Getting this tent may be a good idea, or it can be a bad one.
Not knowing the correct weatherproofing abilities and real quality of it can mean the difference between waking up happily and dry, or angry and wet.
The hardest part is finding out how it performs, but thankfully that is what I’m here for.
This is my Rab Ridge Raider review, where I will discover if it’s a true beast in the wild or a big flop!
Enjoy.
Rab Ridge Raider Review
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Functionality
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Waterproof
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Strength
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Value
Summary:
This is a great tent that performs as expected.
There are some cons like a little condensation, but not enough to be worried about, and of course the tricky hoop makes for a difficult setup. I’ve found that it gets easier after some practice though.
All in all, the Rab Ridge Raider will serve you well especially in high winds and torrential rain!
 Pros |
 Cons |
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Specs
| Sleeping Capacity | 1 |
| Floor Size | 8 ft 3 in x 2 ft 6 in |
| Interior Peak Height | 1.9 feet |
| Packed Weight | 2.2 pounds |
| Pack Size | 12 in x 6 in |
| Vestibules | 0 |
| Doors | 1 |
| Storage Pockets | 0 |
Description
The Rab Ridge Raider is lightweight and small – designed for extreme mountaineering use.
Because of this it offers a comfortable, cozy shelter when the weather strikes at its worst.
It is a solo bivy, so it fits one person only.
All seams are taped from factory and the fabric is a 3L 40d eVent, which is HIGHLY waterproof so it doesn’t need a rain fly.
The bathtub-shaped floor increases the waterproofing abilities even more.
One pole is needed to get this bad boy up, which is located at the sleeping area so you have more headroom as you sleep or read a book.
Furthermore, the door is no-see-um mesh – a fine feature since you can keep the door open while keeping the mosquitoes off of you at the same time (a good idea in hot muggy climates!).
Features
Lightweight – Weighing at 2.2 pounds makes this tent less than a kilo! (0.9 kg in fact). That is really good for a highly waterproof 1-person tent.
Tunnel Design – Tunnel designs offer minimal space, however, it is exactly WHY it is lightweight and a beast in rough weather conditions.
Minimal Design – This tent only uses 1 pole, 6 stakes and the fabric material. This simple design makes for easy transportation and a quick setup/take down.
Bathtub Floor – Bathtub floors provide Immense protection from the rain, and more importantly ground moisture. Water can’t get through seams if there is none touching the ground!
Freestanding Design – This simple design allows the tent to be moved even after it’s been pitched. Just remove the stakes from the ground and move it freely to your preferred location.
Glow-In-The-Dark Zippers – The zippers are glow-in-the-dark, making it super easy getting in an out of the tent at nighttime.
Anything interesting that I found?
Not necessarily at this point in time. The design is nothing new but I really do like the minimal equipment and light weight.
This makes for easier transport and faster pitching! Which is extremely useful for backpackers.
I’m a huge fan of the bathtub floor, as it means absolutely NO water can make its way inside the tent from the bottom.
Any red flags?
I’ve read a lot of the many reviews on the internet, and it appears that it gets a tiny bit of condensation buildup.
Yes there is a little, but not enough to bring the value down.
There is also a few complaints about it being difficult to set up, as the hoop is tricky to put in. However, that is fairly minor if you ask me.
Where to get it from
The Rab Ridge Raider is now available from Amazon.com!
If you are an avid shopper at Amazon, I don’t need to tell you how amazingly they treat their customers.
Receive free shipping, next-day delivery, and even a 30-day return policy just to ensure you’re satisfied with your purchase.
This means a money-back guarantee even if you dislike the product, while all repairs are fixed free of charge as well.
Get your Rab Ridge Raider from Amazon
Do I recommend it?
It does have a few cons, but in my opinion the pros heavily outweigh them.
I’ve reviewed this tent from top to bottom, found out what it is all about and discovered the real quality of it.
I have come to the conclusion that it is INDEED a great bivy tent!
It has its flaws – what tent doesn’t?
However, the difference is that this one will keep you sheltered and safe when you’re counting on it the most.
Because it is lightweight, great at combating the elements and even fits tall people easily, I will have to say that the Rab Ridge Raider is highly recommended!
Similar tents
One tent you may like is the Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum Tent. It is a little more expensive but also much lighter, can be pitched easily in the rain and performs like a boss in extreme weather conditions.
If the high price of these tents scare you, you cannot go wrong with the Eureka Spitfire Solo Tent. It is also for one person and a lot higher quality than other tents in the low price range.
Final thoughts on the Rab Ridge Raider?
It has a high price of course, but what do you expect when you’re paying for a great tent that’ll shelter you from extreme weather conditions and possibly save your life one day?
You cannot put a price on your own life my friend, making the Rab Ridge Raider one of my favorite 1-person tents thus far.
I’m a huge fan and only want the best for you.
Due to the fact that this tent is lightweight and highly windproof and waterproof, I have no hesitations in recommending this product!
Go to Amazon.com for cost and availability
Do you have any questions about this tent? Let them in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day 😀
Rab Ridge Raider Review
-
Functionality
-
Waterproof
-
Strength
-
Value
Summary:
This is a great tent that performs as expected.
There are some cons like a little condensation, but not enough to be worried about, and of course the tricky hoop makes for a difficult setup. I’ve found that it gets easier after some practice though.
All in all, the Rab Ridge Raider will serve you well especially in high winds and torrential rain!
Hey Brandon, getting ready for a big camping trip this summer actually so this post came right on schedule. I definitely like the weight of it really makes it easy to bring along, but how big is it when it’s folded up? Another question I had was about the bathtub shaped floor, does this floor come up the walls at all to provide some extra water protection?
Thanks,
Nick
That is exactly what a bathtub floor is my friend. The seams come up and around the walls to stop ground water from getting through.
And the folded dimensions are: 12 x 6 inches.
Great information. I now know which tent to get when I go camping next time and which type would be best. Thank you for all the recommendations.
No worries Kasey. I’m always happy to help 🙂
This is a great review. My hubby and I are in the market for light and durable tents for hiking long trails. This one looks extreme and durable. It has moved to the top of our list. Thanks for the great information!
Glad you liked it Joy. This one is definitely lightweight and durable. The only major downside is the difficult setup (which can be overcome with practice anyway).
This seems really well rounded for a tent. I have a friend who is very into camping, as well as my parents, so I’ll let them know about this one, budget allowed
It does look sort of hard to get into though, it almost looks like a sleeping bag. The big agnes seems like a slightly better option in terms of comfort.
Of course it’s not easy to get into but they aren’t designed to be. They provide a safe shelter from the elements, that’s all. The Big Agnes contains half the weight of the Rab Raidger but it is also more expensive and more fragile due to the material being so lightweight.
I love camping and am In the market for a tent! very good advice that I will have to remember when I’m ready to buy! Thank you Brandon, your site has been a very good tool in finding what tent to buy. I will be back to make a purchase soon!
Thank you Alycia. Just give me a heads up when you need a tent. I can point you in the right direction 🙂
Hi Brandon,
This sounds like a great tent for 1 person. Thank you for sharing this thorough review. Camping is a lot more fun if you are able to keep yourself dry and can avoid the mosquitos.
Do you know if this tent is sold outside the US?
Marika
I’m not 100% sure but I definitely do know that it can be purchased from Amazon, and they’ll ship it to you anywhere in the world asap.
Great and detailed info, thanks for that! I shall be forwarding this review to a couple of my friends who are keen hikers and would sure love this cool tent!
Best,
Alenka
Absolutely. It makes a great hiking/backpacking tent due to the light weight, so definitely a viable option for these types of trips.
I spend some time hiking and climbing, so this was some great information. Thank You very much!
You’re very welcome 🙂
Would you recommend this tent to take backpacking?
Definitely. It only weighs 2.2 pounds.
I’m not much into camping solo but my uncle often goes fishing on his own. This could most definitely be a great gift for him. Fathers Day is coming around the corner too. Thank you for this review… very helpful 🙂
No worries Agnes. The Rab Ridge Raider most certainly does make a great solo camping tent. It’s super lightweight for what it offers.
Hey Brandon, you certainly know your tents. I’m looking for a tent for an avid solo camper and this one looks like it will fit the bill. Brandon, in your opinion, what is the best tent that would suit a family of 4? Thanks in advance.
Hello Melissa. There are a wide range of good 4-person tents – getting the right one depends on your budget, what features you want and what season you need it for.
Fortunately for you I have just finished a review on the NEMO Wagontop 4P Tent, and it makes the PERFECT option for you. Let me know if you still need help.
Cheers for stopping by,
Brandon
Very thorough review! This tent seems like it’d be great for that solo-adventuring, soul-searching type of camping. Thank you for sharing this! I am going to recommend this tent to my brother who loves camping alone.
I love soul-searching missions, and if your brother is an avid camper he’ll definitely enjoy this tent.
I have not done much camping in the past, but I am interested to know how warm these tents can be when the weather takes a turn for the worst. I would definitely not like waking up wet. BTW is there a tent like this that can fit 2 people?
No 3-season tent is designed to keep you warm my friend. That is what your sleeping bag is for, and the reason why you should never skimp over the quality of it. You’ll be left shivering the entire night!
The Rab Ridge Raider performs tremendously well in the rain and doesn’t budge in high winds, so you won’t have any issues if the weather “takes a turn for a worst”.
I’m planning on doing some solo hiking and soul-searching this summer. I’ve been looking for some tent options to buy… your review was very helpful and informative. This tent is definitely high on the list. I love the feature of having a bathtub floor! There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning with a wet sleeping bag and wet clothes! I don’t mind having to practice putting it together to get over the difficulty of it. It’s a good rule of thumb with tents anyways. Always know how to put it together before going out and using it the first time. 🙂
Thank you for putting this tent high on your list of options Valerie. And you are right, you should always get use to pitching the tent before you embark on your journey.
It’s an all-round good idea since there might be something wrong with it. You don’t want to get out in the wilderness and find a massive leak or something.
Hi Brandon,
Great review I like this tent as it has a glow in the dark zipper, keeps the bugs out and is easy to assemble, great choice for the serious camper and even those who only go once a year, thanks for the review.
Hello Charlie. It is a great, lightweight solo tent and does wonders in bad weather. I can’t recommend it enough.
Hey Brandon!
I‘m in the market for getting a bivy soon and scanning for reviews, so I came around your review wich I consider to be pretty helpful. Well done!
Actually I’m in between the OR Alpine bivy and the Ridge Raider. The last one appears to me being more spacious and better in breathability due to the eVent membrane. However I have a concern about it: The entrance of the OR Alpine Bivy seems to be made more clever because it is swiped from bottom up. Can you tell me wether the Ridge Raiders entrance can be fully open but covered by the mesh? I am planning to use it either in cool, wet and warm weather like Central and Southern Europe (where I’m based). And ventilation goes mostly along with bug protection.
Thanks a lot,
Aaron
Hello Aaron. I’m sorry, the Rab Ridge Raider does not have the mesh for the entrance.
The current rectangular-hooped version of the Rab Ridge Raider bivvy has a No-see-um mesh layer to cover the entrance for protection against midges and mosquitos. This netting can be left zipped up when the door is rolled down open for full ventilation at the entrance.
Hey Brandon. Thanks for excellent and highly useful reviews. I am shopping for a Bivy, and has finally, narroved the field down to two possible choices. The Rab Ridge Raider ord The Outdoor Research Alpine Bivy. Have you got any pointeres that can help me choosing,? I honestly find it difficult, since they seem so very alike.
I thanks you in Advance
Best regards
Henrik