Naturehike Star River 2 Upgraded Review: A Lightweight Two-Person Backpacking Tent

Introduction

The Naturehike Star River 2 Upgraded is a two-person backpacking tent that weighs 2.1 kg all in, and that figure covers everything you need to get it standing. It is a genuine backpacking shelter rather than a car-camping tent that happens to pack small, and it arrives as a complete kit: inner tent, flysheet, aluminium poles, aluminium stakes, additional guy lines, a carry bag and a footprint, all bundled together.

What makes the design interesting is the layout. Two doors and two vestibules mean each occupant gets their own entrance and their own covered storage space, which is unusual at this weight and price point. The fabric is 20D nylon with a 4,000 mm hydrostatic head rating, so it is built to shed serious rain while staying strong and light. Aluminium poles and aluminium stakes keep the packed weight down without resorting to fragile hardware.

This model tends to sit in the shadow of the better-known Naturehike options, but the shape, the internal volume and the complete accessory list make a strong case for putting it on a shortlist.

Who This Tent Is For

The Star River 2 Upgraded is aimed at backpackers who want a light two-person shelter without paying premium prices. It suits couples sharing the load, friends splitting the pack between them, or solo campers who want a generous amount of space and are happy to carry a little more than a minimalist one-person tent would demand.

It is best thought of as a three-season tent. Naturehike lists it as a four-season model, but in practice it behaves like a three-plus season tent or a mild winter tent. That makes it a sensible choice for spring, summer and autumn trips, and for cold-weather camping that does not involve heavy snow loading or prolonged sub-zero conditions.

Main Strengths

Weight is the headline. At 2.1 kg all in, including the footprint, the Star River 2 Upgraded competes with tents that cost considerably more. The 20D nylon flysheet with its 4,000 mm hydrostatic head rating is the other major strength, combining strong water resistance with a fabric that feels tough for its weight class.

The pole set is aluminium, and the colour coding is genuinely helpful. One side is red and one side is silver, and the red side marks the taller end of the tent, with matching red fabric to guide you. A centre pole runs through the inner tent and the groundsheet, then clips secure the flysheet to the inner. Three additional guy points, two on one side and one on the other, let you tie the tent down properly when the weather turns. The package also includes a full set of aluminium stakes and extra guy lines.

Space and Interior Layout

The internal measurements are 130 cm wide by 215 cm long, with a vestibule area on either side, and 110 cm of height at the tallest point. That is a lot of usable volume for a tent at this weight. The centre pole creates a wide, flat top section, so the headroom carries across much of the ceiling rather than tapering off immediately.

Storage is well thought out. There are two pockets on the sides, a pocket positioned high up, and a lantern hook in the roof. The inner is mostly mesh, with a thicker mesh section at the bottom, so ventilation is good in warm weather. Both doors unzip fully and drop all the way to the floor, then roll up and tie back, which makes getting in and out easy and lets a lot of air through on hot nights. With both doors open, the airflow through the tent is substantial.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The season rating is the detail to weigh carefully. Naturehike describes this as a four-season tent, but the construction is closer to a three-plus season design or a mild winter tent. If you camp in heavy snow or expect sustained hard frost, this is not the shelter to plan around.

The shape matters at pitch time as well. One end is noticeably taller than the other, and the taller end is the one that should face into the wind, with the flatter end downwind. Get that orientation wrong on an exposed pitch and the tent will work harder than it needs to. On breezy days, the three additional guy points and their stakes are worth using rather than leaving in the bag.

Pitching and Weather Protection

Pitching follows a logical sequence. Peg out the footprint first, then feed the aluminium poles through, then clip the inner tent into place and finish with the flysheet. The colour coding does most of the thinking for you, and working from the bottom of the tent upwards and around the circumference keeps the fabric evenly tensioned.

The centre pole passing through both the inner tent and the groundsheet is a neat detail that keeps the structure taut, and the aluminium junction piece at the top holds the pole assembly together. Small loops on the inner connect to the flysheet, and the guy points give you a way to brace the tent when wind picks up. Combined with the 4,000 mm hydrostatic head flysheet, that adds up to a shelter that handles wet and breezy conditions well for a three-season tent.

Buying Advice

At £109, the Star River 2 Upgraded is priced well below what its specification and accessory list would suggest. The footprint is included, the poles and stakes are aluminium rather than steel, and the tent weighs 2.1 kg with everything on board. For a two-door, two-vestibule backpacking tent, that combination is hard to argue with.

Buy it if you want a light, roomy two-person shelter for three-season backpacking and you value having your own door and vestibule. Consider a heavier four-season tent instead if you camp through real winter conditions, and be prepared to spend a few extra minutes on orientation and guy lines on exposed pitches. Set up correctly, it covers an enormous amount of ground for the money.

Conclusion

The Naturehike Star River 2 Upgraded earns its place on a backpacking shortlist. It is light at 2.1 kg all in, generously sized inside, well ventilated, properly equipped with aluminium poles, aluminium stakes and a footprint, and protected by a 20D nylon flysheet with a 4,000 mm hydrostatic head. Treat it as the three-season tent it really is, pitch the tall end into the wind, and it delivers far more than its price suggests.