Black wolf mantis 1 UL

By: Adrian on 6 January 2017

I've always liked the design of low profile side entry tents like the Mantis. I tossed up between a few before settling on the Mantis 1 UL. It's very comparable with some of its more expensive counterparts. At 1.4 kg it's a bargain for the price, esp when picked up on sale. If you pitch it nice and tight you will have no issues with water leakage. It cannot be pitched "all in one" like others ie Vango F10 Helium. The condensation is ok. I've had a lot worse but airflow is a bit of a problem. It can feel a bit stuffy inside on warm nights. The vestibule area is ok but it's not quite large enough to keep a 65-75ltr pack without leaning it up against the inside netting. Unlike many other lightweight tents the pegs that come with the tent are decent and you shouldn't have to replace them with more durable ones. Inside the tent you have a loop for connecting a torch and 2 very decent sized pockets for keeping sleeping bag/mat stuff bags etc. I'm 6ft1 and I wouldn't recommend the Mantis to anyone much taller than myself. Pitching takes 5 mins and is very basic. I would recommend (as with all lightweight tents) that you invest in a tarp to protect the flooring. The Mantis doesn't have a footprint available to my knowledge. In Summery, Unless you're into ultra lightweight hiking and have the money to invest in a $600+ tent that's at or under 1kg then I highly recommend the Mantis 1 UL.

Review of my protable home the mantis 1

By: Ian Amy on 6 July 2015

I bought the mantis for use on the Kodak track. Mainly for it's weight but I really didn't know much more about it. I have to say it exceeded all my expectations. very simple to erect, poles are really great to use, it dries quickly and there is lots of room once you are inside it. It has survived two kokoda, one cradle mountain and 4 Jatbula walks and its still going strong. highly recommend it to anyone who wants a light weight , easy to use "on the back" house.

Wonderful wonderful tent!

By: Alexandra on 31 August 2013

I bought this as my first hiking tent while I was in Australia just less than a year ago- since then its sheltered me along the Sunshine Hinterland Great walk (four night- 60 odd kms), Great Ocean Road (six days 100kms), Six Foot Track (3 days 40 odd kms), and god knows how many weekend exertions- one during the floods. Now I'm back from Australia it has braved the considerably less mild weather of rainy England where I've walked the Pennine way (450 plus kilometers over 15 days)- it rained a lot but in this tent it just meant a snugger and warmer night. I've bought a few sets of new tent pegs for it, but other than that it is barely marked- considering its been put up and taking down every day, stuffed wet back into the rucksack, rolled quickly and badly in winds and all in all treated quite roughly the fact that its in such good order in a testament to just how high quality this tent it. Other basic points- the porch space is very spacious, ventilation is great although condensation does collect on the inside of the tent, the material dries very quickly, strong in high winds, no problems with the zips, packs up into a great size, WONDERFUL ten poles that seem to magnetically connect and can almost be flicked together and can be pulled back out, quick to assemble if slightly tricky to put up in rain, not high enough to sit up in but material does give a little that you can move around happily. As I said this is my first hiking tent so I'm no expert but I can say its been superb every time I've put it up, its durable and has survived me which is something that few other things have managed.