The Free

The The Free tent, made by Gossamer Gear, is a double-wall freestanding tent for ultralight hiking. It is designed for hikers who want a tent that stands on its own without relying on stakes while still keeping a vestibule and rainfly.

The body stands without stakes, which is useful on hard ground, platforms, or terrain where staking out takes extra time. Stakes are still needed to open the vestibule, and they are recommended if you expect wind.

When to use it

It makes sense for routes where quick and easy setup matters, or for sleeping in places where staking is inconvenient. It is also a good fit if you want a lightweight double-wall tent but do not want a trekking-pole structure.

It is especially well suited to users up to 188 cm tall. A 63.5 cm wide sleeping pad fits, but it pushes slightly against the side walls; a wide tapered pad makes better use of the space.

Design

The base is narrow and elongated, with 86 cm at the head, 54 cm at the foot, and 218 cm in length. That shape reduces material and weight, but it leaves a snug interior if you use very wide pads or are tall.

The setup uses a rotating central hub, 8.7 mm DAC NFL poles, and snap-type attachments. Since it does not rely on stakes to stand, the initial setup is sorted sooner, and then you only need to adjust the rainfly and vestibule.

Made from ClearSkies™ Robic

It is made with Custom ClearSkies™ 15D Recycled Robic fabric with 20D solution-dyed ripstop and a 1200 mm SIL/PU coating. It uses a PFAS-free construction, with factory-taped seams and a stated waterproof rating of 4,923 mm HH, focused on keeping weight down without moving away from a double-wall format.

The poles are green-anodized DAC NFL aluminum, and the stakes are also aluminum. It is a consistent choice with the tent’s lightweight approach and with repeated setup and takedown use.

Specifications

• Type: double-wall tent with freestanding structure
• Trail weight: 845 g
• Maximum interior height: 99 cm
• Floor area: 1.53 m²
• Packed size: 43 x 12 x 12 cm
• Compatible sleeping pad: up to 64 cm wide
• Includes: 6 stakes, 4 guylines, pole repair sleeve, stuff sack, and pole bag
• Note: stakes are not needed to pitch it, but they are needed for the vestibule and for added stability in wind

Ratings and reviews