Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crosspeak 1 Freestanding DCF Tent Review

tThe Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crosspeak 1-Person Tent is perfect if you’re looking for a lightweight, freestanding tent with plenty of room to sit and store extra gear. This is one of the lightest freestanding tents on the market.

Made with waterproof DCF and fully taped seams, the Crosspeak is able to withstand rain, wind and cold. From the outside, the setup looks small and doesn’t take up much space due to its small size. But inside, the tent feels surprisingly spacious and I had even more room at my feet and next to my sleeping pad to store my backpack and other gear for the night.

I was able to sit up straight with plenty of headroom, and I imagine there would still be plenty of room even if someone was a foot taller than me (I’m 5’4″). If you’re someone who wants to be able to pitch a tent in any circumstance without necessarily needing trekking poles, this tent is for you.

Recommended RRP: $825 (+ $39 for Ultralight Tent Stake Kit)
Weight: 28.7 ounces
Dimensions of the filled shelter: 8 x 6 x 5 (in) | 20x15x13 (cm)
Pole Package Dimensions: 15.25 x 2.25 x 2.25 (in) | 39x6x6 (cm)
Materials: Dyneema Composite fabric (DCF) 0.55, DCF 0.96, invisible mesh, 20D silicone nylon

Who is it best for?

The Crosspeak 1 is intended for backpackers who prioritize ultralight setups and the ability to pitch a tent independently. This way, the tent does not require the hiker to carry trekking poles. It also allows for easy installation on top of a tent platform, where it is not possible to place stakes in the ground for guy lines.

Experienced hikers or backpackers who are willing to invest in an ultralight, durable, and waterproof material should consider this tent.

Review circumstance

I tested this tent in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where the temperature dropped to about 30 degrees at night with strong gusts of wind, and during a night in northern Massachusetts on the New England Trail. It rained early that night in Massachusetts, but the temperature did not drop below 70 degrees. Both nights, the terrain was heavily wooded with soft, leafy soil, and there was only a small area to set up the tent.

The minimal size and quick setup of the Crosspeak came in handy and would come in handy if the tent needed to be set up in a pinch. Setup was relatively quick, although the nylon sleeves that the poles have to be guided through on the outside of the tent were a little difficult to get through, which took a little extra time. I am sure this process will become easier over time after finding the best technique. The covers provide more structure and stability compared to a clip-on configuration.

Features of the HMG Crosspeak 1

Simple standalone configuration: HMG’s Crosspeak 1 is one of the simplest freestanding tent setups I’ve seen. It is very easy to use and leaves little room for guesswork. It only consists of a few pieces: the body of the tent, the three poles and the stakes (sold separately). You can also add a ground sheet, but it is not mandatory.

There are three sections of aluminum poles, two of which are longer and pass through sleeves in a crisscross pattern along the top of the tent, connecting to each of the four corners on the ground. The third is the shortest and most distinguishable orange, which extends horizontally over the top to increase headroom and stabilize the tent design. The orange polo shirt does not pass through a sleeve.

Single Door Side Entry: The Crosspeak has only a side entrance with a vestibule, which makes sense for a one-person tent. It would be beneficial when setting up to be strategic about the angle at which the tent is oriented, to take into account entry and exit, wind and views. I found this store easier to get in and out of than the Zpacks Duplex, which may seem like an awkward move.

Optional trekking pole reinforcement: This tent offers a reinforcement option that would use two trekking poles on each side, connected to the roof with a bungee cord. This can be useful on windy nights. There are also optional guy lines to stake out for added security.

Multiple ventilation points: There are several ventilation points throughout the tent that allow for proper airflow. Airflow can help decrease the amount of condensation that forms inside the tent, which happens a lot with DCF. It also allows heat to be released on warmer nights.

Durability

The DCF of the Crosspeak 1, Mesh that cannot be seen, Sil-Nylon 20D, and aluminum pole are some of the strongest ultralight materials available. HMG’s emphasis on weight savings and durability is clear in this tent. Although I haven’t put thousands of miles on this one yet, I can say that it holds up well in all types of three-season weather and has more durability than many other comparable tents on the market.

Habitability

This is one of the most spacious one-person tents I’ve tested. Many ultralight single-person tents tend to feel like you’re squeezed into a coffin. There is no headroom, the foot area presses against the wall and gets wet with condensation. It is difficult to get in and out and there is no place to store equipment.

But this tent felt surprisingly open, with honestly more room than I would need at 5’4″, and no issues with space for gear. It even has vestibule space at the side door to store shoes or wet gear overnight.

Ease of setup

HMG’s Crosspeak 1 is relatively easy to set up, with the exception of the aforementioned difficulty in getting the poles through the sleeves. It’s a self-explanatory design. I didn’t try using trekking poles for the bolster option, but I could see where they would go and it seemed like a simple addition.

Three and four season tents

Unless you’re trying to get into serious winter mountaineering, where you would need specialized snow and ice gear, a zero-degree bag, and other winter gear, most hikers and backpackers won’t need a four-season tent.

The risk here is that if there is heavy snowfall out of season, a three-season tent could collapse under its weight. However, the stability of the pole configuration on this specific tent would at least make it more immune to that fate than non-freestanding tents. the tent Ventilation features, so useful in three-season conditions, can also let in cold drafts if temperatures drop unusually low for the season.

Again, most backpackers will encounter four-season conditions rarely, if ever, during their trip and may opt for a lighter, airier three-season tent like this one.

Freestanding vs. non-freestanding tents

Having a freestanding tent means you can set it up almost anywhere. It gives you more flexibility in the type of terrain you have to work with. Additionally, if there is a situation where you need or want to move your tent after setting it up, it is very easy to pick it up while it is fully set up and relocated.

The downside to a freestanding tent is that the poles add extra weight to the load, since non-freestanding tents use something you probably already carry: trekking poles. Of course, there is always the risk that one of the tent poles will break, but with a tent that uses trekking poles, if one breaks during the hike, you have to find the perfect pole to use as a replacement, which is not always an option.

Advantages of the HMG Crosspeak 1

• It’s actually less expensive than other DCF freestanding one-person tents.
• The high tub helps groundwater stay out of the tent.
• Reduced size to make it easier to find a place for the tent
• Freestanding provides versatility in where it can be used (rock roots, cement, wooden tent platform)
• One of the lightest freestanding tents on the market.
• Simple design with few parts to keep track of
• Nice spacious interior. Plenty of room to sit, move around and store equipment.
• Easier to get in and out of than the Zpacks Duplex
• Would work well for taller or larger people.
• The light color helps it stay cool when light passes through it.
• Durable design that can resist rain or wind.
• Water easily comes off the naturally water-resistant DCF, rather than soaking into it.
• The ventilation system minimizes condensation.

HMG Crosspeak 1 Cons

• The Poles were difficult to pass through the sleeves. They kept getting caught in the fabric and I had to back up and keep going. This took time away from the setup process.
• The top DCF is very thin and could have holes in it because of this.
• Not the most packable (DCF is bulky and doesn’t fold or squish as well as silnylon and silpoly)
• Even heavier than a non-freestanding 1-person tent

In general

Overall, I would recommend this item. It is expensive, but there are not many of this type on the market. The combination of DCF fabric, single wall and freestanding in a tent is rare and makes for a super light, simple and liveable single person tent.

Buy the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crosspeak 1 Tent

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The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crosspeak 1 tent was donated for review purposes