First look: Sea to Summit Ikos TR2/TR3 tents

Purpose built for car campers and beginner backpackers, the new Ikos TR2 and Ikos TR3 tents from Sea to Summit deliver unmatched liveability, ventilation and versatility in a great value package.

Here at LFTO, we’ve been highly impressed with Aussie brand Sea to Summit’s range of lightweight backpacking tents. So much so, in fact, that the Alto TR1 Plus is currently our top solo summer backpacking tent, while the Telos TR2 recently nabbed our ‘best in test’ pick in the two-person tents category. We loved both tents for their palatial interior space, excellent liveability and great ventilation – all ideal attributes to help ensure a restful night’s sleep, whether you’re backpacking a long-distance trail or wild camping in the hills.

That balance has been achieved through some clever yet functional design, resulting in some of the roomiest and most versatile tents in their class. The secret is in those two letters, TR, which stands for ‘Tension Ridge’ – an innovative tent architecture based on a floating wishbone spreader bar. This raises the tent’s ceiling height without increasing its footprint. The result? More room to move around, get changed and stretch out, as well as larger tent doors for easier entry and exit.

This season, Sea to Summit has built on those design advances to launch the new Ikos tent range. Available in two-person (TR2) and three-person (TR3) variants, these models use the same tension ridge pole geometry to offer the same liveability, space and versatility as the Alto and Telos.

Though still weight conscious, they’re focused on car campers, weekend adventurers and backpackers who are prepared to carry a few extra grams in exchange for even greater camping comfort. Of course, if you are planning to take them on the trail, the TR2’s minimum trail weight is a fraction over 2kg, while the TR3 is still under 3kg, which ensures both tents are still a solid choice for a host of lightweight adventures.

The Ikos TR2 and TR3 are also Sea to Summit’s most sustainable tents to date. They’re the first tents to use DAC MX aluminium alloy tent poles, made with a greener anodization process to

lessen their environmental impact. The two-person Ikos TR2 employs a 9.6mm DAC MX pole set specifically made for this tent, to ensure optimum strength and stability. The three-person TR3 uses larger-diameter 10.8mm poles for even greater robustness.

The tent body is made from chemical-free, flame-resistant fabrics, with a water-repellent finish that avoids the use of environmentally persistent perfluorinated compounds (PFCs).

As well as strong green credentials, the Ikos is designed to ensure sustainability through longevity. The fly sheet is made from 68-denier coated polyester ripstop, with fully taped seams. The fabric is also reliably waterproof, with a lab-tested Hydrostatic Head rating of 1,800mm.

These materials have been chosen with long-term use in mind, since the coated fabric has excellent hydrolytic stability, ensuring your tent ought to last for years of outdoor adventures. The inner is made from an ultralight 20-denier polyester mesh for great airflow and minimum condensation build-up, whilst still delivering total protection from bugs and biting insects.

When pitched, the Ikos is impressively roomy, with plenty of interior space to get changed and move around, even with two (or three) people side-by-side. A wider floor area easily accommodates rectangular sleeping mats, while the twin doors and vestibules give you ample storage for packs, muddy boots and other camping gear.

As well as being configurable in multiple different setups, including fly only, inner only, partial fly and classic fully-pitched mode, the Ikos has an extra feature. In the warmest weather, you can use it in ‘Hangout Mode’, which turns the tent fly into an open-air shelter. This is perfect for providing shade and weather protection as you eat, drink and socialise with family or friends.

When it’s time to break camp, the Ikos tents also pack down into a space-saving compression storage sack that is designed to fit easily into a rucksack, canoe or the boot of your car.

Price: Ikos TR2 £425, Ikos TR3 £525

Weight: Ikos TR2 2.15kg (minimum trail weight) or 2.37kg (packed weight), Ikos TR3 2.94kg (minimum trail weight) or 3.17kg (packed weight)

Packed size: Ikos TR2 17.5 x 50cm, Ikos TR3 20 x 50cm

Check out the Ikos range here.