Skip to main content

Hyperlite’s new 2-person tent weighs slightly more than two bags of marshmallows

Coming Soon: The Evolution of Ultralight Shelter

Maine-based Hyperlite Mountain Gear is known for its high-quality, hand-crafted ultralight backpacking gear. The company works primarily with lightweight Dyneema fabric (formerly cuben fiber) and have become experts in creating equipment with this durable, waterproof material. After expanding its lineup to include shelters, packs and stuff sacks, Hyperlite is broadening its scope again introducing the new Dirigo 2 tent, the company’s first self-contained, three-season, two-person backpacking shelter.

Recommended Videos

The Dirigo 2 is the result when a group of outdoors enthusiasts and Dyneema experts decide to build something different. Not only does the tent use Dyneema sourced in the US, but it also is constructed with five different Dyneema Composite Fabrics. Each fabric is placed precisely to minimize the weight and maximize the performance of the tent.

Dyneema is a 100 percent waterproof fabric and is regarded to be among the strongest man-made fibers in the world. For Dirigo 2 owners, this means Hyperlite’s backpacking tent doesn’t need a rainfly or even a ground sheet to protect it from the elements. It also is designed to pitch with trekking poles, so you don’t have to carry separate aluminum tent poles or worry about replacing those poles when they break.

The only hardware in the tent is a small piece of lightweight carbon fiber truss that gives the shelter some rigidity across the top of the tent. Backpackers will appreciate not only the weight savings but also the simplicity offered by the Dirigo 2 backpacking tent.

By trimming all the extras, the Dirigo 2 weighs a mere 28 ounces falling squarely into the ultralight category for tents. The tent includes two doors for easy entry/exit and two vestibules for storing extra gear. The inside of the tent is lined with no-see-um mesh walls and breathable panels at the foot and heard for improved airflow. There’s also an internal mesh pocket for storing small items like headlamps inside the tent. The two-person tent weighs a mere 28 ounces and packs down to 12” x 8” x 6″ in the included stuff sack. When pitched, the self-contained shelter offers  32.5 square feet of living space with enough headroom (45″) to sit comfortably.  Hyperlite is now selling the Dirigo 2  on its website for $795.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Segway introduces two e-bikes, a robot mower, and new e-scooters at CES 2025
Segway Xyber e-Bike parked by a rock wall bordering a beach.

Innovative micromobility company Segway introduced new products at CES 2025 in three categories. The company's first e-bikes, the tech-rich Xafari and Xyber, are available for presales today. Then there are the Navimow X3 Series robot mowers that were designed to mow and trim up to 2.5 acres. Finally, a new generation of e-kickscooters includes entry-level models and two super scooters.
Xafari and Xyber e-bikes integrate smart tech

Segway's first e-bikes address different user preferences ,but share the Segway Intelligent Ride System (SIRS), innovative tech that helps riders manage and protect their bikes. The Xafari is a Class 2 all-terrain e-bike with a step-through frame and standard storage features that could make it an ideal commuter bike. The Xyber is a hard-charging, fast scrambler-style e-bike decidedly not for street use.

Read more
Aventon Abound SR e-bike (Winner Selected)
aventon abound sr e bike giveaway january 2025 dt

If you've been trying to save up for an electric bike but life keeps getting in the way, why not try your luck in this giveaway for the Aventon Abound SR? It's made by one of the top makers of electric bikes, and here's your chance to get one as a prize!

Joining the giveaway is extremely easy, so there's really no reason not to enter if you've always wanted an e-bike. We wish you the best of luck in this giveaway!
Giveaway Has Ended
Enter here to win the Aventon Abound SR

Read more
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more