: 20D nylon coated silicone, B3 breathable mesh
  • Groundsheet: 20D nylon coated silicone
  • Poles: 7001 Aluminum
  • Pegs: Aluminum
  • Tent bag and additional guy ropes

Size and weight

Naturehike Cloud Up 2 tent size
The tent next to a one litre water bottle.

 

Naturehike Cloud Up 2 tent review

The tent has enough height that you can sit up in it comfortably, although the entrance is a little small and I find I have to squeeze myself in and out of it.

Most of the time I am using the tent by myself, but I have shared it a couple of times. It’s fine to fit two people in for a night or two. 

Naturehike does make a three-person version of the tent which would be more suitable for two people.

Setting it up

Naturehike Cloud Up 2 tent review
The rear of the tent.

Along with the weight and price, I was also attracted to the Cloud Up 2 for how easy it is to set up and pack down.

It is completely freestanding which is very handy, although unless you are camping in perfect conditions, the pegs are needed to make the fly taut.

It only takes a couple of minutes to set up and pack down the tent, and it’s relatively sturdy when it is up.

The three poles are all connected and snap together easily via clips on the inner tent. The tent fly clips on to the inner tent at each of the corners, although I can never seem to get the fit and tension perfect.

As such, the fly is always loose in parts and flaps around. This seems to be a common issue, but can be alleviated by using the additional guy ropes on the fly, and by pegging the fly tight.

I also find the included groundsheet often bunches up and fails to provide much protection to the tent floor. So most of the time, especially on long hikes where weight is a priority, I leave the groundsheet at home.

 


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