It's the peak of the mountain climbing season. It's still hot down below, but the signs of autumn are already beginning to appear on the mountain
For those who want to make their equipment even 1g lighter, "lightness" is justice
The gear we introduce here may be appealing to those who are willing to sacrifice comfort in order to keep their equipment light
For those who want something lighter than a dome tent but aren't comfortable with a tent, we recommend the Montbell UL Monoframe Shelter. Its minimum weight is just 552g, half the weight of a typical dome tent!
The UL Monoframe Shelter is the perfect item for people who want to save even 1g, or for trail runners and speed hikers who prefer a private space to sleep in rather than high livability!
I will review my impressions after using this UL monoframe shelter
table of contents
Main features of the Montbell UL Monoframe Shelter
Montbell is a comprehensive outdoor brand that handles a wide range of products, including not only mountaineering and camping equipment, but also climbing, canoeing, fishing, travel goods, and clothing for people working in fields such as agriculture and fishing.In the United States, the UL items made by Montbell are attracting attention and becoming popular
The "UL Monoframe Shelter" made by Montbell is a shelter designed to provide enough space for one person to sleep
This single-wall, non-freestanding UL monoframe shelter has fewer frames than conventional cross-frame dome tents, making it significantly lighter. The main body fabric is made of ultra-thin 10D ballistic airlite nylon ripstop with a urethane coating for water repellency, and the bottom part, which requires more strength, is made of thicker 30D fabric for increased durability.
The space secured in the center by the monoframe is compact yet highly livable, and a total of four ventilation points ensure breathability and efficient air circulation
Only two pegs are required to set up the tent, which is fewer than a one-pole tent or bivouac, and by using additional guy ropes, it can be made weatherproof enough to be used in the mountains
The separate floor also ensures a high level of confidentiality, allowing for a private space to be secured
Favorite points
- Ultra-lightweight and highly portable
- Breathability ensured by ventilation in all four places
- It is not self-standing, but it can be easily made to stand on its own with just two pegs
Points of concern
- The room is not spacious or comfortable
- Condensation is unavoidable
- No dedicated footprint
- The mesh at the entrance cannot be operated from inside the tent
Main specifications and evaluation
| Item Name | UL Monoframe Shelter |
|---|---|
| structure | Non-freestanding monoframe shelter |
| Number of people sleeping | 1 person |
| size | 300 x 115 x 105cm high |
| Storage size |
|
| Weight | Weight: 552g (body and pole), 606g (total weight including stuff sack) |
| color | Yellow |
| material |
|
| accessories |
|
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ease of setup and takedown | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Portability | ★★★★★ |
| weather resistance | ★★★☆☆ |
| durability | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed Review
Ultra-lightweight and highly portable
UL Monoframe Shelters have a single-wall structure with only one layer of fabric separating them from the outside air, and because they are monoframe shelters that use only one frame, they are surprisingly light compared to cross-frame dome tents that use two poles
The UL Monoframe Shelter has a different purpose than a regular tent and is intended for experienced shelter users, but the total weight including the main body, poles, two pegs, and stuff sack is a measured 576g, so it has a significant weight advantage
With the advancement of technology, there are now double-walled dome tents that weigh less than 1 kg, but the difference is clear when compared to a UL monoframe shelter (it will still be difficult to make a dome tent this light)
The advantage of single-wall tents isn't just their weight: they pack down more compactly because they use less fabric
You can see how compact it is when you compare it to a 500ml plastic bottle
UL monoframe shelters do not have a vestibule, so they are not particularly comfortable to live in, and can only be used for cooking in bad weather or storing shoes, but they do offer great benefits
By the way, I'm not good at folding and storing things properly. The UL Monoframe Shelter's storage bag can be stored even if you just stuff it in carelessly (this is quite important for lazy people)
A diamond-shaped shelter that sacrifices comfort for lightness
As mentioned above, the UL Monoframe Shelter is extremely light, weighing just 575.5g, but the secret to its lightness lies in its shape. When viewed from above, you can see that it has a unique diamond shape
Many tents, including dome tents, have a square floor structure, but the UL Monoframe Shelter has a diamond shape
In addition to the space for one person to sleep, there is some space to put some luggage, but we couldn't fit large items like backpacks inside, so we put them in plastic bags and left them outside the tent
Not only does it have no vestibule, but the space inside the tent has also been cut down to the bare minimum, making it light and compact
The unique shape caused problems with the footprint
The unique diamond shape of the tent posed a problem with the footprint. Since there was no dedicated footprint, I folded a Tyvek sheet into the shape of a shelter to prevent damage to the tent
UL monoframe shelters have their own quirks when it comes to camping and tent-based mountaineering, where comfort is essential. They are not designed for everyone, and I feel they are primarily made for emergencies or for those who prioritize lightness when doing things like fastpacking or speed hiking
Breathability ensured by ventilation in all four places
UL monoframe shelters have a floor, which provides a high level of privacy and ensures a private space
Since the space is small, I was worried that it might be hard to breathe, but there are four points of ventilation in total, which allows for good air circulation, so I was able to spend time inside without feeling stuffy
There are four ventilation points in total, allowing for good air circulation
One thing that bothered me was that the mesh at the entrance and exit could not be operated from inside the tent. This is unavoidable due to the single-wall structure, but as someone who is used to using double-wall tents, it bothered me a little
The unavoidable "condensation problem"
Condensation is something that cannot be avoided in single-wall tents or shelters. The UL Monoframe Shelter has four ventilation holes, but condensation still formed inside the tent
Condensation occurs due to the temperature difference between the outside air and the inside of the tent, and the water vapor produced by people's breath. In the case of a double-walled tent, there is a space between the inside and outside air, which reduces the temperature difference and prevents condensation from occurring, but in the case of a single-walled tent, there is a direct temperature difference with the outside air, which causes condensation
If you use a UL monoframe shelter, you need to think about how to deal with condensation rather than just preventing it. For example, you should cover your sleeping bag and clothing to prevent them from getting wet, store them in a waterproof bag, and regularly wipe away condensation with absorbent sheets or hand towels
It is not self-standing, but it can be easily made to stand on its own with just two pegs
It can be set up by pegging it down at the two points indicated by the arrows
UL monoframe shelters are non-freestanding. Freestanding tents can be moved after they are set up, but UL monoframe shelters cannot be set up without pegging them down, so deciding where to set them up at a campsite can be a bit tricky
However, thanks to the single frame, you only need two pegs to make it stand upright. A typical monopole tent requires at least four pegs, so setting it up is less work than that
The area where the frame passes through can also be staked down, and there are two loops for guy ropes, for a total of four places. By staking down additional points, weather resistance can be improved (only two pegs are included; the additional four pegs and ropes must be purchased separately)
Summary: The best of both a tent and a bivouac. Can also be used in emergencies
The UL Monoframe Shelter is attractive because it is extremely lightweight, weighing just 575.5g (including two pegs). With its lightness and compactness, it can also be used as an emergency tent when adding it to your gear for day hikes or mountain climbing
The UL Monoframe Shelter is a hybrid shelter that combines the best features of a bivouac and a tent. Considering its functionality and livability, it is a rather unconventional item to use actively, but it may find use in situations where speed is important, such as trail running, speed hiking, and fastpacking
Make your equipment even 1g lighter and head out on the trail!
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