Naturehike Cloud Up Tent Review (With Five Year Update)

I got the Naturehike Cloud Up 2 in 2019 as a backpacking tent for me and my daughter. I needed something lightweight because I’m the one who carries most of our gear, but didn’t want to spend a fortune on an ultralight tent by names like Big Agnes or MSR. A few years later, I also got the Cloud Up 3p version of the tent (I also have the  Vik 1P and P Series 4P tents by Naturhike).

Both versions of the Cloud Up tent have been tested on many backcountry trips, including high winds, rains, freezing temps, and one hail scary storm. I really love my Cloud Up tents and suit my needs, but they are not for everyone. Here’s my honest review of the Naturehike Cloud Up so you can figure out whether it will work for your style of backpacking.

See the Cloud Up tents at Amazon

What is Naturehike?

Naturehike is a brand that makes affordable lightweight backpacking gear.  Compared to other cheap Chinese brands of dubious quality, Naturehike gear is actually very good.  They are consistent with their quality and tent weights are true to the product listings. Because of this, Naturehike has developed a bit of a cult following amongst backpackers. Naturhike products sometimes lack extra features which high-end brands have, but they hold up, are light and don’t cost a fortune.

 

Quick Verdict

The Naturehike Cloud Up tents are lightweight and affordable, but still good enough quality for serious backpacking. They are also very quick and easy to set up. I don’t like the droopy walls, or that you are supposed to sleep with your head towards the door. But, considering the cheap price, these are minor flaws.

Not sure? Check out these other cheap ultralight tents.

 

Naturehike Cloud Up Tents Comparison

	Total Weight	Floor Length	Floor Width (front)	Max Headroom
Cloud Up 1p (gray 20D)	3.3lbs (1.5kg)	82.7" (210cm)	43.3" (110cm)	39.7" (100cm)
Cloud Up 2p (gray/yellow 10D)	3.3lbs (1.5kg)	82.7" (210cm)	49.2 (125cm)	41.3" (105cm)
Cloud Up 2p (gray 20D)	3.97lbs (1.56kg)	82.7" (210cm)	49.2 (125cm)	41.3" (105cm)
Cloud Up 3p (gray 20D)	5lbs (2.3kg)	84.6" (215cm)	70.8" (180cm)	41.3" (105cm)

 

Cloud Up 2 vs. Cloud Up 3

The biggest differences between the Cloud Up 2 and Cloud Up 3 are:

• Cloud Up 3p has a crossbar on top. This gives you a LOT more interior space because the walls don’t droop as much. You also get much more usable headroom.
• More Vents on the Cloud Up 3. I never had condensation issues even with my old version of the Cloud Up 2, so this feature probably only matters if you are winter camping.

Note: I have the older version of the gray 20D Cloud Up 2. The newer version of the Cloud Up 2 has a V-shaped pole at the back, which prevents the walls from drooping.

 

Cloud Up Tent Weight

The main draw of the Naturehike Cloud Up tents is that they are very lightweight. The Cloud Up tents are available in 20D nylon or 210T polyester, with the nylon versions being significantly lighter. The Cloud Up 2p is also has a 10D nylon version. This 10D version weighs just 3.3lbs. By contrast, the 20D version of the 2P weighs 3.97lbs.

 

Footprint Weight

The Cloud Up tent listed weights include everything: tent, fly, pegs, rope and footprint.  By comparison, lightweight tents from many high-end brands don’t include the footprint weight in the listed weight. Sometimes you even have to buy the footprint separately, which significantly adds to the cost.

• 2P footprint: 8.5oz (240g)
• 3P footprint: 12oz (340g).

You can shed some weight by skipping the footprint. I always use the footprint, though, because I don’t like worrying about pointy rocks tearing through the floor.

 

Interior Space

I use the Cloud Up 2 when backpacking with my daughter. We fit comfortably. I also use it with my hiking partner in warmer temps, but I’m a really small woman and he’s skinny.  We managed to fit, but it was definitely tight and our packs barely fit in the vestibule.  We would not fit with winter sleeping bags. This is why I got the 3P version of the Cloud Up.

I can’t imagine someone using the 1P version of the Cloud Up tent. It is so narrow that your sleeping bag might hit the walls, causing condensation problems.

Verdict:

• The 1P is cramped. Seriously, unless you are a dwarf, get the Cloud Up 2P.  The 10D version weighs the same as the 20D 1P version.
• The 2P is great for solo backpacking, two skinny backpackers in slim sleeping bags, or one adult and a kid.
• The 3P is much roomier, so better for two larger backpackers, or two backpackers with winter sleeping bags.  I wouldn’t put three people in it, though!

 

Cloud Up Tent Setup

The Cloud Up 2p and 3p tents are really easy to set up. They are freestanding and can be set up in a couple of minutes, plus a few more minutes for staking it down. Both versions of the tent have 9 stakeout points (4 corners, 1 per side wall, 1 for the back wall, and 2 for the vestibule). I particularly love that the tents use clips instead of sleeves. It’s a heck of a lot easier to get clips on the poles than shove poles through sleeves.  There are also adjustable buckle clips for getting the fly tension perfect.

Note for 3P Setup:

• Insert the crossbar pole first. If you do the corners first, the fabric will be too taut to get the crossbar in. Plus, if you are short like me, it’s harder to do once the tent is standing.
• The front and back V poles aren’t the same. The wider poles go in front. Put some bright nailpolish on them to color-code them for easier setup.

 

The video below shows how quickly you can set up the Cloud Up 2.  The 3p only takes 10 seconds longer.

 

Fly-First Setup

The 1P and 2P versions of the Cloud Up tents can be set up as “fly only.” This is great if you need to set up the tent in the rain so the inside doesn’t get wet, or want to reduce weight by leaving the mesh inner tent at home.

In theory, the fly-only setup is also possible with the Cloud Up 3p.  However, the fly doesn’t have any pockets for holding the crossbar in position.  Instead, you have to use the two extra tie-outs on the wall to get the poles to stay in position.  The crossbar area of the fly isn’t even reinforced, so I worry that the crossbar would eventually tear a hole in the fly if you used the quick pitch frequently.

Other UL 3p backpacking tents have little pockets in the fly for the quick pitch option.  But, at those prices, I would expect them to sort out all of the details!

 

Packability

The packed size of the Cloud Up 2p tent is roughly 18×4.7″ (45x12cm) and the 3P is 20×7″ (51x18cm). It fits under my backpack lid, and you can ean easily divide up the weight with a partner: have one person carry the poles and another the tent.

 

Weatherproofness

I’ve spent a numerous nights in the Cloud Up tents while it rained, including a few thunderstorms and one HAIL storm in the Cloud Up 2p.  The tent itself held up surprisingly well.  There was never any leaking from the seams or the floor.   The bathtub floor only goes up about 2 inches, so don’t put this tent anywhere you think it might flood! And definitely use the groundsheet.

The only annoying thing about the Cloud Up tents in bad weather is the noise.  Because of the pole structure, a lot of the rain fly isn’t attached to anything.  It will flap around a lot in the wind.

It’s also really important to completely stake out the sides of the tent during bad weather.  Otherwise the rain fly will stick to the inner mesh, causing condensation issues.

The video below shows the Naturehike Cloud Up 2 in really high winds.  It’s not my video, but it gives you a good idea.

Also read: camping in a thunderstorm

 

Condensation?

The Cloud Up 3 has lots of vents and its roominess will help prevent condensation.The newer version of the Cloud Up 2 tent has a vent to help reduce condensation.  My older version does not have this vent.  Despite this, condensation isn’t too bad of an issue in the tent because there is a sizable gap between the fly and inner tent.

I did get some serious condensation on one trip (it was raining like crazy, 40F at night and there were two of us adults in the tent, so condensation was pretty much inevitable).   Yet, the condensation managed to stay on the fly of the tent and not drip into the tent.  But my backpacking partner and I are skinny, so we didn’t accidentally touch the tent walls.

 

Can You Use the Cloud Up Tent in Winter?

I have yet to use the Cloud Up tents in or on top of snow.  However, I have slept in it multiple times in sub-freezing weather.  The fly goes down low enough that you don’t feel wind.  Condensation definitely forms on the fly, but I never had any issues with it dripping on me.

My only concern would be if you are tall. Then your feet or head might touch the walls and you’d end up wet from condensation.  And, as mentioned before, the Cloud Up 2 is definitely not big enough to fit two poofy winter sleeping bags! You will need the 3P.

 

Materials

As you’d expect with an ultralight tent, the Cloud Up tent material is really thin.  Mine hasn’t punctured or ripped yet, but I’m always very careful about clearing the pitch space of sharps before setting it up.  And definitely use the ground sheet with the Cloud Up!  The lightweight stakes included with the Cloud Up are decent enough, but did eventually bend over time.

I  honestly expected a pole to break by now (my kids are not gentle with tents!).  But the poles are actually quite strong and have withstood my kids leaning on them, gear piled on the tent and some serious winds.

 

Storage

Cloud Up 2P: The Naturehike Cloud Up 2 has a decent-sized vestibule which easily fits my 55L pack plus two pairs of boots.  There is a lantern hook inside as well as one small pocket over the door.  However, there are no side pockets in the tent. I was surprised how much this annoyed me.  I had nowhere to keep TP, my glasses case, and other items we need to access quickly.  The overhead pocket is annoying to reach from outside — you have to crouch into the tent to grab anything from it.

Cloud Up 3P: The Cloud Up 3 has four pockets, all located near the front door.  A minor complaint is that there is only one hook and it’s also located near the door.  I utilize that hook for hanging a headlamp and my glasses.  So, I would prefer to have the hook overhead in the middle of the tent.

 

Things I Don’t Like about Naturehike Cloud Up Tents

Not for Tall People

At 83″ long, the Cloud Up 2 can theoretically fit tall people.  But it’s going to be a tight fit.   You’ll likely need to sleep at a diagonal to avoid hitting your head.  Also don’t expect to sit up comfortably in this tent if you are tall.  It’s only 41″ at the highest point — and most of the tent is lower than this! The 3P version is only 2″ longer, so it’s also not a good option for tall people.

 

Drooping Walls

I have the older version of the Cloud Up 2. It only has one pole in the back  so the side walls droop a lot. Naturehike has since updated the tent design to use a V-shaped pole in the back, but the walls still droop a bit.

The drooping can be a problem because you may touch the walls with your head or sleeping bag, potentially causing condensation problems in cold weather.  The 3P version has a crossbar on the top to prevent drooping, so it’s better for cold temps.

Note: If you want a lightweight tent which isn’t as droopy, you can check out the Mongar 2P or Star River 2P by Naturehike.  They are a bit heavier though.

 

Layout

One thing that I really don’t like about the Naturehike Cloud Up is that the back is narrower than the front.  So, you are supposed to sleep with your head towards the door. This simply does not work for me.  I like to have my feet towards the door so I can easily get my boots on/off at the vestibule entrance.

Because of this, I actually always sleep with my head towards the back in the tent.  It works well enough but you end up with the drooping walls pretty close to your head while sleeping.

 

One Door and Vestibule

I don’t mind only having one door, especially because I prefer sleeping vertically in the tent instead of lengthwise. However, for some people looking for a 3p tent, this will be a dealbreaker.

 

Price of Naturehike Cloud Up Tents

I’m a firm believer that backpacking doesn’t have to be expensive — but most ultralight tents are incredibly pricy.  Yet Naturehike manages to make some really cheap tents that are still good quality.  The Cloud Up 2 costs approximately 1/3 of the price of the Big Agnes Flycreek UL2 — and the tents are almost identical.

There are tents which are cheaper than the Cloud Up tents, but I have yet to find one which is this cheap, lightweight and still freestanding.

You can check the price here on Amazon. They are also available at Aliexpress.

 

Cloud Up 2 vs. FlyCreek HV UL2

The CloudUp 2 is a clone of the FlyCreek HV UL2 tent by Big Agnes.  I personally have never slept in the FlyCreek HV UL2. However, other people (like in this forum) have tried out both of these tents and say that they are comparable in terms of quality and construction.

*You can get the Flycreek here on Amazon or here on REI.com.

 

Weight:

When comparing the weights of these two tents, you’ve got to consider that the FlyCreek HV UL doesn’t come with a ground sheet (which you will need to use because of the thin floor).

The FlyCreek UL2 claims to weigh just 1lb 15oz, but this is without the stakes and a ground sheet.  The ground sheet (aka footprint) that they recommend costs nearly half as much as the Naturehike CloudUp 2 and weighs 5oz.  That brings the total weight of the 2.9lbs.

• CloudUp 2 10D: 3.3lbs total weight
• FlyCreek HV UL2: 2.9lbs total weight

 A 5oz difference is huge if you are doing serious backpacking.  But I personally am not willing to spend a fortune just to save 5oz (I’d rather cut weight from my pack in these cheap ways)

Materials and Construction:

The materials used to make the FlyCreek tent are definitely of a better quality than those of the CloudUp 2.  However, according to what people are saying online, the difference is really negligible (again, I personally haven’t tried out the FlyCreek).

There are some other differences, like that the CloudUp 2 uses seven clips instead of six, doesn’t have guylines attached to the tent body, and has 14 stakes instead of 11.

The FlyCreek does have 3 interior mesh pockets.  And, while I really wish the CloudUp tent had side pockets, I’m not willing to pay an extra $200+ for these.

Still not sure which tent to get? Check out these cheap ultralight tents for backpacking.

 

5 Year Update

It’s now been over 5 years since I bought the Naturehike Cloud Up 2.  It’s been on a lot of adventures with me. 🙂  Even after all of this use (and some abuse!), the Cloud Up 2 is holding up well.  The zippers haven’t broken, it isn’t leaking (and I haven’t resealed the seams) and the poles are fine.

The only issue is that the walls are sagging even more than before.  No amount of tensioning will get the walls to sag less.  Instead, I have to shove something like a waterbottle along each side to hold the walls outwards.  If the problem gets worse, I’ll probably get another Cloud Up 2.  Since the newer design has V poles in the back, the sagging should be less of an issue anyway.

Get the Naturehike Tents Here