If you have been looking around for a four-season tent, you have probably already discovered that lightweight versions, such as the MSR Advance Pro 2 costs around $800, and the Big Sky Chinook 1 cost around $600. The Chinook 1 is really the only light solo 4-season tent available on the US market that has a double-wall construction to mitigate condensation, but it has been out of stock since the pandemic.

I have long maintained that the 4-season tent most ideally suited for backpacking in PNW winter conditions is the Snow Peak Lago 1, once made by Snow Peak and originally designed for mountain climbers. The good news is that there are other companies in Japan making a similar tent, one of which, the Leipen Air Raiz 1, that can be shipped to the USA.

In Japan, the Leipen Air Raiz 1 sells new for ¥42,900 or $325 USD. Presently, no retailer is selling it in the USA, although a few are showing up on eBay for around twice the price ($450–650 range). However, it can be found on the Japanese Amazon site (orange and green) and on the websites of other Japanese retailers, some of whom may ship to the USA (you can use Google translate to try to navigate their websites).

Remco, one of the hikers in our Winter Backpacking Meetup, bought the one shown here on its first tryout.

Leipen Air Rise 1 with fly
Leipen Air Raiz 1 tent with fly and vestibule.

Unlike the earlier Lago 1, this design has a side vent and a tent vestibule built into the fly. The fly also extends low to the ground on all sides providing more rain and wind protection.

Leipen Air Rise 1 without fly
Leipen Air Raiz 1 tent with the fly removed.

Overall, the design and weight (3 lbs 5.6 oz) are nearly the same as the Snow Peak Lago 1 (3 lbs).

Leipen Air Raiz 1 weight
Leipen Air Raiz 1 weight according to my Ozeri scale.

There are a few differences to be aware of.

First, the Leipen Air Raiz 1 is short: L 80.3″ x W 39.4″ x H 41.3″ inches (205 x 100 x 105 cm) or 6′ 8″ inches long.

By comparison, the MSR Advance Pro 2 is L 82″ x W 42″ x H 44″ (208 x 107 x 112 cm). The older Snow Peak Lago 1 is L 89″ x W 36″ x H 40″ (226 x 91.4 x 102 cm according to an internet review). My own measurement is roughly 84 inches in length.

The Leipen Air Raiz 1 seems to be designed for shorter people, which is fine for me, but if you are 6 feet tall or above, the 6-feet 8-inch length is likely to leave your sleeping bag touching the back wall of the tent.

There is a another Japanese tent, the Mont-Bell StellaRidge 1 that is 82.6 inches long (210 cm). It also has a double wall with vestibule, but they don’t ship outside of Japan. The tent and fly are sold separately (with the fly not fitting models manufactured before 2019). A few show up on eBay, but at a much higher cost, around $815 complete (tent and fly sold separately)

The largest option is the Big Sky Chinook 1, 91″ x 24/36″ x 39″ (230 x 92/60 x 99 cm). The Chinook has more floor space but is not quite as tall for sitting up.

Second, although the fly has the vestibule and superior rain and wind protection, rain is usually not a problem and the added protection may cause more condensation. However, this may not be an issue, because all sides of the tent under the fly are breathable, whereas on the Lago, only the sides breath. More use is needed to determine the degree of condensation.

tent fly comparison
Notice how the fly on the Leipen Air Raiz 1 (green tent) extends over all sides, whereas the Snow Peak Lago 1 is only a one-wall construction on the ends. I’ve only had the Lago 1 in the rain once and wind blew water under the back of the fly where it leaked in from the top vent. I had to lay my rain jacket over the middle of my sleeping bag.
snow peak lago 1 four-season tent
My old Snow Peak Lago 1 is still in use after many years of hiking, but the seam taping is peeling off. That hasn’t been a major concern in snowy weather, but it indicates the tent is aging so I am happy to see alternatives available.

For more about winter tent options see “3-Season vs. 4-Season Tents.”

If you have any suggestions or questions, please comment below.

*Just so you know, there is no financial incentive behind any of the gear recommendations on this website. No company sponsors my reviews. In this case, I now have a Leipen Air Raiz 1 tent because I chose to buy it.

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