Regatta Malawi 2 Man Pop Up Festival Tent | Tested and reviewed

If you're after a pop-up style tent then you'll probably want to check out Regatta. That's because the brand has several affordable options in this category, but is the brand's Malawi 2 Man Pop Up Festival Tent a good option for you?

Well, like most other pop-up options, this is not going to be one of the best tents on the market. Certainly not if you're hoping to use it frequently in mixed weather, or if you want to carry it on a hike. In those circumstances you'd better check out our list of the best wild camping tents.

But if you're looking for something that won't cost much but would be up to the job at festivals or fair-weather outings on sheltered campsites, you may want to keep on reading...

Pop-up pitching and packing away

Pitching this tent is as easy as it gets. It took us just a couple of minutes on our first ever attempt (without reading any instructions), and the whole process was simple and straight-forward.

It works in exactly the same way as most basic pop-up tents. You simply open up the storage bag’s zipper and remove the disc-shaped tent. Next, you slide off the stretchy band that holds everything together and simply let go so that the tent springs into shape automatically.

You don’t have to fiddle around with any poles – they're all sewn-in and integrated into the design already. All that's left to do is position the tent where you want it and then peg out the toggles and guylines. Job done.

Sadly, as is usual with all pop-up tents, packing it away isn’t quite as automatic or intuitive. It’s a little tricky and awkward at first, but you’ll soon get used to the technique – and it’s not that difficult really.

The best way to pack it away is to grab all four poles in one hand, creating a burrito-like shape out of the tent. Next, flip it 90-degrees so it’s standing upright and then push the top end downwards. This action folds down and inverts the tent, forming a circular shape that will fit into the storage bag.

It’s a technique worth practicing a few times and, before long, it should become second nature.

Internal space and tent shape

The Malawi 2 Man Pop Up Festival Tent has the following official internal dimensions: 230cm long, 140cm wide and 100cm high. This is an improvement on the Eurohike Pop 200, which is 10cm shorter, 40cm narrower and 10cm lower in height.

These are marginal gains, but in combination add to a greater sense of internal comfort and liveability with the Regatta tent. The width is the biggest gain, with greater room for two campers sleeping side-by-side.

Don’t get the wrong impression, though. This isn’t an amazingly roomy tent and it may still feel a little tight on space.

Another big issue is the lack of a porch, which may mean you need to store large backpacks, clothing and personal items inside the tent with you. Doing so will start to make the tent feel rather cramped for two. If possible, it’s better to leave your kit outside or in your car.

The walls of the tent, which has a dome-like shape with good height, are reasonably tall and vertical. They're slightly tapered and angled, but you get pretty decent head and elbow room. You can’t stand up in this tent, but you can sit up and move around without your head touching the ceiling.

The tent’s structure is formed via the sewn-in, pre-connected pole system. The floorspace is created by one large oblong shaped pole, while the roof and walls are constructed via another oblong pole that is folded to create a looping arch.

The whole system works quite well and is the classic pop-up tent design approach. Although, as with most pop-up tents, there are no tension straps for fine-tuning the tent’s tautness, which can be problematic if the ground is not flat or if you’re struggling with wind from a particular direction.

Waterproofing, wind resistance and breathability

I'd describe this tent as suitable for spring and summer camping, ideally in dry and calm weather. It will cope fine with light rain (or perhaps the odd heavy but short-lived downpour) and medium winds, but it’s definitely not made for extreme weather conditions.

If you were to encounter a storm in this tent, I'd be worried about water ingress and the walls collapsing. Or, in other words, it’s not advisable to test the limits of this tent in atrocious conditions – only pack it if you know the weather will be okay. If things are taking a turn for the worse, book a hotel or invest in a better option, such as one of these two-person tents.

There are a number of weatherproofing flaws with a tent like this. It's a single-skin tent, meaning it’s made from a single layer, rather than the two-layer flysheet and inner combination used in traditional tents. Thus you only have one layer of protection and are more exposed to the elements.

The walls are quite tall, not amazingly windproof or aerodynamic and have a tendency to catch the wind like a sail. In strong gusts, your pegs might be pulled out of the ground and your tent will want to fly across the festival field if you’re not careful.

On top of this, the door, its zippers and the vents are a potential leak vulnerability, while the flat roof can fail to shed rain and instead has a tendency to sag with little puddles.

Having said all of this, you do get some good weatherproofing features. The tent is made from Regatta’s waterproof Hydrofort flysheet, which is a tough 70-denier fabric, while the 100% polyester groundsheet is described by the brand as “hard-wearing and waterproof”.

These materials have a 3,000mm hydrostatic head rating, which is very impressive for a tent at this price point – it’s a superior rating than many other pop-up tents. Plus, all of the tent’s seams are sealed with tape.

In terms of wind protection, you get four brightly-coloured guylines to add some extra stability and security to your pitch, and there are good pegging-out options.

As with all single-skin tents, condensation can be a problem humid environments, but you get three vents to help combat this issue. Two vent windows are located next to the door, while another, larger vent window is located at the opposite end of the tent.

All vents can be kept open with a Velcro tab, while the main door can be closed with mesh for added airflow.

Weight and pack size

The Regatta Malawi 2 Man Pop Up Festival Tent is mid-weight, so I'd say it's neither heavy nor ultralight. On my scales it clocks in at 2,275g.

This is 655g heavier than the Eurohike Pop 200, for example, but 4,725g and 3,219g lighter than the Vango Classic Instant 300 and Quechua 3-person Blackout Pop-up 2 Seconds XL respectively.

The Malawi 2 weight is broken down as follows: tent (1,834g), 11 metal pegs (316g), peg bag (5g), repair patches (5g) and main carry bag (115g).

When packed away, the Malawi 2 Man Pop Up Festival Tent is shaped like a large circular disc, sized 80cm wide and 6cm thick. This feels compact and light enough to easily transport, whether you’re driving or travelling by train or coach.

Features

Internally you get one hanging loop, located on the roof at the rear of the tent, as well as two mesh pockets. One is located on the left-hand side wall, as you look into the tent through the door. Another, which is split into two smaller but connected pockets, is located on the right-hand wall.

You get one main, D-shaped door entry to this tent. It's located at the front of the tent, rather than the side. The door has two closures: one waterproof, one mesh only. The former offers better weather protection, the latter adds ventilation and keeps bugs out. Both can be folded away and secured with toggles for an open, airy structure if required.

The integral poles in this tent are made from fibreglass and are described by Regatta as “strong and flexible”. The tent is made in Bangladesh and is fully constructed from fire retardant materials.

Verdict

The Regatta Malawi 2 Man Pop Up Festival is a no-nonsense pop-up tent that's ideal for fair weather festival camping – but it has some flaws.

About the author

James Forrest writes regular features and route guides for Trail and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years. James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells.

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