A durable tent that offers reliable performance at a very respectable price
While Highlander have been around for decades now (they’re celebrating their 40th year in 2025), they’ve noticeably upped their game in the last year or two, releasing a raft of new items that, from what we’ve seen here at Outdoors Magic, deserve widespread appeal. We reviewed their Highlander Munro V2 Jacket a few months ago and the Ben Nevis backpack at the start of 2024 and both products impressed us with their excellent value for money. Judging by what we’ve seen from the Refuge 1, the same should be expected from their new collection of backpacking tents.
The Top Line
The Highlander Refuge 1 is a one person tent that’s designed for solo wilderness backpacking trips. It has a tried and tested single hooped design that can be pitched outer first, or with the fly and inner together. It’s not the lightest one-person tent out there, coming in at 2kg, but it’s not the heaviest either. From what we’ve seen, £130 represents very good value for money. It’s an ideal tent for campers who want something reliable and comfortable and without breaking the bank.
I’ve so far used this on two occasions in North Wales, within the Moelwynion and Rhinogydd ranges. We were subjected to very strong winds and heavy rain each time, which helped to gain a very good understanding of what the Refuge 1 can withstand. Across these trips, I carried it in my backpack and hiked with it for roughly 22 km. This was in early spring conditions with temperatures around about 6 degrees C (factoring in wind chill). I intend to continue the testing into the summer season and will update this review if there are further things to add.
Key Aspects
Reliable design: The Refuge’s single hoop tunnel design with four propped corners does offer dependable performance in windy conditions, though you do need to ensure the tent is pitched with the head end into the wind.
Roomy interior:I found the interior has plenty of space for one person, even with a thick and wide one person sleeping mat. At a push, you could fit two people inside this, so long as both people are on tapered mats and are happy to get cosy! I’m 5 foot 10 and I found I had room to sit up without my head touching the top of the tent. In wet conditions, I’ve found there’s enough room inside the tent to sleep with my backpack at one end, but the porch provides ample space, giving enough room for a backpack and pair of boots and with space for cooking too.
There’s one fairly large mesh pocket inside the tent that’s big enough for a book. Up top there’s a little point for hanging a lamp or for stringing up clothes. You can also unzip a screen on the the door to allow for ventilation while still remaining protected from biting insects.
Ventilation points:The door is specially designed to allow you to open it up at the top to gain ventilation without exposing the inside of the tent to rainfall.
Waterproof stuff sack: The stuff sack is made from a waterproof material with sealed seams and a rolltop. This means you can keep the tent on the outside of your pack during rainfall.
There’s more than enough room for one person here.
Pitching
I’ve found this very easy to pitch. The first time I used the tent it was intuitive and, since then, I can have it ready to climb into within three minutes. It can, however, be tricky to pitch on hard or rocky ground as it’s not freestanding. I also have found that, on uneven ground, it can be a little difficult to get the fly perfectly taut.
The tent arrives with the four aluminium corner poles already embedded within the fly. The purpose of them is to increase the height of the tent at each end and to add further rigidity. These can be removed easily if you choose – it does make the tent a bit easier to pack away. I’ve not felt the need to remove them though.
The inner part of the tent is attached via little red clips. These are easy to locate in gloomy conditions and I really like that they can be tightened or loosened depending on the amount of tension you want or need for the inner.
Packing Away
I’ve found it easy to pack away. I always take a ‘stuff it in’ approach with tents and have always managed this at first try with the Highlander Refuge 1 – even when the tent has been very wet.
Materials
The flysheet is made from a 75D 210T ripstop Polyester ripstop that has a Hydrostatic Head of 4000mm and taped seams. The inner is made from a breathable mesh with a 5000mm hydrostatic head bathtub groundsheet. The poles and pegs are all made from aluminium.
Here’s the Highlander Refuge 1 Tent being tested in the Rhinogydd mountains. Photos: Dave MacFarlane.
Is the Highlander Refuge 1 Reliable?
For me, all of the materials seem good quality and they all combine to make for a tent with a durable and dependable feel. On one occasion, I used the Highlander Refuge on an extremely windy mountainside and it held really well and kept out some very heavy rain. Condensation did build up on the flysheet, but there’s enough space inside the tent that I found I could sleep and move around comfortably without worrying about the inner touching the walls.
The stuff sack is made from a waterproof material with sealed seams and a rolltop. Great for attaching to your backpack.
Verdict
While it might not be made from super high-spec materials, and as a consequence, it’s not a tent that falls into the lightweight category, I do think this tent brings a lot to the table, especially at its price point. From my experience, it provides a peaceful night’s sleep, it’s light and packable enough to fit in a 50-litre backpack with the rest of my backpacking set up and it generally just has the look of a quality tent. If you’re getting into camping, it’s a great option, and it also gets my recommendation if you just want something that’s reliable and comfortable, and that won’t set you back hundreds of pounds.
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