Decathlon Forclaz MT900 Review: A Two-Person Backpacking Tent That Punches Above Its Price

Introduction

The Decathlon Forclaz MT900 sits at the top of the brand’s backpacking tent range, and on paper it looks like a serious piece of kit. It weighs 1.95 kg all in, packs down to a compact 39 cm by 12 cm by 12 cm, and sells for around £199. It is an award-winning design, which is not something you can say about many tents at this price, and it comes with a five-year warranty.

The combination of low weight, small packed size, and a long warranty is the heart of the MT900’s appeal. It is a three-season shelter rather than a four-season one, so it is built for summer trips and the milder stretches of spring and autumn. The outer fly uses a 20D fabric with a 2000 mm hydrostatic head rating, while the groundsheet uses a heavier 40D fabric rated to 3000 mm, which is a sensible split for a tent that has to stay light in a pack.

Who This Tent Is For

This is a two-person tent, but it is a snug two-person tent. The tapered floor plan measures 125 cm across at one end and 105 cm at the other, so two adults fit comfortably while two people plus a lot of bulky kit will feel tighter. The interior is 205 cm long and 106 cm tall, which gives taller users real headroom and plenty of length to stretch out. Anyone around six foot tall should have no problem at all.

The MT900 makes most sense for backpackers and wild campers who want a light, compact shelter for three-season use, and who value dry storage space as much as sleeping space. It is not the right tent for winter conditions, and it is not aimed at anyone who needs a four-season shelter.

Design and Pitching: Colour-Coded and Inner-First

The MT900 pitches inner first. You peg out the inner at all four corners, then clip the poles into place. The pole set is alloy, and the whole system is colour coordinated: gold pole ends match gold fixings on one side, black pole ends match black fixings on the other. A cross pole runs across the middle to keep the top of the tent square, which is what gives the sides such a clean, upright shape.

Two extended groundsheet sections are the standout design feature here. They sit at the points where you would normally be standing or kneeling outside the inner, and they mean you can set your gear down on dry fabric instead of damp grass. Once the inner is up, the fly sheet goes on top and clips to the same cross beam, and the corner adjusters let you tension everything properly. Guy ropes and additional guy points are included for windier pitches.

Main Strengths: Vestibules, Ventilation, and Interior Space

Two doors and two vestibules give the MT900 a level of liveability that is rare at this weight and price. Each vestibule is roughly 70 cm wide with reasonably high sides, so packs, boots, and cooking gear can sit outside the sleeping area without any risk of sliding away or sitting in a puddle. For wet-weather camping, this is the feature that matters most.

Ventilation is handled by a pair of roof vents, and the inner tent mixes a solid mesh lower section with a very light mesh upper section. The light mesh keeps the interior airy in summer, while the solid lower section cuts down on draughts when you are lying down. That mix is exactly what you would expect from a three-season design, and it is a large part of why the tent works so well across summer, spring, and autumn.

Living With the MT900: Interior Details and Storage

Inside, the detailing is thoughtful. There are two pockets at the head end and two more high up on the canopy, which is a genuinely useful amount of storage for a tent this size. A small hook holds the outer door open when you want it out of the way, and the inner door has an elastic tie so it stays rolled back.

The clips and tensioners are all colour matched to the fly, so it is easy to see what needs adjusting even in low light. There is also a set of fixings at the top of the interior that let you run a short length of cord if you want a drying line inside the tent. An optional separate groundsheet is available for anyone who wants extra protection under the 40D floor.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The pegs are the weak point. They are the least impressive part of the package, and the sensible move is to replace them straight away with better alloy pegs, which cost roughly £10 for a set. Do that and the tent is transformed into a genuinely reliable shelter.

The other thing worth weighing up is the pole fixing where the one-piece pole structure meets the main anchor point. It looks like plastic, and although there have been no reported problems in use, it is the part that raises the most questions about long-term durability. The five-year warranty covers that concern to a large extent, since any fault within that period should be replaced free of charge, and it is one of the real benefits of buying through a large retailer.

On weather protection, the 2000 mm fly and 3000 mm groundsheet are solidly waterproof rather than extreme, so they should handle most of the year without trouble. This is not a winter tent, and it should not be treated as one.

Buying Advice

At around £199, the MT900 is priced competitively for what it offers: 1.95 kg all in, a compact packed size, two vestibules, two doors, roof vents, and a five-year warranty. The first purchase to budget for alongside it is a set of replacement pegs.

If you are worried about the 40D groundsheet holding up over many seasons, the optional dedicated groundsheet is a cheap way to add protection and peace of mind. Beyond that, the tent is ready to use as it comes, and the colour-coded pitching system makes it easy to put up quickly even in poor conditions or fading light.

Conclusion

The Decathlon Forclaz MT900 is a strong three-season backpacking tent that gets the fundamentals right: weight, packed size, price, and dry storage space. The vestibules are the highlight, the interior is roomier than the two-person label suggests for taller users, and the five-year warranty adds real confidence. Swap the pegs, treat it as a three-season shelter, and it is a tent that should serve backpackers well for years.