The Tarptent Moment is an ultralight, single-person tunnel tent with dual side vestibules that doesn't require trekking poles to pitch. If it's raining, you can set up the rain fly first, independently of the inner tent. You can also set up the rain fly and use it like a tarp shelter, without the inner tent. Finally, you can set up the inner tent by itself for stargazing in fine weather, though it takes a little extra configuration and isn't the main reason you'd buy this tent.

• Type: Double-wall Tent (with Fly first option)
• Poles: 1 (no trekking poles required)
• Doors and Vestibules: 2
• Interior Pockets: 2
• Model tested: Siliconized polyester with carbon fiber pole
• Weight: 29.85 oz / 846 g
• Rain Fly: 15D 100% silicone-coated ripstop high-tenacity polyester (5000mm+)
• Floor: 20D 100% silicone-coated ripstop high-tenacity polyester (5000mm+)
• Inner tent dimensions: 84″ x 42″ (center) tapering to 24″ (ends) with 39″ of height
• Outer (covered) dimensions: 102″ x 72 (center) tapering to 24″ (ends) with 42″ of height
• Seam-Sealing: Required (have Tarptent do this for you)
• Minimum number of stakes to pitch: 2, more recommended.

I first encountered the Moment when I met Tarptent's owner, Henry Shires, in Scotland during the final days of my first coast-to-coast backpacking trip in the 2010 TGO Challenge, as our routes converged in Glen Esk on the way to the east coast town of Montrose. Henry tested a prototype of Tarptent's Moment Tent on that hike, and I've wanted to test the final product ever since. This was my chance.

You can set up the fly first or use the fly alone, which is an attractive option for winter camping. You can also disconnect the inner tent and pack it away first, say if it's raining, to keep it dry, while packing the wet fly separately.

Variations

The Moment is available in several fabric versions, including siliconized polyester, Dyneema Composite Fabric (26.05 oz / 738 g), and Challenge Sailcloth UltraTNT v1.5 composite fabric (31.5 oz / 893 g). It's also available with two different inner tent options: one with mesh walls for warm weather, and the second with solid walls to retain greater warmth in winter conditions. Similarly, there are three pole options: the carbon fiber pole works well in moderate conditions, while the aluminum poles are recommended for high winds or heavy snow loads.

For three-season use, most US-based users will opt for the tent in whatever material you prefer, the mesh inner tent, and carbon fiber tent poles. I prefer a siliconized polyester tent over Dyneema because it's more compressible, and I don't feel the weight savings are worth spending twice as much on this tent. Dyneema tents also tend to let in a lot of light, which makes it hard for me to sleep on long summer days, whereas the inside of a silpoly tent tends to be darker.

The Moment has two vestibules which provide great ventilation and a high degree of livability.

Fly First Setup

If it's raining, you can set up the Moment rain fly before the inner tent, but you'll typically keep the two connected and set them up at the same time. The inner connects to the fly with toggles, so you can disconnect it if it's raining out and pack it first while staying under cover if you want to keep it as dry as possible. When you set it up again, you can raise the wet rain fly and reconnect the dry inner tent underneath: there are 11 dowels and two mitten hooks to connect. Most double-wall tents sold in the US don't have this capability, although it's fairly common on tents manufactured by European companies (Hilleberg, Exped, Terra Nova, and others.)

A subtle detail: the inner tent doors face in opposite directions, so you don't have to worry about the orientation of the inner tent during setup because you can get in or out on either side.

To pitch the Moment, you insert a collapsible tent pole into the center sleeve to create the hoop. Then you pull the two tent ends out and stake them. You really only need two tent stakes to pitch the tent on soil you can get a stake into, although more stakes can be added to loops positioned along the hoop and perimeter of the tent.

Pitchlocks create triangular tunnels at the ends of the tent that provide ventilation and increase interior headroom

Each end of the tent forms a triangular space, created by short carbon fiber struts that slot into channels at the ends. These are called pitchlocks, and they create tunnels at each end of the tent for enhanced airflow.

The pitchlocks help to raise the ceiling above the head and foot ends of the tent.

They also lift the tent ends off the ground and increase interior space. Without them, the rain fly would touch the ground, much like the sides of a pyramid tent, and shorten the effective length of the tent. Tarptent uses them on many of its other tents, and they're a signature feature unique to the brand.

The ends of the pitchlocks are covered with solid fabric, secured along one side with Velcro. You can also roll the fabric open to let more air flow through the tent, without worrying about rain getting inside, because the ends of the inner tent are recessed.

There's also excellent space at the foot end of the tent.

When packing, you can remove the carbon fiber struts that form the pitchlock from their channels, but most people leave them inserted and roll them up inside the tent body.  Removing them makes the tent more compressible if you want to store it horizontally in a narrow backpack, but it increases setup time.

To remove the center hoop pole in one piece, keep it sharply curved as you slide it out of the sleeve. This prevents the ferrules from separating, so you can pull it out in one continuous length before breaking it down and packing it up. It took me years to learn this trick (credit: Tim at Slingfin), and it really works.

The regular setup time is incredibly fast with the Moment (provided the inner and outer tents are already attached), since you only need to insert the center pole and stake out the ends. It's really astounding. It's even fairly manageable in a stiff breeze, as long as you stake out one of the ends and keep the hoop close to the ground before staking out the second end. That said, you'd still want to add a few more stakes if there is any wind, using the numerous anchor points surrounding the body tent. While the Moment isn't a freestanding tent, its hooped structure makes it feel like one.

You can make the Moment freestanding by adding an extra pole to it.

To make it truly freestanding, you can add a long carbon fiber pole (extra $$) that arches over the length of the tent and slots into the end guyout points, so you can pick the entire tent up and move it around freely. This freestanding mode can be particularly useful for added strength for snow loads in winter, reducing flapping in high winds, or for places where it's difficult to stake down the ends of the tent, like a beach or rocky ledge. I don't consider it a must-have for normal use.

While you can pick up the tent with the arch pole inserted, it's really only necessary for extreme conditions or snow loading.

Once erected, the tent opens along the center zipper, allowing you to open both vestibule side doors completely or partially for great airflow. The center zippers on both sides are reinforced at the bottom by buckles to take pressure off the zipper, since zippers are the most delicate part of any tent.  Top vents also help vent water vapor, and magnets secure the vestibule doors when rolled up instead of old-school toggles.

The vestibule zippers are bidirectional, allowing for flexible ventilation

Unlike many ultralight tents, the sides of the Moment also reach the ground in the style of British tents. This blocks wind and rain and provides better heat retention. Many ultralight tents made for the US ‘audience' leave a much larger gap between the rain fly and the ground, which helps explain why the Moment and other Tarptent models, such as the Tarptent Scarp, are favored by UK hillwalkers and wild campers.

Recommendation

The Tarptent Moment is an excellent choice for solo backpackers who want an ultralight tent without relying on trekking poles. Its fast, simple pitch, two vestibules, excellent ventilation, and useful fly-first setup make it especially practical in wet and changeable weather. The ability to use the fly on its own also adds flexibility for winter trips, while the solid construction and low-sided design provide better protection from wind and rain than many ultralight tents. Spacious and comfortable, the Moment provides a versatile shelter for the discerning backpacker who wants to stay “in the Moment.”

Disclosure: Tarptent loaned the author a tent.