Night Cat Backpacking Tent Review

If it was a basketball player, the Night Cat Backpacking Tent would be a respectable squad player. Probably number 7-8 on the roster, doing a decent job off the bench, letting the star players get some much needed rest, while still keeping the score tight or protecting the lead. Basically it has a lot of good, decent features, but also some not so positive ones that probably also signal the price category it is in.

It is one of the lowest priced backpacking tents online, and I have to say it shows. The material is not as sturdy or durable, the poles are thin and could be better designed. However I would be lying if I didn’t point out its positive features. First of all, I love the internal height. As a pretty hefty fellow it is important for me that I don’t have to crawl on all fours every time I get in or out of the tent. My knees are very grateful!

The packaging is one of the best I have seen in its price category.

The Good:

• Does a decent job for a very low price.
• Extremely light.
• Easy to carry, comes in a very handy bag.
• Great ventilation.
• Really tall, decent internal height. Easy to get out or go in.
• Very easy to fold and put back into the carry bag.
• Looks good.

The Bad:

• Poorly designed fibreglass poles.
• The poles slip apart during assembly, making it longer than necessary.
• Water resistant at best.
• The rainfly is small and thin, barely covering the mesh top.

Who Is It Best For?

If you want a lightweight, easy to set up, zero-fuss model for a very reasonable price, then the Night Cat Backpacking Tent is for you!

It reminded me of the tent my father bought me so I could sleep in the garden during the school summer break. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done and protects from a light drizzle, meanwhile not getting into any problems with condensation.

I would not use this as a primary waterproof tent, looking to protect from overnight storms. It is simply not thick enough for that.

If you are backpacking close to a better, sturdier shelter, or you don’t expect multiple hour-long storms then this tent will do a great job for you.

The Night Cat Backpacking tent is perfect as a first tent for your kid, or as a single person backpacking tent for short trips.

Is It Worth Its Price Tag?

At only $35 it would be hard to argue it is not worth it unless it was an absolutely shoddy product that couldn’t get the job done. Quite the opposite!

Despite some shortcomings I was quite happy with my experience. The Night Cat Backpacking Tent even surprised me in some aspects. You could definitely do much worse.

Looks, Comfort And Ease Of Setup

Aesthetically, it gets a thumbs up too! I like the neon green colour. The bell shape is hip, popping! Honestly, I felt content with the looks of the Night Cat.

Ventilation

The mesh at the top is quite big for a tent of this size. I love if I get great ventilation. For me the size of the mesh is a huge plus. Probably this is one of the reasons I didn’t experience any condensation when I woke up in the morning. Even though the walls are quite thin and made me worried in the beginning. All in all, the Night Cat Backpacking Tent has excellent ventilation!

In terms of comfort, you get what you would expect from a budget tent. The bottom is very thin, I am a bit concerned it might get pierced through by a sharp stone.

Seams

The stitching between the wall and the bottom is intact everywhere, no issues. I had absolutely no problems with leaking when I woke up in the morning.

I didn’t feel the need to use extra seam sealant before first sleeping in the Night Cat Backpacking Tent. In the morning all my stuff was dry inside, the water didn’t seep through the seams. Overall the seams are really well stitched together. At this price range you might expect some shoddy work, but the Night Cat positively surprised me.

Ease of setup

When it comes to setup, I think this model drops the ball a little. I understand the need to keep costs down and the poles are one of the best ways to do that. However the pole parts fit into each other too loosely. When I slide the poles into the wall to set up the tent, the poles repeatedly came apart. This added at least three minutes to the set up time, which came up just below 10 minutes. Nothing disastrous, but I feel a little more care could have gone into the pole design.

Poles

As well as the fibreglass doesn’t look top quality. I can’t help but wonder if they will hold up even after multiple months of use. I would say you might need to order extra tent poles just in case.

Weight

With only 2kgs (4.4 lbs) this is an ultralight tent. Actually the thinness of the poles is a positive in this regard. The Night Cat Backpacking Tent is very easy to carry. The bag has a comfortable, strong handle. The baggage is well balanced.

Before you go…

If you are interested in another single person tent, here is a detailed review of the Winterial Bivy tent.