Sea to Summit launches innovative new tent

(Image credit: Sea to Summit)

published 12 March 2023

When Sea to Summit announces a new product, adventure types and people involved in the outdoor industry sit up and take notice, because the Australian brand always invests a lot of time and research into the creation of new kit, field testing it extensively before release. So, when news that S2S were launching a new tent this weekend reached us, we got excited.

And now the Ikos has landed. And, unsurprisingly, it looks ace. Stand-out innovative features include an optional ‘Hangout Mode’, a configuration that effectively turns the tent into an open-air shelter, a place where campers can seek daytime shelter from inclement weather or blazing heat.

Since its inception in 1990, Sea to Summit has produced some of the best sleeping bags on the market, including the Ascent ACI Down Sleeping bag recently reviewed here, amongst lots of other high-quality camping kit. But the brand only entered the tent category in 2021. Shelters such as the Alto TR2 have since received excellent reviews, including from T3’s expert testing crew.

Building on this, the Ikos promises improved interior living space - with a wider floor volume to accommodate modern, rectangular sleeping mats - plus better ventilation for improved climate control and a whole host of user-centric design details.

Importantly, however, the Ikos is also Sea to Summit’s most sustainable tent to date, with first-to-market DAC MX poles made with a greener anodization process to lessen environmental impact, a chemical-free, flame-resistant fabric, and a Non-PFC water-repellent finish.

The 2-person and 3-person models are aimed at adventurers, mid-mountain backpackers looking for extra comfort, and car campers. Watch this space for a full review once we have properly trail tested this exciting new tent.

Sea to Summit Big River Dry Backpack 50L

Sea to Summit also range some of the best dry bags available, and alongside the launch of the new Ikos tent, the brand has launched several additions to their offering in this area, including the Big River Dry Pack and eVac Compression Dry Bag HD, both with several excellent new features. We look forward to testing and reviewing these too.

Author of Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering…, a recently released book about all kinds of outdoor adventures around Britain, Pat Kinsella has been writing about outdoor pursuits and adventure sports for two decades. In pursuit of stories he’s canoed Canada’s Yukon River, climbed Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro, skied and mountain biked across the Norwegian Alps, run ultras across the roof of Mauritius and through the hills of the Himalayas, and set short-lived speed records for trail-running Australia’s highest peaks and New Zealand’s nine Great Walks. A former editor of several Australian magazines he’s a longtime contributor to publications including Sidetracked, Outdoor, National Geographic Traveller, Trail Running, The Great Outdoors, Outdoor Fitness and Adventure Travel, and a regular writer for Lonely Planet (for whom he compiled, edited and co-wrote the Atlas of Adventure, a guide to outdoor pursuits around the globe). He’s authored guides to exploring the coastline and countryside of Devon and Dorset, and recently wrote a book about pub walks. Follow Pat's adventures on Strava and instagram.

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