Wild CampingOEXBackpacking Tent

OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite review: an old favourite officially goes UL

At 860g and under £200, the OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite may offer the best price-to-weight ratio in the UK ultralight tent market right now — as long as you are comfortable in a very snug space.

✓  RecommendedOEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite Weight860 gPrice£169Seasons3 season The good✓  Impressive wind performance for its weight
✓  Easy to pitch once practised
✓  Tiny pack size
✓  Very lightweight at 860g
✓  Exceptional price-to-weight value
✓  Seam sealer included in box
The not-so-good✗  Very small interior
✗  Tiny vestibule
✗  Fragile silnylon material
✗  Loud in wind — needs sheltered pitch
✗  Requires seam sealing before first use
Check price at Go Outdoors →

At a glance

Overview

The OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite is OEX’s first move into the ultralight tent market, and it is a genuinely intriguing debut. It drops 715 grams from the original Phoxx 1 while cutting the pack size roughly in half — a significant achievement for a fully freestanding shelter that still uses poles rather than trekking sticks.

At £169 with a Go Outdoors membership, the Phoxx 1 Ultralite has very little competition for sub-1kg shelters under £200. Its only real rivals at this price and weight are trekking pole tents — which require you to carry poles and present their own pitching challenges.

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How we tested

We received a sample shortly after launch and immediately took it on a three-night multi-day trip across Dartmoor National Park. Despite clear conditions in the weeks prior, we were hit with sustained rain and serious wind for all three nights — which for a tent review could not have been better timing. We tested it unsealed, straight from the factory, to give the fairest assessment of out-of-box performance.

Features and performance

Build quality

The Phoxx 1 Ultralite uses a 10D N-Liten silnylon flysheet with a 1,500mm hydrostatic head — it is thin, and intentionally so. Getting the poles into the grommets requires real effort due to the taut material, and we were concerned at times about causing damage. The tent held up without issue, but it demands more careful handling than a heavier polyester shelter. A polycro groundsheet is worth considering for rocky or rough terrain.

“For £169 and 860 grams, there is genuinely very little else we can point you towards. It is a remarkable value proposition.”

Weather performance

Over two nights of sustained rain on Dartmoor, we experienced no water ingress whatsoever — an impressive result for an unsealed silnylon tent. Wind resistance was similarly strong structurally; the tent remained intact through gusts we estimated at around 30 mph. The one consistent issue was noise: the silnylon flysheet creates significant noise in wind regardless of how tight the pitch. Earplugs are a worthwhile addition to your kit list if you plan to use this tent on exposed pitches.

Livability

The interior is genuinely small — 260 x 50 x 96 cm at the narrowest point, one step up from a bivy bag in practical terms. Unlike a bivy, you can sit up inside, which makes a meaningful quality-of-life difference. The vestibule is small but functional: enough for boots, a pack and basic cooking. If you are claustrophobic, this tent will not suit you. If you are comfortable in a snug sleeping environment and appreciate what the weight and price savings represent, it is an exceptional choice for fastpacking, bikepacking and lightweight overnighters.

Our verdictBest-in-class value for ultralight shelters under £200.The OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite is an excellent buy for anyone after a sub-1kg shelter that packs down small and performs reliably in wet British conditions. The small interior is a legitimate trade-off, not a design flaw — it is the cost of the weight savings.Seam seal it before your first outing, pitch it somewhere sheltered when the wind is up, and it will serve you very well on fastpacking trips, bikepacking adventures and lightweight overnighters. For the price, nothing else we know of delivers the same combination of weight and weather performance.

FAQs

How easy is the OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite to pitch?Relatively straightforward once practised. The inner and outer are attached, which helps in rain. First-time pitching can take around 10 minutes — we recommend a practice run at home before your first outing in the field.

How does the OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite perform in the wind?Surprisingly well structurally — it held its ground in 30 mph gusts on Dartmoor. The main issue is flysheet noise: the silnylon flaps loudly in wind, making sleep difficult. Choosing a sheltered pitch is strongly recommended.

How does the OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite perform in heavy rain?We tested it unsealed over two rainy nights and experienced no water ingress. That said, seam sealing before your first outing is strongly recommended — OEX includes a tube of seam sealer in the box for exactly this purpose.

How packable is the OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite?Exceptionally so. At 860g and packing down to the size of a rolled newspaper, it fits easily into a 40L pack or even a running vest. One of the most impressive pack sizes available at this price point.

Is the OEX Phoxx 1 Ultralite worth the money?Resoundingly yes — if you accept its limitations. At £169 for a sub-1kg shelter, nothing else comes close on price-to-weight ratio. Just make sure you are comfortable camping in a very snug space.