Zorali Summit Seeker Tent Review | An Epic & Affordable Backpacking Tent

Choosing the perfect backpacking tent can be a daunting challenge. Do you prioritise weight or space? What about cost or durability? Is it possible to win on all these factors? We didn’t think so until we tested the Zorali Summit Seeker tent!

We were searching for a lightweight, airy tent for summer adventures that didn’t compromise on durability, and the Zorali Summit Seeker 2-person backpacking tent fit the bill perfectly. Not to mention, the price tag was incredibly enticing!

After testing the Zorali Summit Seeker tent on several trips in the rugged Blue Mountains and other equally demanding destinations in Australia, we are happy to report that we love this tent – though nothing is perfect and there are a few factors we’d change if we could.

In this post, you’ll find a thorough review and detailed insights into every aspect of the Zorali Summit Seeker tent. Our honest evaluation and in-field testing will help you easily decide if the Summit Seeker tent is the ideal choice for you.

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My Honest Review Of The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

Quick Info On The Zorali Summit Seeker Backpacking Tent

Price: $500 $420
Fly Fabric: 15D Nylon Ripstop, siliconised + PU, 2000mm Hydrostatic Head
Inner Fabric: 15D Nylon Ripstop with breathable mesh
Floor Fabric: 15D Nylon Ripstop, siliconised + PU, 3000mm Hydrostatic Head
Weight: 1.78 kg (1.62 kg trail weight – which includes the fly, poles and inner only)
Packed Size: 13 cm x 46 cm
Internal Size: 220 x 105 x 130 cm
Peak Height: 110 cm
Floor Area: 2.585 mᒾ
Vestibule Area: 0.79mᒾ
Sustainability: B Corp Certified, Climate Neutral, 1% For The Planet Company

The Zorali Summit Seeker tent is a 3 season free-standing backpacking tent that’s perfect for both couples and solo hikers. The lightweight, yet thoughtful design offers plenty of pockets for storing essential items and additional room at the feet to stash backpacks.

While you will come across lighter options like the Big Agnes Copper Spur or more durable ones like the Macpac Duolight, Zorali has crafted an exceptional all-rounder that boasts an impressively affordable price.

Who Is The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent For?

If weight and cost are your primary concerns, the Zorali Summit Seeker tent is a top contender. Generally, the more lightweight the backpacking tent, the higher the price tag. But the Summit Seeker defies this trend, offering one of the lightest hiking tents in Australia for under $600 AUD. 

However, there is always a sacrifice to be made and for the Summit Seeker, this may be durability. The use of 15D nylon ripstop all around (which is the lowest level of denier you’ll likely find in tents) could be a concern for longevity and durability on rough backcountry adventures.

With that said, we have thoroughly tested the Zorali Summit Seeker tent – which included camping on a sharp and rocky ledge and enduring a wild spring storm – and have found absolutely no fault in its build quality or durability thus far.

Pro-Tip: We always use a ground sheet with our backpacking tents to extend the life of the base, even for tents made with thicker material. However, for tents with a base of 15 – 20D, an additional ground sheet is essential.

Packed Size & Weight

The Zorali Summit Seeker tent weighs a very competitive 1.78 kg, including all 11 pegs and the three guy ropes provided for the tent. While some other freestanding tents on the market are listed as being lighter, it is important to check whether they supply all the guy ropes and pegs.

We’ve noticed that quite a few brands – including Sea To Summit and Nemo – provide fewer pegs and guy ropes than required for their intended set-up. This causes the packed weight of their tents to be misleading compared to other brands like Zorali and Macpac who supply every peg and rope needed.

Note: For those looking to reduce weight further, you can forgo two of the tent pegs, which primarily secure the fly doors and aren’t essential for structural wind protection.

The packed size of the Summit Seeker tent is 46 cm in length and 13 cm in diameter. We can easily fit the whole tent in the bottom of our Osprey Aether Plus 85 backpack, which allows us to keep it separated from the rest of our gear.

While some tents, like the Sea To Summit Telos and the Nemo Dagger Osmo, provide multiple stuff sacks to divvy up the tent, the Zorali Summit Seeker has just one. This isn’t a deal breaker for us, as you can easily separate it yourself if necessary. 

Interior Space & Comfort

We have been spoiled with the exceptionally spacious interior of the Macpac Duolight tent, so adjusting to the more compact, tapered design of the Zorali Summit Seeker took some time. However, we were grateful for the 400 g of weight we were saving!

With that said, the Summit Seeker has been designed for comfort and weight-saving in mind, outdoing other tapered tents in some aspects like its height. The peak height of 110 cm, which gives you a comfortable 97 cm from inside the tent, is taller than almost all competing backpacking tents. We can easily sit up and move around without feeling cramped.

The Summit Seeker is a little more narrow compared to some other tapered options, though our two un-tapered sleeping mats, the Exped Ultra 5R and the Rab Ionosphere 5.5, still fit side by side with just enough space on one side to fit some shoes.

There’s no denying that it’s a little squishy compared to rectangle designs, but Zorali have added additional length to accommodate for more gear to be stored inside. Our backpacks can fit on top of each other at the top of our tent, while still allowing enough room for us to stretch out.

Build Quality and Durability Of The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

From our experience so far, we cannot fault the build quality of the Zorali Summit Seeker. Every aspect, from the stitching and seams to the poles and pegs, reflects exceptional quality and robust durability.

The pegs and poles are similar to those on our well-loved Macpac Duolight, making us confident that they’ll provide the same high standard of durability. You’ll often read reviews about the MSR or Nemo tent pegs bending or breaking, but we have never had this issue – even after trying to smash them into crumbling rocky surfaces!

The main difference between our old Macpac Duolight tent and the Summit Seeker is the material. The Summit Seeker features 15D nylon ripstop all-round, while our Duolight has 40D nylon ripstop for the floor and inner and 20D nylon ripstop for the fly. 15D is the lowest denier count you’ll find in tents so extra care should be taken to ensure it doesn’t rip.

With that said, we pitched the Zorali Summit Seeker on an uneven rocky ledge in the blue mountains, surrounded by sharp bushes. There wasn’t a single scuff on the fabric when we packed up, though we did add a groundsheet (aka, footprint) to our set-up – which we always recommend doing for lightweight backpacking tents.

Zorali provides an optional tent footprint (sold separately) that is also 15D nylon ripstop. This is sufficient enough for most applications, especially if you typically find yourself camping on tent platforms or grassy areas. 

Because we often end up sleeping on rough ground, we use the Bushtracks Vinyl Ground Sheet, a cheaper and highly durable soft tarp from Anaconda. Although it adds an extra 360 g, the additional weight is justified given the rugged terrain we camp in.

Weather Protection

Waterproofing

The waterproofing of a tent is determined by its Hydrostatic Head (HH) rating. Simply put, a higher HH number indicates the fabric’s ability to withstand more water before it starts to seep through.

We were very impressed to see that Zorali uses 2000 mm HH for the fly and 3000 mm HH for the floor of the Summit Seeker tent. Most other lightweight 3-season tents limit their fly to 1200 mm and their floor to 2000 mm at most.

But what does this mean in the real world?

We had our Summit Seeker tent set up through an intense spring storm that lashed us with rain for several hours. Not a drop of water leaked through the base or the fly.

Our only issue with the waterproofing is that the head and foot of the fly lack a stake to keep it taut away from the inner mesh. This design is typical for most lightweight tents, so it isn’t an individual flaw – just a feature we wish more tents offered.

In a perfect world, the fly won’t touch the inner if the tent is set up correctly. However, once you stuff all your belongings and sleep setup inside, the inner often gets pushed against the fly. In cold or rainy conditions, where condensation is likely to build, this can lead to moisture moving from the fly through the inner mesh and onto your gear. To prevent this, we keep our gear in dry bags, but we’d love to see this feature on more lightweight backpacking tents.

But ending on a positive note for the Summit Seeker, the tent fly completely envelopes the inner tent to add extra coverage, which isn’t the case for many lightweight tents. Often, other tents leave a few inches exposed to save weight, though this can allow rain to splash inside.

Wind Resistance

We have yet to experience any seriously windy conditions while camping in the Zorali Summit Seeker tent, so we can’t fully comment on this aspect just yet (though we will update this post as soon as possible).

However, from our experience sleeping on an exposed ledge in the Blue Mountains, the tent felt extremely secure and barely bowed at all in the moderate breeze we had.

Ventilation Of The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

The Zorali Summit Seeker tent strikes a perfect balance, featuring a mesh-panelled inner that begins a third of the way up from the base. The nylon ripstop fabric extends just above your head when lying down, offering additional warmth while you sleep without compromising airflow.

Additionally, you’ll find two top vents in the fly for better airflow. These vents are held open by struts and secured with Velcro. Situated on both sides of the tent, they catch drafts and channel them through the mesh to enhance airflow. Their angled design also ensures efficient water runoff, preventing any water from entering during heavy rain.

The Summit Seeker’s excellent airflow makes it an ideal tent for summer and spring. However, we would be hesitant about using it in cold alpine conditions when temperatures begin to drop near zero. But we gladly accept this trade-off for its outstanding performance as a summer tent.

Set up And Pack Down

The Set-Up Of The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

The Zorali Summit Seeker is a freestanding tent, which means that you can insert the poles and it will stand alone without any stakes. This is super beneficial when you’re camping in areas where you can’t use all the pegs – or none of them.

To set up the tent, begin by spreading the body on the ground and staking the corners for a firm base. Pay attention to the end with red buckles, as this will guide the correct alignment of the fly and poles.

Next, attach the shock-corded pole system to each corner by inserting the ends into the metal grommets, aligning the red ends with the red buckles. Connect the rest of the tent’s inner section to the poles using the simple clips to form the structure.

Finally, drape the fly over the tent, using the red buckles for alignment. Secure all four corners to the base with the simple buckles, and peg out the vestibules and guy ropes to anchor the fly firmly to the ground.

The setup of the Summit Seeker is very straightforward and can easily be done by one person. We love the no-frills buckles and metal grommet insertions for the poles, which feel very durable and not likely to break easily.

The Pack Down Of The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

To pack down the tent, begin by removing the fly and, if possible, hang it in the sun to dry. Next, remove all pegs and poles from the tent and place them in their designated pouches.

After that, fold the tent base into thirds lengthwise, then lay the poles, pegs, and fly on top. Roll everything together into a tidy bundle and stuff it in a single tent bag for easy organisation.

If you prefer to distribute the tent’s weight between you and a partner, you can keep the poles and pegs separate from the base and fly, and pack them into different bags.

Another plus for Zorali is the fact that they’ve provided a stuff sack that is big enough to actually fit the tent – even when it is a little icy or you want to include a groundsheet. More brands should do this rather than make us force the tent back into a ridiculously small stuff sack!!

Features On The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

Pegs

The pegs (aka stakes) for the Summit Seeker tent are made of a very lightweight alloy. Their design is similar to the ones we use for our Macpac Duolight tent (which we’ve had for 5 years and never bent or broken a peg) so we are quite confident that they will be just as durable.

Of course, we will update this post immediately if we find that the pegs don’t hold up to the standard we expect.

Aside from durability, the best part about the pegs is that Zorali has provided the right amount to set up the tent correctly! Sadly, providing fewer pegs than needed is a common occurrence for other brands like Nemo and Sea To Summit. Whether this is a ploy to gain extra revenue by forcing you to buy additional items or to boast a lighter packed weight, we don’t know. We are just glad that Zorali isn’t following suit.

Poles

The Summit Seeker poles are completely connected by a shock cord, with an additional pole to hold up the middle. This design makes it quicker and more straightforward to set up. They are constructed from 7001 series aluminium poles with a diameter of 7.9 mm. 

What this provides is a good balance between strength and weight. Our Macpac Duolight tent has slightly thicker poles, measuring 8.9 mm, which increases its performance in high winds but also adds additional weight.

So far, the poles have not flexed excessively in moderate winds or threatened to break. We have yet to test the poles’ true strength in high winds, but we will update this post once we do.

Guy Ropes

The Zorali Summit Seeker tent features 3 guy ropes to keep the tent taut and provide better protection against high winds. You’ll find two on the wider end of the tent and one at the foot.

They’ve also included two spares, which can also be used to secure the door when you use it as an awning – with the help of two hiking poles.

Doors

One of our favourite features of the Zorali Summit Seeker tent is its versatile dual double doors. These doors can be configured in multiple ways – use them as an awning over the vestibule, open them partially from the top for airflow, roll them away completely for breathtaking views from bed, or open them from the centre or side for quick access.

We love this feature more than expected, initially thinking it was a bit gimmicky. But we seriously appreciate being able to access the tent and use the doors in so many ways. It’s been especially advantageous to open just the top to check if the sunrise is worth leaving the warmth of our sleeping bags for!

Pockets & Storage

For a tapered tent, organisation is essential as you may have to leave your packs in the vestibule. The Summit Seeker offers plenty of storage with 7 pockets throughout the tent. There are two at the feet, two on the sides near your head and three behind your head.

We’ve found that the pockets are well-designed, displaying very little sag when you throw multiple items in like a mobile phone and head torches.

There is also a small loop of fabric in the centre of the roof to hang a torch. This is a great idea, but it would be better if Zorali also included a clip. Getting our torch on and off the tight fabric loop was a pain.

Repairs Kit

The Summit Seeker backpacking tent comes with an extensive repair kit. You’ll find two additional guy ropes, a pole repair splint, fabric squares, silicone seam sealer glue and a brush to fix any holes or tears on the go.

The repairs and spares kit adds an extra 46 grams to the overall weight of the tent, but we prefer to add the extra grams to ensure we can do any quick repairs needed on the go.

Sustainability

Unfortunately, finding durable and lightweight backpacking tents constructed with recycled materials is still a little difficult – Nemo’s Dagger Osmo being the exception. As far as we know, the Summit Seeker isn’t constructed of recycled or Bluesign-approved material.

However, using recycled materials is not the only way to create a sustainable product or brand.

Zorali is an Australian brand with a strong focus on ethical and sustainable practices. Not only do they use recycled or organic materials wherever possible, but they work hard to produce products that will stand the test of time – promising to repair or replace any defects throughout the reasonable lifetime of a product.

With all that said, we would love to see recycled fabrics being used in Zorali’s tents in the future. Given their impressive sustainability achievements to date, we are confident this is a goal they are already pursuing.

Value

Perhaps one of the biggest allures for the Zorali Summit Seeker tent is its incredibly affordable price tag. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another lightweight backpacking tent that boasts the same quality at the same price point.

We can’t speak too much about longevity just yet, but all other aspects of the tent have lived up to our expectations – some even exceeding them. The only concern is the 15D nylon floor, but this isn’t really a reflection of value – just something to be aware of.

The closest competing tents would have to be the Sea To Summit Telos and the Nemo Dagger Osmo, which are both double the price! On paper, these three tents are very similar which makes us sceptical as to whether the extra cost of the bigger brands is worth it.

My Experience With The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

Why I Chose The Zorali Summit Seeker Tent

As mentioned above, we were in search of a lightweight and breathable tent for summer backpacking trips. While our Macpac Duolight tent has been a fantastic companion for rugged adventures year-round, it’s a bit stuffy in the summer months further north in Australia.

Additionally, we sought a slightly smaller tent suitable for solo outings, as the Duolight is somewhat too heavy for one person to handle along with all the other essential camping gear.

The Zorali Summit Seeker backpacking tent ticked all these boxes but also came at a highly competitive price. What truly sets it above the rest, however, is that Zorali is a small, sustainable Australian business. Whenever possible, we prioritise supporting small, eco-friendly local businesses.

How It Performs

We truly can’t fault the Zorali Summit Seeker Tent thus far. The setup is super easy, the design has been thoughtfully created to include almost everything you could want (a clip to hang our torch easily would be amazing), and the durability has not faltered yet.

As you would expect, we will update this section once we’ve taken the Summit Seeker on more adventures hiking in Australia and New Zealand.

Where Do I Take My Zorali Summit Seeker Tent?

We reach for our Zorali Summit Seeker tent anytime we set off on a summer adventure. Its compact size and light weight make it perfect for off-track camping and the predominantly mesh inner keeps us cool even on the hottest nights. 

While we are careful of the thinner material, we have camped on rocky escarpments in the Blue Mountains without any issues – just don’t forget a groundsheet!

The only times we leave our Summit Seeker tent at home is when we’re travelling deep into the alpine and require a more durable and warmer tent.

Final Thoughts

If you’re searching for an affordable lightweight and durable tent, you will not be disappointed with the Zorali Summit Seeker backpacking tent. We have been pleasantly impressed with the performance of the Summit Seeker and can honestly recommend this tent.

We hope our review has helped you in your decision-making journey. If you have any further questions or personal feedback on the Summit Seeker, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to us via Instagram.

Happy Hiking 🙂