Last updated on March 5th, 2024
When looking for a Kuiu tent they have four different tents on offer, the Summit Star, Mountain Star, Summit Refuge and the Storm Star. The Storm Star being the only four-season tent that they offer. I have used the Storm Star in some wild and freezing weather in the New Zealand Southern Alps and I’m convinced this is one of the best four season tents available.
What is a Four-Season Tent?
Most tents are three season, meaning they aren’t rated for use in winter conditions. Four season tents mean just that, they are suitable to be used in all four seasons including winter where snow and high wind conditions are expected. Four season tents are low to the ground so they don’t catch the wind, have a higher internal area to stop snow and water coming in and are made of more durable materials.
Setup
The Kuiu tent comes with the tent body, aluminum poles, pegs and instructions.
Setup starts with laying the tent out flat and securing the corners. The three poles include a centre pole and two other identical poles, which go into colour coded holes. A repair sleeve is also included with the poles which is a nice extra. The poles are slipped into the corresponding colour coded corners, eliminating any confusion about which pole goes where. Setting up the guidelines is necessary for extreme wind conditions, but unless it’s forecast, I don’t used them.
Construction
The seams on the Storm Star are made of ‘X-PAC’ material, this is a non-stretch material that is primarily used in ship sails and is built to withstand extreme weather. The material is incredibly durable and in the pole sleeves, that goes into heavy duty PVC creating extra reinforcement. Drainage holes are also featured on the bottom of the sleeves. Once the poles are connected, it’s as simple as clipping on the tent to the poles.
The outer material of the Storm Star Kuiu tent is 30D rip stop nylon. The inner tent is also 30D which has been treated with DWR which means moisture will bead off the material and not soak in, keeping you dry. The two ventilation points are well placed at the top of the tent and prevent condensation build up. They are opened through a zipper with a small support pole.
Other four-season tents can get considerable condensation build up which leads to getting wet, and in extreme cold conditions where you are trusting your life on your gear that’s the last thing you want. If the weather changes and your hit with snow, you can close the vents using the zipper on the inside of the tent. The design of the vents is a strength for the Storm Star Kuiu tent over its competitors.
The tent has two oval shaped doors. The doors also feature an additional mesh door that allows air and light in without the bugs. The doors have two Velcro flaps which help make a secure seal on the join. The doors have a toggle tie back that secures the door panel and ensures it’s not loose when kept open.
The groundsheet of the Kuiu tent is a foot deep 40D ripstop. This gives confidence to the user that the tent will keep you dry in a decent level of snow. Inside the tent there are double pockets in each corner of the tent for stowing smaller items such as a headlamp or wallet. On the inside you will find the Kuiu logo on the top of the tents roof. There is also an elastic gear nest on the roof of the tent.
I am over 6ft tall and lay diagonally in a thick sleeping bag which doesn’t end up touching the edges causing any issues with condensation. With both doors closed and the vents open in negative 10 degrees Celsius temperatures, there has been no issues with condensation build up. Sitting in the vestibule, there is room to cook and stow gear.
Specs
The overall external footprint of the tent is 2.2meters by 2.7meters. The internal area is 1.4meters by 2.2 meters. The Storm Star makes a very roomy one-man tent or a good two man tent, with gear and bags stored in the vestibules. This is a major feature where the Storm Star stands out for two users, as a lot of the competition only have one vestibule and door. Once setup the tent is firm with almost no movement. This is so that wind won’t loudly shake the tent and prevent you from getting a good nights sleep.
The tent weights a total of 2.65kg or 5lb 14 ounces. Which is only slightly more than a popular competitor the Hilleberg Allak, which is double the price of the Storm Star.
Conclusion
The design, quality materials and construction make this an incredible four-season tent. The Storm Star offers solid protection to the user being windproof, snow proof with and no shaking in the wind as it’s so solid. I’m not the only one who likes this tent with overwhelming positive reviews from users online. Click the link below for the latest price on the Storm Star 2.
PRECISIONRIFLE