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MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent vs Mountain Laurel Designs SuperTarp Flat Tarp .5 DCF

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Mountain Laurel Designs SuperTarp Flat Tarp .5 DCF is the lighter option — 442 g lighter than the MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent (67% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent Mountain Laurel Designs SuperTarp Flat Tarp .5 DCF
Weight 660 g · 0.660 kg · 1.46 lb 218 g · 0.218 kg · 0.48 lb
Brand MEC Mountain Laurel Designs
Category Shelter Shelter
MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent
660 g

1-person ultralight freestanding tent part of MEC's 2-Kilo integrated system, 15D silicone-coated nylon ripstop

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Mountain Laurel Designs SuperTarp Flat Tarp .5 DCF
218 g

Ultra-lightweight DCF tarp shelter at 7.5 ounces.

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MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent vs Mountain Laurel Designs SuperTarp Flat Tarp .5 DCF: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Mountain Laurel Designs SuperTarp Flat Tarp .5 DCF wins — at 218 g it is 442 g (67%) lighter than the MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent (660 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest shelter page, or browse the full gear weight database.

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