Zorali Summit-Seeker 2P UL Backpacking Tent – Reviewed & Tested

Evan’s taken Zorali’s newest affordable, lightweight, two-person tent out for testing. The design follows the increasingly reliable formula of a single-pole with a crossbeam for headroom – so how does Zorali’s Summit-Seeker set itself apart?

Had your eye on a lightweight tent to get you outside this summer? We’ve got a list of our favourite 2P bikepacking and hiking tents that’s constantly being updated, but allow me to add one more for your consideration: the Summit-Seeker.

No joke, I reckon the Zorali Summit-Seeker 2P UL tent would be a killer investment for anyone looking for their first tent or upgrading to something a little more trail-friendly whilst remaining budget-friendly and not compromising on quality or features. 

Trail-friendly AND budget-friendly? The Summit-Seeker walks the line nicely

Zorali stands by its mission to inspire more people to enjoy the benefits nature has to offer through community building and offering gear that’s not only more accessible, but also reliable and doing the best it can for the planet. And that’s a great thing. 

Why am I the right person to do this review?

If there’s anything that gets me excited, it’s being outdoors talking about and playing with gear. If we ever share a backcountry hut or Blue Mountains campsite, I’ll be the guy to ask you about a particular piece of kit you’re using – whether it’s a custom-made dyneema backpack or a fancy new stove that’s just hit the market. Hope you’re up for a chat!

Ev’s also the beard behind the lens at many We Are Explorers events!

Quick Specifications

Type: Modern Backpacking Tent
Capacity: 2-person
Weight: 1.78kg packed weight (fly, inner, poles, pegs, and repair kit)
Trail Weight: 1.62kg
Materials: Waterproof 15D ripstop nylon
Dimensions: 220cm (L) x 105cm (W) x 130cm (H)
Packed Size: 56cm x 13cm 
Season: 3-season
Setup: Simple ‘single’ pole with colour coded ends
RRP: $500 AUD

Buy Now

The Summit-Seeker in awning mode, mwah

Performance

Weight

If you’re seriously in the market for a true ‘ultralight’ tent you’re either not reading this article or just starting out and have been caught up in the buzz created by marketing departments. Yes, the Zorali Summit-Seeker 2P Ultralight Backpacking tent is a lightweight tent, split between two people you’ll be carrying under a kilo each. But it’s definitely not a true ultralight tent. 

Kate has written a piece about the true ultralight standards if you want to know more and this comes with another caveat: not being ultralight is okay. It’s an extreme mindset that seeks out the minimum possible weight at the expense of comfort, aesthetics, and often durability. 

Ultralight tents generally weigh under 1kg, the Summit-Seeker is more of a ‘lightweight’ tent

Don’t get me wrong – this is a lightweight tent, it’s just not as lightweight as Zorali might be trying to tell you. With that said, if you split half with your hiking buddy and cosy up together for the night, you’re only carrying about 900 grams each, which is pretty good, but if it was truly ultralight you’d be carrying a weight like that on your own.

The Zorali Summit-Seeker 2P UL tent is lighter than the other tent Zorali offers, the Highlands 2P, which is $100 cheaper at $400 but a whole kilogram heavier thanks to simpler fabrics and a bit more room.

Read more: Zorali Highlands 2P Tent – Reviewed & Tested

Durability

I’ve only used this tent for a short time, but from the use that I have had I can say that it looks to be a contender for durability against some of the top tier tents on the market today. 

Having 15D ripstop nylon all the way around on this tent is fantastic, you’re basically getting the best compromise of strength vs weight as far as nylon goes. The D stands for denier, which is a measure of fibre thickness and shorthand for how tough a fabric is (the higher the number, the tougher the fabric).

Plenty waterproof and great fly tension which helps water roll off the nylon

Zorali has also run a siliconised coating on the fly to further its waterproofing and keep you nice and dry when the heavens open in the middle of the night. The 2000mm hydrostatic head rating is standard to above average and is even seen on gnarlier four season tents.

If you’re really worried about rain then the optional footprint is a good call – it has a 3000mm rating and adds another layer of 15D nylon beneath your tent. The footprint also lets you pitch in a ‘fast fly’ mode without the inner tent – good for the beach or fast and light adventures without too many bugs.

Like any modern lightweight tent, this fabric is very different from the robust canvas tents of the 70s that my uncles love to tell me about – material that could withstand anything.

You’ll need to handle it with that in mind; basically, just take a little extra time with your site selection, spend an extra minute clearing your pad of little sticks or rocks that might puncture the floor while you’re crawling around inside – things like that’ll help see this tent last for ages. 

Design

The Summit-Seeker has grown on me quickly. Right from unboxing, the look and feel of the tent was already impressive. I’m a big fan of the blue colour with all the yellow highlights, they definitely nailed it – there’s an immediate vibe to this tent. 

As far as design goes, Zorali has definitely borrowed a few things from other tents on the market and packed them all into a very sensible, no frills backpacking tent (if you’re familiar with the Big Agnes Copper Spur tent you’ll see what I mean). 

It’s safe to say this is a pretty familiar silhouette

The tent features a ‘single’ pole with a hub at each end to give you a total of four corners and a true freestanding design, with a short spreader bar to go across the middle, opening up more crucial headspace inside the tent. The pole and fly also have colour coded tips and clips that correspond to matching clips at each end of the tent on the fly for a foolproof set up – it’ll be the last time you put a fly on backwards! 

The zippers are easy to use and having double zips on each door is also surprisingly quite nice – I wasn’t convinced at first, but I’m coming around to it. I also appreciate that the doors roll away almost vertically, which is also something I wasn’t expecting to like or appreciate compared to other tents I’ve owned and used. 

Doors tuck away cleanly to make access super easy

Oh, and how could I forget – awning mode! That’s right, you can now have your doors wide open whilst it’s all misty and moody outside without getting wet, or prop it up for a midday nap and keep the pesky sun from creeping in, all whilst enjoying a fresh breeze flowing through the tent. Underrated.

A moment for awning mode in all its glory

Comfort

There’s plenty of room inside the Zorali Summit-Seeker as the tent boasts an internal height of 110cm (mind you, this is in a concentrated portion of the inside), but the way the inner clips to the poles and the clever bends in some pole sections help create a nice roomy feel to the inside of the tent. There’s also plenty of room in the vestibules for a typical hiking pack and those smelly shoes you’ve just kicked off after reaching camp. 

Comfy enough that you might find yourself sitting inside, looking out

Sustainability

As far as sustainability goes, Zorali is definitely one of the brands out there that’s committed to the cause – it’s a certified B Corp, carbon neutral, and a 1% for the planet member – all huge ticks that most companies will never achieve.

While we’re a long way off finding materials that have zero impact on our planet from production to end of life, the Zorali team is among those doing their best to find and select the most responsible materials they can, keeping their supply chains clear of ethical nasties (including factory visits). There’s also a lifetime commitment to repair the tent if you damage it, which is actually pretty mad.

A repair kit and extras are included, but Zorali also offers free lifetime repairs

That being said, the Summit-Seeker doesn’t seem to feature any specific environmentally-friendly technologies. Nothing is recycled like the Bluesign material in Nemo’s OSMO fabric. This isn’t particularly surprising for a tent at this price point, but it’d be great to see this develop over time.

Interestingly, the tent is also only available for preorder with the intention of selling complete runs of stock. This is a great way to minimise wastage instead of guessing how many people want to buy, and allows for product updates without a need to shift out-of-date stock.

Price

$500 for a two person, lightweight backpacking tent? That’s not bad at all! For that price the 1.62kg trail weight is competitive, the materials are quality, and the design is tried and tested. Sure you can go lighter, but you’ll be spending more, dropping durability, or may lose the true freestanding element that makes this tent a breeze on rock and tent platforms.

It’s good to see that essentials like vents weren’t skipped to make the tent more affordable

What I’ve come around to after entering the Zorali community is that you’re buying into much more than just a product. If your values align more with a bigger picture view of what gear and the outdoors should be, the Summit-Seeker is a great shout.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been impressed with the Zorali Summit-Seeker 2P Ultralight backpacking tent and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a tent in this category. One of the big wins with this tent is the flexibility you get with the fly doors – having the awning mode is pretty sweet. Its easy set up and pack down are also on top of the list for me as a winning feature. 

Honestly, there are so many products out there now that are all doing such a great job and often the true tradeoff lies in a company’s ethics. When I’m picking gear these days, it often comes down to the brand and its message – does it have a mission I want to get behind? And that might have to be the question you ask yourself now too; what stands behind the product you’re about to purchase?

Kudos to Zorali for seeking a balance between affordability, quality, and sustainability