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Polestar
$189.99
Polestar is our lightest solo shelter — a sub-1kg, twin-skin trekking pole tent designed to let you go further with less. Whether you’re thru-hiking the South Downs Way, fastpacking Cape Wrath, or stashing emergency shelter in the Lakes, it delivers reliable 3-season protection with zero weight penalty.
Ultralight Simplicity for Fast and Far Adventures
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Weighs just 980g and packs to the size of a flask
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Pitches using your trekking poles — no tent pole weight
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Inner and outer pitch together for fast, dry set-up
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Compact, stable, and stormworthy with extra porch space
Lightweight Shelter That Punches Above Its Weight
Polestar replaces traditional poles with the gear you’re already carrying — trekking or running poles — trimming bulk without compromising on shelter. Its stable crossed-pole architecture and reinforced footbox create usable headroom and sleeping space for solo hikers, with a side entry and porch that makes camp life easier.
It pitches outer-first to keep the inner dry in wet weather, and can be set up outer-only for the lightest footprint possible. With a robust 20D ripstop polyester fly and 3,000mm HH waterproofing on both groundsheet and fly, it’s built to shrug off wind and rain. A mesh inner, vented footbox, and adjustable air flow all help manage condensation across varied conditions.
Trusted on the Toughest Trails
From Dartmoor wild camps to long-distance routes like the West Highland Way, users trust Polestar for its packability, strength, and value:
“Backpacker’s dream. Stood up to wind and rain, multiple pitching options, and tiny packed size.” — Dave
“Still standing after horrific winter storms. I recommend this product.” — Nadia
“Used in 50mph gusts and heavy rain — performed well.” — Jay Johnson
Polestar has also been recognised by Runner’s World as Best Value for its performance-to-price ratio, especially for ultralight running adventures.
Lighter on You, Lower on Impact
Polestar’s simplicity means fewer materials and no wasted components. And like all our tents, it’s completely free from PFCs — harmful chemicals that persist in the environment. It’s backed by our 3-year Alpine Bond and our UK-based repair support to extend its life even further.
Features
Product overview
- Pitches using trekking poles
- Stable crossed-pole design
- Fast to pitch - inner and outer together outer first
- Compatible with all adjustable and fixed length trekking poles between 120-130cm (optimised for 125cm)
- Dual seam roof creates extra head room
- Side entry is easier to get in and out of with spacious porch area
- Can be pitched outer-only
- 3 internal storage pockets
- Mesh door and vent at the footbox and entrance to reduce condensation
- Optional Polestar footprint available
- Tent repair kit included
- 3 year Alpine Bond
Technical details
Weight
Total: 980g (excluding footprint)
Flysheet: 430g
Inner: 360g
Footbox pole: 93g
Pegs: 75g
Stuff bag: 21g
Footprint (optional): 150g
Dimensions
Pitched: 210cm x 140cm x 100cm (L x W x H)
Internal: 200cm x 80cm x 90cm (L x W x D)
Packed: 42cm x 11cm
Construction
Flysheet: 20D silicone coated ripstop polyester with PU backer
Mesh: D33
Inner: 20D breathable ripstop nylon
Groundsheet: 20D ripstop polyester with PU backer
Footbox pole: 7001 alloy
Pegs: Alloy Y beam (x8)
Zips: YKK size 5
Footprint (optional): 20D ripstop polyester with PU backer
Waterproof rating
Flysheet: 3,000mm hydrostatic head
Groundsheet: 3,000mm hydrostatic head
Sustainability and Product Care
How to pitch your tent
Repairs
We have dedicated Repair Stations in our stores and we're fully equipped to breathe new life into your old kit. This includes spare parts, patches, new zips and wash and reproofing of your down and waterproofs. Pop into any store or contact us online for more info.
Alpine Bond
If one of our products does not meet your expectations upon delivery, or if during its lifetime does not live up to the demands placed upon it, please return it to us for repair, replacement or refund. If the problem is our fault then we will do this to your satisfaction. If it’s your fault then we will help out the best we can. Find out more about our Alpine Bond here.
How It Is Made
Gear you'll love for longer
Polestar is built to last with ripstop nylon used throughout and alloy poles. It'll keep going trip after trip.
Where It Is Made
Our products are made in the best factories in the world. We know the factories personally and they have all signed up to our Code of Ethics in our supply chain. This includes the Ethical Trading Initiative base code, fair pay, safe working environments, no child labour, no modern slavery, no bribery or corruption, no materials from conflict zones and humane farming methods.
All our factories sign up to our Code of Conduct. Find out where we make our product by visiting our Factories of Alpkit factory zone.
Reducing our carbon footprint
We are carbon neutral under PAS2060 and offset our Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 operations and transport emissions. We recognise that offsetting is not part of the solution but a point to pass through on a journey to Net Zero. Carbon Neutral is just a step in that journey.
We have joined the Science Based Targets Initiative which sets independent targets for us to achieve to do our bit to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Our targets are to halve our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2025 based on 2018 base year and reduce our total carbon intesnity by 15% every year to achieve genuine net zero by 2050.
End of life
When your partnership with this product is over send it back to us and we will pass it on to someone that needs it through our Continuum Project.
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