MONT Hiking TENTS & SHELTERS

Mont has a long history of and expertise in tent design, manufacture and use in the wild. Our tents are designed to be as lightweight as possible without sacrificing weatherproof performance, comfort or durability. By using the most advanced fabrics, laminates and components, Mont tents are incredibly easy to set up, reliable in foul weather and available in styles appropriate for all adventures.

If you would like to speak with an expert on Mont Tents please contact us.

Tent & Campsite Best Practices

• Clear the area where the tent is to be pitched of sticks and sharp objects as these may cut or damage the tent floor and footprint.
• Avoid any possibility of falling tree branches or rocks, lightning strikes, flooding, avalanches, strong winds or other hazards that may result in injury to the occupants or damage to the tent.
• Do not use excessive force when pitching or tensioning the tent as this may result in damage to the tent.
• Ensure your tent is securely anchored with tent pegs at all times.
• It is important to maintain adequate ventilation inside your tent at all times. Death by suffocation is possible.
• Never make your campfire or place any other flame sources in or near your tent.
• Do not store flammable liquids or gas inside the tent. Do not use or refill any stove, lantern or heater or any other source of heat in or near your tent.
• Remove boots and shoes before entering the tent and try to keep the inside tent floor clear of dirt and grit as this can damage the floor fabric.
• Synthetic fabrics will be damaged by over-exposure to sunlight, try to pitch the tent in the shade and avoid extended periods pitched in direct sunlight. UV damage is not covered under warranty.
• Oil, fuel, sunscreen etc. can damage tent fabrics.
• The DAC poles should be handled with care. Avoid pulling the poles apart and letting them snap together as this can damage the pole end.
• Never store food in your tent. Animals may tear your tent to get to the food inside.
• Using a genuine Mont Tent Footprint will protect and prolong the life of the tent floor.
• Should you have a pole break whilst on a trip the Emergency Pole Repair Sleeve (EPRS) can be slipped over the point of breakage. It is wise to tape or wedge the repair sleeve in place. The EPRS is located in a special zip pocket on the tent inner.
• Carry out what you carry in.
• Camp away from rivers and streams when possible.
• Minimise the use of soaps and detergents when camping.

General Tent Care

• Never store your tent damp as mould will develop. Any such damage is not covered by the warranty.
• Prolong the life of your Moondance tent by storing it loose in a breathable Tent Storage Sack in a cool dry place.
• Never machine wash or tumble dry the tent. Use warm water and a sponge to clean dirty areas. Mild detergent may be used if necessary. Rinse well. Do not iron. Do not wring. Pitch the tent in the shade or line dry only. Damage caused by incorrect cleaning is not covered under warranty.
• If the tent is used near saltwater, rinse the poles in fresh water after use.
• Zippers are easily damaged by sand and grit. Use a soft bristled brush to clean zippers as required.
• Take care if you roll the tent up with the tent pegs and/or poles. Burred ends of tent poles and tent pegs can easily cut or damage tent fabrics.

Cleaning Your Tent

• If the tent is used near saltwater, rinse the poles in fresh water after use.
• Zippers are easily damaged by sand and grit. Ensure zippers are cleaned properly after camping in sandy or dirty conditions. Use a soft brush and water to brush out grit from zips.
• A dirty tent can be washed down with a low pressure garden hose. Before storing your tent ensure it is completely dry.
• Spot cleaning can be done with a sponge and lukewarm water.
• Pitch the tent in the shade or line dry only
• DO NOT machine wash
• DO NOT dry clean
• DO NOT use bleach
• DO NOT tumble dry
• DO NOT iron
• DO NOT wring

Storing Your Tent

• Store your tent dry!
• Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sun
• Store loose in an air permeable sack

What's the difference between Moondance 2 and 2FN tents?

The Moondance 2 Tent has a Mesh interior and is ideal for general conditions.

The Moondance 2 FN Tent has a Full Nylon interior and is more suited to winter conditions.

So which should I get?

If you live in a warm climate and most of your camping will be in Summer, Autumn and Spring then the Mesh version will be best.

If you're planning on using your tent in winter or in mountain conditions the Full Nylon may be a better choice. The Full Nylon interior will offer better protection from windblown rain, sleet or snow, and it will provide a little better insulation, though your most important insulator will be your sleeping bag and sleeping mat. Full Nylon tents are more prone to condensation and as such are better suited to cold climates.

This is also applicable to Moondance EX and EXFN Tents.

How do I use the guy lines on Moondance tents?

See the Moondance Tent Pitching Instructions

Do I need to seam-seal my new Mont tent?

No. All Mont tents are sold fully seam-sealed, waterproof and ready for rain.

Many other tent manufacturers do not, or have stopped in recent years, seam sealing their tents. Seam sealing on a tent is essential and a tent without seam sealing will leak in rain, or even a morning heavy with dew.

Why does my tent fly sag in the wet weather?

Nylon fabrics absorb a small amount of water when they get wet, this causes the fabric to swell and stretch slightly. The fabric is still waterproof. To offset this stretch, simply tension the corners and peg points accordingly.

What's the difference between the Moondance 2FN and the Dragonfly Tent? And which should I choose?

We all have tough decisions to make in life. Choosing the right tent shouldn't be one of them. But two tents in the Mont range that do cause some confusion are the Moondance 2FN (Full-Nylon) and the Dragonfly.

Both are two person tents with full-height Nylon interiors.
Both are designed for winter camping.
Both are dual entrance and dual vestibule.
So what's the difference and which is the one for you?

The Dragonfly is a robust four-season tent designed for alpine winter camping. The Moondance 2FN is a lightweight sub-alpine four-season tent designed for below-the-snow-line winter camping.

Alpinists heading above the tree-line? Choose the Dragonfly.
Camping in predominantly cold conditions? Choose the Moondance 2FN.

The reason these tents have different season ratings is largely the different pole structure on each. The Dragonfly has a slightly heavier and bulkier but far more robust three-piece pole structure. Compared to the Moondance 2FN that has a lighter weight, fast-pitch two-piece pole structure.

Not to discredit the strength of the Moondance pole structure: Stories of Moondance being the only tents standing after windy nights are not uncommon.

The Dragonfly is a little more spacious inside for the extra gear often required on alpine adventures. You can even fit three people at a squeeze.
The Moondance 2FN comfortably sleeps two campers on standard size sleeping mats.

Compared to most lightweight two person tents on the market, the Moondance 2FN is very spacious with internal measurements of 220cm by 130cm.

The Moondance 2FN uses a lightweight but durable 40 denier Nylon floor, and the Dragonfly has a more durable but slightly heavier 70 denier Nylon floor. Both feature our unique and market-leading 25,000mm+ WaterBloc™ laminated PU floor technology.

The Dragonfly has excellent ventilation with two internally accessible roof vents and full-size mesh/Nylon windows on the doors.
The Moondance 2FN has one internally accessible roof vent and half-size mesh/Nylon windows on the doors.
The Dragonfly has a little more ventilation, but that comes with a weight cost thanks to the extra fabric and extra zips required.

With this much ventilation, the Dragonfly is still very useful in warmer weather camping. Though bushwalkers will appreciate the reduced weight and bulk of the Moondance 2FN.

We hope this clears up any confusion between these two tents. If you still have questions please do not hesitate to contact a Mont Gear Expert on 02 6162 0900 or at customerservice@mont.com.au.

Tent Season Rating Classification

A widely used system for classifying tents is the season rating. Mont design and stock tents for 3 season and 4 seasons as well as subcategories of these season guides.

A 3 Season tent generally has a mesh interior to provide good ventilation in warmer Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons. 3 Season tents in the Mont range include the Moondance 1, Moondance 2 and Moondance EX Tents.

A 4 season tent generally has a Nylon inner to provide better insulation and better protection from wind-blown snow or rain. 4 Season tents are obviously better suited to cold weather camping in Winter. A 4 season tent may also be appropriate for snow camping in alpine conditions. 4 season tents will also have stronger pole structure to withstand snow loading and high wind. Mont 4 season tents include the Dragonfly, Epoch, and Eddie Tents.

Mont also make tents that we describe as a 3-to-4 season or sub-alpine 4 season tent. A 3-to-4 season or sub-alpine 4 season tent is a lightweight tent designed for camping in winter conditions, but not necessarily in alpine or snow conditions. Mont's sub-alpine 4 season tents include the Moondance 1FN and Moondance 2FN.

Mont also make Expedition grade tents. An expedition grade tent is a tent designed for extreme weather conditions such as you would face camping at basecamp while mountaineering or camping in alpine and snow conditions where the danger of blizzards is real and must be accounted for. An Expedition grade tent will be capable of withstanding high-speed winds, heavy snow loading and will often be a little larger inside to accommodate the additional gear required to camp in alpine or snow conditions.

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