SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
The Hilleberg Mesh 1 Tent is a spacious single-person A-frame style bug bivy designed to be used under a tarp. While it’s frequently bundled with Hilleberg’s Tarp 5 Backpacking Tarp (see review), it can be used with any rectangular tarp to form a well-ventilated and insect-proof shelter, ideal for camping in warm weather.
Specs at a Glance
- Weight 15 oz (13.2 oz tested, including guylines)
- Person: 1
- Height (front): 95 cm/37 in
- Height (rear): 55 cm/22 in
- Length: 210 cm/83 in
- Width (front): 120 cm/47 in
- Width (rear): 70 cm/28 in
- Floor: Waterproof
The Mesh 1 Tent belongs to a class of shelters called bug bivies, which are the equivalent of the inner tents packaged with double-wall tents, but can be mixed and matched with a variety of rectangular or shaped tarps.
While the Mesh 1 is a single person bug bivy, it’s quite spacious inside, with plenty of extra space to sit up in or store your gear at night. While the floor is tapered from front to back, it’s not claustrophobic to sleep inside because the front peak is so tall. The front entrance also has a bi-directional zipper and zipper pulls on the interior and exterior, making it easy to get in and out.
Setup is very easy. The Mesh 1 comes with two long reflective ridge-line guy lines with line tensioners, pre-installed. The lines are attached to metal rings over the front and rear of the shelter, which are easy to fit over trekking poles tips if you use them to pitch the shelter. Simply stake out the four corner webbing loops and attach the ridge-line guy lines to trekking poles, trees, or branches that you find lying on the ground. If you use trekking poles and want more clearance to get in and out of the front door, extend your poles and move them farther away from the front door, before looping the guylines over them and staking them down.
Comparable Bug Bivies
| Make / Model | Weight | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Paria Breeze Bug Bivy | 13 oz | Top |
| REI Bug Out Bivy | 14 oz | Front |
| Borah Gear Bug Bivy | 6 oz | Top or Side |
| Outdoor Research Bug Bivy | 16 oz | Front |
| Oware Bug Bivy | 7.65 oz | Top |
| MLD Bug Bivy | 6.5 oz | Top |
| Yama Mountain Gear 1P Bug Bivy - Silpoly | 12.2 oz | Front |
| MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 | 14 oz | Side |
| MLD Bug Bivy 2 | 7 oz | Top |
| Hilleberg Mesh 1 Tent | 13.2 oz | Front |
Recommendation
At 13.2 oz (actual, tested), the Hilleberg Mesh 1 Tent is not the lightest weight bug bivy available today. But like all of Hilleberg’s Tents and other shelters, the sewing and materials that go into their tents and shelters are exceptionally high quality. A case in point is the lightweight mesh used on the Hilleberg Mesh 1 Tent, which is woven rather than knitted, so it has a soft hand and fine mesh structure, that provides superior insect protection. While Hilleberg is best known for their strong and wind-worthy double-wall tents, it’s great to see them expanding their range to include lightweight backpacking gear like the Mesh 1 Tent.
Hilleberg loaned the author a tent for this review.
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Not sure if you are aware, but when you give links in your snippets on the front page, they don’t work as intended.
For example: “Hilleberg’s Tarp 5 Backpacking Tarp (see review), “
That’s just how this wordpress theme works. You have to click through to the article to get links that can be followed. Doesn’t bother me. The snippets on the front page are just abstracts.
Thanks again for providing similar alternatives at varied price ranges. Having them all listed on one page makes learning more about each a very simple process. You really do a good job of providing information about the products. I consistently turn people onto your site that are looking to learn more about backpacking gear.
Are the zippers bigger than #3? It looks that way in your last photo, but I may be being tricked by the perspective.
I don’t know the zipper size. They’re big. You might want to contact Hilleberg and ask. I’m about 200 miles from the Mesh Tent at the moment. :-)
A tarp cover is fine for falling rain, but, I have never been in rain where there wasn’t at least a light wind and more often than not, its not light. Driving rain. How would you set the optional tarp/cover to stop driving mist or rain?
Stake the tarp sides flush to the ground and pitch the opening so it’s pointed away from the prevailing wind.
Appreciate the review. Can you comment on the packed size? Thanks
About the size of a nalgene. I pack mine loose however, so it wraps around everything else in my pack.
How good is the net for star gazing? Does the black, tight woven structure provide good see through capabilities at both night and day time?
No.