MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 vs Nordisk Lofoten 1 ULW
Two shelters, measured against each other on the figures that decide whether they work on a bike.
The short answer
The Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 takes weight, headroom and price; the Lofoten 1 ULW takes vestibule space. On a bike the pole set usually decides it before the rest do.
Assembled from the differences below rather than written over them. Every figure is a published measurement or computed from one — nobody here has used either one.
Where they differ
6 of the 7 things we can measure come out differently.
Poles to carry
the Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 has no pole set at all, the Lofoten 1 ULW doesA trekking-pole shelter has nothing to fit across your bars, which removes the constraint entirely — but you then need poles from somewhere, strapped to the frame or bought separately. It is a different problem, not a smaller one.
Minimum weight
210g lighter on the Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1Trail weight where the maker publishes one — fly, inner and poles, without the stuff sacks or the footprint. Worth reading against the pole length rather than instead of it: a Bikepack edition is usually a few grams heavier for shorter poles.
Construction
Lofoten 1 ULW is double wall, Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 is singleA double wall puts a gap between you and the condensation; a single wall saves the weight of the second layer and puts the condensation on the inside of your shelter. Which is right depends on where you sleep, not on which is better.
Peak height
26cm more headroom in the Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1Whether you can sit up, which decides how a rained-out afternoon goes.
Vestibules
1 more on the Lofoten 1 ULWWhere wet kit and panniers go. On a bike trip it is also where the bags off your bike spend the night, which is more volume than a hiker brings.
Price
$420 between themAs we hold it. Shelter prices move more than most gear, so check before you commit.
Side by side
Including the rows where they are level.
| MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 | Nordisk Lofoten 1 ULW | |
|---|---|---|
| Poles to carry | None — trekking-pole shelter | 220mm folded |
| Minimum weight | 280g | 490g |
| Construction | single wall | double wall |
| Floor area | 223 × 84cm — 1.87m² | 220 × 85cm — 1.87m² |
| Peak height | 96cm | 70cm |
| Vestibules | 0 | 1 |
| Price | $200 | $620 |