Lara Dunn awards the EasyCamp Sarek 1 three stars for its ease of pitching – but wouldn’t recommend it for more demanding camps.
There’s a lot to love here with the EasyCamp Sarek 1 and it’s the cheapest in this test, but there are a few niggles that make it less than perfect for experienced or more demanding users.
Lara Dunn’s verdict
For the price, it’s not a bad budget backpacking option but it’s probably better suited to Duke of Edinburgh expeditions- low price
- easy to pitch
- small porch
- compact feeling living space
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $115 / £84.99 Weight: 1936g Pitching: as unit or outer first Flysheet: WeatherGuard 3000 180T polyester PU coated, PFC free water repellency, 3000mm Inner: Breathable polyester Groundsheet: 75D polyester Taffeta 185T PU coated, 5000mm HH Poles: 8.5mm, 7001 aluminium Pegs: 4 aluminium pegs Porches: 1 Inner dimensions: width 75cm, length 225cm, height 80cm easycamp.com |
The Sarek 1 consists of two aluminium poles, a fly sheet and inner with integral ground sheet. It pitches fly first, or as one (once clipped in with its simple but effective toggle and ring fastening). Some re-fastening can be necessary if pitched as one.
Marketed at trekkers and cycle tourists, the tent – which is stealth camping friendly, dark green – claims to have a generous porch that runs along the side where the entrance is, but I found it to be far too shallow to be genuinely useful in inclement weather, either for dry storage or cooking.
The tunnel tent design goes up quickly, but guylines are needed to finish the job. It takes some time and effort with positioning and tightening the guylines to achieve a decent tension to prevent sagging and water collection. The width of the inner fits a sleeping mat spot on, but there’s little in the way of headroom within, making it quite claustrophobic, not helped by the polyester fabric of the inner and the PU coated polyester outer. With no mesh panels apart from the stiffened end vents, it can feel a little stuffy inside.
There’s no mesh in the door either, although the door does roll nicely out of the way. For the price, it’s not a bad budget backpacking option but it’s probably better suited to Duke of Edinburgh type expeditions, rather than adult hikers looking for a backpacking all-weather home on multi-day walks.
Testing conditions
Lara used the tents on backpacking adventures in early spring at lower-level locations in mid-Wales. Temperatures were variable but weather was largely favourable. Weights are for total pack including stuffsack, poles and pegs and measured on Lara’s scales.
This review was first published in the August 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors. To compare this tent to others in its price range, read our guide to the best budget tents.
