Tested by addnature: Nordisk & Yeti - ultralight Trekking Set-Up
Nordisk and Yeti are camping and adventure equipment experts, especially when it comes to light yet robust equipment. Our employee Matze tested how their ultralight trekking set-up performed under adverse conditions.
Ultralight camping in adverse conditions
On longer hiking and cycling trips that last several days, every gram and cubic centimetre of storage space counts. But when the equipment has to be suitable for a range of weather conditions, some brands or products quickly reach their limits. Not so with Nordisk and Yeti. Both brands specialise in ultra-light weatherproof equipment and Matthias Haag, our Junior Brand Manager at CAMPZ, was happy to put it through its paces for us.
Matze has been enthusiastic about climbing and everything-related since early childhood, and has spent a huge amount of time hiking, camping and adventuring outdoors. He tested the Nordisk and Yeti’s ultralight trekking set-up during a multi-day spring tour through Brandenburg’s forests. The weather was very changeable: muggy showers during the day, dropping to 5°C at night. The compact nature of the equipment was definitely appreciated and offered a total weight of less than 3 kg – leaving more than enough room for provisions and water.
Compact but still roomy: The Nordisk Telemark 2.2 LW
"You can fit two people in there?"
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Looking at the packed tent, it’s so small you could mistake it for an air mattress, but it’s a real tent, and the assembly is straightforward! Even with only one tent pole, four 15 cm long reinforced corner seams and four pegs, this tent is very stable.
In use, the Nordisk Telemark 2.2 LW (contrary to first impressions) offers enough space, even for two people. Matze was very impressed by the tent – the small pack size and weight of only 1 kg make it the perfect companion for multi-day tours and bikepacking. It fits into any backpack and can be easily attached to the handlebars or saddle-pack. Even for two people, there’s still enough room to sleep without feeling constricted.
Nordisk Vanna 3.8
Space-saving mummy shape with non-slip coating
The Vanna 3.8 is very easy to use; the push/pull valve for quick inflation and deflation is great and saves time when setting up or breaking camp. The shaped mat that fits the body/sleeping bag is perfect for saving space and weight. The mat itself is comfortable and doesn’t feel like you’re sleeping on a sack of potatoes. Also, the non-slip surface prevents the mat from slipping while sleeping. After use, the mat is easy to roll up and pack.
Matze’s conclusion is:
"The Vanna 3.8 is an extremely comfortable mat and has a very compact pack size. The space-saving mummy shape and the non-slip coating that keeps you on the mat while you sleep was particularly impressive."
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He also reports that the material insulates exceptionally well against the cold ground – at least there were no problems at night in the forest with temperatures at just over 5°C. Even if the Vanna is only used for a few nights you can feel and see the quality workmanship. Mats are under a lot of stress on multi-day tours so they mustn’t wear out with repeated inflation, sleeping and stowing away.
Yeti Passion Five
Small pack size and warm and cosy
"The compression sack is super-small so that the sleeping bag can be reduced to the size of a thermos flask. Unbeatable pack size!"
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Unrolled, the sleeping bag looks really fluffy and light and is comfortably long (L for approx. 183 cm body length, M for approx. 167 cm).
In practice, the Yeti Passion Five is suitable for different temperatures. Although the sleeping bag is designed for use from autumn to spring, you can also sleep with the zipper open to the foot section even when it’s warmer outside. And when it’s cold, the hood can be pulled snugly with the elastic cord. The 900 cuin down filling is remarkably insulating, compressible and light. Unfortunately, the zipper is hard to use from inside the sleeping bag, which is quite annoying, especially in extremely cold weather conditions. Insulation, appearance and material haven’t changed during the test and have remained consistently good.
Yeti Medby and Mjelde 2.5-layer jacket
Both jackets make an excellent impression right from the start. They are cut at the waist for the front and longer at the back to keep your behind dry. The multi-adjustable hood and the thumb loops on the sleeves are very practical. Matze also noted the generous sleeve length, “I have really long arms. Usually, all sleeves are too short.”
When in use, the jacket fits the body perfectly, and you never feel like you’re constricted. The membrane is very waterproof. Rain rolls straight off, and it took more than an hour of constant rain to produce any wet spots. The function and also the look remained the same during the whole test. The damp patches caused by the excessive rain disappeared immediately after drying, without having any lasting effect on the membrane. Despite the resistant membrane, the jacket is exceptionally breathable and, thanks to the underarm ventilation, also suitable for warmer temperatures.
Conclusion
The products are definitely in the upper price range, but they are perfect for trekking and cycling tours where storage space and weight are crucial.