Earlier this year we reviewed the Windrider, an ultralight backpack made by Hyperlite Mountain Gear. The good review was music to the company’s ears, but there was a sour note. In the review I mentioned that I insisted on carrying my dome tent, while true ultralighters go with only a tarp or bivy sack. “Not so!” said Hyperlite, and to prove it they sent us the Echo II Ultralight Shelter System. The Echo II is on the cutting edge of tent designs: ultralight, weatherproof and big enough to make a dome-lover like me rethink backcountry shelters. I had the chance to take the Echo II on a backpacking trip to Idaho- read on to learn how it performed.
When the box arrived at the front door I was a bit stunned. I knew this tent was light, but at 1.84 pounds it was shocking. The shelter works as a three part system: a main tent body, tarp and vestibule. The detachable body is made of mesh and cuben fiber sidewalls and features a fully zippered front entry. The tarp is constructed with a catenary cut sealed ridgeline and double reinforced tie outs for the guylines. The vestibule, or beak, is also made of water resistant cuben fiber. No poles included, this tent sets up with two trekking poles (or substitute two sturdy sticks available for free in the woods).
I practiced setting up the Echo II in my backyard before hitting the woods- a good choice. While setup is relatively simple, it does require some finagling. You’ll need twelve tent stakes- 4 for the body and 8 for all the guylines. The integrity of the structure relies on proper tension in the guylines, and it’s a game of give and take. I had the tent ready to rock in the backcountry in about 10 minutes, though I’m sure that time could be cut in half with more practice. Once standing, the interior is spacious. Plenty of room for two sleeping systems and extra gear (or in my case, my gear and one dog who demands her fair share of space). Attach the beak and you’ve got even more storage space to utilize.
Guylines are a key component in the Echo II, and Hyperlite has hit a home run with theirs. The pull-tab system made fine tuning the tension in each line a snap; I wish my usual guys were so convenient. The main body is about 3/4 mesh which makes for great views when you don’t have the tarp/fly attached. As for the weatherproof qualities, well, I had my doubts, but when the 5pm thunderstorms rolled through the tent stayed bone dry. The strength and water resistance of the cuben fiber is very impressive. The weight in my pack was barely noticeable; in fact, I was able to fit a few cans of beer in my bag thanks to the lighter load.
Drawbacks? The first is the amount of tent stakes needed to set up the shelter. Twelve stakes is what it took me, and Hyperlite doesn’t include those in the total weight. Sure, you could use rocks or other natural anchors to guy the tent out, but you will still want the stakes just in case. The second beef is with the cost: a whopping $595! Yes, ultralight technology of this caliber does not come cheap. This tent is not for those of you looking to wet your feet in ultralight backpacking, it’s more of a crown jewel in a serious collection.
I give the Echo II Ultralight Shelter high marks for its weight, ample space and overall design. For Hyperlite’s part, they have again opened my eyes: it is indeed possible to carry a tent that will keep you safe from the weather and insects while being truly ultralight. The price is quite high, but I have a feeling that you hardcore lightweights out there will be able to justify it. If you’re a tent lover who wants to go as light as possible, this is the shelter for you.
For more info, or to purchase the Echo II Ultralight Shelter, visit the Hyperlite Mountain Gear website.