Mont Adventure Supercell EX review – an all-season tent built for wild weather

If you’re camping above the snowline or anywhere in Australia’s alpine regions, having the right gear is essential.

Even in summer, the weather at altitude can shift fast, with rogue snow flurries not unheard of in December or January. You might start your trek or fourby adventure in warm sunny conditions, but at altitude the weather can change quickly with icy winds, plummeting temps and driving rain just hours later.

To stay safe and comfortable when the weather turns foul, you need a shelter that’s rated for four-seasons use. A four-season tent is designed to withstand strong winds and snowfall, protecting those inside. 

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Mont Adventure Equipment’s Supercell is a tunnel-style tent built for serious conditions. When it comes to lightweight shelters you can carry in a backpack, strap to a bike or stash in the back of the fourby, most fall into two categories: dome or tunnel. Each design has its strengths, but in our experience, dome tents – especially the cheap ones – can collapse when the wind really picks up.

Tunnel tents are typically longer and narrower than domes, which means you can pitch them with a smaller profile into the wind – offering better resistance in blustery conditions. They also tend to offer a bit more internal headroom, making it easier to sit upright inside. The curved, streamlined shape sheds snow more effectively too, helping prevent it from building up on the roof.

We opted for the EX version of the Mont Supercell, which adds a generously sized vestibule at one end – separate from the sleeping area. Unlike the standard model, which uses two poles, the EX uses three to support the extended space. While the sleeping quarters are identical in both versions, that extra vestibule is proving to be well worth it, offering around a square metre of extra room for storing gear or even sitting down for a meal out of the weather.

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The vestibule features a side entry for easy access to the main tent, and when paired with the optional Footprint groundsheet, it also provides full ground coverage.

The Supercell is a two-person tent with ample space for a pair of adults. With an internal height of 1100mm, there’s enough room to sit upright and move around comfortably. It’s also an integral-pitch design, meaning the outer fly is attached to the inner tent – making setup quicker and easier, especially when the wind’s howling. The fly and inner can be separated if needed, whether for cleaning or using one on its own in milder conditions.

Setting up the Supercell EX

Start by laying down the Supercell EX Footprint groundsheet, then roll the tent out on top – making sure to align the correct ends.

From there, it’s a simple job of sliding the three aluminium poles into place, tensioning them into bows, and pegging everything down using the supplied ultralight pegs (just 1g each). Don’t forget to stake out the guy ropes – this not only secures the tent but also helps tension the fabric for better weather protection and less flapping in the wind. We’ve only pitched it twice so far, but it’s a process that we will no doubt refine over time.

We haven’t had a chance to test the Supercell in snow just yet, but we did cop plenty of wind and rain, and we stayed warm and dry throughout. The vestibule proved its worth too, giving us easy access to gear and a dry, usable space thanks to the added ground cover from the Footprint sheet.

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Lightweight and easy to pack

The Mont Supercell is just as suited to hiking as it is to car camping. Packed down into its pouch, the tent body fits easily in one hand, while the pole and peg sleeve straps neatly to the side. Weighing in at just 3130g, it’s light enough to carry in a backpack, with the Footprint adding another 510g.

The Footprint groundsheet is made from tough 70-denier PU-coated nylon with a 5000mm waterhead rating. As well as providing coverage in the vestibule, it protects the tent floor from wear and tear, adding an extra layer between you and the ground to help extend the life of your tent.

The Supercell is built with premium materials to handle tough conditions. The tent floor uses 25,000mm WaterBlock nylon for serious waterproofing, while the outer fly is made from 40-denier ripstop PU-coated nylon with a 2000mm waterhead rating. The inner tent features a 20-denier ripstop upper and a 40-denier laminated nylon floor. It’s all quality kit, designed to handle harsh environments and deliver years of reliable use with proper care and maintenance.

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Verdict

The Mont Supercell four-season tent goes well beyond the needs of most 4×4 travellers – but when your adventures take you into wild weather, whether by vehicle, bike or on foot, it’s reassuring to know you’ve got a shelter that’s built to handle it.

RRP: $119.95 (Mont Super Cell EX); $99.95 (Mont Supercell EX Footprint)