KUIU Mountain Star 2p Tent Review. 1.5kg, spacious, packs down tiny, but is it worth the money?

[@mikewilkinson3363]

Just received mine today. Got it in the sale for £319 English pounds. Delivered. Can't wait to get out in it. Great review Donna. Thank you 😊

[@donnavansenior]

You juts caught the sale price in time Mike! Well done, they've upped the price by a good hundred pounds after a well known US gear channel reviewed it a few days ago. For a lightweight 3 season tent it's a great piece of kit, with only a niggle or two, but you get that with all tents lol. Let me know how you get on with it :)

[@mikewilkinson3363]

Thanks Donna. After watching your review I looked at it and had to get it at that price 😊 @@donnavansenior

[@Hayyothhakodesh]

I love my mountain star!!! I was in a huge storm first camp with it. Under my floor was a river and lake of gathering water during the storm. Touching my floor felt like a waterbed! But it never leaked and the heavy rain never leaked thru anywhere around the tent. Hardcore wind and the tent didn't even move. Kuiu is my favorite tent brand. I paid 499$ and tax brought it to 550$. I'm good with the price. This tent makes weather look easy so we forget about how well made it is. I think the price is fair cuz compared to a big agnes etc it is way better designed and tougher even as a lightweight tent. We just forget how good it is maybe. I own the storm star now as well. Amazing kit.

[@donnavansenior]

I used my Mountain Star almost exclusively over Summer/Autumn last year after I bought it. It's an amazing tent, a nice weight at 1.5kg and it packs down beautifully small with a great space to weight ratio. Yeah I love the Kuiu line of tents as well @KGK 4ever I bought my Storm Star 2 years ago and after seeing the quality of that tent it was only a matter of time before I bought a MS. They're 2 totally different tents, but I know my MS will keep me safe in 3+ seasons and the SS will keep me safe with just about anything nature has to throw at it. Sounds like your MS had a baptism of fire with that huge storm and all the water underneath the tent - I've had mine out in heavy rains but not tested it in high winds yet. I know what you're saying about price, I paid around £560 for mine - but to buy one in the US it would only cost £420, so I still say it's a bit overpriced. Always great to hear from fellow Kuiu owners :)

[@emz_adventure]

Cracking honest review DVS. Definitely a thing of beauty. I shall admire it from afar. Beautiful. Xx

[@donnavansenior]

Morning Emz - yeah it's a real good looker the Mountain Star, packs down tiny and pops up massive! Annie and myself were both sat in it last week to escape flies and midges and there was hods of room for two. Nice storage options, super lightweight at 1.5kg - yeah it's an expensive piece of kit - I had to sell 2 tents to fund it - but the more I use it the more I'm impressed by it. I'm sure you'll see it in the flesh before the dark nights close in and I'm back in the Storm Star ;) Cheers Azda's, catch up soon xxx

[@RS.Outdoors]

Nice review Donna and do fancy trying the Storm Star when they ever come back in stock.

[@donnavansenior]

Thanks Ray 😊 The Storm Star is a beast of a lightweight tent but ridiculously hard to get hold of. Price has rocketed as well over the course of the 18months since I bought mine. I'd still say it was well worth the price, a really solid build, quality throughout with immaculate attention to detail...and I've never known a tent as quiet in high winds. This Mountain Star is another great addition to my collection and I'll get a lot of use out of it. Two totally different tents but they're both keepers. Tfw Ray 😁

[@adge_ventures4915]

Yay! Great review and of course......honest which is always appreciated Donna. Looks a great bit of kit but I, like you see it as less than the £580 as that's what I paid for the storm star with footprint back last year. Just can't justify it, especially as I can't move the crux beasty on 😂 Stay safe and well, Adge

[@donnavansenior]

Hi Adge - still not sold the Crux? People don't know what they're missing, it looks an amazing tent. As for the Mountain Star - it's a niche tent, something different for those who strive to be original ;) And yeah it's expensive, customs charges see to that, but I'm gonna get loads of use out of it and I'm super chuffed I own one, it's a definite keeper. You'll be seeing it a lot more on video for the next few months; it packs down ridiculously small - and 1.5kg for a tent as spacious with 2 doors? Wow! TBH when I first pitched it at Burleywhag I was a bit underwhelmed but after a few more camps with it in differing weather conditions I'm getting more and more impressed by it. Think I paid £540 for my SS2 - never bought the groundsheet, couldn't afford it at the time, got Lucy Quintcraft to make me one (to cover both vestibules as well) a few months later, couldn't believe it fit the MS2 perfectly as well. Happy days ;and a happy Donna :)

[@Kev_Russ]

Nice review Donna. A fine looking, spacious tent.

[@donnavansenior]

Thanks Kev - a bit of a niche tent for the UK market but I like to be different and therefore - even though it's expensive - it's almost the perfect 3 season tent for me.

[@Kev_Russ]

@@donnavansenior Aye, bit steep eh. I'll stick to my Lanshans. 😉

[@donnavansenior]

🤣🤣 the Lanshan is a fine beast of a tent, I've been tempted many times lol.

[@craig3401]

Very nice review I really like the tent now after a few little teething problems the leak I had was from a cpl of the attachment points but some tenacious tape soon fixed that the main 1 like I said was the flapping zip cover but additional velcro fixed that.yea I agree the door tie backs are very fiddly more of a minor thing that tho.aa for the clips I don't really fasten the bottom of the door and probably there that small for weight savings I guess.the poles being DAC are great it's easy to pitch just be careful threading the poles but that goes for any tent.the space inside is amazing and the 2 doors and 2 vestibules are great.i agree on the price it's in the msr price range it's the shipping and import duties that sting but for something like this yes 450 would be about right.over all I'm happy with the tent.i got the kuiu footprint it's 15d but doesn't cover the vestibules I got a footprint from Lucy for the storm star so will probably ask her to do me 1 for this but in 15d.also I added extra guys to the vestibules gives more stability to them.in nice weather opening the 2 sides of the doors is great makes it so airy.the bath tub comes up far enough IMO but in early spring or late autumn I think the inner tent would benefit from some solid inner just above the bath tub but that's just my thinking.good to see what other people think I know it's not a tent for everyone but I like it as I always say it's not perfect no tent is but I won't be parting with this or the storm star lol

[@donnavansenior]

Morning Craig :) Yip - I'm loving the Mountain Star. First pitch with it I was thinking wow, it's expensive for what it is, but after a month of camping with it I'm pretty chuffed that I've got one, it ticks every box for a 3 season tent for me. I get excited for taking it out and the other night it took 9hrs of heavy North Pennine rain (pitched on grass) with no condensation the next morning. Brilliant. I have had condensation in it - at the beach on camp #2 - but that was to be expected with the proximity to water and the weather. I've had the weird noises from the door flaps - I'll be doing as you have and securing some extra velcro to the flaps. The small buckles - only really an issue if you carry the inner and fly separately - which some people do so I thought it was worth pointing out. What I love about it? Lightweight. Packs down tiny. Double doored - as you say, roll those back for a beautiful open feel to the tent, the midges and flies were out the other night before the rain started, it was a pleasure sitting in that tent with those doors rolled back safe behind the mesh inner. Both me and Annie sat in the tent (her Salewa was too small to socialise in) and there was plenty room for two. Good internal head height. Decent storage inside. Double zippered doors. Access to vents from the inner. Can pitch all in one and pitches fast. It looks good, Kuiu's attention to detail is second to none. The stitching looks pretty much perfect. Good quality stakes. Illuminated guy lines and locks. It must have the same floor size as the Storm Star because my SS2 footprint looks tailor-made for it, even the elasticated tie-outs fit beautifully under the ends of the pole tips ;) Also the couple of solid sections on the inner - shielding any spray that might sneak in from either vent if the winds and rain changed direction - also on the ceiling incase of any condensation dripping down, well thought out and nice to look at. I'm a very happy girl now I've had a chance to use it a good few times. Cheers Craig - I'm the same as you, I'll definitely be keeping all 3 of my Kuiu tents.

[@craig3401]

@@donnavansenior yea the footprint should be pretty much the same not sure what denier the footprint is on the saw but it stays attached so just thought I might get a 15d 1 for ms2 the 1 I got as I say doesn't cover the vestibules and having them covered helps with condensation.i was also wondering if the ss2 inner might fit the ms2 but not sure I might have to see but I think they attached different around the corners of the bathtub.but yes there a cracking tent definitely an investment but should last year's.id you do the extra velcro do double the length of what on now to make the gap between them even smaller 👍

[@Wild-Camping-Geordie]

Cheers Donna, Ill use that hiking pole idea in my Naturehike Mongar 2 if it gets a bit breezy 👋👍

[@donnavansenior]

Loads of tents need their doors braced against changing winds - it works a treat Fred :) I( always fancied a Naturehike Mongar but at the time they only had that awful purple one in stock. How do you find it weight and stability wise?

[@radnrev5851]

Hell of a review!! Thank you!!

[@donnavansenior]

You're welcome it's a great tent. I just bought a 2nd one in the stealthier colour 😁

[@jimmy.mccutcheon.1961]

Nice one Donna 😉👍

[@donnavansenior]

Thank you Jimmy 😁

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

🙈 Deary me I’m First😮 Must be the Hula Hoops I’m munching on Which my Review is OH Yes!!😜 Awesome Tent Review Donna as I was looking forward to this after seeing it out on your last few trips and seeing what you think compared to your Storm Star. Definitely a Keeper Donna. Wish I had one⛺️🥾

[@donnavansenior]

Yey!! Good to hear you're actually munching on the Big Hoops as opposed to them being a tad on the soft side ;) As for the Mountain Star - it's definitely a keeper Neil. Packs down ridiculously small, pitches all in one, lightweight, good looking, functional, decent storage, feels quality, the stitching looks spot on and it shrugged off 9hrs of heavy North Pennine rain the other night with no noticeable condensation the next morning. Brilliant. It's a totally different tent to the Storm Star and I'm feeling pretty chuffed to own both of them. One happy bunny here 👍👍⛺️

[@shaunspencer6437]

Ah another kuiu eh. Will be interesting to see which tent you favour. Couple of paper clips can help with the flappy bits making a noise. And some electrical shrink wrap round zippers etc. Though when people complain about such noises I can't help but wonder what are they doing going camping? 😂🏕️😂 Now to do some catching up of yer vids. 😂😂

[@donnavansenior]

Morning Shaun. I've got 3 Kuiu tents now - all definite keepers. I'll get the most use out of this one (Mountain Star) but the Storm Star will always be my favourite. The zips don't rattle but the door flap can make a really strange noise on this tent - I wouldn't risk a paperclip incase the fabric got punctured - I'll end up securing extra velcro to it. I like being outdoors and hearing nature, the sound of rain on a tent is one of my favourite sounds, but a vibrating door flap is something else lol - like someone blowing through a reed, not ideal to drift off to sleep to 🤣 2 totally different tents the Storm Star and Mountain Star, I think this MS is as close as I'll get to the perfect 3 season tent for myself - so yes it's expensive, but I'll get an absolute tonne of use out of it. TFW Sean 😁

[@otf.outdoors]

Good review Donna, it really does look a high quality made tent, and looks like it could definitely handle bad weather no problem, and it does stand out, very good looking tent, atb Mick 👍

[@donnavansenior]

I am officially in love and in awe of this tent Mick. Out again with it last night and another great camp. For 1.5kg it's a work of art, tiny pack size but a ridiculously spacious tent. Still think it's overpriced but that's the UK customs charges pushing it past a reasonable price for a 3 season tent...they would get a massive amount of business if they could provide their tent range over here without those extra charges. Saying that I'm enjoying being one of the few people in this country who owns one 😉😁 cheers Mick tfw 👍

[@otf.outdoors]

@@donnavansenior nice one, that's very light for such a big backpacking tent, tbh Donna I think as long as it gets used, doing what you love to do, then it's worth every penny in my eyes 👍

[@LundysWildcampBushcraft]

Nice tent good review Donna I like it atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍

[@donnavansenior]

I love it Jimmy - yeah it's blinking expensive but I'll be using it loads - it's exactly what I want in a 3 season tent - lightweight, spacious, double doored, decent internal head height and packs down tiny - I can literally stuff this into a 6L dry bag! Wow!! TFW 😎

[@davirahmad7815]

Amazzingg waaaw

[@donnavansenior]

It's expensive, but it's lightweight and spacious :)

[@phil.clarke]

You know I am legally and morally and ethically obliged to mention the 'H' word when you review tents Donna ......... but I think that I may be able to resist ...good, honest review!

[@donnavansenior]

Hille hasn't anything similar to the design of this tent Phil - it's a hard to describe tent, and then there's the question of the large price tag that accompanies it. Why pay that much for this tent....? I like to be different and do things differently, I research the tent market meticulously, I have many hours of in-depth chats with Llama Annie about tents - plus points, minus points, usability, liveability, pitching options, materials used...the list is endless. My criteria for a perfect 3 season tent would be: twin doored / 2 person / 1.5kg or under / pitches all in one / decent internal head height (minimum 95cm) / at least 2 external vents / ample storage options inside / good looking, something that stands out / double zips on fly and inner / seam sealed / throw in a lifetime warranty and this my good fellow would tick every box........so what I've described there is the Kuiu Mountain Star. It's as close to a perfect 3 season tent as I'll ever get Phil, and that for me justifies the hefty price tag. TFW and commenting Philleberg ;-) lol

[@phil.clarke]

@@donnavansenior Under no circumstances will I ever admit to anyone that with the benefit of hindsight I would have purchased a Kuiu Mountain Start instead of my [redacted] Niak. I think that most UK conditions I would camp in these days would need a three-season tent at most. I agree with the perfect tent features you have listed. My [redacted] Niak fits all bar the 'twin doors' and '1.5kg or under' (mine weighs in at 1.7kg with the footprint) and for me is the perfect one-person tent albeit described as two-person by [redacted].

[@craig3401]

@@phil.clarke well tbh I had a short list of 2 possible 3 season tents the niak and the mountain star.but when I weighed everything up the mountain star edged it slightly lighter better venting options and the double doors/vestibules and quite a lot less money.now saying that if I ever get a good windfall in the future I might have another look at the niak lol

[@phil.clarke]

@@craig3401 The Niak is £920 + £80 for a footprint. I paid considerably less than that for mine a few years ago - that's inflation for you! With the Kuiu Mountain Star retailing at £563 or £662 with footprint that looks like a bargain when compared to a new Niak. Tempted to buy one to give it a go!

[@craig3401]

@@phil.clarke I'm happy with my mountain star but I'd have a niak if money wasn't an issue I think there both great tents so who knows in the future I may end up with 1 but agree the better value for money is the mountain star

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

I’ve got a Jack Wolfskin Gossamer 2 just to be different as well as Polish Lavvu 2 and a Akto

[@donnavansenior]

I've looked at the Gossamer 2 many times Mick, slightly too low head height and that single front opening tunnel style door cancels it out for me. The Lavvu tents seem heavy and bulky and more for hardcore bushcrafters - and I'm not a Hille type of girl. That's a decent selection you've got their though - just about covers every season ;-)

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

@@donnavansenior the gossamer 2 is supposed to be two person but I got it for hunky chunky me. Only pitched in the garden so far. But it has two doors at the top and a porch sort of layout. Nabbed mine as new unopened on fleaBay £120

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Just watched the olpro review. Gossamer 11 is as tall at 90cm inside. Head end. 👍🏻 Not making em anymore as far as I can tell.

[@donnavansenior]

@@Yorkshiremadmick your Gossamer should be an infinitely better tent than ether of those Olpro tents, Jack Wolfskin has a good name, Olpro is more associated with campervan awnings lol 🙄 their Pioneer is a great tent though, I might have to buy another one before they possibly discontinue it x

[@fraserconnell21]

Rrraaahhh👍👍👍🙏🙏💥

[@donnavansenior]

Rrrraaaahh!! (and the new tent's quite an animal as well, a sturdy wee beast for such a small pack size and weight)

[@wurlabyscott]

Bought this tent and flys were crawling thru the mesh

[@donnavansenior]

No chance. It's a very fine mesh and bugs couldn't get through - even dust doesn't penetrate the mesh.