Wild Country Halny Elite 1 tent | Tested and reviewed

I’ve spent enough nights under canvas (it's literally been hundreds) to know that a good tent can mean the difference between a restful sleep and a long, damp night of regret. So, when I got my hands on the Terra Nova's Wild Country Halny Elite 1, I was eager to put it through its paces.

If you’re familiar with the brand’s Wild Country Zephyros or the iconic Laser series, you’ll recognise its tunnel-shaped, single-hooped DNA. It’s lightweight, compact, and packs a solid punch in the waterproofing department, which are big wins for a reliable solo backpacking tent.

But how does it really hold up in the real world? From pitching to liveability, weather resistance to packability, I’ve tested every inch of this one-person shelter. Whether you’re considering an upgrade or eyeing this as your first serious solo tent, here’s my in-depth take on the Wild Country Halny Elite 1.

Shape, structure, pitching, and internal liveablility

Anyone who’s familiar with Terra Nova’s Wild Country Zephyros or Laser tents will recognise that the Halny Elite 1 is dancing to the same groove. Its tunnel shape and central hooped pole design is nothing new and other brands have similar products too, such as Vango’s great value F10 Helium UL1 or Hilleberg’s premium Akto 1.

Terra Nova say that its Halny Elite tents take inspiration from its more expensive Laser tents, which are slightly lighter, more compact and feature a more robust groundsheet. Nevertheless, this is a design that has already earned its stripes in the fells and mountains of the UK.

With one main pole and two strut poles to be concerned with, pitching is straightforward. The main pole isn’t pre-curved as with some tents these days, so it takes a little bit of oomph to secure it into the eyelets on either side of the flysheet’s sleeve.

However, once done, it creates a tensioned arch that provides the tent with its structural integrity. The strut poles fit nicely into a webbing pocket and eyelets at either end of the shelter. All I had to do after this was peg it out, tighten things up with the tension straps and peg out the two guylines, with one on each side of the main arch.

The tent pitches all in one, so there’s no faffing around attaching the inner to the flysheet.

Liveability is decent, though dome tents admittedly provide a more pleasant space than these kinds of tunnel tents. The inner sanctum is 220cm long and only 66cm wide at its narrowest taper, so it’s fair to say that the sleeping area can feel a little cramped.

At its apex, it’s 96cm tall, though this reduces to 40cm at either end. I found that the inner fabric also had a habit of being a little droopy, which added to the sense that the walls were closing in around me. Not one for those who fear enclosed spaces for sure – though I’d guess solo wild camping would be a pretty odd hobby for claustrophobics.

Waterproofing

Just as they did with the Zephyros, Terra Nova have pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the Halny Elite’s waterproof stats, which are strong. The most admirable aspect is that the flysheet, inner and groundsheet fabrics are all 100% recycled, as well as being PFC free, making the Halny very much the environmentally friendly reinvention of its Zephyros forebearer.

A 20-denier nylon is used for both the inner and the flysheet, the latter boasting a hydrostatic head (HH) of 4,000mm, as well as the usual silicone coating and a polyurethane backer. The HH rating is a measure of how much water pressure a fabric can hold back before it starts seeping in.

For a flysheet, 4,000mm is very impressive, particularly in a lightweight backpacking tent, and the stats compare favourably with much of the competition. The rugged groundsheet is woven from a 70-denier polyester and boasts a hydrostatic head of 5,000mm – again a very solid stat for a groundsheet.

HH ratings are only ever half the story, as other factors determine a tent’s overall ability to bat away the rain. On test, I found the Halny Elite 1 performed very well when pitched correctly. The trick is to ensure the fabrics are taut with the tension straps and guylines and that there are no saggy regions where rain could pool.

Condensation

Ventilation is a strength. Terra Nova have clearly put plenty of thought into this aspect with some interesting innovations. Each end of the shelter features triangular vents, while on warmer nights, I was able to open up the flysheet at either end for additional airflow.

There are two ways of doing this: one by pegging a section of the fabric outwards and the second by rolling the section up and securing it with a toggle and loop. Being a small, one-person tent, it’s unlikely that this will solve condensation issues entirely in humid conditions, but airflow is nonetheless better than in many of its rivals.

Wind protection

The low profile, tunnel design of the Halny Elite 1 means that it deals with wind very well. There are no steep sides that can catch gusts like a sail. I found that, even when those Atlantic systems decided to change tactics in the middle of the night, the tent coped admirably.

Nevertheless, it’s worth pitching so that its length is parallel to the prevailing wind direction, as this is when its aerodynamic shape will perform at its best.

Pitched correctly, the Halny Elite 1 should have you covered for three-season use, aside from during those November named storms we seem to get these days – remember, the mountains will be there another day.

Weight and packed size

The Halny Elite 1 clocks in at 1,371g / 48.3oz, which is 239g lighter than its Zephyros predecessor, though not quite as featherlight as the Terra Nova Laser Compact 1’s 1060g. Of course, you get what you pay for and, considering the price tag, we can’t argue.

Breaking it down into its constituent parts, I weighed the flysheet and inner combined at 945g, poles at 251g, pole bag at 7g, pole repair splint at 8g, the 11 V-angle pegs at 129g, peg bag at 5g and the main storage bag at 26g.

It packs down to a 40x15 cm sack, which is comparable to something like the Alpkit Soloist XL, though it’s slightly larger than both the Zephyros and Laser equivalents. Nevertheless, it’s more than suitable for backpacking and wild camping.

So, when it comes to all-round packability, you get a step up from the Zephyros but it’s still not quite as barely-there as the Laser, which is exactly what I’d have expected.

Features

Terra Nova score points with the innovative porch, which can be turned into an awning using trekking poles, great for creating additional shelter – it’s a nice design touch.

The porch space between the flysheet and the inner is better than some competing tents thanks to a wider profile when compared to something like the Vango F10 Helium UL1. It’s 44cm at its widest – providing a modest amount of shelter for wet boots and packs.

I found that the main door, with its chunky two-way zipper and full-length opening, was excellent. It features mesh in its upper half to allow ventilation while keeping biting nasties out. On the inside, there’s one large mesh pocket for keeping your gadgets and books off the ground.

Verdict

The Wild Country Halny Elite 1 is a well-executed, fully-featured tunnel tent with a proven design, recycled materials and excellent wind and waterproof protection – but it’s not the most spacious or comfortable.

About the author

James Forrest is one of our key freelance writers and gear testers. He has undertaken many long-distance hiking trips around the UK and Europe, and is one of the most knowledgeable experts around on backpacking tents.

James regularly conducts many of our tent and camping gear tests.