In the shops imminently is VauDe’s new for 2010 Power Lizard Ulralight backpacking tent, which the company says is ‘the most stable and weatherproof superlight weight tent in its class’ and should be a contender in the lightpacking and adventure racing world.

The two-person, single-arch, double-wall tent weighs in at just 1000 grammes making it one of the lightest in the category, but says VauDe, the lightness isn’t at the expense of performance or practicality and it won a Gold Award for innovation at last year’s OutDoor trade show in Germany.

Features on the new tent include a tough laminated tent floor with 10,000mm water column and  7001 aluminium alloy poles which have very high  break strength despite a diameter of just 7.5mm.

The fly sheet uses extremely light rip-stop 20 Denier polyamide – nylon – flysheet fabric which is siliconised on both sides for water proofing and all seams are sealed using a unique Cold Seam Taping Technology, so no messing around with seam sealant necessary.

Finally, the single arch pole uses VauDe’s patented Powerframe System borrowed from and used with the brand’s mountain tents for the last two seasons. Double clips lock in place over the external pole and – it says here – ‘triangular trusses are created over the entire frame which evenly distributes force across the tent poles’.

It’s hard to describe, but obvious when you see it in action and should substantially increase pole stability. Practical features include a decent vestibule for sheltered cooking and kit storage and mesh vents for good venting.

Price is 350 and you can find more information at www.vaude.de