By Ethan Davis · October 9, 2026
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The verdict
The Mountain Star 3P is one of the best-balanced backcountry tents I have used: light for a true three-person footprint, packed with storage and stable enough to trust when the weather turns. It sits low, as a wind-shedding backcountry tent should, and I would call it a roomy two-person-plus-gear tent rather than a spacious three-person one. What sets it apart for me is the color — muted gunmetal and camel that blends into the timber instead of shouting orange, blue or yellow across the valley.
See KUIU's product page for current pricing
What I love
- Light for its size — about 4 lb 8 oz minimum weight for a three-person tent
- Lots of storage: eight interior pockets, two clotheslines and gear loops
- Earth-tone Gunmetal-Camel colors blend into the forest
- Three-pole, six-point structure that sheds wind from any direction
- Connected fly and body keep the inside dry when pitching in rain
- Dual doors and vestibules, plus fly-only and footprint pitch options
- Excellent zippers — they run smooth and never snagged on us
Watch out for
- Low profile — expected for a backcountry tent, but not much sit-up room for tall users
- Three people fit, but it is most comfortable as a two-person tent
- Pole setup and threading take a few practice pitches (a common owner comment)
- Doors are a little tough to climb in and out of
- A larger vestibule would be nice for bulky packs and boots
- No center-ceiling loop for a lantern and no gear loft on the 3-person — the other ceiling pockets help offset it, but a center loop would still make sense
Best for
- Two hunters or backpackers who want room for their gear inside
- Backcountry hunts and wilderness trips where a low-visibility camp matters
- Three-season-plus trips with real wind, rain and early snow
Why I chose the Mountain Star 3P
I wanted a backcountry tent that could carry two people and all their gear without the weight penalty of a car-camping shelter. The Mountain Star 3P lands in that sweet spot. KUIU lists a minimum weight of 4 lb 8.4 oz, which is genuinely light for a tent with a three-person floor, dual doors and a three-pole frame.
Splitting the poles, fly and body between two packs makes the carry easy. This is the tent I reach for when a trip involves miles on foot and the chance of real weather.
Colors that blend into the forest
This is my favorite thing about the tent. Too many backpacking tents come in loud orange, bright blue or yellow. The Mountain Star's gunmetal and camel tones disappear into timber, dead grass and rock. For hunting camps, and for anyone who prefers a quieter presence in the wilderness, that matters.
It also just looks right in the woods. A low, earth-toned tent tucked under the pines feels like part of the landscape instead of a billboard.
Features and storage
For its weight, the tent is loaded. KUIU builds in eight interior storage pockets, two clotheslines and webbing loops for drying or stowing gear. Headlamps, maps, phones and gloves all get a home, and damp socks and base layers can hang overnight instead of balling up in a corner.
Two doors and two vestibules mean nobody climbs over a partner at night, and each side has covered space for boots and packs. The bathtub floor, fully taped seams and adjustable vents round out a feature list that feels thoughtfully designed rather than padded.
Two honest gripes from our nights in it. First, there is no loop in the center of the ceiling for hanging a lantern or light, and the 3-person has no gear loft. The other ceiling pockets offset that somewhat — we hung a light off a side pocket and managed fine — but a center loop would still make sense and feels like an obvious add. Second, the doors are a little tough to climb in and out of, and a larger vestibule would be welcome when both sides are staging full packs and boots.
The zippers, on the other hand, are genuinely excellent. Door and vestibule zips run smooth one-handed and never once snagged on the fly fabric — not something we take for granted on lightweight tents.
Source: KUIU feature list
Low profile — the right trade for the backcountry
The tent is a bit low, with a 44-inch peak. That is expected for a backcountry tent built to shed wind, and the three-pole structure with six points of contact feels solid when gusts hit. You can sit up near the center, but it is not a stand-and-stretch shelter.
Sleeping space follows the same honest pattern. Three people fit, but the tent really shines as a roomy two-person tent with packs and gear inside. Many KUIU owners say the same.
Weather protection and setup
The external pole structure is connected to both the fly and body, so the inside stays dry when you pitch or strike camp in rain. The fly reaches the ground and the inner body can be removed for fly-only or fly-and-footprint pitches when you want to cut weight.
Setup uses red, white and blue pole color coding. It is not complicated, but give it a couple of practice pitches at home before relying on it in the dark. KUIU includes 14 V-stakes, guylines and an emergency pole splint.
Source: KUIU pitching details
What other owners say
At the time of writing, KUIU's product page showed 56 customer reviews averaging about 4.5 stars, with 39 five-star ratings. Owners report it holding up through wind, rain, hail and snow on multi-day goat, sheep and elk hunts, and praise its weight, roominess, vestibules, ventilation and clotheslines.
The recurring criticisms are useful: several call it more of a two-person tent, some found pole setup and footprint alignment confusing at first, a few dislike the inner-door zipper direction, and a small number reported pole or quality-control problems. Those match my take — a strong, light tent that rewards practice before the trip.
Source: KUIU customer reviews
Verdict
If you want a light, well-organized backcountry tent for two people and their gear — one that blends into the forest instead of announcing camp — the Mountain Star 3P is an easy recommendation. Accept the low profile as the price of wind stability, practice the pitch once or twice, and it will earn its spot in your pack.
Specs at a glance
- Capacity
- 3 person (KUIU: sleeps 3, or 2 with full gear)
- Minimum weight
- 4 lb 8.4 oz / 2,053 g
- Packaged weight
- 5 lb / 2,268 g
- Peak height
- 44 in / 112 cm
- Floor
- 90 in long; 70 in head width, 62 in foot width
- Fly / floor fabric
- 15D coated ripstop nylon / 40D coated ripstop nylon
- Poles
- DAC Featherlite aluminum, three-pole design
- Season
- 3+ season, freestanding double wall
- Color
- Gunmetal-Camel
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