The lightest in her tests, Lucy Wallace recommends the Exped Mira 1 HL. Here’s why.
Less is more in the world of lightweight tents, and the Exped Mira 1 HL is both the lightest and most expensive tent in this test.
Lucy Wallace’s Lightest in Test
If weight is your top priority, the Exped Mira 1 HL wins, even if it’s slightly less luxurious.- very lightweight
- narrow, mesh inner
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $399.95 to $499.95 / £580 (available from Exped) Weight: 1089g Pitching: inner first, although fly can be pitched on its own with additional groundsheet protector Flysheet Materials: 15D ripstop nylon with silicone and polyurethane coating with1500mm H/H Inner Materials: 15D ripstop nylon with 15D No-See-Um mesh. DWR C6 treatment. Groundsheet Materials: 20D ripstop nylon, silicone and polyurethane coating 1500mm H/H Poles: DAC Featherlite NFL TH72M 8.7mm Pegs: 10 V pegs Porches: 1 Inner Dimensions: Width 70cm x length 215 cm x height 105cm expeduk.com |
The hubbed design pitches inner first, like the Sea to Summit Alto TR1 Plus, but with a horizontal crosspiece rather than a V-shape. As a result, it doesn’t quite reach the same heady heights for headroom, although it’s still easy to sit up inside.
The footprint is a narrow rectangle but offers good length. The tent has one main porch, large enough for a rucksack, boots, and a stove. There’s also a second vestibule, accessible via a long zip on the opposite side, increasing external storage space. I think this additional space would be better utilised if incorporated into the main body of the tent to improve internal living space.
Inside, there are pockets at one end for stashing small items. Like the Alto TR1 Plus, it has steep sides, so care is needed when pitching, especially with regard to wind direction. The fly can be used without the inner if combined with a groundsheet protector (an additional £45).
Due to the lightweight materials, Exped recommend using this protector anyway, which adds 175g to the setup. Overall, this tent feels like it may struggle under heavy use in mixed weather, particularly in strong wind. The mesh inner makes it more suitable for warmer nights.
A distinctive feature is the set of little yellow mesh bags for tucking away guy lines when not in use. These also improve visibility as the lines flap cheerfully in the breeze!
There’s little to separate this tent from the Alto TR1 Plus, both are lightweight, offer decent liveable space, and have steep sides that require some caution in mountain conditions. If weight is your top priority, the Exped Mira 1 HL wins, even if it’s slightly less luxurious.
Testing conditions
The tents were tested over several wild camps in mixed springtime conditions. This included some rough, wet and windy nights out. Weights supplied were measured on Lucy’s home digital scales, and include the entire tent, poles, pegs and stuff sacks as packed.
This review was first published in the September 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors. Compare this with other one-person tents in our buyer’s guide.
