Tents

Highlander Respite 2 Extended Tunnel Tent | Review

Looking for a stable, roomy tent that won’t empty your wallet? Highlander’s Respite 2 could be the answer.

Highlander has been around in the UK for a number of decades, but it’s only recently that they’ve really caught our attention here at Outdoors Magic. That was after we tested their Munro jacket, which we liked for its decent performance and budget-friendly pricing. Their Refuge 1 also impressed us; that’s a one-person tent that is pretty much bombproof and costs just £130.

Related: Best Two Person Tents Tested

I’m pleased to say that the Highlander Respite 2 Extended Tunnel is another Highlander offering that stands out for delivering solid performance without an eye-watering price tag.

The Top Line

One thing I should point out early here is that the Highlander Respite 2 Extended Tunnel is a heavy tent, coming in at 3.35kg. It’s also a fairly bulky package, as you can probably tell from the picture below. However, having tested it through a mix of campsite camping and rough camping, I’ve been impressed – and I think £230 is pretty good value for money here.

There’s a smaller version of this that doesn’t have the long porch. It’s called the Highlander Respite 2. There’s also the new Highlander Refuge 1 which was released at the same time – that’s a lighter and more compact backpacking tent for solo campers.

Buy the Highlander Respite 2 Extended: £230 at Highlander-outdoor.com

Design

I found this very easy and intuitive to pitch, and it didn’t take me long to have it set up the first time I tried it. It pitches as a unit straight out of the bag, or you can pitch it flysheet-first, which is helpful in wet conditions.

The inner attaches via lots of small plastic buckles, which I have found to be a little fiddly. I much prefer tents that are hung using simple toggles, not just because they’re easier to use but because there’s less risk of something breaking.

The footprint for the Highlander Respite 2 Extended Tunnel is absolutely huge, so you need a fair bit of space to pitch it. On one wild camp, when the upland gorse was at its peak, finding a big enough spot proved tricky.

On the plus side, that footprint gives you masses of space to sleep, cook and store your kit. The porch provided plenty of room for two large packs, while still leaving enough space to cook and to clamber in and out of the door. Our dog Griff seemed happy enough treating the vestibule as his own private bedroom.

The sleeping compartment is wide and long enough to fit two thick sleeping mats. We had a large, rectangular Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft in it alongside a smaller Alpkit Cloudbase, and they fitted fine. The measurements suggest that even two NeoLofts could go side by side. At 93cm in height, the ceiling of the inner is quite low, and I did notice my head brushing on the fabric when sitting upright on the NeoLoft (I’m 5 foot 10). This wasn’t a problem on the thinner Alpkit Cloudbase, though.

Durability

Tunnel tents tend to be very reliable designs for camping in bad weather, and this one in particular fills me with confidence. The guylines and pegging points abound, and the flysheet and poles feel robust and durable. As with any tunnel tent, it’s important to pitch it with the narrow end facing into the prevailing wind. Get that right and you’ll maximise stability; get it wrong and you’ll really notice.

Performance

I haven’t had any issues with condensation in this tent. Naturally, there is some moisture build-up, but the inner mesh keeps you well protected from it. It might not be essential, but I’ve often found myself sleeping with the door partially open – easy to do thanks to the two-way zips.

The mesh door is handy for keeping bugs out, and I like the fact it comes with a removable footprint that keeps you and your kit protected from wet grass in the vestibule space.

Highlander Respite 2 Tunnel: Verdict

The Highlander Respite 2 Extended Tunnel isn’t the lightest or most technical tent out there. The packed size and weight will put off anyone counting grams, and the materials don’t match the premium specs you’ll find on high-end models. However, what you are getting is a tried-and-tested design that’s stable, spacious and easy to live with, all at a fraction of the price of some rival tents.

Weight: 3.35kg
Pros: Very durable, good price, spacious.
Cons: Heavy weight, low to mid spec components, brand makes no sustainability claims.

Buy the Highlander Respite 2 Extended: £230 at Highlander-outdoor.com