The First Ascent Starlight II tent is a light-weight (2.3kg) tent intended for hiking and camping. Seamus Allardice and Zane Schmahl used it while bikepacking the Bikamino recce in late June; by splitting the tent and distributing the weight across two Lezyne Bar Caddy Bags. One carried an aluminum tent pole and the fly sheet, while the other carried the second pole and the tent itself.

That being said the tent is small and compact enough to pack into a single Bar Caddy Bag if needed. And though it was only a soft soaking rain proved to be waterproof with only four tent pegs keeping the fly sheet off the mesh of the tent itself.

A look at the size of the First Ascent Starlight II tent. Photo by Jacques Marais.

The aluminium tent poles and pegs feel nice and strong. They look and feel like they will hold up well in windy conditions, which gives the Starlight II an edge over bivvy bags for winter bikepacking or hiking.

Starlight II Tent Specifications

Weight 2.3kg
Best Use Camping, Hiking
Dimensions (60+220) X 140 X 120cm
Guy Ropes Type Reflective Ropes
Peg Type 16mm Aluminium
Pole Type 8.5mm Aluminium
Packed Size 46.5 X 14.5cm
Flysheet 210T PU Polyester – Waterhead: 1500mm
Inner 210T Breathable Polyester
Mesh Fine no see mesh on doors
Floor 150D PU Oxford Polyester – Waterhead: 2000mm