I took Decathlon’s 2 person trekking tent to the Scottish Highlands in gale-force winds, and it performed very, very well.

Decathlon MT900 UL 2

The Forclaz MT900 Tunnel Trekkin Tent is a high-quality, lightweight and durable tent packs down small, is a doddle to put up, and out performs any and all expectations at this price point.

The Good

Lightweight

Quick pitching time

Spacious as a one-person

Water repellant

The Bad

What we’re not fans of:

Thin bathtub floor

Flagged in very bad conditions

Decathlon MT900 UL 2 Person Tunnel Trekking Tent Review

Decathlon is one of those instantly-recognisable outdoor brands that, while it might not scream high-end, certainly has an air of reliability about it. If you grew up in the UK, chances are that you’ve embarked on a family camping holiday in a trusty Quechua or attempted to wrestle a Regatta pop-up tent back into its bag at some point in your life.

Many years ago, I visited our local Decathlon to get kitted out for my very first music festival. Kitted out with a camping stove, sleeping bag, and a brand-new behemoth of a tent, I waddled off to the train station with enough gear to mount an expedition to Everest. Had this lightweight trekking tent been on the market — and within my budget — back then, it would have been a far easier journey. And I’d likely have stayed much dryer as well.

Launched back in 2016 Forclaz is Decathlon’s eco-friendly trekking brand, with a focus on low-impact durable products for serious adventurers. Within its MT900 range, there are four styles of shelter available: dome, tunnel, tarp, and tarp tent, each with their own benefits and disadvantages. In this review, I take a look at the MT900 2 Person Tunnel Trekking Tent, a three-season shelter with a 20 denier polyester fly for improved water resistance and weighs in at 1.75kg. While that places it slightly on the heavier end of the scale in terms of ultra lightweight tents, it’s still light enough to easily strap to a backpack or bicycle for hiking and touring. And although some of the pricier alternatives on the market are much lighter, this tent’s £209.99 price point makes it an attractive option for trekkers on a budget.

Designed to offer increased wind resistance when compared to its domed counterpart, this tunnel tent sits low to the ground with a bedroom height of just 95cm. That said, the 205cm length feels generous compared to many similar tents, and while you might not be able to sit up fully inside you won’t feel cramped either. I’m 5’6”, and I had plenty of room to stretch out.

According to its specs, the tent is designed to withstand winds of up to 70 km/h and is waterproofed to 3,000mm. But how well does it really stand up to the harsh British weather? In September 2023, I took it on a ten-day camping trip to the Scottish island of Islay, where gale-force winds and torrential rain storms really put it through its paces.

Our experience using the MT900 2 Person Tunnel Trekking Tent

When I arrived on Islay, the weather was bright and still, providing perfect conditions for pitching the tent for the first time. Although not known for my practical skills, I had no trouble whatsoever erecting the tent, and it was up and secured within ten leisurely minutes. If pushed for time, I could certainly have done it in five or even less.

Over the days that followed, the Scottish weather threw just about everything that it had in its arsenal at my exposed campsite, but the tent remained sturdy and dry. In fact, I only ran into trouble on one occasion, when the driving rain and winds were so strong that several dome tents in the vicinity were blown over completely. Luckily, everything remained upright, but the conditions caused the fly to sag against the inner, resulting in water seeping through into the sleeping area.

While this was obviously not ideal, the conditions were extreme, and I can’t hold it against the tent too much — particularly when far more expensive trekking tents were clearly suffering just as much. And with the exception of this exceptionally brutal night, the tent was an absolute joy. As quick to pack down and put away as it was to erect, it was ideal for hopping between campsites, and while it’s not the most lightweight tent on the market I had no problem hiking for approximately four miles with it strapped to a 10-kilo pack.

Size-wise, it was ideal for one person travelling with a decent amount of kit. It could definitely work as a 2 person tent, but only if you were packing light — and were on fairly good terms with your companion. Of course, the dome version of the MT900 would have provided more headspace and better habitability for a long trip. But given the strength of the winds I was happy to sacrifice the ability to sit up inside in favour of a sound night’s sleep. The extra space inside was particularly welcome given the relatively small vestibule; while it was just about large enough for a 28L pack, there was no space left over, and when the fly sagged in high winds parts were left exposed to the elements. In the end, I ended up storing my pack inside the tent and my food/cooking gear in the porch, which worked fine. It also packs down fairly small, too, into a compressible bag a little under 40cm in length.

Although I had initially planned this trip as a somewhat ‘luxury’ camping adventure, relying on local cafes and pubs for my hot food, incomprehensible island opening hours meant that I ended up doing a lot of cooking myself. In decent weather, the vestibule provided enough shelter for a single stove, and I was able to boil water and prepare basic dishes in relative comfort — although the single-zip structure would have made it impossible to construct a ventilated shelter in high winds.

One great thing about this tent is its impressive ability to repel water. Although I packed it down for a final time in torrential rain, it was barely damp when I unravelled it several days later — making it an ideal choice for anyone with limited space to dry kit. And with durable, thermo-tape sealed seams, it’s reliable in heavy rain too, only faltering in the worst possible conditions. In fact, there were only a few real downsides that I picked up on, one being the thin-feeling bathtub floor. Although it didn’t actually happen, I was constantly worried that a particularly sharp stick or rock would pierce through the polyester and compromise the tent. In the future, I would probably take a groundsheet for extra cushioning if embarking on another long trip. That said, replacement parts for the MT900 can be purchased from Decathlon fairly cheaply, so any damage wouldn’t necessarily mean end game for the tent. Slightly more concerning, though, was the tent’s tendency to flap loudly in high winds. Although I got used to it after a couple of nights, the noise might come as a bit of a shock to someone used to a more sturdy structure.

Those minor points aside, the tent served its purpose excellently, keeping me warm and dry during the wild Islay nights and cosy enough to sleep in late on several whisky-clouded mornings. In fact, although it’s marketed as a three-season tent, I suspect that it would function well in winter conditions — although that’s a theory I haven’t yet put to the test.

Although I had initially planned this trip as a somewhat ‘luxury’ camping adventure, relying on local cafes and pubs for my hot food, incomprehensible island opening hours meant that I ended up doing a lot of cooking myself. In decent weather, the vestibule provided enough shelter for a single stove, and I was able to boil water and prepare basic dishes in relative comfort — although the single-zip structure would have made it impossible to construct a ventilated shelter in high winds.

One great thing about this tent is its impressive ability to repel water. Although I packed it down for a final time in torrential rain, it was barely damp when I unravelled it several days later — making it an ideal choice for anyone with limited space to dry kit. And with durable, thermo-tape sealed seams, it’s reliable in heavy rain too, only faltering in the worst possible conditions. In fact, there were only a few real downsides that I picked up on, one being the thin-feeling bathtub floor. Although it didn’t actually happen, I was constantly worried that a particularly sharp stick or rock would pierce through the polyester and compromise the tent. In the future, I would probably take a groundsheet for extra cushioning if embarking on another long trip. That said, replacement parts for the MT900 can be purchased from Decathlon fairly cheaply, so any damage wouldn’t necessarily mean end game for the tent. Slightly more concerning, though, was the tent’s tendency to flap loudly in high winds. Although I got used to it after a couple of nights, the noise might come as a bit of a shock to someone used to a more sturdy structure.

Those minor points aside, the tent served its purpose excellently, keeping me warm and dry during the wild Islay nights and cosy enough to sleep in late on several whisky-clouded mornings. In fact, although it’s marketed as a three-season tent, I suspect that it would function well in winter conditions — although that’s a theory I haven’t yet put to the test.

MT900 2 Person Tunnel Trekking Tent FAQs

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a lightweight tent that offers quality and durability without breaking the bank, Forclaz’s Tunnel Trekking Tent could be the perfect solution. Able to withstand all but the most brutal weather conditions, it’s incredibly quick and easy to erect and pack down, with built-in corner poles for convenience. Like most ultra-lightweight tents, it’s marketed as a 2 person but works best as a roomy option for a solo camper with kit.