A subjective review of Regatta Montegra 2 – a cheap, light 2-person-tent for bicycle touring

On this summer’s bike trips, I used a Regatta Montegra tent – a light, low-budget tent I borrowed from my dad. If you’re looking for an affordable entry-level tent for backpacking and bikepacking for under 100 euros, this might be the right gear for you!

While certainly having its limitations, the Regatta Montegra tent is a great value for many and an excellent alternative for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a light but durable tent without spending a fortune. It’s a fantastic tent for first-time campers, beginner bike-tourers, and thru-hikers that will keep you dry even in heavy rain.

Regatta Montegra 2 Tent – Specs

Regatta Montegra 2 – great value for the buck

While many high-end lightweight tents cost over 500 euros, my dad grabbed the Regatta Montegra for about 70 euros on the end-of-summer sale. This wasn’t just luck. Many online outdoor stores in the UK, Europe, and the US frequently sell this tent for under 100 euros.

The low price made me sceptical about the quality (my other tent, which is only 200 g lighter, cost about 300 euros). I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to test the Regatta tent on my bike tour in the Baltics. If you’re looking for a durable, light tent for your first bikepacking or backpacking adventures but are on a budget, Montegra is worth considering.

You can buy the Regatta Montegra 2 tent in the UK at WowCamping or World Of Camping for under 90 GBP. If you’re based in the EU, you can order it at TradeInn.

Weight

The tent’s total weight is 2.2 kg. You don’t need all 14 pegs, so if you only pack the essential ones and pack the tent in a lighter bag, you can reduce the weight to about 2 kg. This is a great result for a 2-person tent, making Montegra an excellent choice for budget backpackers, hikers, and bike tourers.

Packed Size

The biggest downside of the Regatta Montegra tent from the bike touring and bikepacking perspective is the size of the package: 50 x 14 x 14cm. The sections of the poles are long – 50 cm, making it nearly impossible to fit the tent into a pannier. It wasn’t a big issue, though. Using bungee cords, I just attached the tent to the top of my luggage rack.

The rainfly fabric and the tent’s body are thick, making the package significantly bulkier than some top-quality lightweight tents. It was the main difference I felt after switching from my Fjord Nansen Tromvik II tent.

Size after pitching

With 245 cm, even exceptionally tall people can comfortably stretch their legs. I used the extra length to store my luggage.

I slept in the Montegra tent alone, and I can only imagine it would get a little tight for two people. With its 100 cm width, your partner will keep you warm on chilly nights.

I was also slightly annoyed by how low the tent was on the sides. It’s tall enough to sit comfortably in the middle. Still, when travelling as two people, you will find it challenging to sit and, for example, play cards on a rainy evening.

With its limited space, Regatta Montegra is an excellent 2-person tent if you are looking for shelter for the night. However, you won’t be as happy if you and your travelling partner are stuck in a tent for a long rainy day.

Entrance

The Regatta Montegra tent has only one entrance, which can be inconvenient when used by two people. The entrance’s shape is also quite odd, and I find entering or exiting the tent slightly uncomfortable.

Colour

I like my tents green. This way, they blend into the landscape, and I can wild camp without raising too much attention (out of sight, out of mind is my credo when I wild camp solo). I loved the colour of Regatta Montegra, which perfectly harmonised with the Estonian forests.

Setup

Pitching the Regatta Montegra Tent is simple and shouldn’t take 10 minutes. However, I missed the simplicity of the one-pole system I am used to in my Fjord Nansen tent. The Regatta tent is a bit more complicated, with the central and two smaller poles.

Even using the instructions, it took me a while to figure out how exactly the shorter poles should be attached.

The producer recommends pitching the fly sheet first and then attaching the groundsheet. However, I figured I could leave the two parts connected when I packed them. It made pitching the tent the next day a bit faster.

Waterproof rating

With the rainfly’s 5000 mm waterproof rating, Regatta Montegra will keep you dry even in pouring rain.

I could put it to the test right after I arrived in Parnu on the Estonian coast. Before I even finished pitching my tent, an intense storm started. The tent passed the test perfectly!

The ventilation was also excellent. I didn’t observe condensation, even when camping close to the water. This makes Regatta Montegra a great weather-resistant tent for spring and autumn.

Summary

If you’re looking for a low-budget tent for bike touring or backpacking, Regatta Montegra 2 is a great choice. You get a solid shelter with an excellent waterproof rating for a fraction of the price of top lightweight tents (such as MSR Hubba or Big Agnes Copper Spur).

It might not be the comfiest tent of all time (especially when used by two people), but it does its job. I can confidently recommend it as an entry-level tent for hiking and biking.