The Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 is a lightweight dome tent designed for back-to-basics camping and hiking trips. As an experienced thru-hiker and wild camper, I know that a lot of so-called backpacking tents don’t stand up to the challenge like they claim to do.
With that in mind, I have dissected the Cloud-Up’s specifications and scoured the internet for honest user reviews, so I can tell you everything you need to know before deciding whether to purchase this tent.
Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 Review
Who is the Cloud-Up 3 for?
If you’ve ever used a backpacking tent, you know that a so-called 3 person tent is actually rather small.
Technically, you could fit in 3 people lying flat, but only if you were using sleeping pads and bags.
This tent would be better suited to a couple who can share the weight whilst hiking or cycling, and who want space to turn over at night—space that a 2 person backpacking tent is unlikely to afford.
It might also be suitable for a couple with a young child, but you will find that things start getting a bit cramped at that stage!
It’s a great tent for a beginner wild-camper or thru-hiker who doesn’t have the budget for a more expensive expedition tent but still wants a reliable shelter to start exploring the great outdoors.
What type of tent is the Naturehike Cloud-Up 3?
The Cloud-Up 3 is a 4 season dome tent, meaning it is suitable for summer and winter camping.
However, if you use it in the winter, you will need to bring along a suitable sleeping bag and a reflective camping mat to prevent heat loss through the ground.
This Naturehike model is a double-layer tent, which means you can put up the mesh interior without the rainfly on a hot summer day, allowing plenty of ventilation to pass through the sleeping compartment.
On a wet or windy day, you can attach the rainfly to keep yourself warm and dry. The UV protection will protect you in hot weather, while the PU3000mm rainfly coating and the moisture-proof floor will keep you dry in the autumn and winter.
This is not the best tent for a family camping trip during which you want to spend time relaxing inside.
The center height is 43 inches, giving you enough space to sit up and read but not to stand or use a camping chair inside.
Design & Material
A small dome tent like the Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 is great for saving space and weight on the trail. It also resists wind much better than a taller cabin-style tent.
The poles are made from lightweight aluminum, which is stronger and more reliable than the carbon fiber alternatives often used for backpacking tents.
The reinforced Tee connector makes the frame even more resistant to bad weather, and the tent walls are made from 20D nylon with a waterproof silicone coating.
What we like about the Cloud-Up 3
The Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 is a brilliant starter tent for getting into the great outdoors. It is a great size for a couple and, at just under 5 pounds, it isn’t too heavy for a night or two on the trails.
It is easy to put up and has a mesh inner as well as windows for good ventilation. This will keep you cool in the summer and prevent condensation in the winter.
Users report that this tent holds up well in rough weather, so you can trust it to keep you warm and dry when bad weather rolls in.
There is a vestibule to keep your kit dry outside the sleeping compartment, which will give you more sleeping space and prevent any wet kit from contributing to condensation in the winter.
For the price, this is a fantastic little tent that can easily be put up in less than 15 minutes.
What we don’t like
If you buy this tent for use with 3 adults, you should not expect a good night’s sleep. Even using sleeping pads and sleeping bags, it really isn’t suitable for more than 2 adults.
The zippers are also rather light-duty, so if you will be using the tent a lot, you should take extra care to not pull them too roughly, as they might break.
Although the tent is a good weight for the price, you will probably want something lighter than 5 pounds if you are going to be tackling any serious distances.
Of course, you can share the weight by distributing the poles and pegs amongst 2 people’s rucksacks. For a few days on the trails, 2.5 pounds each is a reasonable weight for your shelter.
However, when it comes to long-distance thru-hiking, plenty of lighter options are out there.
Overall, this is a good-quality tent for the price, and we recommend caution only if you are looking to do some serious backpacking.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Weatherproof
- Spacious for 2 people
- 4 season
- Vestibule to keep kit dry
- Affordable
Cons:
- Rather small for 3 people
- Lighter than many similar tents, but still too heavy for ultra-long-distance thru-hiking
Alternative
Now you know that the Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 is a brilliant option for beginning backpackers and wild campers. But what if you are ready to take things to the next level?
The Drop + Dan Durston X-Mid Tent is a top-of-the-range trekking pole shelter. Ultra-lightweight and designed to maximize space, this is an excellent shelter for the more serious thru-hiker.
If you would like some more inspiration for lightweight backpacking tents, check out my article on the best wild camping tents.
Conclusion
The Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 is a reliable, affordable, and lightweight tent. It is perfect for a couple who wants to start making memories in the great outdoors and it has overwhelmingly positive user reviews.
However, it is rather small for 3 people and it might not be the best choice for a long-distance backpacking trip. If you are looking to go on the hike of a lifetime, check out a trekking pole shelter like the Drop + Dan Durston model instead.
We hope you found this Naturehike Cloud-Up 3 Tent Review helpful, and we wish you many happy camping adventures!
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Rachel Horne
Rachel is a freelance adventure writer and founder of Highly Sensitive Nomad. When she isn’t writing, she can be found wild camping in the mountains and swimming in the lakes of Europe.
