Gear Review: The North Face Mica 12 Tent
Unmatched in weather-worthiness, this solo tent earned top honors among testers.
Solo
From Montana’s Glacier National Park to Colorado’s Gore Range, we tested seven one-person tents. The Mica 12 earned top honors for its unmatched weather-worthiness. “I had showers, thunderstorms, and high winds for three days,” said our Idaho tester. “The narrow, low-profile shape cut gusts like a knife, and I didn’t have one leak.” We could climb in and out during a downpour without soaking the inside, thanks to a vestibule drip line that protects the interior.
Color-coded poles and stake tabs make setup easy after a couple of practice runs, and features like glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls and a fly window enhance livability. Interior space is adequate for sub-six-footers, but tall testers were cramped. Quibble: The tent doesn’t come with an extra stake or cord to secure the fly along the back (without staking, it sags when wet).
Floor space 18 sq. ft.
Vestibule 1 (6 sq. ft.)
Weight 3 lbs. 5 oz.
Price $230
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Lighter
MSR’s Carbon
Reflex 1 has carbon-fiber poles and an amazing amount of living space for the weight. It easily shed four afternoons of rain in Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness. $450; 2 lbs. 9 oz.; msrcorp.com.