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MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent vs Tarptent Aeon Li

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

Tarptent Aeon Li is the lighter option — 182 g lighter than the MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent (28% 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 Tarptent Aeon Li
Weight 660 g · 0.660 kg · 1.46 lb 478 g · 0.478 kg · 1.05 lb
minimum weight, without stakes and bags
Brand MEC Tarptent
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

See it in your base weight → Full details →
Tarptent Aeon Li
478 g

Ultra-compact solo tent with single-pole setup.

See it in your base weight → Full details →

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MEC 2-Kilo Project Alpha UL 1-Person Tent vs Tarptent Aeon Li: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Tarptent Aeon Li wins — at 478 g it is 182 g (28%) 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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